The lineage of this series has been a wild one. Things began with the PS1 in 2000 before a sequel was released on the PS2 half a decade later. Soon after that, in the same year of 2006, the original was ported to the PSP. Then there was a DS tactical RPG in 2009 in North America, and that was the last console/handheld experience.
RELATED:Square Enix Games That Desperately Need A Remaster
Now, there was a mobile game released in 2016 in Japan and 2019 in North America, but fans generally don’t like to count mobile games as honest-to-goodness sequels. At long last though, a true sequel has been made viaValkyrie Elysium. It’s rough around the edges, but a few patches could improve things dramatically.
8Remove Tutorials
The beginning of the game puts Valkyrie in a dreamlike world wherein she gets advanced abilities she won’t have until much later. The ability to summon comrades via the Einherjar system is one example. It is understandable at this point that tutorials would pop up on the screen and won’t go away until the lesson is over. It makes less sense for some of the same windows to pop up once the game begins for real.
There should be an option in the menu to turn tutorial pop-ups off, which is typically the standardfor action games. If players can change the difficulty, then this should be an option too.
7Warping At HQ
The hub world will have limited features until a couple of chapters into the game. Players can talk to Odin and their comrades, go to the mission map, practice at the Training Ground, and so on. It would be nice if players could warp around HQ with a fast travel system. It would also be nice if save points on missions could act like fast travel spots. This can be done inother action RPGslikeElden Ring. Speed is one of the deepest problems withValkyrie Elysium,which will be further discussed.
For this example, there needs to be more fast travel options patched into the game ASAP.
6Adjust The Cel-Shading
It should always be applauded whenever a developer decides to implement a cel-shading art style into their game. Unfortunately,Valkyrie Elysiumdidn’t do enough to make the world pop. From a distance, players may not even know the game is cel-shaded until they look at a screenshot or something.
RELATED:The Best Remakes From Square Enix, Ranked
It might be too late now, but there might be a way to make the world more vibrant with a patch. The color pallet could be adjusted or the line structure could be thickened to give it amore anime-like aesthetic. This sounds like a lot of work, but if the developers have the time then they should try.
5Adjust The Running
The running speed is another example of how the game can drag. Valkyrie will jog at a brisk pace for a few seconds before she jumps into a run, almost like thestyle memed aboutwith theNarutoseries. This would be fine if this burst of speed was truly fast, but it is not.
There are two things the developers could do to fix this problem. One, they could make this running speed faster, which seems like a no-brainer. Two, they could instead add a dedicated running button and make that faster animation as well. Both of these ideas could make getting around more enjoyable.
4Add A Photo Mode
One of the best mechanics that appeared over the past decade in games is the photo mode. For players that like to take screenshots of their experiences, this feature was like a godsend. It is especially great for capturing brutal attacksin action RPGslike this game. The problem is that this game does not have one.
While the cel-shading isn’t perfect, presumably pausing the action would still make for a great piece of art. Square Enix has added in a photo mode after a game’s launch before, like withFinal Fantasy 7 Remake, so it is possible Valkyrie Elysium can get one too.
3Add A Mini-Map
There are two issues with the map that could be addressed. One, there is no mini-map in the game, forcing players to open up the larger version all the time. At leastValkyrie Elysiumhas a map because that’s not even agiven in RPGs.
RELATED:Underrated Square Enix Games On PS2 You Forgot Existed
It’s a hassle to go into the menu but it by no means is the worst part about the game. The same goes for scrolling around the map, as it has reversed controls. Down is up, and up is down; this pattern cannot be changed in the menu, unlike the normal camera controls.
2Add Multiplayer
An online support system would truly be a blessing for this game. Getting an online leaderboard would be great, or even a way to reward players for logging in. The idea of co-op already feels baked in too, since players can summon their Einherjar companions to lend a hand in battle. A patch could allow a second player to jump into this role insteadvia couch co-op.
There are ways to introduce online multiplayer modes as well, but however Square Enix wants to do it, multiplayer or online support, in general, would be amazing to see.
1Boost Concentration
Another mechanic that found its way into the gaming industry in the past decade is a detection system or a guiding beam. InValkyrie Elysium, Valkyrie can summon butterflies to show her the way toward objectives but only for certain ones. The trouble is these butterflies move incredibly slow, forcing players to almost walk behind them. The speed of this Concentration mechanic should be boosted. It would also be amazing if Concentration could be used outside of certain quest perimeters too to help players on a more regular basis.
Valkyrie Elysiumwas released on July 06, 2025, and is available on PC, PS4, and PS5.
MORE:The Best And Worst Things About The Diofield Chronicle
