Here’s why you should make ARPG Ys X Nordics your first Ys game

Even if you’ve played previous games in the series that didn’t excite you, there are good reasons to suggest it Yes could be the one that convinces you.

It’s an excellent action game

I’ll get to the point: Ys X: Nordics has the best combat system of all Yes Play to this day. Other current ones Yes Games played as fast-paced hack-and-slash action RPGs, with an emphasis on perfectly timed dodging and switching between party members to exploit enemy weaknesses. In Yesthe party system has been minimized and there are no longer any enemy weaknesses. Protagonists Adol and Karja now fight in tandem as you quickly switch between the two to bombard enemies with quick strikes and create huge combos. Similarly, the evasion mechanics have largely merged with Adol and Karja’s blocking functionality, with perfectly timed parries resulting in the series’ trademark “Flash Guard.”

These changes change the combat of Yes so much so that my muscle memory comes from the past Yes

At first, games completely failed me. However, once I got the hang of it, I couldn’t believe the colorful, rapid sword slashes I was executing on screen. Since Adol and Karja have separate SP meters that use up their special attacks, the fight felt like a dance, with me constantly searching for the right moments to drop the two in and out of the fight, making it a practically endless one Maintaining a stream of special attacks. By activating “Duo Mode,” meanwhile, Adol and Karja fight as a single unit to deliver powerful attacks, which I generously used to take out large groups of enemies and knock down bosses when they left themselves open.

Duo mode fits this perfectly Yes‘s block, while perfectly timed parries lead to Adol and Karja attacking their opponents with steel until they push them back and deliver damage-boosting counterattacks. Make no mistake, this is still a very fast-paced action game, just like the previous series entries – it just is Yes isn’t afraid to slow down the action at times so you can achieve those moments of pure speed that the previous games were known for. Falcom has essentially created a combat system that embodies the feel of a well-designed game Sonic the Hedgehog Level.

I could go on, but at this point you can just watch the combo videos uploaded by the Japanese publication of Yes

and see for yourself how cool it looks in motion. It’s just good, man.

The cast of characters is endearing

Yes Games in general aren’t known for their compelling storylines. However, this series excels at creating a warm atmosphere where virtually every NPC has a name and their own personal stories that progress in the background of the main plot. Yes Particularly noteworthy here is the emotional crew that supports Adol and Karja as they sail across the seas in their boat. But surprisingly, this time it’s the protagonists who steal the show.

Yes is a coming-of-age story in which teenagers Adol and Karja are literally connected by a thread of fate (it’s literally wrapped around their wrists like handcuffs) as they combine their strengths to find out why they’re so attached to each other , and the residents save the town of Carnac. While Adol is usually a silent protagonist, he is surprisingly expressive Yes

. He’s a flighty goofball with a mischievous streak, but his endless thirst for adventure and penchant for running headlong into danger make him easily vulnerable when the going gets tough. While Karja initially seems like a stereotypical tsundere, she endeared me to her calculated demeanor as she developed into the leader the people of Carnac needed. However, make no mistake; Karja is just as badass a fighter as Adol, and it’s a joy to see how well they work together as a team

Already in the second chapter of the game, Adol and Karja build a real, serious bond with each other by telling stories from their lives and supporting each other in their needs. Whenever they defeat a big boss together, they celebrate with a fist bump or a high five, the same way you might celebrate after completing a difficult challenge in a video game with a friend. They have disagreements and get into heated arguments, but if anything, these moments make it even clearer how authentic their bond with each other feels. Yes feels surprisingly personal and is one of the best ways to get to know the series protagonist Adol. It’s a low-stakes story by RPG standards, but the overarching themes of reaching your potential and finding meaning in life resonated with me because the characters were so well written.