《女神戰記2：希爾梅莉亞》（Valkyrie Profile 2: Silmeria）是由tri-Ace開發，Square Enix於2006年在PlayStation 2平台發行的角色扮演遊戲（RPG）。是《女神戰記》的前傳，時間軸設定在第一代的數百年前，講述另一位女武神「希爾梅莉亞」（Silmeria）的故事。繼承前作的北歐神話背景，並引入更精緻的3D畫面、進化的戰鬥系統，以及更豐富的劇情表現。

故事圍繞著希爾梅莉亞與她的宿主艾莉莎（Alicia）的命運展開。希爾梅莉亞原為奧丁麾下的女武神，但因違抗神命而被奧丁懲罰，使她的靈魂寄宿於人間界的公主艾莉莎體內。本應被封印的希爾梅莉亞卻意外甦醒，並與艾莉莎共存於同一具身體中。兩人被迫逃離父王的追殺，並在旅途中結識夥伴，對抗神界與人界的陰謀，最終直面影響世界存亡的威脅。劇情以悲壯的基調展開，深入探討宿命、反抗與犧牲的主題。

操作方式延續前作的2D橫向卷軸探索模式，但在場景中引入更多立體感，並強化動作要素，如「光子系統」，可以發射光彈來凍結敵人或傳送自身，解開場景中的各種機關與謎題。戰鬥系統則大幅進化，從前作的回合制動作連擊轉變為「戰術戰鬥系統（Tactical Battle System）」，自由操控角色在戰場上移動，透過戰略性站位與即時指令進行攻擊。敵人身體分為不同部位，可針對特定部位攻擊，破壞裝甲以獲取額外戰利品，提升戰鬥策略性與深度。關卡設計依舊多樣化，包括人間界的城鎮、遺跡、地宮與神界的戰場等，每個地點都充滿豐富的探索元素與劇情推進。在遊戲進程中，可以招募「艾恩菲利亞」作為夥伴，每位角色都有獨特的背景與戰鬥能力，增強隊伍的多樣性。

當年在發售後獲得高度評價，畫面在PS2時代堪稱頂尖，角色建模細膩，場景美術風格華麗，並擁有優秀的光影效果。戰鬥系統的創新受到讚賞，特別是戰術性與打擊感較前作更為強化，讓戰鬥體驗更加刺激。音樂由櫻庭統（Motoi Sakuraba）再度操刀，營造出史詩般的氛圍。劇情則因其複雜的設定與角色塑造，受到部分玩家的喜愛，但也有玩家認為故事敘事節奏較為緩慢。然而，本作也面臨一些批評，例如系統過於複雜，新玩家可能需要花費大量時間熟悉戰鬥與技能機制。此外，相較於前作更為線性的敘事方式，使得部分玩家覺得自由度有所降低。儘管如此，《女神戰記2》仍被視為PS2時期的優秀RPG之一，憑藉其獨特的戰鬥玩法與深厚的劇情背景，在系列粉絲與日式RPG愛好者間留下深刻印象。

Valkyrie Profile 2: Silmeria is a role-playing game (RPG) developed by tri-Ace and published by Square Enix in 2006 for the PlayStation 2. As a prequel to Valkyrie Profile, its timeline is set hundreds of years before the first game, focusing on the story of another Valkyrie, Silmeria. The game retains the Norse mythology-inspired setting while introducing more refined 3D graphics, an evolved combat system, and enhanced storytelling.

The story revolves around Silmeria and her host, Alicia, and their intertwined fates. Silmeria was once a Valkyrie under Odin's command, but after defying divine orders, she was punished by having her soul sealed within Princess Alicia of the human realm. Though she was meant to remain dormant, Silmeria unexpectedly awakens, forcing her and Alicia to coexist within the same body. Pursued by Alicia’s own father, the two embark on a journey to escape their fate, gathering allies while uncovering conspiracies between the human and divine realms. Ultimately, they must confront a threat that could determine the world’s survival. The narrative is deeply tragic and grand, exploring themes of destiny, rebellion, and sacrifice.

The gameplay retains the 2D side-scrolling exploration from the first game but adds more depth to the environments, incorporating enhanced platforming elements. A key addition is the Photon System, which allows players to fire energy projectiles that can freeze enemies or teleport across obstacles, introducing puzzle-solving mechanics into exploration. The combat system undergoes a major transformation from the previous game’s turn-based combo attacks into a Tactical Battle System. Players can move characters freely on the battlefield, strategically positioning them and executing real-time attacks. Enemy bodies are divided into multiple targetable sections, allowing players to break specific parts for extra loot and adding depth and strategy to combat.

The game features a wide variety of locations, including towns, ruins, dungeons, and battlefields in the divine realm, each offering extensive exploration and story progression. As the journey unfolds, players can recruit Einherjar as allies, each possessing unique backgrounds and combat abilities, enhancing party diversity and strategic options.

Upon release, Valkyrie Profile 2 received high praise, particularly for its cutting-edge visuals, which were considered among the best of the PS2 era. The character models were finely detailed, the art direction was beautifully crafted, and the lighting effects were exceptionally well-executed. The combat system’s innovation was widely appreciated, with its tactical depth and satisfying action-oriented mechanics providing a thrilling battle experience. The soundtrack, once again composed by Motoi Sakuraba, successfully captured the game’s epic atmosphere.

However, the game also faced some criticisms. The complex mechanics made it challenging for newcomers, requiring significant time to fully grasp the battle and skill systems. Additionally, compared to its predecessor, Valkyrie Profile 2 followed a more linear narrative structure, which some players felt reduced the sense of freedom. Despite these issues, Valkyrie Profile 2: Silmeria remains one of the most well-regarded RPGs of the PS2 era, leaving a lasting impression on series fans and JRPG enthusiasts alike due to its unique battle mechanics and rich storytelling.