Life And Death In The World Of Valkyrie Profile

Valkyrie Profile: Covenant of the Plume and Valkyrie Profile: Lenneth have contrast stories. Both the protagonists, and the atmosphere of both games, seems contradictory and such a case can be made for Valkyrie Profile: Lenneth being a game about life and Valkyrie Profile: Covenant of the Plume being about death.

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< Editor’s note: Since this article analyzes the stories of Valkyrie Profile: Lenneth and Valkyrie Profile: Covenant of the Plume it contains spoilers. Please make a note of this before reading further. >

 

It’s ironic when you first think about it. After all, the heroine of Valkyrie Profile: Lenneth is Lenneth, a Valkyrie who’s task is to gather the souls of the dead. Yet, when she performs this task, it isn’t a totally morbid affair. The people who are being chosen as einherjar are, in a way, being given a second chance at life. This idea is further perpetuated when Lenneth sends one of her einherjar to Asgard – she receives progress reports telling how their new lives are going. If you factor in the Good, canon ending of Valkyrie Profile: Lenneth, this solidifies the idea since Lenneth gains the power of creation.

 

 

In contrast, Wylfred is an anti-hero. Depending on what path you choose while playing, he can be a dark soul who’s willing to sacrifice the lives of those who’ve come to trust him just so he can come one step closer to killing Lenneth. Quite a few of the people Wylfred joins forces with are even close to death due events in their lives. Rather than giving his party members a chance at a new future and life, they become potential fodder for Wylfred’s vengeful intentions. Since end-notes after the Normal or Bad endings provide information that pertains to Valkyrie Profile: Lenneth, a case can be made that one of these two endings is canon. In each, Wylfred is forced to sacrifice allies and there is a tragic consequence in each end.

 

The Lenneth-life-Wylfred-death thesis can be seen as the games progress, as well. In Valkyrie Profile: Covenant of the Plume, Artolia is falling apart as the story progresses, royal brothers are being turned against each other and wars are tearing apart the countries. There is near constant fighting.

 

As a result, most of Wylfred’s allies/plume fodder are men and women on the brink of death due to the sides they chose to support in battle or the decision to abandon a hazardous way of life

 

Valkyrie Profile: Lenneth’s world isn’t happy and peaceful, but it’s slightly better off. There isn’t constant warfare, and some villages and areas even are able to enjoy peace. Though violence tends to claim the lives of her einherjar, when they join Lenneth they seem to receive a second chance to make up for what has happened to them.

 

In addition, after joining Lenneth something good tends to happen for einherjar who cared about her. Yumei, Jun, Kashell, Shiho, Belenus, Lewellyn and Nanami are good examples of this.

 

 

Valkyrie Profile: Lenneth conveys a hopeful, “life after death” message to players and its heroine, Lenneth, is a sort of savior who is rescuing souls to give them a second chance. Valkyrie Profile: Covenant of the Plume offers a conflicting view, where players have to choose to sacrifice Wylfred’s trusting companions so he can have the chance to kill Lenneth for doing her job. Because of this unusual combination, the games compliment each other well. If you play Valkyrie Profile: Covenant of the Plume, then Valkyrie Profile: Lenneth, you can feel the natural progression and, depending on which ending you view, see how one game impacts the other.

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Author
Jenni Lada
Jenni is Editor-in-Chief at Siliconera and has been playing games since getting access to her parents' Intellivision as a toddler. She continues to play on every possible platform and loves all of the systems she owns. (These include a PS4, Switch, Xbox One, WonderSwan Color and even a Vectrex!) You may have also seen her work at GamerTell, Cheat Code Central, Michibiku and PlayStation LifeStyle.