• NAMCO's "Valkyrie" Series: Preview

  ---

• サンドラの大冒険：ワルキュレとの出会い
   [SANDORA no Daibouken : WARUKYURE to no Deai]
   "A Sandra's Great Adventure: The Encounter with Valkyrie"

  ---

• ワルキュレの冒険：時の鍵伝説
   [WARUKYURE no Bouken : Toki no Kagi Densetsu]
   "The Adventure of Valkyrie: The Legend of the Key of Time"

  ---

• ワルキュレの伝説
   [WARUKYURE no Densetsu]
   "The Legend of Valkyrie"

  ---

• Valkyrie as a Video Game Icon in other Media.

 Image created by DeviFoxx. Character & Logo owned by NAMCO ®.

  The original arcade version came out in 1989 and it introduced a lot of interesting graphical concepts for top-down viewing perspective RPGs that would come in the future--like Nintendo's "The Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past", and Square-Enix's "Seiken Densetsu" [Secret / Legend of Mana] Action RPG series.

  Valkyrie can only level up with Experience in the PC-Engine version, however spell acquisition is executed in the same way regardless of version. In the original arcade version, spells are acquired by finding and speaking with "Obaa-sama" (Or "Grandma" in Japanese). In the home console version, Obaa-sama is replaced with different NPCs.

  Sandra Shops in this game have been replaced by Zuhl, who has decided to earn an honest living since the "Key of Time" incident. Armor acquisition is nonexistent for the most part, but it does exist in the form of Red Armor--which temporarily boosts Valkyrie or Kurino's powers. Gold is also commonly dropped, just as it was in the last game. From certain enemies, Rainbow Orbs also drop as well. These Orbs act as "MP" (Magic Points) for Valkyrie and Kurino--which are spent on magic spell casting.

  The control scheme of the game is fairly basic, and doesn't really change in all of its versions.

• D-Pad / Joystick : Move Valkyrie or Kurino in the desired direction, or select which spell to cast while holding Button 2.
• Button 1 : Valkyrie or Kurino performs a Jump.
• Button 2 : Valkyrie or Kurino performs an attack with their weapon. When held down, enables Valkyrie or Kurino to select from their currently available magic spells. Upon releasing the button, Valkyrie or Kurino will cast the spell. (Helpful Note: While preparing to cast a spell, Valkyrie and / or Kurino are temporarily invulnerable during spell selection.)
• START Button : "Player 1 or 2 Start" when at the Title Screen. Also Functions as "Pause" during mid-play in the "NAMCO Museum Vol. 5" version (this feature needs to be enabled from the menu, however).
• SELECT Button : "Insert Coin" ("NAMCO Museum Vol. 5" Version. Otherwise, No Function whatsoever.)

  Below is a Prologue to "The Legend of Valkyrie", complete with Artwork and in-game pictures--courtesy of NAMCO of Japan Co. Ltd., complete with a semi-walkthrough of the game. "Legend of Valkyrie" is fairly linear, however there are occasionally secrets that can be overlooked, and alternate paths to the end that need to be addressed.

  Zuhl sells a lot of various items in his shop. Most of the items he sells however are weaponry.

  Valkyrie and Kurino have a set limit of the number of items they can carry, which is roughly about 6 items or so. I say "items" because your inventory will not consist of just weapons.

  There are items available that will increase status parameters and aid Valkyrie and Kurino. It should be also noted that there is no armor in this game except the Red Dress / Armor. Its not necessary to complete the game, though.

  You do not gain Experience Points in this game, because the game is just a simple Arcade game and isn't intended to be hours long, as traditional RPGs are. The prices of items in Zuhl's shop gradually increase as you progress through the game though. But that should go without saying!

  Also, you don't always have to buy items from Zuhl's shop. You will occasionally find a treasure chest (, , or ) that will either contain monsters (Kaoxes and Honorians ), or an item.

  Most importantly, to access Zuhl's shop, just simply look for him randomly on your journeys. You'll know when you see him.

  Items available in Zuhl's Shop:
 

Rainbow Orb of Magic: 魔法の虹玉

Time Hourglass: 砂時計

Book of Magic: 魔法の本

Additional Heart Container: 付加的ハートの入れ物

Wide Beam Shot: ワイドビーム・ショット

Penetrating Drill Shot: 貫通弾ドリル

Homing Shot: 誘導弾ショット

Three-Way Shot: ３方向ショット

Four-Way Shot: ４方向ショット

Bomb Shot: 爆弾ショット

Healing Herb: 回復剤

Red Dress (Valkyrie) & Red Armor (Kurino): レッド・ドレス「ワルキューレ」＆レッド・アーマー「クリノ」

Eternal Sword (Valkyrie) & Eternal Trident (Kurino): 永遠の剣「ワルキューレ」＆永遠のフォーク「クリノ」

  Magic obtained from Obaa-sama throughout the adventure:
 

