The Ys series is one where if you’re into the games, you’re really into it. It forgoes traditional JRPG conventions by having each game serve as an adventure in the life of protagonist Adol Christin, almost like a throwback to classic adventure novels. The newest title Ys X: Nordics aims to bring it into the swashbuckling world of piracy. However, that’s not exactly where the games strengths lie.
The story kicks off with Adol meeting Karja, a fierce “pirate princess,” on his travels. Inadvertently, a magical tether binds the two. This connection sets the stage for an action-packed journey during which the pair must confront a looming magical threat. Their dynamic avoids the overdone “reluctant partnership” trope. Instead, Karja actually accepts her bond with Adol pretty quickly, which brings a refreshing sense of camaraderie to their interactions.
Ys X: Nordics draws heavily from Norse mythology, with plenty of Viking-inspired culture sprinkled throughout the game. The pirate ambiance obviously adds to the flavor of the setting. The characters Adol and Karja interact with are enjoyable and the adventures they go on fit all the themes. I found the premise of a swashbuckling Adol to be both refreshing and engaging. However, it quickly becomes clear that the game’s sea-based mechanics aren’t up to par with its land-based exploration.
Ys X: Nordics introduces an entire naval mechanic involving ship-based exploration and combat. However, ship combat is where Ys X falls short. This sure as heck isn’t the intricate, multi-layered naval battles of Assassin’s Creed IV: Black Flag. It’s not even the arcade style system from Kingdom Hearts III’s Port Royal. Ys X opts instead for something so simple it’s hard to call it a minigame, much less a full mechanic.
Sea battles amount to little more than locking on and firing cannons, with the occasional special volley attack peppered in. After a few encounters, the novelty fades, and it starts to feel quite bland. It doesn’t help that the ship moves pretty slow. It especially stands out because the Ys series is famously fast, especially in combat.
Also there’s not a lot to do in the water other than just make it to your next destination. Honestly, when I first got the ship, the freedom of sailing around seemed pretty exciting. However, the uninteresting waters and slow pace really takes the shine off of it quickly. It’s a shame, as the pirate theme fits Adol and the game so well, but the execution falls short.
On the flip side, exploration and combat on land are where Ys X: Nordics stands tall. Adol and Karja’s adventures take them across various islands filled with dungeons, plains, or towns to discover. The smaller, scattered islands break away from the massive single-location structure of recent Ys games. The openness and occasional variety make this aspect feel especially like they’re going on some grand escapade.
Navigating once you’re on these islands is quite fun, especially with the help of your mana abilities. These are powers that you use in the field not for attacking, but for exploration. For example, one ability emulates a grappling hook. Combining Adol and Karja’s natural speed with the additional locomotion from these abilities makes exploration feel so smooth.
However, the meat and potatoes of a Ys game is always going to be the combat. It’s why fans pay the price of admission. One of the most compelling aspects of Ys X is its fast-paced combat, a hallmark of the series. Luckily, Ys X: Nordics knocks this out of the park.
The game introduces a new “Duo Mode” where Adol and Karja team up for powerful attacks, and I found this to be the highlight of the combat system. Switching between the two characters mid-battle felt seamless, and the chaotic energy of teaming up added a lot of excitement to fights. Duo Mode is so effective that I rarely saw the need to switch out of it. Most of the fights /i did I ended up just lamming through fight in Duo Mode.
To be fair though, I was playing on “normal” difficulty the entire game. Higher difficulties might demand a bit more strategy before leaping into the fight. I know some of you die-hards don’t get out of bed for anything less than “Nightmare.”
As you progress, you’ll unlock new abilities via a skill tree system. The tree has nodes, which are enhanced by slotting “mana seeds” into them. These provide both passive buffs and for certain nodes along the tree, new combat techniques. While not the most revolutionary system, it’s intuitive and offers some flexibility in building your characters. The seeds come in different types, each offering different bonuses and stats. Therefore, experimenting with combining the different seeds is crucial.
As you gain more techniques, it only makes battles look even flashier. Some battles can actually look like an anime episode. This is of course helped by the gorgeous art style of the game. I would say it’s the prettiest Ys game yet.
Another area where Ys X: Nordics never falters is its music. The series has always been known for its rocking, high-energy soundtrack, and this entry is no different. Whether you’re engaged in a fierce boss battle or exploring a new island, the music elevates every moment. It helps keep you pumped and immersed. Fans of the series will be pleased, the soundtrack lives up to the standards set by its predecessors.
In the end, Ys X: Nordics is a solid addition to the Ys series, but it should have stayed docked. The ship combat, which should have been a thrilling new addition, ultimately feels bland. Despite this, the game more than makes up for it with its land-based exploration and fast-paced, duo-driven combat. Fans of the series will no doubt want to pick it up for the continuation of Adol’s story and the exciting new setting. And if you’re new to the Ys franchise, this isn’t a bad place to start.
Ys X: Nordics will come to the PS4, PS5, Switch, and PC on October 25, 2024.
This latest title in the Ys series takes us back to a younger Adol as he sets out on the open sea. Join him in his pursuit of the thrill of adventure! PS5 reviewed. Review copy provided by company for testing purposes.
While the land-based exploration and fast-paced duo combat deliver the thrilling action Ys fans expect, the sea combat disappoints with its overly simplistic mechanics and slow pacing. Despite its shortcomings at sea, the game’s vibrant environments and energetic soundtrack make it a solid addition to the series.
- One of the mana traversal abilities is so fun and I wasted a ton of time just playing with it.
- It's so jarring to have the land combat and traversal be faster than ever, yet sea combat be slow as could be.
- Having a character referred to as the "Pirate Princess" really helped sell this game as a "classic adventure"
Published: Oct 14, 2024 09:00 am