Valis: The Fantasm Soldier

Valis: The Fantasm Soldier
MSX cover art
Developer(s)	Telenet Wolf Team (PC98)
Publisher(s)	JP Telenet JP Bandai Networks (S) JP Hudson Soft (PS3) JP Riot (MD) JP Tokuma Shoten (FC) NA Renovation
Series	Valis
Platform(s)	MSX PC-8801, PC-9801, Family Computer, FM-77, Mega Drive/Sega Genesis, PC Engine (Super CD-ROM²), PlayStation 3 (PC Engine Classics), Microsoft Windows, S!Appli, X1
Release date(s)	December 1986 MSX JP December 1986 X1 JP December 1986 FM-77 JP March 1987 PC-9801 JP April 1987 Family Computer JP August 21, 1987 Mega Drive/Sega Genesis JP December 27, 1991 NA 1991 Super CD-ROM² JP March 19, 1992 Microsoft Windows JP September 1, 2002 S!Appli JP May 18, 2005 PlayStation 3 JP December 15, 2010
Genre(s)	Action, Adventure
Mode(s)	Single-player

Valis: The Fantasm Soldier (夢幻戦士 ヴァリス, Mugen Senshi: Varisu, lit."Dream Soldier: Valis") is the first video game in the Valis series. Telenet Japan originally developed and published Valis in 1986 for the MSX and PC-88 home computers. Tokuma Shoten would later release a version for the Famicom in 1987. In 1991, additional publishers Riot (Japan) and Renovation (US) released versions for the Mega Drive (the Sega Genesis in North America). An enhanced remake of the Mega Drive version was also released for the PC Engine's Super CD-ROM². In 2005, Telnet released another remake of the game, this time for mobile phone platforms in Japan. The game spawned several sequels including Valis II, Valis III, Valis IV. The Valis series stars a Japanese schoolgirl named Yūko Asou (麻生 優子, Asou Yūko), who uses a mystical sword called Valis to defend Earth, the spirit world and the dream world.

Game design

Valis: The Fantasm Soldier is a side-scrolling platformer. Wielding the game's titular sword, the main character fights through each level's enemies while jumping across ledges, then confronts a boss at the end of each level. At certain points in the game, gameplay pauses, and cinema scenes regarding the game's storyline play.

Famicom version

Released only in Japan, the Famicom version of Valis differs considerably from the Mega Drive or CD versions of the game. While the basic plot remains the same, gameplay has moved from linear stage design to larger maze style levels with multiple paths. Because of this, the game's overall difficulty is much higher.

Mega Drive/Genesis version

Like other side-scrolling games of the era, the four D-pad buttons move the character, and the three fire buttons perform three actions for the main character: sliding, jumping, and swinging her sword. The player can view a list of usable magic by pressing the Start button.

Animation

A promotional video was created in order to spread word about the game's release.

External links

• Mugen Senshi Valis (Famicom) guide at StrategyWiki
• Valis at Hardcore Gaming 101