VALIS III
THE FANTASM SOLDIER
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ヴァリスIII
©1990 Sin-Nihon Laser Soft
©Telenet Japan
Release : 1990-9-7 (¥6780)
CDRom² NTJCD00009
Action / Platform game
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Released in America as
VALIS III
( TGXCD1024 )
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Valis III is a side scrolling platform game by Telenet
and was released a year after Valis II. The player takes once again
control of the blue haired Yūko Asao, a young Japanese schoolgirl who
can transform into a Fantasm soldier, thanks to the incredible powers
of her magical sword Valis. Her duty is to protect the world from evil
spirits hidden within other parallel dimensions. Their king, Lord Glames
(aka Ramses), has just risen from the spirit kingdom and has killed two
of the six world guardians. Yūko must stop him before he gains full
control over Dream Land and the rest of the world. The story begins on
Earth - a mysterious young Elfeen tries to steal Yūko's
precious Valis sword in a vain hope to prevent, she says, the coming
apocalypse. She is however followed by horrid demons and gets promptly captured
as she reaches Yuko's house. The Fantasm soldier, still in her
pajamas, rushes to the rescue and grabs the almighty Valis Sword. The
sword is her main weapon, she can slash enemies with it or fire blasts of pure
energy to hit foes beyond Valis's short range. She can also pick up
power-ups and magic powers scattered throughout the game such as
fire knives, freeze and bombs. More characters soon
join the fray, the Elfeen Cham (aka Char) equipped with a
Whip, and Valna (aka Vernal, Yūko's twin sister)
armed with a magic scepter. The player can switch characters at anytime
throughout the game (except during boss encounters) and health/magic levels
are shared between them. Valis III is vast and our heroine will
face countless challenges in this seemingly endless adventure.
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Valis III was also released for the Sega Megadrive (and American Genesis)
in 1991 but lacks most of the animated cutscenes (and voice acting) found in the PC Engine
version. The game is also shorter and some levels are partially truncated. For instance, in the
PC Engine version, players go cross a series of cliffs, a large waterfall and a mini boss
before reaching the boatman. This part is completely missing from the Megadrive version.
The same applies to a large water area right before the Bell of Justice, and there are
even more level differences later in the game - some bosses have different attack patterns
and some look completely different such as the sorcerer at the top of the tower where
Valna is kept prisoner.
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Teaser text from the american version:
Once again, you must unleash the fury of the legendary Valis sword! Ramses,
fiendish lord of the Spirit World, has begun his invasion. As Yuko, you
must battle the bloodthirsty forces that would annihilate your people. But this time,
you are not alone! You can transform yourself into fierce allies with their own
devastating weapons. Become Char to slash the deadly archer with your
bladed whip! As Vernal, hurl your Death Cube at the vicious scorpion. Attack
with the magic of fire, ice , and thunder. Then risk death in a duel with Ramses
himself, as you uncover his secret plot to possess Valis and rule the universe!
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Teaser text from the american game manual:
It has been long since Yuko raised the mighty
sword Valis in a heroic struggle to restore peace
to her homeland. Now a new and more terrible
threat has arisen!
Ramses, evil lord of the Spirit World, has
invaded the ancient Dream World of Vecanti.
He has vowed the destruction of all who live
there and on earth, to capture those worlds for
his own domain.
Once again, Yuko must unleash the fury of Valis
in mortal combat to save her people. But this
time, she won't be alone! Vernal, Yuko's twin
and Princess of Vecanti, joins the battle.
Char, who's father was murdered by Ramses,
fights to exact her revenge. But, will even
they be enough to overcome the heinous forces
of Ramses and foil his secret plot to capture
Valis and rule the universe ? Their fate is in
your hands!
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Game Staff (Copied from the American version's end credits) :
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< Visual Staff >
Author
Y. Ohayashi
Scenario
B. Matui
Continuity
O. Nabesima
Character
V. Endou
Boban.Grand
Picture
Tosiman
V. Endou
Y. Satoh
R. Kawabata
A. Yamazaki
K. Kobayashi
Picture
M. Arai
J. Asou
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Program
Junpeh
Pochi
Assist
S. Urakami
< Game Staff >
Game Design
Y. Ohayashi
Design Assist
H. Nisida
Character
M.I.Terao
Borban.Grand
A. Yamazaki
Picture
A. Yamazaki
Manma
Chinpui
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Program
M. Hanari
Composers
H. Inoue
J. Hasabe
S. Murakami
Efect & Recording
M. Yuasa
S. Murakami
< Marketing >
T. Kinosita
S. Nisida
Y. Higasiura
A. Hirano
S. Nakagawa
M. Aoyama
T. Simizu
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Thanks to:
Business Sup
Taback
Manual Writer
S. Kimura
Y. Tokumori
IKE2
Thanks to:
NEC HE
Hudson
K. Fukusima
Producer
M. hanari
Director
M. Nakamura
Presented by
Telenet Japan Co., Ltd.
©Telenet Japan
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G
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Japanese VHS Tape
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Japanese Soundtrack
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Click on picture to enlarge |
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LK
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Add your Pov here !
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P
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It's really hard to grade Valis III. There are so many great things
about it, and so many terrible things. The introduction sequence and all
the full-screen cutscenes/cinematics are incredible. All the in-game graphics,
despite not being outstanding, are memorable and really well designed. You'll
visit finely crafted and unusual worlds while brawling through a cast of
memorable enemies and stages. But there is a caveat. Valis III is
painfully frustrating and the difficulty is often unbalanced. This game
will leave you pulling your hair out of your head, like trying to jump
onto the same damn platform for the 78th time and failing by one pixel!
Valis III is like that, tons of fun moments and tons of
irritating ones. At the end, you either love it or leave it, but I
personally think it is one of the best (if not the best) Valis
game out there, with an incredibly rich storyline and an immersive
universe to delve into. Finally, my only problem with the American
version is the attrocious voice acting and the appalling cover
art (see the omake section). What were they thinking ?
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