Valis: The Fantasm Soldier

version Valis: The Fantasm Soldier is an action-platform game starring Yuko Asou, a Japanese schoolgirl teenager who is fated to protect three different realms – the Earth, the land of spirits, and the dream world Vecanti. The demon lord Rogles extinguishes a light, which acts as a source of power for the inhabitants of Vecanti. In a desperate plea for salvation, the queen of Vecanti, Valia, reaches out for a brave soul who can help them in their time of despair, with Yuko being the one who answers the call. Yuko is magically summoned into becoming the Valis warrior by wielding the titular sword to liberate Vecanti from the evil of Rogles. Yuko's classmate, Reiko Kirishima, is brainwashed by Rogles into helping him and destroy Yuko. Gameplay varies depending on the platform, but each version retains the same basic plot; in the original MSX, PC-8801 and X1 versions, as well as the FM-7 and PC-9801 ports, Valis is a side-scrolling game where the player controls Yuko to fight through each level's enemies while jumping across ledges, exploring and searching for items and power-ups, before confronting a boss at the end of each level to increase Yuko's maximum health and attributes. At certain points in the game, gameplay pauses, and cinematic cutscenes play regarding the game's plot. The Family Computer version differs considerably from the other versions, being more akin to a side-scrolling action role-playing game. It is a more difficult game due to its larger maze-style levels with multiple paths, and a lack of a password or save feature. The Mega Drive/Genesis remake exhibits a gameplay system more similar to later games in the Valis series, particularly Valis III; the d-pad moves the main character and three buttons allow Yuko to perform three actions: sliding, jumping, and swinging her sword, which can be upgraded three times. The player can also use magic spells, gaining them after defeating bosses. The PC Engine Super CD-ROM² remake features changes to the gameplay system (e.g. single high jumps instead of two-phase jumps, a sliding move damaging enemies) and voiced cutscenes. The mobile phone version further added new stages and alternate costumes. == Development ==

Valis: The Fantasm Soldier was developed over the course of half a year by Wolf Team, an internal gaming subsidiary of Telenet Japan founded in 1986. It was co-produced by conceptual designer Hiroki Hayashi and Yukio Mitsuhashi, both of whom acted as co-designers and co-scenario writers as well. Masahiro Akishino provided additional scenario support and served as programmer of the PC-8801 version. Former Compile staffer Tomoki Anazawa and Masayasu Yamamoto served as main programmers for the MSX and X1 versions respectively. The idea originated from Sukeban Deka, particularly the live-action television adaptation, as both Akishino and Ikegame were fans of the series. The game was kept secret within Telenet, but when the company learned of its existence, they approved development to continue. Hayashi used his novel as reference for the game's plot and worldview, which was written in parallel with Shoujo Furyou Densetsu. Yokota joined Telenet after being introduced to a senior staffer via an acquaintance and applying for a job interview. Yokota particularly cited the story and visual design of Valis as his reasons to join Telenet. Due to the Family Computer having limited memory compared to home computers and the available memory mapper chips (MMC) being a concern, Yokota implemented a mirroring technique to reuse sprites in order to create the graphics. Because the original version featured multi-directional scrolling not possible on the Family Computer, and games on the platform at that time had either vertical or horizontal scrolling, Yokota and the staff were forced to take a different approach. The team added changes and revisions to the game's design, introducing an exploration component and more complex maps to deepen its gameplay. Yokota has since regarded the Family Computer version to be a remake rather than a port. == Release ==

