Review – Ys X: Nordics

Its arrival in the West a year after the Japanese release marks an important movement for the series in proposing ideas for gameplay. Developed by and released by , the new episode of the franchise brings some good news to try to reach a more current audience, in addition to exploring a style of story that is a little different from the norm for those who follow the other chapters of the Adol Christin saga.

Leaving medieval fantasy aside and focusing on Celtic mythology for the tenth episode (which does not mean it will be the tenth game, after all we have more than 20 titles released), several mechanics were implemented to justify this historical and cultural location. However, will this new experience, mixing exploration, dynamic combat and captivating narrative, with Nordics’ new features, be enough to go beyond the success achieved with the great Lacrimosa of DANA and Monstrum Nox?

The beauty and the beast

Set between Ys II: Ancient Ys Vanished and Ys: Memories of Celceta, Ys inspired by the Vikings, discovering a new civilization full of mysteries and supernatural threats. In the plot, Adol ends up meeting Karja Balta, a kind of Norman pirate Viking princess, and both are soon forced to work together because of the connection between them through mana cuffs, a kind of spiritual bond. With no choice, the duo ends up joining forces to face the Griegr, evil and immortal creatures that threaten to destroy the world.

With this main plot established, everything in Nordics appears as a refreshment for the series, having Norse and maritime inspirations at its base to explore all mythology, ancient legends and epic battles, on land and in the ocean. Even with a simple and straight-to-the-point story, the narrative construction is very well done and interesting in the way it explores the duo of heroes, revealing the mysteries of the past surrounding mythology and the presence of mana in this world.

And you didn’t read it wrong! Ys With four abilities mapped to the controller, players gained a greater level of strategy by encouraging combinations of blows in real time, while maintaining fast-paced combat and special powers.

As if that weren’t enough, exploration has gained a space that goes beyond the lands, with islands for you to explore across the Gulf of Obelia. The feeling of freedom is contagious, allowing the player to explore inhospitable islands and caves in search of treasures and secrets. However, the controls feel a little clunky for your ship, as well as being slow and repetitive after a while, even with the advent of naval battles along the way. The positive point is the evolution of the Sandras ship, which involves unlocking improvements and acquiring crew by saving the villagers of Carnac.

Another connection with the story involving the presence of mana is also very well explored throughout the game, as Adol and Karja will use their “magical abilities” to swing, grab and slide through dungeons, solve small puzzles, destroying obstacles or creating platforms to optimize exploration. This mechanic helps to make dungeons and islands less repetitive and more attractive when visited, integrating the large number of activities available throughout the game.

The power of mana

In addition to the good narrative construction and how the story evolves, Ys X: Nordics manages to offer a lot of content beyond the main missions and navigation. There are several secondary missions, tasks and side requests, optional islands and dungeons, liberation missions, in which you need to eliminate enemy forces, treasure hunts and, of course, a little fishing game. There are more than 30 hours divided into 10 chapters for you to discover more about Karja’s past, what his connection with mana is, the mysteries surrounding Rollo Norgungand, the influence of the three evils (Arrogance, Nihility and Lust), what really are the Griegers, and how Adol will be able to get rid of this connection with Karja.

One of the evolutions achieved by Nihon Falcom for this release is in the game’s look. After the leap we saw in The Legend of Heroes: Trails through Daybreak, Ys X: Nordics manages to go further by taking care of world-building and details to portray a visually rich mythology. Even with the Nintendo Switch suffering a little to run the game, which is perhaps even more spectacular on the PS5, this new chapter in the Ys franchise maintains the same level in how it works with its characters and manages to go further in terms of charisma, even for the “villain.” ”.

The soundtrack accompanies the excellent work, with elements typical of what we would hear in northern Europe and with instruments that may be familiar to those who follow this culture. The songs follow the rhythm of the combats and discoveries as the story progresses very well, with some calmer themes, while the battle songs bring that expected adrenaline rush. Unfortunately, the dubbing is still limited and with few dubbed dialogues, which could bring more immersion in such a rich narrative.

The answer to the question at the beginning of this review is: yes, Ys X: Nordics manages to be better than the last two acclaimed games and an excellent addition to the series. With an interesting story, a renewed combat system that maintains the traditional style of the franchise, and stunning scenery, the game fulfills the promise of taking Adol to a new level in his epic journey. Nihon Falcom got it right by integrating maritime navigation and Cross Action mode, even though these elements may have areas for improvement. If you’re looking for an action RPG with fast-paced combat and an adventure that mixes mythology and exploration in an original way, Ys X: Nordics is certainly worth your attention.