| Valis: The Fantasm Soldier | |
|---|---|
 Home computer cover art | |
| Developer(s) | Wolf Team[a] |
| Publisher(s) |
|
| Producer(s) | Hiroki Hayashi Yukio Mitsuhashi |
| Designer(s) | Hiroki Hayashi |
| Programmer(s) | Masahiro Akishino Masayasu Yamamoto Tomoki Anazawa |
| Artist(s) | Hiroki Hayashi |
| Writer(s) | Hiroki Hayashi Yukio Mitsuhashi |
| Composer(s) | Shinobu Ogawa |
| Series | Valis |
| Platform(s) | MSX, PC-8801, X1, FM-7, PC-9801, Family Computer, Sega Mega Drive/Genesis, PC Engine Super CD-ROM², Mobile phone |
| Release | |
| Genre(s) | Action, platform |
| Mode(s) | Single-player |
Valis: The Fantasm Soldier[b] is a 1986 action-platform video game originally developed by Wolf Team and published by Telenet Japan for the MSX, PC-8801, X1, FM-7, and PC-9801 home computers. It is the first entry in the Valis series. It stars Yuko Asou, a Japanese teenage schoolgirl chosen as the Valis warrior and wielder of the mystical Valis sword to protect the Earth, the land of spirits, and the dream world Vecanti from demon lord Rogles. Throughout the journey, the player explores and search for items and power-ups, while fighting enemies and defeating bosses to increase Yuko's attributes.
Programmers Masahiro Akishino and Osamu Ikegame began planning on a side-scrolling action game featuring a customed delinquent heroine, an idea originated from Sukeban Deka to compete in a contest sponsored by Japanese computer magazine LOGiN, being kept secret within Telenet until they approved development to continue when the company learned of its existence. After a Telenet superior expressed disliking towards its graphics, writer Hiroki Hayashi was ordered to take action and fix it, leading to the conception of Valis. Akishino and Hayashi used Ikegame's work as basis to introduce their own story and character ideas, which were based on an unfinished personal novel Hayashi wrote prior to the game's production.
Valis sold well and was listed as one of the best-selling games in 1987 rankings. An almost completely reworked version was also released for the Family Computer, followed by remakes for the Sega Mega Drive/Genesis and PC Engine Super CD-ROM², and a version for mobile phones as well. The game was supplemented with manga adaptations, an anime short by Sunrise, albums from King Records and Wave Master, and doujinshi books. Critical reception has varied depending on the version; the original MSX version garnered mixed reviews while the Genesis remake carried average sentiments, however the enhanced PC Engine remake was received more favorably. It was followed by Valis II (1989).
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