There are
just some things that go together well and some things that were really meant to
go together … like peanut butter and bananas (if it’s good enough for Elvis,
it’s good enough for me). Strategy-based role-playing games and the Nintendo DS
certainly do go well together and the titles already available are proof
undeniable. Joining these games is Valkyrie Profile: Covenant of the Plume,
a game that – even on the DS – should not only be considered an excellent
strategy RPG but also a fascinating entry in the Valkyrie Profile saga.
Covenant
of the Plume
tells an epic tale of tragedy, adventure and revenge as a young man named
Wylfred rises from the ashes to exact his revenge on Lenneth who he blames for
the tragic loss of his family. With his father felled in battle and his younger
sister having died from starvation, Wylfred accepts a cursed plume from a
mysterious ally that wishes to see the famed Valkyrie dead. Joining a band of
mercenaries that also include his best friend Ancel, the young man sets off on a
quest that will lead him on a branching path that will lead to death and
destruction that will echo throughout Valhalla.
The game
begins in Aullewyn Keep where we learn the mechanics of battle as well as the
basics of Battle Preparations and the Ally Phase. You start with the
preparations, which basically has you deploying and of the four characters in
your party and move them to engage the enemy within the battlefield. At the end
of the turn, you can have your character face a certain direction or – if he or
she is within striking range – attack the enemy. The Ally Phase allows you to
manipulate the other characters in your party to either attack, hold or even use
items to aid other members of your party. You can even coordinate attacks so you
can actually gang up on a single enemy and unleash multiple attacks.
While we’re
on the subject of battle, Covenant of the Plume might not do anything
complete different in this department but it does add some interesting elements.
For instance, the cursed Destiny Plume can be used to take out the more powerful
enemies as well as satisfy the plume’s need for blood. The unfortunate drawback
of using it, however, means that the ally who is enhanced by its power is
permanently killed. Throughout the game, you will be given choices that raise
the question: Are you willing to sacrifice the lives of your friends in order to
get what you want?
In battle,
you can also commit the “sin” of overkill in order to satisfy the bloodlust
requirement. Essentially, what you do is exhaust your enemy’s hit points and
then unleash another attack before the round is finished. It’s basically the
equivalent of kicking a man while he’s down or carrying out a Fatality in the
Mortal Kombat games. The choices you make in the game not only determines
the path you take and the allies you befriend but it also affects the outcome of
the game’s multiple endings.
Strategy is
a major factor that will help secure a victory or assure you a crushing defeat.
Sure, you can come into a battle randomly moving your characters and attacking
blindly but that will only get you killed in no time. By allocating the
different characters and making use of their talents, you can easily outmatch
your opponents. I must say that coming up with strategies that can help make the
flow of battle move a tad faster is easier if you’re a fan of the strategy genre
so those that who are merely just casual players or new to the gameplay will
feel a bit frustrated by this game.
There are
various places to explore via a world map that allows you to visit shops, towns
and other locales such as Kirche Crossing, Camille and Hroethe Walk just to name
a few places you can visit as you continue your quest. There are also a number
of allies to meet and ask to join your party, thus giving you an incentive to
play this game more than once just to find them all. Considering the fact that
the game is a tad on the short side, another play through is definitely in
order.
Aside from
the fact that the game just isn’t all too inviting to new strategy gamers, the
opponent AI is inconsistent. Sometimes, the same batch of enemies will keep you
busy and drawing out a battle a bit longer while other times the same type of
enemies are idiots when it comes to tactics. Still, it’s hard to complain about
these problems when the story is this good. It not only captures the feel of the
Norse myth but also makes the characters intriguing enough that you’ll be drawn
into their plight.
Covenant’s
visuals are also quite stunning at times with the character models during
conversations looking just as good as they would on a console. The backgrounds
are also delightfully colorful and detailed, although I wish the characters on
the map would have been bigger. Really, I can’t tell my Wylfred from my Ailyth
sometimes and don’t get me started with Ancel and about five other characters
that look like him on the battlefield.
The sound is
also quite impressive seeing as it mixes numerous sound effects, voices and the
original score quite nicely. The score, while not as epic as the story, does a
good job of drawing you into its world. Even the sound effects add to the story
with the sounds of a beast growling, the laughter of a room filled with people
or the clank of sword striking sword. There are a few sound clips but it’s
nothing too spectacular.
It’s
starting to look that the Nintendo DS is the right handheld for strategy-based
role-playing games seeing as great games like Valkyrie Profile: Covenant of
the Plume keep showing up to expand our growing library. While there are few
things that could have been better, Covenant stands as one of the more
rewarding entries in the Valkyrie Profile series. If you’re loyal fans of
the genre, picking this one up is definitely in your best interest.
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Gameplay: 8.0
While lacking in
innovation when it comes to the handheld’s capabilities, Covenant offers
plenty to see and battles that require more than just running up to the enemy
and unleashing an attack. There are allies to find and the story is fascinating
with different paths to follow.
Graphics: 8.0
Impressively
enough, the game features some lovely character designs during conversations and
detailed environments while exploring the fantastical land. Even the opening
animation looks amazing.
Sound: 8.0
The original
score is gorgeous but not as memorable as some of the other epic strategy
role-playing games. There are plenty of sound effects, though, and a few voice
clips that do sound good coming through the DS’ speakers.
Difficulty: Medium
Some of the
bigger and fiercer enemies will give you and your party a tough time if you
don’t think strategically. Meanwhile, the much weaker ones are way too dumb to
be even considered threatening. This game will feel a tad unwelcoming to the
more casual strategy RPG fan.
Concept: 8.5
It’s great to see
an RPG story so rich and filled with characters that are meaningful enough that
you’ll care about them. The good news is that there are a great number of allies
you can ask to join you and finding them all (as well as seeing all the possible
endings) means the replay value is high for this game.
Overall: 8.0
Covenant of
the Plume is a
wonderfully diverse game with a deep and involving story that makes this one of
the more rewarding Valkyrie Profile games available. As a strategy
role-playing game, this one isn’t an inventive as other games in the genre but
it’s still a game with a lot to offer.