Valis: The Fantasm Soldier was first published for the MSX in Japan on November 26, 1986, by Telenet Japan. It was followed by conversions for the PC-8801 and X1 computers on December of that year, as well as for FM-7 and PC-9801 computers in 1987. These versions were handled by Wolf Team. In 1991, a remake of Valis for the Sega Mega Drive/Genesis was developed and published in Japan by Riot, another game development division of Telenet. This version features character artwork by Osamu Nabeshima. In 1992, an enhanced remake for the PC Engine Super CD-ROM² was also developed and published by Riot. The MSX version was first re-released in digital form for Microsoft Windows through D4 Enterprise's Project EGG service and the i-Revo store front. The Genesis and PC Engine remakes were also re-released digitally on Project EGG. The PC-88 version was re-released via Project EGG as well. The game is found in the Valis: The Fantasm Soldier Complete compilation for Windows, published by Bothtec in 2004 under a limited run of 2000 copies, which came bundled with a bonus CD and a figure. In 2011, D4 Enterprise re-released the compilation with two additional titles as Valis: The Fantasm Soldier Complete Plus, which came bundled with a CD soundtrack instead. The PC Engine remake was made available by Konami as part of the "PC Engine Archives" line on PlayStation Network in 2010, and was given away for free to Japanese PlayStation Plus subscribers in 2014. In 2021, the media company Edia announced reprints of Valis and its two sequels for the PC Engine to commemorate the series' 35th anniversary. The PC Engine remake and its two follow-ups were re-released physically and digitally as part of Valis: The Fantasm Soldier Collection for the Nintendo Switch in Japan by Edia on December 9. The physical edition of the collection is also planned for an English localization by Limited Run Games. This version was later re-released separately through the Nintendo eShop by Edia first in Japan on February 10, 2022, and later in Europe and North America on March. The Genesis remake was included in the Renovation Collection 1 compilation released by Blaze Entertainment for Evercade, and was also included along with the MSX version as part of Valis: The Fantasm Soldier Collection II for Switch. That same year, publisher Retro-Bit announced a re-release of the Genesis remake as part of a collection. The MSX and Genesis versions were later re-released separately via eShop by Edia in Japan on December 22. In 2023, the PC-8801 and Family Computer versions were included as part of Valis: The Fantasm Soldier Collection III for Switch. In 2024, Edia released the Valis: The Fantasm Soldier Collection on Steam. Other media The release of Valis was supplemented by a manga adaptation in Tokuma Shoten's Wanpaku Comic magazine that ran between September and October 1987, written and illustrated by Susumu Kobayashi. To promote the Family Computer version, a three-minute anime short by Sunrise, directed by Hideaki Anno and Katsuhiko Nishijima, featuring music by Kohei Tanaka, was included in the November 1987 issue of the VHD magazine Anime Vision. The videogame was featured as a central plot element in the 1987 movie, Pleasure Kill (暴行本番) by Hisayasu Satō. It received an album containing the original soundtrack and other Telenet titles, distributed in Japan by King Records in 1988. It was one of several video games adapted by Kouta Hirano into a manga titled Susume!! Hijirigaku Dennou Kenkyuu Bu, published by Shinseisha as part of their Gamest Comics collection on April 25, 1999. Between 2007 and 2008, Hiroki Hayashi published three doujinshi books at Comiket under the pseudonym "PiXEL". In 2011, an album containing orchestral arrangements of the game's music was released by Wave Master. In 2022, Kobayashi's manga adaptation was reissued by Tokuma Shoten as an ebook. == Reception ==

Valis: The Fantasm Soldier garnered mixed reception from critics, most of which reviewed the MSX version as an import title. According to Masayasu Yamamoto, it sold "very well" and was listed as one of the best-selling games in 1987 rankings. Arcades Laurence Le Gentil found it to be a poorly designed and difficult game, criticizing the jerky movement, language barrier and enemy sprites for being "almost transparent", but commended its fast-pacing and music. Echoing a similar opinion as MSX Magazine, MSX Gids Alfred Debels and José Herps praised the visuals, sound and overall quality. The Family Computer version received an 18.17 out of 30 score in a public poll taken by Family Computer Magazine. In a retrospective outlook, Hardcore Gaming 101s Sam Derboo highlighted its cinematic cutscenes and chiptune music, but ultimately found the original computer versions unplayable. Derboo further described the Family Computer version as a competent but frustrating action role-playing game. Famitsus four reviewers felt that it closely followed the Family Computer version. Sega Visions regarded it as a fun game, citing its large bosses and cinematics. They also praised the audiovisual presentation, but felt it lacked the depth and challenge compared to other action games, and noted that the slow movement of both Yuko and her enemies may alienate experienced players. Sega Pro wrote that "it's not worth bothering with this cart (...). If you must, dig it out for a laugh." Derboo of Hardcore Gaming 101 opined that "Valis on the Genesis isn't a bad game, definitely leagues above the original, but still not particularly enjoyable. It's just so slow and boring." Jacques Harbonn of Consoles + commended the presentation for its animated cutscenes, graphics, Yuko's animations and soundtrack, but criticized the lack of additional gameplay options, underdeveloped backgrounds, and issues with the jumping mechanic for interfering with combat. IGNs Lucas M. Thomas placed it as number six among his top ten list of TurboGrafx titles not released on the Virtual Console. Retro Gamers Rory Milne highlighted it as "arguably the best" entry in the series. Derboo from Hardcore Gaming 101 regarded it as the most well-executed game in the series, however he wrote that "It's still a bit too derivative and pedestrian to be counted among the genre greats like Castlevania and Ninja Gaiden, but at least very, very high second tier." == Legacy ==

Valis: The Fantasm Soldier spawned a series of three sequels released during the fourth generation of video game consoles: Valis II (1989), Valis III (1990), and Valis IV (1991). Outside of video games, a four-volume Valis manga series by the artist ZOL was published by Kill Time Communication and featured in the seinen manga magazine Comic Valkyrie between 2007 and 2012. In 2023, an homage to the series titled Violet Wisteria was developed by KaniPro Games and released for Windows (via Steam), followed by versions for Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X and Series S published by Eastasiasoft in 2024. == Notes ==