| Valis II | |
|---|---|
 PC Engine CD-ROM² cover art | |
| Developer(s) | Laser Soft[a] |
| Publisher(s) | List
|
| Director(s) | Masami Hanari |
| Producer(s) | Fumiyuki Moriyama |
| Designer(s) | Hiroshi Akahori Yukito Ohayashi |
| Programmer(s) | Masami Hanari |
| Artist(s) | Osamu Nabeshima Tomokazu Tokoro |
| Writer(s) | Bunzō Matsui Hiroshi Akahori |
| Composer(s) | Kenichi Kamio Shinobu Ogawa |
| Series | Valis |
| Platform(s) | PC Engine CD-ROM²/TurboGrafx-CD, PC-8801, MSX2, PC-9801, X68000, Mega Drive/Genesis |
| Release | |
| Genre(s) | Action, platform |
| Mode(s) | Single-player |
Valis II[b] is a 1989 action-platform video game originally developed by Laser Soft, published by Telenet Japan and NEC for the PC Engine CD-ROM²/TurboGrafx-CD. A home computer version was released for PC-8801, MSX2, PC-9801 and X68000. A super deformed-style remake was also released in 1992 for the Sega Mega Drive/Genesis. It is the second entry in the eponymous series. It stars Yuko Asou, a Japanese schoolgirl teenager chosen to become the Valis warrior by wielding the titular mystical sword, after defeating the demon lord Rogles. The dream world Vecanti fell under the rule of emperor Megas, whose hatred towards his brother Rogles and bloodthirsty tendencies seeks to wipe out traces of the former tyrant, including his supporters. Gameplay varies between each version but all share similar elements, as the player explores and search for items and power-ups, while fighting enemies and defeat bosses.
Work on Valis II did not start for a period of two and a half years, as the team became understaffed when several members had left after Valis: The Fantasm Soldier. Telenet began shifting their focus in order to establish themselves in the LaserDisc market when the development moved toward. It was the first title created by Laser Soft, an internal gaming division of Telenet formed specifically to explore games for the CD-ROM format, and they also cooperated with Renovation Game (Reno), which handled the home computer version. The staff hired animators for the project, as people within the anime industry were becoming interested in the video game industry. Both the TurboGrafx-CD and computer versions were made simultaneously, but each under different development lines. The Genesis remake was slated for a European release by UbiSoft, as part of a multi-game licensing deal with Telenet's North American subsidiary Renovation Products, but it was never officially released in the region. Each version of the game have since been re-released through download services for other platforms and compilations.
Valis II on the TurboGrafx-CD garnered generally favorable reception from critics since its initial launch, some of which reviewed it as an import title; praise was given to the audiovisual presentation for showcasing the potential of the CD-ROM format, but others felt mixed regarding various aspects. The home computer version carried sentiments similar to the original release, with some reviewers noting the overall dark tone of its plot. The Mega Drive/Genesis remake, however, received negative response from the gaming press. It was followed by Valis III (1990).
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