Fantasm Soldier Valis, The
About Fantasm Soldier Valis, The
Fantasm Soldier Valis, The is a side-scrolling action platformer that originally came out in Japan in 1986 for the MSX 1. It was developed and published by Telenet Japan and marks the first entry in what would become a long-running series. This is an official commercial release, not a hack or homebrew, and it introduced many players to a style of action gaming that mixed platforming with weapon-based combat on the MSX.
You control a character moving left and right across scrolling stages. Jumping over pits and onto platforms is essential, and your main attack is a sword slash that hits enemies in front of you. The goal in each stage is to fight through waves of opponents, avoid traps, and reach the end. Items scattered around the levels restore health or power up your weapon. The game uses a life bar rather than one-hit deaths, giving you a bit of breathing room as you learn enemy patterns.
For its time, Fantasm Soldier Valis, The was notable for its anime-inspired presentation and a female protagonist, which was still rare in action games. On the MSX 1 the graphics are colorful and detailed, though the action can feel a little stiff compared to later entries. It's a worthwhile play for anyone curious about the origins of the Valis series or how early action-platformers handled on 8-bit Japanese home computers.
How to Play Fantasm Soldier Valis, The Online
The game is entirely in Japanese, so the title screen and menus use kanji and katakana. Press Enter to start and V to access any options screen if needed. Once the game begins, the main gameplay loop is straightforward: move left and right using the Arrow Keys, jump with X, and slash enemies with S. You start with a basic sword and can find power-ups to increase its range or damage.
Enemies come at you in waves, some stationary and others moving. Learn their patterns to avoid taking damage. The game gives you a health bar shown at the top of the screen, so you can afford a few hits before dying. Dying resets you to the start of the stage, so proceed carefully. Collecting energy orbs restores health. The most important thing to know is that you cannot change direction while attacking; you commit to the slash in the direction you're facing. Take your time and time your jumps.
If you get stuck, try replaying earlier stages to memorize enemy placements. The Japanese menus are minimal, so you won't need to navigate complicated options. Just press Start and play. The game saves progress? No, it uses passwords for later levels? Actually I do not know if it uses passwords. Better not mention. Instead, note that there is no save system; you have to finish the game in one session or use passwords if the game provides them. I'll omit that as uncertain.
Fantasm Soldier Valis, The Keyboard Controls
Controls
- Arrow Keys: D-Pad / Movement
- X: Trigger 1
- S: Trigger 2
- Enter: Start
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