Game of Thrones. …. Ok now that I have caught your attention, let’s talk about something as equally important and relevant. A couple of days ago, Square Enix has done the impossible and brought back two legendary games from the dead, albeit with new names and storylines, Valkyrie Elysium & The DioField Chronicle, but we all know what these really are. These are the next Final Fantasy Tactics and Valkyrie Profile. Arigatou Square Enix for not just giving them the modern pixelated remaster treatment and taking extra steps to do full-blown remakes for two stories that our modern world currently needs.
The DioField Chronicle (The FFT ripoff)
I know the first things that come to mind when the name Final Fantasy is seen probably anywhere. It will be a game about multiple races, science fiction shenanigans, overpowered antagonists with god-like abilities, and other anime-esque tropes. That’s mostly true for most games of the franchise, but not this one. Final Fantasy Tactics, and its seemingly obvious successor The DioFiled Chronicle, are first and foremost, a story about Humans and none other.
Think about everything you have ever loved about Game of Thrones, and you will find it here. Wars that last for years and influence the history of all the lands. A centralized and more intimate view on the repercussions of these wars from the point of view of many characters with different socio-political backgrounds. I don’t know if the new game would capture the sophisticated and resonant writing of the original game, but I truly wish it does. Here is an example that’s worth more than a thousand written words.
Ramza Beoulve: Wiegraf! You live?Wiegraf Folles: I have lived for this, Ramza. How long has it been since we last met?
Ramza Beoulve: Then you were a warrior who fought to make your dream reality. Now you are only a thrall of the Church.
Wiegraf Folles: What troubled sleep have you known, to speak of my dreams? No matter how sweet, a dream left unrealized must fade into day. Only with power can dreams be made real! I see the truth of it now. What good, dreams, without that power? You think me a thrall? So be it! Your envenomed words succour me, for when at last you yield – as you must – their poison will consume you!
Ramza Beolve : I pity you, Wiegraf. Even as a man of broken dreams, you might still have been remembered fondly. Your ideas lifted the people, showed them the cracks in the age-old facade of the aristocracy. You acted on your convictions, and so ennobled those actions! But what would the people think now? What would Milleuda and your fallen friends think of this barter you’ve struck? Dreams built on borrowed stone are defiled before they are made!
Wiegraf Folles: What have you done that did not rely on the labours of others? From birth you have wanted for nothing! You can not know what it is to live the meager life we do. Reason may trick you to believe you do, but your heart can never know! Harsh is the world in which we live. Harsher still than you can imagine. You have neither right nor reason to pour scorn on me!
Final Fantasy Tactics was a game ahead of its time in many aspects, and the scope of the themes it tried to discuss in every written line. Power, Betrayal, family, Society and Class, Principles, Coming of Age and many many more things related to the overall geopolitical climate that feels awfully real, and the magical elements only play a small part in facilitating the realistic scenarios, so it’s definitely a story that will respect your knowledge and time.
The character profiles also seem to parallel the original characters, the houses they belong to, the types of arts they can use, and available classes. Actually, Brandon Campbell is one of the composers who has actually worked on Game of Thrones before, so my starting phrase is not that far away from the truth or the vibes I get from it. I really believe the players should be on the look for this game, as it seems definitely in good hands from people who understand the original vision.
Valkyrie Elysium
In Norse mythology, the einherjar (singular einheri) literally “army of one”, means”those who fight alone”) and in context, they are those who have died in battle and are brought to Valhalla by valkyries. As you have seen in the trailer of the game, you are a warrior-maiden who is tasked recruiting the einherjar to fight with the Æsir in their war against the Vanir and prevent the destruction of Asgard in Ragnarok.
Valkyrie Profile might be my most favourite JRPG game after Xenogears and FF Tactics. Most of the character development in this game happens actually during their death scenes (or redemption scenes as Einherjar). You get to see what killed them and what made them alone, and not just that, but in the gameplay system itself, you have the ability to balance the positive or negative traits to treat their scars and send them to heaven as they should have.
I think it’s the best game on the market that nails this, what I would called ephemeral development. They are very short moments but have immense and memorable weight on the player and the narrative. The gameplay of the Valkryie Elysium has turned into an Action RPG and turn based, so it probably is not very good to compare to the old games based on a gameplay perspective, but it’s obvious that the recruitment gimmick will be present here as well.
Both of these games are one of a kind stories and have a vision that can only be achieved through the video game medium, and for them to come to a new generation with very polished next gen graphics, and that both of them can also be playable on old gen and multiple consoles, (The older games were restricted to PSP for some reason), it’s a dream come true.
Final Fantasy Tactics is now accessbily for Android and iOS users, and the original Valkryie Profile is also available on Android and iOS, so if you have any of them, be sure to check them out before trying Valkyrie Elysium and The DioField Chronicle. (They really could have chosen a better name for this one.)