Impressions - Ys X Nordics

Available on Nintendo Switch, PS4|5, and PC

Thoughts on the Story & Gameplay

The latest entry in the Ys series of action rpg games sees series protagonist Adol Christin and traveling companion Dogi in one of the duos early adventures as they get caught up in the events surrounding the Obelia Gulf. There they meet the Balta Seaforce aka Normans aka Vikings and their war against the Greigr. The Greigr are the main antagonists of the game and generally are monsters that can only be finished off with the power of Mana that Adol and Karja wield. The one thing that I love about the Ys series of games is that they all do feel like an adventure and each entry is different from the previous installment that it makes the gaming experience fresh. 

The gameplay is a little different from Ys 8 & 9. While you still use one main button to attack and to use specials utilize the RB plus the corresponding face button, this game centers around the use of mana and as such they are a few different mechanics that come with that. I love the Mana line which acts as a grapple that helps with certain platforming areas. There is also a barter system in place this time around so you don't have to be so dependent on gold. Gathering a lot of resources is always a good idea especially if you are running low on gold. Since this game centers around Vikings there is a lot of sea faring in this game. You get your ship pretty early on and doing upgrades and finding characters helps to make your ship ready to take on the best the Greigr have to offer. The 'raids' from previous Ys entries is back accept this time they take place in occupied islands that need to be liberated from the Greigr. These sections have both land and sea portions. I had fun with these as they remind me of the raids in Ys 8 and the Nox in Ys 9. 

Thoughts on the Good

There is a lot to love here. If you have played 8 or 9 then you should be somewhat familiar with the gameplay. The action is fast paced and the boss battles can be challenging. There is enough variety to keep things interesting. The side quests are well done and can lead to interesting events. While I think the side quests in 9 are still my favorite the ones in this game aren't half bad. I think the story is interesting as well, I also feel that Adol and Karja's story is interesting. Karja is an awesome character, I love her interactions with people as they lead to awkwardly hilarious interactions. 

Thoughts on the Bad

If there is one thing that I found worrying is the seafaring. I got used to it the more I played but sometimes your ship does feel slow and klunky even when the upgrades happen. Also, when you find people to help your crew grow you can't assign points for your ship, the game does it automatically. From a technical standpoint I haven't noticed any input lag or things of that nature. I am playing the Switch version of the game and it plays smooth. Other than that I have had a smooth experience so far. 

For Parents

This game is rated T for Teen. There is a lot of sword and axe fights in this game. The main villains are monsters for the most part and there is the occasional cuss word. Nothing egregious I would say nothing worse than what you would hear in a PG-13 movie. There are some points in the story where they talk about the brutality of the Normans but you don't really see that play out they just mention it.

Overall Thoughts/Is the Game FUN?

I am having a lot of FUN with this game. If you are a fan of the series then I think you will enjoy this entry. If you are a newcomer and want to try it out there is a demo that takes you through the first 3 chapters of the game. I highly recommend it as it is what convinced me to purchase this game. Have you played Ys X Nordics? Leave a comment and let's talk about it. 

Trailer/GamePlay

Trailer

Gameplay