@Judeau

So, for #Valis X (or Valis Cross), that is a gaming line I refuse to talk about in detail.
I don't really like or want to talk about H games or Adult games, at least not when what i like to talk about and stuff I will share isn't typically aimed at that kind of audience.

I suppose my thoughts on Valis X can be summarised with disappointment. That you would create that series of great platformer games and come the 20th anniversary, you do a Hentai visual novel for that summarises the first three games.

It really sours the legacy of the franchise in my opinion.

It is also sad to think that that is the last official Valis game. Yuko and other characters have other games as cameos and what not. Sure, there is the Valis collection of Steam... But... Yuko deserves better than that.

Right, a tier list based on how much I would recommend to people who may not have heard of this series and would be interested in playing the games.

This is more about how accessible I think the games are for newbies and how much they might enjoy the games factoring in how difficult it is as a negative, difficulty takes into account infinite continues, discernible boss patterns and also frequency of rude and unfair enemy placement.

1: #Valis 1 Genesis
2: Valis 3 Genesis
3: Valis 1 PC Engine
4: Super Valis 4 SNES
5: Valis 2 PC Engine
6: Valis 3 PC Engine
7: Valis 4 PC Engine
8: Syd of Valis

Poor Syd of Valis. Really could have been better.

Valis 3 and 4 for PC Engine are amazing games, but I think they really edge that line of being too unfair to enjoy casually. Act 4 of Valis 3 on PC Engine will make or break you. Similar to Valis 4.

With any luck I have encouraged some people to check these games out and with modern day ports available, they can be played legitimately 🤣

2/2

So, to cap all of this off.
I feel I need to make a short teir list for the #Valis games I played. It should be noted, there are other games, like the MSX games and even a version of Valis 1 for the NES.

I am going to do two lists, the first list is my own preferences and how much I enjoyed playing the games. The second will be more about how much I recommend people play the specific games, which will be slightly different, because as much as I love certain games, I know many don't have the same level of stubbornness as i do.

So, here goes:

1: Valis 4 PC Engine CD
2: Valis 3 PC Engine CD
3: Valis 3 Genesis
4: Valis 1 PC Engine
5: Valis 1 Genesis
6: Super Valis 4 SNES
7: Valis 2 PC Engine CD
8: Syd of Valis

If you have been following the thread, none of this should come as a surprise, at least I don't think it should...

1/2

Thank Yuko for the #PCEngine version of #Valis 4.

I could probably spend a good while waxing lyrically over why I love this game, and in part, it would probably be quite concerning.
It was probably one of the hardest games I have beaten this year, progress was at time glacial and frustrating, but with each act cleared, it was like a mini accomplishment. Soon to be met with dread of what is coming up next.

The game isn't entirely fair, at times enemies fly at you with reckless abandon in non-sensical patterns, knocking you back into death pits or draining your health to dangerous levels. All stages are all a bit of a dance.

The three playable characters have their own abilities and advantages, expanding on what Valis 3 had established.

As an entire package, this comes together in such an amazing fashion. It's not for everyone, but if you enjoy a challenging platformer that possibly doesn't get talked about enough, honestly, I don't think can go wrong with Valis 4 for the PCE.

It's a shame we never got an export version of #Valis 4, there is a translation patch available, which i do need to check out.

Anyway, box art time. Just the one today. So, I do think it is odd that Lena's hair is pink here, instead of the red it is in-game or in cutscenes. It's nice that Amu is here too, as she is the superior character to play as.

I think if we compare it to the SNES box art, this one is less impressive. I daresay, that if I called the SNES box art an Anime VHS cover, I would imagine it would be for a movie or high budget series. This feels more straight to VHS video cover. Does that make sense? There is a level of detail that feels a little cheaper here.

But, to be honest, I am not here to talk too much about this box art, we have a game to talk about!

So, I was REALLY looking forward to this game, if only because I was sold on the western box art.

