Syd of Valis

[Melf]

Once a proud example of action/platforming that could tell a story, the Valis series has since deteriorated into a mockery of its former self, like a beauty queen turned crack whore. However, long before it went Hentai, Valis began its downward slide with a game that proved Telenet simply no longer cared. This is what we got instead of a true Valis II port… Read the full review and see why this sword is better of sheathed.

[Barone]

This game is garbage, thanks for panning it Phantar!

Long review, I like that!

[Genesis Knight]

Good to see this get a review. The best part about this game is the Invincibility Bikini code! But seriously, VALIS has to be the most sub-par series to ever win the hearts of retro gamers. I have no idea why people like these games, yet I own all three! What's with that?

[jerry coeurl]

This game sucks! It's the only Valis game I've ever played and it definitely left a bad taste in my mouth. I got rid of it right quick.

[Forgotten Sin]

i bought the firs Valis game, and surprisingly enjoyed it.

I bought this, and was pissed off.

[djshok]

I never played this one, but Valis 3 was pretty terrible. It's hard to imagine that this one is so much worse lol.

[Breetai]

My thoughts on the series:

Valis- PC Engine by a long shot. This is actually a very good game. Ignore the Genesis/MD version.

Valis II- PC Engine/Turbografx CD is best, but this is a pretty average game. SD/Syd (of) Valis on the Genesis/MD is pretty lame.

Valis III- PC Engine and Genesis versions are compatible. This is a good game. Genesis has parallax, but PC Engine has CD sound. Take your pick.

Valis IV- PC Engine is better than the SNES version (Super Valis), but this game is extremely average at best.


Valis on the PC Engine and Valis III on the PC Engine or Genesis is worth getting. Only get the rest if you want to own the whole series.

I never played this one, but Valis 3 was pretty terrible.

I'm not sure why you'd think it is terrible. It's an average platformer at worst. I find it a fun way to pass a few minutes. It's totally worth getting if you find it for around $5.

[djshok]

I'm not sure why you'd think it is terrible. It's an average platformer at worst. I find it a fun way to pass a few minutes. It's totally worth getting if you find it for around $5.

I'd say so because of how bad the controls are. This game has some of the stiffest, most unresponsive controls on the Genesis. I played it as far as the first bottomless pit in the forest level (ie: the second level IIRC) and I kept trying to make the jump and it never happened. I gave it a good try of 2 gameovers worth, both times I exhausted all my lives and not once did I make it over because of how unforgivably bad the controls are. Thus my view is, if this game is that botched by level 2 I don't see how it could get much better later on, as I imagine there is more jumping involved and somehow I doubt the controls improve halfway through the game. It plays about as well as the more terrible Chinese pirate games ie: A Bug's Life.

[havok666]

The Valis series is extremely over-rated. All of the games are mediocre. Most of the hype comes from the OMG ANIME GIRL CUTSCENES!

On the topic of Valis 3, the game just isn't designed well. The stages drag on forever and rely on cheap hitting you with respawning enemies and flying projectiles from enemies not even on the screen. The boss battles are annoying and clunky because the control is so poor.

[Phosis]

This game is not very good. Not very good at all...but your review was!

[eddiespruce]

I don't think this game is as bad as many people say. I mean, it's not a great game, but It's certainly not bad, either. While definitely not as good as the other Valis games, I believe this game deserves at least a 5/10, if not, a 6/10, because there's a lot of games out there worse than this.

[A Black Falcon]

Syd of Valis is okay, but yeah, it's not great. I do like that you don't die when you fall in normal pits, you just kind of bounce out... reduces some of the frustration, given that you do not have any continues in this game. And on that note, yeah, it's not a really hard game, but the lack of continues does bring in some challenge for sure, until you've learned what to do. (Or did you get a few continues, but not many? Either way, it's unforgiving that way, if not in the level designs.)

I think the Valis games are okay, but not great. They just LOVE to ambush you with waves of enemies zooming in from every direction that are pretty hard to not get hit by unless you're really paying attention or memorizing things, and some bosses can be extremely frustrating. Yeah, I have some issues with their game design... they are okay to good games overall, but there's definitely better out there.

My thoughts on the series:

Valis- PC Engine by a long shot. This is actually a very good game. Ignore the Genesis/MD version.

Valis II- PC Engine/Turbografx CD is best, but this is a pretty average game. SD/Syd (of) Valis on the Genesis/MD is pretty lame.

Valis III- PC Engine and Genesis versions are compatible. This is a good game. Genesis has parallax, but PC Engine has CD sound. Take your pick.

Valis IV- PC Engine is better than the SNES version (Super Valis), but this game is extremely average at best.


Valis on the PC Engine and Valis III on the PC Engine or Genesis is worth getting. Only get the rest if you want to own the whole series.



I'm not sure why you'd think it is terrible. It's an average platformer at worst. I find it a fun way to pass a few minutes. It's totally worth getting if you find it for around $5.

