Tried to play Vallis III again... and failed.

[reson8er]

I've had this game for years, and 've always started it only to put it down almost immediately.  Thing is I forgot why I put it down every time, so last night wanted to play an action game and thought hey let me give Valis III a go again.

I absolutely hate the jumping. I got to the part in the second stage that requires you to jump 3 smallish rock ledges in a row, and the game requires that you use the high jump (which is Up + Jump) to do so. I could't do it after 10 minutes of trying, and gave up again. I know 10 minutes doesn't sound like much, but when its death after death it became a bit much.

Does anyone have any advice for this? Does it get much worse later in the game? If so, I may never play this game again.

[bob]

Jumping has made me put it down time and time again as well.  I eventually muscled through it, never beat the game, but got used to the mechanics.
I beat Valis II a couple weeks ago and really enjoyed that all the way through.

[reson8er]

Does anyone have any advice for this? Does it get much worse later in the game? If so, I may never play this game again.

I had trouble with that part, too, but then i grew some balls and got past it.

(actually, i believe if you switch characters a slide maneuver becomes available and you can just slide over the gaps in question... if we're talking about the same part)

Holy cow, awesome! I will definately try that. I used to be able to grow a pair and muscle through, but now a days, with so many games, its too easy to move on. I usually man up if its a challenge thing, but mechanics are a real bummer since they are essential to the game.

Thanks!

[esteban]

Yes, sliding is the way to go.   

This is good stage design: more than one solution, but experimentation reveals "better" and "easier" paths...

[csgx1]

...Does it get much worse later in the game?...

Yes, level 5 for me was a bitch to get passed.  I almost gave up after dying countless times.  Keep at it, it's a great game that's definitely worth playing through.

[reson8er]

...Does it get much worse later in the game?...

Yes, level 5 for me was a bitch to get passed.  I almost gave up after dying countless times.  Keep at it, it's a great game that's definitely worth playing through.

Can't say I'm looking forward to level 5 lol, but will keep at it, I like the game and now that Nulltard opened my eyes to the multi char/ability pathing, I will definitely try powering through the tough parts.

[geise]

LOL the water level is fun.

[esteban]

BVE.


Best Valis Ever.

[Dyna138]

The water level where you have to freeze enemies to make them platforms so you can jump over gaps is a nightmare, good luck with that one! I eventually completed Valis III, but it was frustrating and not worth the stress in the end. I think it's only an average game at best. I'll deal with some frustration for games like Castlevania and Contra cause they are usually fantastic and worth mastering, but Valis never felt it was worth the trouble.

I read that the Genesis version of Valis III is better I'd like to try it out one day.

[reson8er]

The water level where you have to freeze enemies to make them platforms so you can jump over gaps is a nightmare, good luck with that one! I eventually completed Valis III, but it was frustrating and not worth the stress in the end. I think it's only an average game at best. I'll deal with some frustration for games like Castlevania and Contra cause they are usually fantastic and worth mastering, but Valis never felt it was worth the trouble.

I read that the Genesis version of Valis III is better I'd like to try it out one day.

Hopefully by the time I get there I'll have a grasp on the mechanics enough not to pull out any hair.

[termis]

I *immediately* thought you're going to have fun with the water level.  But hey, folks here already gave you good tips -- You can only use one of the characters to realistically get past it - can't recall which one off top of my head...  Still, I must've spent hours & hours on that one part.

[ToyMachine78]

All the valis  games are frustrating as hell! I hate level 2 in Valis 1. You gotta beat the the cat and the flying bitch! I hate it

[ClodBusted]

I've played Valis 1 until the final boss and found the game to be challenging, but clearly beatable. It's important to memorize enemy patterns, level designs and using the right special attacks in later boss battles.

There are harder and way more unfair games out there, but Valis games seem to be no walk in the park either. I find the four PCE Valis titles fairly enjoyable as Castlevania clones with some T&A.