Option Magic: オプションの魔法

Cyclone Magic: サイクロンの魔法

Big Magic: ビッグの魔法

Tornado Magic: トルネードの魔法

Chameleon Magic: カメレオンの魔法

Sky-Flying Magic: 空とぶの魔法

• While Valkyrie and Kurino are choosing a spell to cast, they are completely impervious to damage as long as they're choosing a spell to cast. This also holds true in the remake of "Valkyrie no Bouken" for PSX.
• It is possible to control the height of your jump. Just like any true platforming game, simply give the jump button a gentle tap to hop. A full-on press will give the player a completely fulfilled jump.
• Baba-sama usually gives out one magic spell per round. Be sure to try to find her in reach level.
• The technique known as Flame-Slicing from "Valkyrie no Bouken" has made it into this game as well! Valkyrie and Kurino can slice at projectiles such as Boomerangs from Tattas and Spears from Goblins just before impact in order to deflect them.
• Money is your best friend. Money comes in tiers, too. The most common form is the typical gold coin ( ). Then there is the white money bag with the dollar sign on it ( ). They can come in large and small sizes, too. Obviously, the larger pieces yield more money. Larger money generally drops off of bosses and monsters that are tougher to defeat.

  Kurino Sandra's home territory, Sandland. The adventure opens with the Goddess imploring Valkyrie and Kurino [if there's a 2nd player present for a two-player cooperative adventure] to seek out the Golden Seed that once brought joy to Marvel Land, but is now causing grief due to the power struggle to obtain it.

  The duo bravely make their descent to the earth below and are greeted by a wave of rogue Tattas wielding boomerangs. A small skirmish ensues on a cobblestone road. Next, the two heroes navigate a swamp. Avoiding Sorchikis and Chameleons, then making their way across a swamp by hopping from lily pad to lily pad in an effort to reach solid ground.

  A young girl, bound by ropes is being assaulted by a Red Demon ( ).

  "Stubborn girl! Where's the Golden Seed?!" The creature shouts, then noticing Valkyrie. "Eh...? Who're you? I'll destroy anyone who gets in my way!"
 

  Now within the depths of Mount Alsandra, Valkyrie and Kurino make their way north. A road sign stands in front of them with Zuhl camped out in front of it. Either road will inevitably take you to the same destination, but for the sake of argument, I usually go right because it's faster.

  The left route will have you work your way around to the left, up, then back right in a " C " shape. On the road there'll be numerous goblins, a lava spring with red demons that hop out of it, but there will also be a treasure chest with a weapon inside. When you finally make your way back towards the right, you'll have to platform your way across into the open air. Watch out for Fly Drills that will try to knock you off. You'll stop midway on the platforms and engage in a sub-boss fight with a Red Dragon that snakes its way through the air.

  The right route forces you to walk through a sand pit and fight a Scissors monster. Killing it will make it drop large amounts of gold.

  Going in either path will eventually bring you back to the same point ahead where the road meets again.
 

  Things will get a little dicey here. The path forks again, but only temporarily. The fatter path on the left has a bunch of rolling logs that will flatten Valkyrie and Kurino. The right, skinnier path is enemy free--plus Zuhl will be waiting at the end... Along with a flock of Fly Drills. Get what you want from Zuhl and keep on going.

  The path will turn to the west, and the rolling logs will be replaced by rolling and bouncing flames. There will also be Goblins to contend with, so watch out for them. At the end of the road, there will be a Scissors waiting for you, so knock it out for some more big money. After you fight the Scissors, head north and there'll be another moving platform with a still platform after it. Now here's where the road forks and Valkyrie & Kurino are left with some choices.
 

  "It's dangerous down there! Do be careful, you two!" the Fairy warned the duo. "Climb down this ladder and escape through the underground! Baba-sama is in a rock cave somewhere down below. If you find her, she can help you with another spell."

  Things are starting to heat up! Literally!

  Right off the bat, you'll encounter Zuhl. He's just waiting to take all that hard-earned loot you got off of the Boss Trent. Might as well give him what he wants! Continue northward. Beware of the Goblins and the Masks, which will appear out of the walls and shoot out a stream of flames. If you're quick on your feet, you can avoid the Masks no problem. There's a treasure here you might not want to overlook.

  There are a few red treasure chests and some forks in the road. Get the chests if you like, but make sure that you head North, no matter what! Valkyrie and Kurino can get the Eternal Sword and Eternal Trident here.

  Once you've headed north as far as you can, do you notice something strange? Look at the wall. It's cracked! Strike it down with your weapon and pass on through. There'll be a floor with lava and platforms--but there'll also be another cracked wall directly north. Break that down and talk to the young woman inside to get the Eternal Sword / Trident.
 

