Valis IV - The Fantasm Soldier

Getting Started

When you start Valis IV, you will see a Japanese title screen. Press Start to proceed to the menu. Use the D-Pad to highlight options and X to confirm. The first option begins a new game. You control Yuko, a young woman wielding a magical sword. The core gameplay involves moving left to right through levels, slashing enemies with your blade and using a projectile attack (B button) to hit foes from a distance. Jumping (A button) is essential for navigating platforms and avoiding hazards.

Your health bar is displayed at the top of the screen. Defeated enemies sometimes drop hearts that restore health or special items that power up your weapon. Each level ends with a boss fight that requires pattern recognition and precise dodging. Since the game is in Japanese, you may need to experiment with the menu options to understand item descriptions, but the action is straightforward. The CD-quality soundtrack and animated cutscenes were a highlight for the platform at the time.