It's worth mentioning that the Valis II and Valis IV versions are both entirely different games on each platform, while Valis I is the same game on both, though it is a remake of the entirely different, Japan-only first 8-bit Valis game. Valis III... I think it's the same on both. So, while I agree that the TGCD/PCECD versions are better, for Valis II/SD and IV/Super, both are worth considering if you like the series because they have entirely different game designs, despite sharing the same basic stories each time.

[Genesis Knight]

You know, the article on Sega-16 about the VALIS series connects the games to Phillip K. Dick's VALIS trilogy but I've never seen any other source make that connection.

I also wonder if people are aware that Arcus shared the same fate as Valis at the hand of Eants.

[Black_Tiger]

Syd of Valis is okay, but yeah, it's not great. I do like that you don't die when you fall in normal pits, you just kind of bounce out... reduces some of the frustration, given that you do not have any continues in this game. And on that note, yeah, it's not a really hard game, but the lack of continues does bring in some challenge for sure, until you've learned what to do. (Or did you get a few continues, but not many? Either way, it's unforgiving that way, if not in the level designs.)

I think the Valis games are okay, but not great. They just LOVE to ambush you with waves of enemies zooming in from every direction that are pretty hard to not get hit by unless you're really paying attention or memorizing things, and some bosses can be extremely frustrating. Yeah, I have some issues with their game design... they are okay to good games overall, but there's definitely better out there.




It's worth mentioning that the Valis II and Valis IV versions are both entirely different games on each platform, while Valis I is the same game on both, though it is a remake of the entirely different, Japan-only first 8-bit Valis game. Valis III... I think it's the same on both. So, while I agree that the TGCD/PCECD versions are better, for Valis II/SD and IV/Super, both are worth considering if you like the series because they have entirely different game designs, despite sharing the same basic stories each time.

Actually, III and IV share assets, gameplay and story among console versions. The PCE version of III has more levels and content than the MD version, which also has some exclusive stages.

The SFC Valis IV is a port of the PCE version and is very faithful in places, but the backgrounds are much more repetitive. The SNES has a bit more plarallax in spots of shared stages and, like the MD Valis III, substitutes some stages with exclusive ones.

Syd is just a super deformed version of Valis II PCE, kinda like VF Kids vs VF2, concept-wise.

Valis I MD seems to reuse the Valis III engine. The PCE Valis I is completely original graphics and gameplay-wise. The Valis I's just share the story and basic stage themes (like having an "Ice" stage, or dragon boss).


Someone mentioned hating the controls of Valis III MD. I believe that the PCE version is less responsive with the jumping.

[A Black Falcon]

Actually, III and IV share assets, gameplay and story among console versions. The PCE version of III has more levels and content than the MD version, which also has some exclusive stages.

Alright, so there are some differences in levels between those? I thought there were some story differences (more cutscenes in the CD one of course), but didn't know about levels.

The SFC Valis IV is a port of the PCE version and is very faithful in places, but the backgrounds are much more repetitive. The SNES has a bit more plarallax in spots of shared stages and, like the MD Valis III, substitutes some stages with exclusive ones.

Valis IV may be a port, sort of, but it has some MAJOR changes that you fail to mention. Most obviously, there are three playable characters you can switch between in PCECD Valis IV, but the SNES game has only one. The SNES version has an entirely different and more complex powerup system instead, though, while the PCECD game has a quite basic one (the main depth are the three characters). The SNES game also removes almost the entire story -- there's an intro and an ending and that's it, all other cutscenes are gone. And as for the level designs, they are similar, but different. The stage themes are the same, sure, but while similar, the level designs aren't exactly the same and because of the other gameplay differences they play differently.

I'd say those are some huge changes, myself!

Syd is just a super deformed version of Valis II PCE, kinda like VF Kids vs VF2, concept-wise.

True, but my point was that the levels are far from identical to the PCE game. It's not just the same exact game just with different graphics, the levels and gameplay are somewhat different as well.

Valis I MD seems to reuse the Valis III engine. The PCE Valis I is completely original graphics and gameplay-wise. The Valis I's just share the story and basic stage themes (like having an "Ice" stage, or dragon boss).

It's worth mentioning that while Valis II through IV were on Turbo/PCE CD first, Valis I's PCECD version was released later, after II through IV, and is an enhanced port of the Genesis title. It's also the only Super CD Valis game, and for some bizarre reason is the only Turbo/PCE CD Valis game that does not support saving, so you have to play it through in one sitting (annoying!). Of course, none of the SNES/Genesis versions of II to IV have saving, so it's a major advantage of the TGCD versions.

You know, the article on Sega-16 about the VALIS series connects the games to Phillip K. Dick's VALIS trilogy but I've never seen any other source make that connection.

I also wonder if people are aware that Arcus shared the same fate as Valis at the hand of Eants.

They made an Arcus hentai game too? Huh, no, I didn't know that... Arcus Odyssey is a pretty good game.