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Although more popular among fans of 16-bit systems not called Sega Genesis, the Valis
series is one not to be missed, especially if you're a fan of blue haired hotties with
the capability to save the world. Step into the pointy boots and shoulderpads of Yuko
Ahso, starry-eyed schoolgirl by day, but secretly the wielder of the powerful Valis sword and
a mighty heroine against the forces of evil. The obscure platformer series is not well-known
in the United States due to the fact that title launches were for Japanese release only,
and not only that, they were for systems like the MSX and the Sharp X68000, not exactly
systems that have generated a great deal of old school gaming fanhood. But soon enough,
the series gained enough clout that it was able to make its way to the Turbo-Grafx 16
and the Sega Genesis, and it is because of this that I give my many thanks to developers
Telenet Japan and publishers Renovation for the release of Syd of Valis, the second in
a procession of games that follow the story of female warriors against an interdimensional
threat. If cuteness could manifest itself into a bomb, Syd of Valis would be a weapon
of mass destruction. When you think of the adjective super-deformed, you might picture
acid attack victims, perhaps the three-eyed fish from The Simpsons. In this case, the
super-deformed Yuko, not to be confused with the title, which should in essence be Yuko
of Valis, is a two inch-tall bundle of cute, sword-swinging joy. If you think she's a cheekful,
check out some of the enemies in this game, which probably rival enemies of any Kirby
game. I don't know whether I want to smack em with a shot from my sword or spend fifty
bucks on them so I can take them home to my plushie collection. But don't let the big
eyes and round features fool you. Syd of Valis' difficulty is not to be taken lightly, and
what the game lacks in length, it makes up for with tenacious enemies, unpredictable
boss movements and attacks, floaty jumping, and slippery movement. So what is a platformer
fan with a mediocre skill set to do? Everyone knows the answer to everlasting invincibility
lies in a string bikini. If this isn't a candidate for one of my favorite cheats of all time,
I'd like to see what's better out there. A code entered at the title screen will ensure
that your eccentric taste in female video game protagonists will be sufficiently placated
as Yuko dons her dental floss and battles huge space creatures, all the way up to the
arch-heel Megas himself. The sound and music are undeniably Sega Genesis, and even though
the general consensus is that the Turbo Grafx 16 version has more polish, you can't deny
that it is a good thing that this game and moreover this series has made its way onto
Genesis. Syd of Valis is a welcoming semi spinoff in terms of visual style. Face it,
one look at Yuko's victory dance, and no matter how much you need to go to the bathroom or
turn off the stove, your hands will stay on the control pad and never let go.