Valis | |
---|---|
Genre(s) | Platform, visual novel |
Developer(s) | Telenet Japan, Wolf Team, I.S.C |
Publisher(s) | Japan Telenet Japan, Bandai, Tokuma Shoten, Riot, Laser Soft, Sega, Razorsoft North America Renovation Products, NEC, Turbo Technologies Inc., Atlus |
Platform(s) | Various home console systems |
First release | Valis: The Fantasm Soldier 1986 [1] |
Latest release | Valis: The Fantasm Soldier Collection II September 22, 2022 |
Valis [lower-alpha 1] is a platform game series created by Telenet Japan. A magical girl plot, the games tell the story of a Japanese schoolgirl who is fated to protect three realms by wielding a mystical sword known as Valis. [2]
The original game, Valis: The Fantasm Soldier (1986), was developed for the PC-88 and ported to several other platforms. This was followed by a series of platform games released during the 16-bit era for various home consoles, most notably the TurboGrafx-16 and Sega Mega Drive. Outside the original series, an erotic visual novel was released in 2006, followed by compilations of the original games.
After Telenet Japan shut down in 2007, Sunsoft acquired the rights to the series. [3] These rights were passed on to Japanese media company Edia in December 2019. [4]
All Valis games are platform games except Valis X, an erotic visual novel released for Windows in 2006 on the 20th anniversary of the series. Developed by Eants, it was the last game published by Telenet Japan. Valis X is divided into five episodes that retell the stories of the first four games, containing copious amounts of lesbian acts and tentacle erotica. [5] [6]
In June 2021, on the 35th anniversary of the Valis series, Edia announced a crowdfunding campaign to bring ports of the Valis games to the Nintendo Switch. [7] [8]
After the crowdfunding period, Edia ported several games from the Valis series to the Switch through collections. The first collection, Valis: The Fantasm Soldier Collection, was released in December 2021 in Japan and in March 2022 in Western territories. [9] [10] In March 2022, Edia also announced the launch of a second collection of Valis that will feature Valis IV (PC Engine), Syd of Valis (Genesis / Mega Drive) and Valis: The Fantasm Soldier (Genesis / Mega Drive and MSX). [11] In December 2023, the third collection was launched in Japan. [12]
Year | Title | Original platform | Notes |
---|---|---|---|
1986 | Valis: The Fantasm Soldier | PC-8801 | |
1989 | Valis II | PC Engine CD-ROM² | |
1990 | Valis III | ||
1991 | Valis IV | ||
1992 | Super Valis IV | Super NES | Despite a similar name, it is significantly different from Valis IV |
Syd of Valis (SD Valis) | Sega Mega Drive/Genesis | Super deformed remake of Valis II | |
2006 | Valis X | Windows | Erotic visual novel |
Year | Title | Platform | Games included |
---|---|---|---|
2006 | Valis Complete | Windows | The four original games. Plus version includes Syd of Valis and Super Valis IV. |
2011 | Valis Complete Plus [13] | ||
2021 | Valis: The Fantasm Soldier Collection [14] | Nintendo Switch | The TurboGrafx-CD versions of the first three games: Valis I, Valis II and Valis III. |
2022 | Valis: The Fantasm Soldier Collection II [15] | Syd of Valis (Genesis) Valis: The Fantasm Soldier (Genesis and MSX) Valis IV (TurboGrafx-CD) | |
2023 | Valis: The Fantasm Soldier Collection III [12] | Super Valis IV (SNES) Valis: The Fantasm Soldier (PC-8801 and NES) Valis II (MSX2) Valis III (Genesis) |
A four-volume Valis manga series by the artist ZOL was published by Kill Time Communication and featured in the seinen manga magazine Comic Valkyrie in 2007-2012. The first game had been separately adapted into a manga in 1999.
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Valis: The Fantasm Soldier is a 1986 action-platform video game originally developed by Wolf Team and published by Telenet Japan for the MSX, PC-8801, X1, FM-7, and PC-9801 home computers. It is the first entry in the Valis series. It stars Yuko Asou, a Japanese teenage schoolgirl chosen as the Valis warrior and wielder of the mystical Valis sword to protect the Earth, the land of spirits, and the dream world Vecanti from demon lord Rogles. Through the journey, the player explores and search for items and power-ups, while fighting enemies and defeating bosses to increase Yuko's attributes.
Valis III is a 1990 action-platform video game originally developed by Laser Soft, published by Telenet Japan and NEC for the TurboGrafx-CD. A Sega Genesis version was released in 1992. It is the third entry in the Valis series. It stars Yuko Asou, a Japanese teenage schoolgirl chosen as the Valis warrior and wielder of the mystical Valis sword after the events of Valis II. King Glames, wielder of the sword Leethus, leads denizens of the dark world to conquer both Vecanti and Earth, seeking refuge for his people amid the destruction of their planet. Together with the demon warrior-maiden Cham and her sister Valna, Yuko must prevent Glames from destroying both worlds. Through the journey, the player explores and searches for items and power-ups while fighting enemies and defeating bosses.
Valis II is a 1989 action-platform video game originally developed by Laser Soft, published by Telenet Japan and NEC for the PC Engine CD-ROM²/TurboGrafx-CD. A home computer version was released for PC-8801, MSX2, PC-9801 and X68000. A super deformed-style remake was also released in 1992 for the Sega Mega Drive/Genesis. It is the second entry in the eponymous series. It stars Yuko Asou, a Japanese schoolgirl teenager chosen to become the Valis warrior by wielding the titular mystical sword, after defeating the demon lord Rogles. The dream world Vecanti fell under the rule of emperor Megas, whose hatred towards his brother Rogles and bloodthirsty tendencies seeks to wipe out traces of the former tyrant, including his supporters. Gameplay varies between each version but all share similar elements, as the player explores and search for items and power-ups, while fighting enemies and defeat bosses.
Valis IV is a 1991 action-platform video game originally developed by Laser Soft and published by Telenet Japan for the PC Engine CD-ROM². A vastly different version titled Super Valis IV was published in Japan by Telenet in 1992 and in North America by Atlus Software in 1993 for the Super Nintendo Entertainment System. It is the fourth and final main entry in the eponymous series. Following on the events of Valis III, Yuko became a goddess and has watched over Vecanti since Glames' defeat. The dark world prince Galgear, who lost self-control after acquiring a magical ring, broke from his fifteen-year imprisonment by the gods of Vecanti, kidnapping Valna and being pursued by troops led by Cham. Lena, a member of Cham's band, is joined by her sister Amu and the prince's father Asfal on a journey to retrieve the titular sword and defeat Galgear.
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