izigame.me

I've been playing Ys (and Trails) for decades now, and it's easily one of my favorite JRPG series alongside Trails and Persona. It’s still surprising to me that Ys isn’t more popular in the West, but that’s a rant for another day. With Ys X, the series continues its tradition of smooth, fluid combat, a colorful cast, and epic, heart-pounding music. A heads-up, though: Chapter 1 is a bit of a slow burn, mainly serving as a tutorial. But once you unlock your full combat kit, the game really opens up.
I’m a fan of the new Duo party system; it’s a refreshing shift from the old three-member setup. It feels like Falcom streamlined some of the previous complexities, keeping it distinctively Ys but giving it a fresh twist. On nightmare difficulty, the combat is tough without turning enemies into damage sponges, almost like an arcade-style souls-like, where dodging and blocking are emphasized differently from past games. The potion system is intriguing too. As you explore, you find bottles that you can fill with various potions, adding a bit of tension since your healing items are limited. Skills also return as Mana-driven attacks, and executing Duo skills is incredibly satisfying.
So far, I’ve just finished Chapter 1, but I can see where this story is heading. The narrative feels like a blend of Ys VIII and IX, both of which had strong storylines. The focus on character dynamics, cast chemistry, and overarching mystery is still a staple. While there hasn’t been as much platforming as I’d like, I’m hoping that changes. The grapple from Ys IX makes a return and is used liberally in both combat and exploration. And as expected of Falcom, the soundtrack is top-tier. I recommend the Japanese voices over the English dub, which, unfortunately, doesn’t sound great. NIS’s localization has been a weak point in recent Ys games, and while it’s serviceable, the translations aren’t the most accurate.
Even 2 hours into the game, I can give it a solid recommendation; especially after the ending of chapter 1 showed what Falcon really has in store for this game (I will update this review with my final thoughts once I've completed the game). It also runs really well on the steam deck. If you’re hesitant to jump into Ys X because it’s the 10th entry, don’t worry. Each Ys game is self-contained, so you don’t need to have played the previous titles. Each story is presented as a chronicle written by Adol, our main character, years after the events, so the games don’t follow release order. Ys X, for example, follows Ys II chronologically and takes place before Ys: Memories of Celceta (Ys IV). Any references to earlier games are usually just Easter eggs. If you’re a fan of action RPGs looking for something fresh with surprises around every corner, jump into Ys with this one (or really any of the previous titles here on steam).