Ys X: Nordics review

Across the 37-year legacy of the Ys franchise, reoccurring protagonist Adol Christin has witnessed a multitude of extraordinary events during his succession of globe-trotting expeditions. The result has been one of the most reliably entertaining action-role playing franchises around, with taut combat systems, dependably skillful soundtracks, and since 2009’s Ys Seven, a steady interest in storytelling.

Nihon Falcom’s latest entry, Ys X: Nordics, sustains this success. Set about a month after Ys II: Ancient Ys Vanished, the game finds a notably younger Adol and his best friend Dogi aboard a ship bound for Celceta. In keeping with franchise tradition, the feeling of serenity proves to be transitory. Tensions escalate when a pirate faction hijacks the ship, claiming the captain hasn’t paid the sea tolls that are required for vessels voyaging through the Obelia Gulf.

Storytelling Plays a Larger Role

Audaciously, Adol gets into a duel with the Balta Seaforce’s leader, a girl named Karja Balta. But the showdown is stopped when it’s an obvious stalemate and the pirates realize that Adol is a civilian. With the captain arrested, Adol and Dogi end up on a nearby Balta Island, and it’s obvious we’ll see more of the teenage Pirate Princess. And it turns out, we get a near-unprecedented amount of character development that sidesteps the usual fawning over the read-haired adventurer.

Although previous entries have offered noteworthy contexts, Nordics establishes a new watermark for the franchise. Much of this is rooted in the geopolitical tensions of the harbor-based settlement of Carnac. Squeezed between two contested territories, and inhabited by a variety of different cultures, there’s a palpable sense of disgruntlement smoldering within the town’s younger population.

A Bountiful Number of Backstories

Gradually, you’ll recruit these teens as members of the Carnac Youth Brigade when the game’s sea-faring component opens up. Their individual stories and motivations are far richer than your typical NPCs with Falcom drawing on the accomplishments of their Trails franchise.

From one youth who’s learning to subdue his overzealousness to another with a deep-rooted resentment for his father, many of the Youth Brigade members are looking for a mentor. Unsurprisingly, they find that figure in Adol, resulting in some poignant interactions. Interestingly, Nordics’s storytelling also warns about generational behaviors. Adeptly, the exploration is robust enough to rouse rumination without slipping into preachiness or cliché.

Undoubtedly, Nordic’s biggest expositional triumph is making Adol and Karja’s relationship compelling enough to sustain interest across a 30+ hour trek. Sure, the game leans on the gimmick of having its dual protagonists bound together via a magical set of shackles. But witnessing how a sibling-style kinship has an impact on the Pirate Princess and forces her to confront unexamined insecurities might be one of the best arcs in Ys history.  That said, it might be time to give Adol a chance to speak. In theory, the tactical lead is used so players can envisage themselves as the protagonist. But it’s a bit silly when Karja states her feelings, but Adol only mimes a response. Another issue that the English vocal performances are average, with actors sporadically emphasizing the odd word in a sentence.

The Power of Teamwork

Conspicuously, the Party and Damage Type systems that have been a part of Ys franchise across the last four entries have been eschewed. In its place is combat that allows players to instantly switch between styles. Solo Mode lets you instantly substitute the two leads so you can dish out rapid-fire punishment as Adol or break enemy shielding as Karja. Alternatively, Duo Mode sacrifices mobility for a set of powerful, collaborative skills and defensive guarding.

With Nordics, a well-timed button press just before an enemy assault results in a Perfect Guard. Beyond not taking damage, this maneuver provides an increased rate of criticals, and also offers a generous renewal of skill points. Most importantly, a defensive stance by the pair escalates your Revenge Gauge, multiplying the strength of your next skill. This technique becomes invaluable when confronting the game’s bosses. Like previous entries, these encounters are when Ys becomes truly challenging. Even on the highest difficulty setting, mowing down subordinates is mainly used for level progression. With Nordics, Ys now has a substantial skill tree, potentially complementing your play style.

Smooth Sailing

While land-based combat is frenzied, Nordic’s ship battles are more deliberately paced. Initially, when Adol and Karja set sail on The Sandras, it’s little more than a run-down vessel that shuttles you to the next plot point. But gradually, you’ll unlock a steady succession of upgrades that convert the vessel into a proper warship than can assail adversaries with a flurry of cannon fire. If you’re able to wear down your opponent’s durability, you even get to board the ship, wiping out any challengers on the top deck.

And yes, there are a few faults with the whole experience. While exploring islands is more interesting than reconnoitering one big, bland landmass, there’s too much uniformity. Ideally, could have offered more environments that weren’t just grassy patches and drab cliffsides. Although most boss battles are engaging, one is obnoxiously monotonous. One of the most frustrating issues is the in-game camera’s inability to frame the action when an enemy has you pinned in a corner.

With an increased emphasis on storytelling, Ys X: Nordics is the archetypal ARPG where plot and play impeccably converge. Unlike many epics that lean toward loquacious, Falcom’s latest ensures that conversations are punctuated by fun, flashy combat. The result is a first-class adventure that sustains the series’ unblemished track record.

Ys X: Nordics was played on PC with review code provided by the publisher.