New Game Review] First in the series! Ys X - Nordics, the tenth in the series set in the sea, is a "gentle" action RPG with just the right balance of relief and challenge!

Each installment in the series follows the adventures of Adol Christine, a red-headed adventurer, but this time, for the first time in the series, it is a maritime adventure. The latest title in the series, set in the Gulf of Obelia, which is ruled by a maritime tribe known as the Normans, has the player sailing a sailing ship and scrambling east and west on an unprecedentedly large scale of adventure!

This time, we will give you our review after playing for about 12 hours.

Conquer the world with the pirate girl!

The story this time is set in the time line between "Ys II" and "The Sea of Celceta (the fourth game)". In other words, the protagonist is Adol, who has just finished his first great adventure in the ancient kingdom of Ys and taken his first steps as an adventurer.

In this sense, Adol is still a newcomer as an adventurer, so fans who have been playing the series for a long time will probably have a fresh impression, and those who are new to "Ys" should also be able to enjoy the game without any unnecessary advance information.

Adol and his partner Dogi have just started their journey to the sea to reach their next destination, "Celceta. However, just as they reach the Gulf of Obelia, the ship is captured by pirates.

The pirates are actually a group called the Balta navy, which controls the Gulf of Obelia. For some reason, Adol and his crew are forced to stay in the town of Karnak, where they are stationed, to earn their living for the time being.

In the process, Adol learns of the existence of monsters called "griegers" that attack the town. They cannot be killed by ordinary humans, but they can be choked out by someone with a power called mana.

Adol, who has been awakened to the power of mana by chance, forms a partnership with Kaja, the daughter of the chief of the Balta navy, who also possesses the power of mana, and the two become "shield brothers" and cooperate in the extermination of the griegers.

Just then, Karnak is attacked by griegers and is annihilated. Adol and Kaja escape from the city by boat, and while searching for the scattered residents of the city, they look for an opportunity to counterattack and stop Grieger's dark activities.

In addition, Adol has been cursed to die if he does not defeat Ooze, the leader of Grieger, within the next three months!

That's the general story of the first part of the film. It is a sharp turnaround from the beginning of the great adventure ahead! The story starts from the greatest adversity in the "Ys" series, and the story unfolds in a climactic state from the very beginning.

New characters, both friend and foe, appear one after the other, and new situations are thrust upon Adol and his friends, so it is unlikely that you will ever be unsure of what to do next. In fact, the drama progresses at such a fast pace that it is hard to know when to stop the game, so even the most timid of modern-day players can rest assured that they will be in good hands. If you approach the game with a firm stance, it will surely lead you to the climax of the game.

Let's survive the battles with Kaja!

Let me introduce a system unique to "Ys X".

One of the features of this title is "cross-action," in which you control both Adol and Kaja. In this "Ys" game, the two players basically work in a two-person cell.

The "Solo Mode," in which the two players take separate actions and destroy enemies individually, emphasizing mobility. The key point of the game is to switch between the "Combi Mode," in which the two players act together to guard against powerful enemy attacks, and the "Combi Skill," a powerful special attack that is unleashed by both players at the same time, to fight in the heavy combat style.

Solo Mode. In solo mode, each character acts individually, taking advantage of his or her characteristics.

First of all, the solo mode is an extension of the traditional "Ys" series operation. Players control either Adol or Kaja, who have a nice, snappy behavior, and while avoiding enemy attacks, they can use a combination of buttons to launch a variety of skills at the enemy.

Combi Mode

The "Combi Mode" requires a fighting style that is rare in the "Ys" series, where offense and defense are combined. Adol and Kaja, who are linked by the power of mana, can guard against most enemy attacks by "combination guarding. The Revenge Gauge increases as the pair guards against enemy attacks, and the damage multiplier of the "Combination Skill" is increased. After surviving an enemy attack, it is a great feeling to unleash a big move with a bang!

If you guard at the right moment, the combination skill can be counter-acted. The combination skill is triggered with a cool performance!

In the previous "Ys" series, there have been situations in which players have adventured together as a party, but never before has there been such an emphasis on coordinated action.

Also, if a partner's HP drops to zero during battle, the surviving character can revive as many times as he or she wants by sharing half of his or her HP. Adol and Kaja are truly a community of destiny! Players will relive their bond and friendship not only through the storyline, but also through the game experience itself.

Enjoy a variety of actions with the power of mana!

The key to "Ys X" is a mysterious power called "mana. Adol can perform various actions with the power of mana.

Mana String

A string of mana can be sent flying from the tip of the hand and moved to a distant place at once in the manner of a pendulum. The wire action-like motion is fun, but it can also be used in battle to catch a fast-moving enemy or to fly at an enemy with a huge frame for a quick approach.

Mana Ride

Glide through the air using a board-like item called a "grimble board. This action is indispensable to reach places that are normally inaccessible, such as moving quickly over swamps and water that can trap your feet, running on mana roads, and launching into the air like a catapult!

Mana Burst

×A charge attack activated by holding down the x button. Adol launches a flame attack and Kaja launches an ice attack. In addition to damaging enemies, they also play an important role in exploration, such as burning plants blocking the way or creating a foothold by generating a pillar of ice from water.

