The battle system for VP 1 may seem simple but is has great strategic depth IMO. Against tougher enemies and bosses you really need to understand how to execute as good combos as possible for maximum damage and to be able to unleash special attacks.
There is alot to think about. Some weapons only let you do one attack each turn that do alot of damage, but the combos will be shorter. Same goes with magic.
When you can do several attacks you also needs to check in which order different attacks is done, or you may end up doing attacks that can't hit the enemy, for example when you lift an enemy up in the air and directly after perform a low attack, which won't hit anything.
In VP 2 you have an even deeper battle system based on the one in VP 1 but with new things to think about. The battle field is in 3D and you are free to move around and even split the party to position them in a good way. You also have the ability to sprint, which is very important IMO to master, as it can get you out of a critical situation and turn the table on your enemies.
There is also the ability to win a battle only by killing the leader.
There is a lot more attacks you can do in VP 2 and there is also more focus on skills, some which may be critical to win a battle.
Ouch, that was a lot about the battle systems...
But there is also another important factor IMO to whether or not you will enjoy these games, especially the first, and that is the story. In VP 1 there is a lot of story about all the einherjars you will meet, and also a lot about Lenneth (depending on how you play, there is different endings in VP 1).
In VP 2 the overall story is a little heavier but there is less focus on the einherjars you get. It is also a good thing, I think, to have played through VP 1 before as there are some connections between the games. (Playing through VP 2 first may work as well)
And last, I think that Valkyrie Profile 1 & 2 (haven't played DS) is like Xenogears (haven't played the Xenosaga games yet), you love it or hate it(maybe not hate it but dislikes it).
Just hopes that you give both of them a fair chance, because these are some of my most beloved games of all time.
