History VideoGame / TheLegendOfValkyrie

''The Legend of Valkyrie'' (''Valkyrie no Densetsu'') is a series of Japan-only games developed by [[Creator/BandaiNamcoEntertainment Namco]]. The first game in the series, ''Valkyrie no Bōken: Toki no Kagi Densetsu'' (''The Adventure of Valkyrie: The Legend of the Time Key''), was released for the [[UsefulNotes/NintendoEntertainmentSystem Famicom]] in 1986. It was notable at the time for being one of Namco's first games to feature a female lead, following ''[[VideoGame/TheTowerOfDruaga The Return of Ishtar]]''[='=]s Ki and ''VideoGame/{{Baraduke}}''[='s=] Kissy. It was also an early example of RPGElements (such as ExperiencePoints and stat growth) and a WideOpenSandbox style of gameplay in what was nominally a top-down action game. The game's release date was mere months after ''VideoGame/TheLegendOfZeldaI'', but while the two games share many gameplay aspects in common, ''Valkyrie no Bōken'' is even more open-ended, providing little in the way of concrete goals.

* XRaySparks: If your character is electrocuted by an attack, you'll see their skeleton briefly.

* ADogNamedDog:
** Sabine is sometimes merely referred to by her species name, "Quarkman".
** Kurino gets this too, often being referred to as merely "Sandra."

As part of Namco-Bandai's Website/ShiftyLook project, the game also received a web comic called ''Webcomic/LegendOfTheValkyrie''; examples applying to it can be found on that page.

* ManOnFire: Honorians are these, although they're implied to be living fire rather than people caught aflame.

* NintendoHard: The Spinoff starring Whirlo/Kurino. Whirlo is a one hit point wonder, all of his attacks will leave him vulnerable if you miss, and the levels are full of hazards and near pizzle perfect traps, while the bosses will make the most of the fact they only need to hit you once to win. The only mercy is the unlimited continues

* NonStandardGameOver: The spinoff game starring Whirlo/Kurino has FIVE of them.
* OneHitPointWonder: In the spinoff game Whirlo/Kurino will die in one hit.

** The name for the purple hood-wearing race of people is ''Koakuman''[[note]]''koaku'' meaning little devil[[/note]] in Japan, and ''Quarkman'' in the US. Given how outlandish the word "quark" is, it certainly fits their appearance.
* DealWithTheDevil: In ''Whirlo''/''Kurino no Daibōken'', you can submit to Zouna instead of fighting him, sparing his family at the cost of pledging yourself to him down the line. While he honours the letter of the agreement, letting Kurino go and giving him back his family, since everyone else is dead and the land infected, Kurino's family slowly starves, then he slowly starves, only for Zouna to return and turn him into his minion. He even calls you a fool when you accept his offer.

* DealWithTheDevil: In ''Whirlo''/''Kurino no Daibōken'', you can submit to Zouna instead of fighting him, sparing his family at the cost of pledging yourself to him down the line. While he honours the letter of her agreement, letting Kurino go and giving him back his family, since everyone else is dead and the land infected, Kurino's family slowly starves, then he slowly starves, only for Zouna to collect and turn him into a minion. He even calls you a fool when you accept his offer.

* DealWithTheDevil: You can submit to Zouna instead of fighting her, sparing your family at the cost of pledging yourself to her down the line. [[spoiler: While she honours the letter of her agreement, letting Kurino go and giving him back his family, since everyone else is dead and the land infected, Kurinos family slowly starves, then he slowly starves, only for her to collect and turn him into a minion. She even calls you a fool when you accept her offer.]]

* FissionMailed: In Whirlo/Kurino's game [[spoiler: The good ending will start playing the same sad music and having Demon Lord Zouna gloating and turning you into a minion as in the various gameovers... however the music suddenly changes when Valkyrie shows up and saves you]]

* ReforgedIntoAMinion: Happens in Kurino's game. [[spoiler: Even in the good ending. The only difference being the Valkyrie comes along and saves you and your family]]

* VideoGameCrueltyPotential: In Whirlo/Kurino's game you get several chances to leave a certain someone to die, become a marauding pirate, steal from the Princess, and sell your people out to the demonlord.
** VideoGameCrueltyPunishment: [[spoiler:All of them lead to a different NonstandardGameOver]]

* AmericanKirbyIsHardcore: Like ''Video/{{Ristar}}'' before it, the localized ''Whirlo'' gives the protagonist angry-eyes in most of his sprites.

* AmbidextrousSprite: In official artwork, Valkyrie holds her shield in her left hand and her sword in her right. In-game, it can flip depending on which direction she's facing.

** VideoGameCrueltyPunishment: [[spoiler:All of them to a different NonstandardGameOver]]

* FissionMailed: In Whirlo/Kurino's game [[Spoiler: The good ending will start playing the same sad music and having Demon Lord Zouna gloating and turning you into a minion as in the various gameovers... however the music suddenly changes when Valkyrie shows up and saves you]]