  Two treasure chests will spawn that contain money after defeating Magma Doksas.
 

  Valkyrie and Kurino make their way towards the fortified sea base--which is exactly what it is. Move north, along the small islets of land and the wooden log bridges. Along the way, there'll be small ferry ships with Goblins aboard them. These Goblins are stationary and will throw spears at Valkyrie. You can either snipe them from the main land or jump aboard their ships [which you will have to do at some point anyway] and take them out in good old-fashioned close combat.

  Up north, you'll run into a Talos that will simply interrogate you briefly then let you go. Head up north further and you'll find an interesting character.

  It's the Quiz Phantom ( ). He'll ask you a random question about basic trivia in the game that can be answered in a multiple choice, "A, B, or C" style. Failing a question will make you lose one Max Heart (if you have one). Continue north afterwards.

  You'll happen upon a group of Robotians ( ) that will attack by shooting laser beams from their eyes.
 

  A Robotian can still attack if its head is not completely destroyed. Anyway, moving on! To the north, you'll meet a rather dopey-looking young man who'll tell you to "Jump from the spoon!" ... Hmm. That'll come into play in a bit, but for now, head east from him.

  There will be more Robotians along the way, followed by a group of Dadattas ( ) wielding their Morning Stars. The road will curve from eastward bound to north as this is taking place. While heading north, go east when you can. Keep going east until you come to... well... a wooden spoon. As the young man mentioned earlier, you must stand on the wooden spoon and hit the Jump button. Valkyrie and Kurino will be catapulted clear across the map from east to the west--leaping over the castle below in the process [as revealed in the picture above].

  Once you land back down, on the west side this time, there will be a group of red Kaoxes to greet you. Get rid of them and head north. You'll find Zuhl here to greet you. Do what you need to do and keep going north. This time, you will have to cross a series of moving platforms across a bed of spikes. Be very careful! Keep making your way north. Once you're off the moving platforms, Valkyrie and Kurino will be greeted by a wave of Dadattas. Get by them and follow the road as it curves east. There'll be a group of blue Kaoxes this time. Get by them and you will come to a fork in the road with a wooden door to the north. Go through the door to the north and there will be another wooden spoon. Jump off of it and you'll be flung south in the air--right over several beds of spikes and into a Scissors sand pit [they're on the left side of the picture above].
 

	After dealing with the Scissors, head east a bit and you should soon find yourself in front of the very base of the castle. There will be three doorways. Have Valkyrie and Kurino enter the center one. Right off the bat, you'll find Zuhl!   As far as I know, this is the only time Zuhl will sell the Red Dress for Valkyrie and Red Armor for Kurino.
So this is a perfect opportunity to buy the item. Anyway, leave Zuhl's shop and continue inside this room. We're going to get Valkyrie and Kurino the Tornado Magic.   There are three types of treasure chests in this room. The room is a prison with three cells. First go left and avoid the Goblins. Open the red treasure chest ( ) that holds a Golden Key ( ). Head north from the red treasure chest and open the cell door [the first one from the left]. Speak to the young lady waiting inside the cell ( ), and she'll give you a letter ( ) that she wants you to give to Baba-sama in the next round, the Ruined Village.

  This will insure that you'll be able to get the Chameleon Magic in the next stage. Now, exit the cell and head to the far right side of the room. Open the green treasure chest for a free Wide Beam Shot weapon. And then head into the cell directly north from the green treasure chest [the prison cell first from the right this time]. You'll meet Baba-sama again, and this time she'll give you the Tornado Magic. You'll automatically be teleported back outside in front of the three doorways again. Enter the left or the right one. The path is pretty linear from here. If you enter the doorway on the left, you'll be heading across the bridge on the right. Vice-versa if you entered the right-side door.

  Either way, you'll be high up above the castle now, in the skies. Make your way towards the center, avoiding Kaoxes which will be there or not depending on difficulty. Have Valkyrie and Kurino make their way towards the slide. They'll slide down in a very silly way and land on the top half of the castle this time. Open the treasure chests and get some money if you like. Then head inside for your face-off with Elecman.
 

  Valkyrie and Kurino disembark from their ship and arrive back on the mainland. Make your way north, as usual. It's pretty apparent that the climate is beginning to change as Valkyrie and Kurino make their way north. Hop across the small ice bergs to continue north. You'll find a small graveyard like area--A group of Talos will begin to assault you. Deal with them and move north. There will be a group of Honorians guarding six treasure chests. Jack the treasure chests for all they're worth and head into the pit just north of you. The pit is filled with endlessly spawning earthworms. Get out of the pit from the north side, and you'll find Zuhl in a small hut-like structure. Get what you want from him.

  Since we're at a fork in the road at this point, I'll give you an idea as to where to go from here. Both paths fork away from each other then come back. The right path has you run a gauntlet of Talos monsters everywhere. While the left path has another Earthworm Pit, followed by a small gauntlet of blue Honorians.

