Unique gameplay and story that deserves more attention.
There are two major flaws that completely drags the game down, those flaws would be translation and voice acting. If you can somehow overcome that, by turning off the voice acting sound or using some simple methods, then this game will capture your heart in an instant.
The first bit of unique gameplay is it sort of have this non-linear gameplay that is limited with time. It doesn't follow real time, but it gives "points" certain action requires certain amount of these points and once you use up all the points, it will automatically move to next chapter. Quite unique way to move on with the story. Technically you can do nothing and finish the game somewhat properly. It won't give you good ending, but technically you can finish it.
As Valkyrie, you will be able to fly around the world map freely and enter any town freely. You can spend your points to "sense" the location that requires your presence, but you can visit any town you want. Immediately you will be able to enjoy the open non-linear gameplay of Valkyrie Profile. However, that isn't the only unique aspect of this game. The dungeon sequence and exploring aspect of the game is very unlike other RPGs. You can only move left or right, like side scrolling game like Megaman. You can also shoot crystal beam like thing and jump, dash etc etc etc, making this game appreciate the old 2-D games. However, the battle takes slightly more traditional RPG sequence. First this game doesn't have randomly generated battles. you will be able to see enemies before engaging them. Once you do engage them you enter battle mode like most other RPGs. However, you don't get the menu. Instead, each of the face button is assigned to one of the 4 characters that you can control. by pressing a face button makes the character assigned to that button to attack. This is important because this game is more about timing. If you can time it right, you are able to create multiple combo and with enough combo, your special gauge will fill up and resulting your character to be able to use special attacks. This makes Valkyrie Profie very fast paced and exciting game. It isn't exactly very fast pace, but it gives that illusion of being very fast paced game. Very unique battle engine, and it is nothing like you've seen before.
The graphic might be the part where it stands out even more. This game is very well detailed 2-D game. some parts especially in the beginning, it is downright gorgeous. The holy feeling you get when you first enter the palace where the God Odin resides, is a feeling you can't forget. This game shows that 2-D games might still have enough potential to survive this heavily 3-D era. The character design and background design provides something you simply can never see in 3-D games and makes you really appreciate the 2-D art. This is game of Gods and it carries itself like one visually.
Perhaps most unfairly criticized part of the game is story. Gamespot is very critical when it comes to story of Valkyrie Profile, when I think it is the best part of it. True it does breaks the game pace quite a bit for detailed story of each characters death, but not that detailed. Only the first character you acquire has fairly long backgroun story provided. Other characters aren't long enough to be frustarted, but they are all interesting enough to be enjoyed without being annoyed. Most of these characters has very humble death. Nothing glorified, nothing great. Many of them are humble people that meets their death in front of Valkyrie for different reasons. Many times you will want to just take your time and carefully go through these small stories of theirs. Also the main story of Valkyrie and her past is incredibly curious and interesting. Her story really gives enough motivation to find the real ending which takes bit of dedication to acquire.
Also the game comes with odd prologue. An introduction that automatically presented to you if you choose to play prologue or just leave the game alone. At first glance, it seems it is completely unrelated to the story, but as you play the game, you will realize what it was about. Of course it isn't that secretive and in a way it is obvious, but it is like police when they catch the criminals. You might have enough proof, but you want the confession. That prologue provides enough proof but not enough confession to make you want to find out about what happened. Truely unique way of telling the story.
There aren't many RPGs out there that is unique like Valkyrie Profile. This is where ideas shine through and reaches out to you. The execution of the idea isn't that bad either so in many ways Valkyrie Profile succeeds as game, and with rarity of the game it automatically makes this game cult classic. This might be that one game you haven't had the cahnce to play, and with PSP remake, you might want to check it out and see what it is like to play with gods.