However, Super Valis IV for the #SNES is... It's a poor man's #Valis 1 which was heart wrenching for me.
There is next to no platforming to speak of in this game, no sliding... But you can run! That's a first I suppose.

Magic is handled through collectable power-ups that you can hold a number of in stock, but you can only equip one and any uses left over will be lost if you equip a new magic ability.

There is a curious mechanic where the longer you take on a stage, the more health the boss will have at the end. it encourages fast and precise gameplay, where you risk bosses being tougher to get additional power ups, but a lot of stages don't really present this in an interesting way.

For the most part I found myself riding one Valis Armour power-up to another, as it can absorb a decent number of hits before it wears off.

I think I'm bitter and disappointed, and it is making me grumpy.

So, we have finally come full circle, though we do have one more #Valis title after this I want to talk about.

The box art for Super Valis IV on the #SNES was the impetus for this entire journey and based off that western box art, I hope you can see why.

The rendition of Lena readying her sword as a fire breathing tiger, being ridden by a metallic figure, leaping at her is simultaneously over the top and an epic visual. Again, it falls into this weird trend of depicting an early game boss on the cover art. Through Dhalgren is stage 2's boss. This is a cover art I would have on my wall if I could.

(I should make a collage of the ones I would want...  )

The Japanese cover gives me anime VHS vibes, like, I can imagine a "volume 1" being tacked somewhere on that box. Of all the Japanese covers, this is probably my favourite one. I can't necessarily explain why.

For all time favourites, it really is a bit of a battle between Super Valis and Valis 3's western covers.

So, I had once said, if you are going to play a #Valis game, play the #PCEngineCD version.

I stand by that, but, this is because I have a penchant for suffering and video game related masochism.

Valis 3 for the PCE is fantastic but can be absolutely brutal. It features additional levels to the Genesis version, and one of them is quite sadistic that it is borderline off-putting. Some enemies are tailor made and positioned to make you angry and the final boss is a cheap-ass sonnuva gun.

Something to note in this version as well, your slide move makes you invulnerable during the animation. This is vital information that makes the game a little fairer, but only fractionally. This all comes at a cost of a high jump move that was in the Genesis version now being almost non-existent.

I do find it a little weird that to pause the game you press the select button, as the start (Or "Run") button is tied into the control scheme. After a while, you'll get used to it.

Yes, yes, yes! #Valis 3's western box art is possibly the pinnacle of series

Let's start with that title. The faux metallic gradient with a sword woven between the letters. It screams metal band, and in fact, Valis might now be the name of my indie metal band.

Our protagonist on the box gives proto Xenia warrior princess vibes. Let's ignore the fact that Yuko is supposed to be 17 or 18. She is looking cool and serene against a backdrop of jagged mountains and lightning. Get a clean version of the image with the CD cinema screens and logos and I'd have that image on my wall somewhere.

The Japanese version is similar in nature to the Genesis box art. Our three playable characters all battle ready against a gradiented backdrop.
We can get a better look at Cham's design and her whip with her being in the foreground and the Sword of Valis this time is of indeterminate length.

Credit to the western cover art here, I honestly think they knocked it out of the park!

#PCEngineCD #TurboGrafx

So, we are out of the trenches of bad #Valis games
It's only up from here, right?

#SegaGenesis Valis 3 is the best offering on the platform and has new features and gimmicks.
Firstly, we have multiple playable characters who are unlocked through the journey and can be swapped to on the fly, like Castlevania 3. One of them also has a whip!

Magic is done with elemental rod "sub weapons" and each character has different variations on each element.
There is a new power mechanic, where you need to wait between attacks to ensure you are attacking at full power

But, this is where the series starts getting harder. The token ice based stages feature some of nefarious platforming moments.

it is also an appropriate time to talk about the sliding mechanic. Sliding off an edge continue your horizontal momentum into the slide ends, so some gaps you need to slide over than attempting a jump.

I still recommend Valis 1 as an entry point, but if you like that, definitely check this one out!