  Chose either side and continue north.
 

  Immediately, Valkyrie and Kurino will be surrounded and assaulted by not only blue Honorians, but black Fly Drills as well. These Fly Drills drop bombs, so watch out.

  Head up north past the ice pillars and into the ice-covered hallway up ahead. You'll eventually come to a hall with three gray doors. Enter the first gray door to the north [the center door]. Behind the door is Zuhl. Shop for what ever you need, then exit the room and head into the room on the far right side.

  Once inside, head north and work your way up past the enemies, then once you get to the dead end, enter the door on the left side wall. There will be a treasure chest with a Penetrating Drill Shot inside. Snag it if you like. You can also break the wall to the north of the treasure chest to find a room with four more treasure chests. Two contain Honorians and Kaoxes, and the other two contain an Additional Heart Container and a Book of Magic. Get what you want and go back to the room with the treasure chest that had the Penetrating Drill Shot. Keep going into the room to the left.
 

  This hallway has sliding ice blocks, and blue Honorians. But there will be a door to the north side wall. Don't go in yet! Go to the hallway all the way at the end and pop open the treasure chest for a Time Hourglass. Now you can go in the door on the north side wall.
 

  The Snow Bird will fly around the arena. There will be slightly elevated platforms strewn about the battle field, hop on top of them and jump in the air, shooting the Snow Bird from a higher elevation. The Snow Bird is often out of Valkyrie and Kurino's reach, so you'll need to do this. The most effective way of defeating the boss is to use Big Magic, then follow up with Tornado Magic. The combination will result in a large Valkyrie Tornado. The Snow Bird will fly around and drop icicles and stalactites on Valkyrie and Kurino--the typical "spikes from above" attack. Dodge these and keep up the damage and you'll be fine.

  Defeat the Snow Bird and you'll have rescued the last fairy. The fairy of Water ( ) !

  Not much longer now...

  We're winding down to the end, folks! Head north from the starting point and navigate by hopping along the ice bergs. Watch out for the Mini Twins [as shown in the picture] and other monstrous hazards.

  The dark thunderclouds are probably the biggest annoyance here, in conjunction with the moving ice floes. Exercise as much patience as you can and make your way to the north to the mainland.

  Once you're on the mainland, talk to Sphinmoth, who tells you that in order to pass him you must fight him in one of two ordeals.

  A ) A Physical Test.
  B ) A Mental Test.
  C ) Give Up.

  If you want the last spell in the game, choose to give up.
 

  The easiest way to get around this is to take the Physical Test, wait for the enemies to spawn, and use the Chameleon Magic. It'll turn the enemies into weak Goblins and Talos which can be killed in about one hit.

  Completing either ordeal will earn your victory for this round. Finally, Valkyrie and Kurino will have reached the Northern Spring...
 

  This is it! The Final Round! Time to finish this once and for all!

  Start by heading north, as always. Watch out for the flowers that will attack you by launching their buds at you. Keep heading north and hop across the moving platform. When you reach the next section, you'll be encircled by a group of eight blue Demons. Fight them off, and once you've killed them, head west and get ready for one of the most aggravating parts of the game.

  Leapfrog across multiple moving platforms and make your way west. On the other side, head north while back on the main land. You'll have to fight off a few waves of gold Robotians and Dadattas. Once you've reached the end of the land, prepare to head east and hop across a couple of moving boats.

  Some of the boats will have purple Goblins on board, so be sure to deal with them before you try to jump across. Otherwise you're going to get knocked off and teleported back to solid ground where you initially jumped from.
 

  The path is fairly linear. There will be more goblins, blue demons, followed by a moving platform that you'll have to jump across to another island. The next island to the west has Honorians, and green Trents that drop MP orbs. If you want to fill your magic a bit then just kill a few of these. There are also treasure chests. Some hold weapons, and the other have Kaoxes and Honorians, so open with caution.

  The path will curve to the Northeast again. Follow it and watch out for Thunderclouds and flowers that will attack you. Jump across another moving platform onto another island. This island is filled with even more monsters that want Valkyrie and Kurino dead. But there are two treasure chests. One of them holds a Four-Way Shot. This is a large piece of land, so continue making your way northeast until you find a red and a green treasure chest. Just north of the two items are another series of moving platforms. Leapfrog across those, heading north until you reach the next island. This part is the biggest nuisance, because there's about 7 or more platforms or so. If you fall here, you need to start from the main land again. Once you reach the other side, you'll finally be at the actual sinking point of the Northern Spring...
 

  As the fight rages on, Kamüz's face will grow meaner and meaner. When Kamüz's face transformed into an overly long-horned beast, that's when he's on his last legs and really begins to struggle. Give him all you've got!
 

   ~The End~