Mana Sense

The ability to see things that are normally invisible. This ability allows one to see hidden elements in the environment, such as destructible walls, treasures buried in the ground, and invisible footholds!

Experience Adol's maritime adventure tale!

In this title, Adol is the helmsman and Kaja is the captain of the sailing ship Sandlass. This time, the Sandlass will be the home of Adol and his crew. After rescuing the inhabitants of Karnak, who are scattered in the Gulf of Obelia, they will board the Sandlass as crew members.

Let's refurbish the Sandlas and upgrade it more and more!

When you get a new menu, you can have a dinner in the dining room. The dining room will give you a buff effect that is advantageous to navigation for a certain period of time.

It is quite exciting to see how the ship's interior is gradually enhanced: some as combatants, some as cooks, doctors, and other staff who make use of their skills, and some as merchants who supply items to the ship. ......

One of the greatest features of "Ys X" is the abundance of action at sea.

The griegers who attacked Karnak have their own ships and sail around the Gulf of Obelia as if they own the place. When the Sandrus encounters the enemy fleet "Nosfleet," an engagement begins. In addition, when the Sandras approaches a merchant ship, it turns out to be a disguised grieger or pirate! The sea can be a very unpredictable place!

The red markings indicate the location of the enemy fleet. You can also attack from here to get materials and money!

Battle against the enemy fleet. Sink the enemy fleet by using various types of shells and sometimes by directly hitting the hull of the ship.

There are islands in the Gulf of Obelia that have been taken over by griegers. If you find such an island, challenge the battle to recapture it. First, destroy the grieger fleet in naval battle mode, then land on the island after destroying the wards surrounding the island! You will have to defeat the griegers in the base.

First, control the sea in order to break the wards protecting the island!

The base is divided into several stages.

When you conquer a base, your score is displayed like this. You can try again later.

When an island is successfully recaptured, the surrounding search points will be marked on a nautical chart and fast-travel destinations will be set, making it possible to proceed efficiently with the adventure.

The key point here is that accomplishing predefined missions in the sea battle will increase the crew's tension, allowing the land battle to unfold more favorably. A high rating for clearing the mission will bring you many rewards, so be aware of brilliant battles!

In addition, there are various spots in Obelia Bay. A school of dolphins or penguins that want to eat the fish caught by Adol. The sea is also full of wonders, such as the wandering inhabitants of Grieger and Karnak! Just filling in the nautical charts is fun! It's fun to just fill in the charts! It's funny because you begin to understand how Adol's heart is drawn to adventure.

In addition, while sailing, you can also enjoy pleasant conversations with the crew. If you rest in your room with Kaja, you can listen to private conversations between the two of you.

Don't miss the unexpected faces of the characters and their communication with Adol!

The attention to all directions, from game beginners to old players, is amazing!

So far, we have focused on the adventure elements on the sea, but that is not the only element in this title.

There is the call of a mysterious woman named "Lira" that Adol hears from a shell he picked up in Karnak, the mysterious "Island of Scenes" that Adol sometimes arrives at when his consciousness is diverted, and the old man who lives there. Stone pillars dotting the Gulf of Obelia and the memories of ancient Normans that flow in by touching them. ......

Numerous wonders await Adol. As the mysteries are revealed little by little, and the pieces of the mysteries fit together like a puzzle, the game's appeal is such that one can almost say, "This is Ys! This is the charm of "Ys!

The balance of the game is also very well adjusted.

As fans of the "Ys" series know, even though this series is called an action RPG, the action itself and battles rarely become deadlocked if the difficulty level is set to normal. Even if you encounter a boss character that you just can't beat, you can always retry the battle on a lower difficulty level.

On the other hand, it is also possible to play as a masochist by raising the difficulty level like a demon. You can change the difficulty level at any time during the game, so we hope you will find just the right level of difficulty.

The tutorial is very detailed when new elements are introduced, and you can check the logs of the controls and game system at any time, so you don't have to worry if you accidentally miss an explanation.

If you are not comfortable moving around without footholds in the manastring, don't worry. In the settings screen, you can choose whether or not to use footholds. This way, you will not fall into a hole and not be able to move on! This is a great way to avoid falling down a hole and not being able to move on.

In this way, "Ys X - Nordics" is definitely a recommended title for the second half of 2023, as it is "user-friendly" in every aspect, including game balance, story, system, and difficulty level.

Come to think of it, the catchphrase in the early days of the "Ys" series was "Now, RPGs have entered the age of gentleness. I remember that the catchphrase was a counter to the onslaught of RPGs with extremely difficult difficulty levels at the time. The spirit of "gentleness" is still alive and well in this title, 35 years after the birth of the series, and I feel that the game now has a meaning of providing an environment that is easy to play for each player.

In today's Japan, where kindness is in short supply, why not enjoy a great adventure to your heart's content in a different world filled with kindness once in a while?

• Game Information
• Ys X -No Dix
• Supported platforms: PS5/PS4/Switch
• Release date: 2023/9/28
• Genre: Action RPG
• Price: 8,580 yen (including tax) *Downloadable version: 8,250 yen (including tax)
• Maker: Nihon Falcom