[geise]

I played Valis III on Genesis before I bought it on the Turbo.  The Turbo version has way better cinemas of course, and the music is a lot better.  The only  thing I like a bit more about the Genesis version is some of backgrounds for a few of the levels are better.  The parallax scrolling is also nice on the Genesis.  The water level is not in the Genesis version so that probably the main reason they like the Genesis version.  It just goes strait to you needing to ring the bell.  I like both versions but the Turbo is the better of the two all around.  Both have always seem to control about the same, so nothing really changed in the gameplay department.

[termis]

I was in the same boat (I played the genesis, or to be more accurate, MD version first).  I actually got "suckered" into the cinema visuals of this game from one the first Japanese import mags that I bought, and subsequently paid an exorbitant amount ($80 or $90, can't recall...) to buy the import Mega Drive version of the game.

Years later, I played the PCE version, and PCE is for sure has the definitive version(s) of this game - if only because the cutscenes being one of the key selling points about this game, and by default the PCE/TG versions had the best cutscenes because of voices.

But anyway, the difficult water level NOT being in the Genesis weakens that version a bit more IMO.  That's *definitely* the hardest single level in all of Valis series, and beating that level definitely ranks amongst the upper echelons of my classic gaming achievements.

[CrackTiger]

The voice acting in the Genesis version is much better than the Mega Drive and Turbo versions.

The game is also more polished, as it seems be a port of the PCE version and the jumping feels better. Anyone having trouble with the Turbo/PCE versions should try the Genesis version instead.

[TurboXray]

I always wanted to make an easy mode hack for this game. I beat in back in the day, and don't remember it being that difficult, until I revisited it years later. The water is a pain, but once you figured it out - it's passable. The bell ringing part always pisses me off though, as it was easier in the Genesis version.

 I think (IIRC), in the TGCD version you get knocked back more than in the Genesis one (or maybe not at all in the Genesis one).

[SuperDeadite]

For what its worth, the Valis PC collection circa 2000, uses the PCE versions of all 4 games.  So those seem to be the official definitive versions, though personally I adore the X68K version of Valis 2, even though its a terrible game.

[reson8er]

I haven't had a chance to go back after my initial post, because I have been trying to build my PC Engine/Turbo library and keep gravitating to the new shiny games.  Just want to say thanks for all the info and suggestions so far.

[Mishran]

Haven't played the first game. Completed the second and fourth with little trouble. The third Valid is not easy at all, but the final boss battle has always given me problems. After many attempts to finish it, I still put down the controller and walk away in frustration. Getting the health/power boost for your first try only doesn't help either.

But anyway... don't give up on the game just yet. It can be frustrating for sure, but will offer significant satisfaction once you've completed it. And if/when you beat the final boss, you can explain to me what I'm doing wrong. 

[esteban]

For what its worth, the Valis PC collection circa 2000, uses the PCE versions of all 4 games.  So those seem to be the official definitive versions, though personally I adore the X68K version of Valis 2, even though its a terrible game.

Since I am intimately familiar with PCE Valis II, please tell me about the X68000 version (I have some of the tunes from a Valis music soundtrack...that's all I am familiar with). Please share any nuances, no matter how trivial, small or inconsequential. 

Also, if you have any trivia/info on the development history and the composers/arrangers....

 

[esteban]

UPDATE: For folks who want to listen to Valis tunes....the best one, by a mile, is the gloriously quirky synth masterpiece for Valis II PCE. The others pale in comparison.

https://archives.tg-16.com/music_database.htm?col=jp&val=valis

[ClodBusted]

UPDATE: For folks who want to listen to Valis tunes....the best one, by a mile, is the gloriously quirky synth masterpiece for Valis II PCE. The others pale in comparison.

https://archives.tg-16.com/music_database.htm?col=jp&val=valis

Thank you so much! I'm having a great time listening to the Valis 2 level 1 music now.

Now if the MP3 files would include ID3 tags... Is there a tool that can add tags automatically from the file name and folder name? EDIT: Found one.

[o.pwuaioc]

So consensus is that I shouldn't sell my Genesis copy for the TurboCD version?

[roflmao]

Thanks este!