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Post by Ex on Dec 6, 2022 14:09:54 GMT -5
Breaking off from the Games Beaten discussion, since we're all on the Ys subject; what all Ys games has everyone played/beaten - and what are your thoughts on those entries? What are your favorite Ys games and least favorite? (Also please differentiate between if you actually finished or just played a particular entry.)
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I'll be back later with my answers folks, work calls...
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Post by bonesnapdeez on Dec 6, 2022 14:24:46 GMT -5
Same ol' story with me. I like the retro stuff; not into the modern entries so much. Maybe give Ys VIII another shot someday, along with IX.... and Ys Strategy. I have unfinished business!
Ys Book I & II (TGCD) is my favorite ARPG.
I went on a binge years ago and tried to play as many ports and variations of the old games as possible. Fun times. I unironically think everyone should play Ys I & II three times. First 8-bit (SMS for I, Fami for II), then TGCD, then Chronicles.
I have a decent Ys collection with some oddballs. Hong Kong release of Ys Origin, Korean Ys II Eternal, plus plenty of Japanese imports.
Lilia = best character.
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Post by Kazin on Dec 6, 2022 14:31:21 GMT -5
I've beaten at least one version of each game in the mainline series - I haven't played the 8bit versions of Ys (though I do own the first game on Master System), but have beaten Ys I & II twice in the Chronicles version, and Ys I once on TGCD (I'll do II eventually). Never beat or even played much of the original version of Ys III, but absolutely adore Oath in Felghana (which is the game that got me into the series on PSP). The only version of IV I've beaten is Memories of Celceta, I've beaten Ys V, VI (PC), VII, and VIII (once on Switch, once on PC). Haven't played IX yet, but I'm sure I'll like it.
My favorite is Ys Origin, which I've beaten with each character twice, and probably will attempt the harder modes eventually. I just think it's incredibly well put together both aesthetically and in terms of gameplay. The third character you get might be my favorite character to play as in the entire series.
Ys V is my least favorite, though I haven't played the strategy game or many of the three billion ports of the first two games (I suspect the DS versions of I & II could be my least favorite, since I've heard they play very badly). Ys V is a good game, but there are others I'd rather play many times before going back to it. It was a bit slow paced and super, super easy, so much so that they apparently released a harder version later that hasn't been fantranslated as far as I know.
Play Ys! Play Falcom games in general! Trails in the Sky/Zero/Azure/Cold Steel are all great (if insanely long)!
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Post by bonesnapdeez on Dec 6, 2022 14:51:40 GMT -5
Ys III is a fascinating case as the SNES, Gen, and TGCD ports were all localized. Hell, even the Fami port is fan-translated. It's a really fun game, albeit both grindy and very linear which can make things feel sluggish at times. It's a completely different experience compared to Oath in Felghana. DS Ys I & II is actually pretty solid! Just don't attempt to play with the stylus!! I think the last Ys I played/replayed was Eternal. Some screenshots I took:
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Post by Sarge on Dec 6, 2022 15:18:04 GMT -5
I'll be honest, I didn't love the first three games. Of the games I've beaten:
Ys I (DUO) - Was getting into a groove, but so much of the game is taken up by the tower and there's a horrendous backtrack needed there that brings it down in my mind. Eh/10. Ys II (DUO) - Shifts the combat away from bumping to magic projectiles, and feels a bit more balanced, but I still don't love it. Ys III (DUO) - I want to love it, but it's still quite rough around the edges. And geeeeeeez the voice acting is awful. Ys V (SNES) - Quite easy, but solid. Would like to play through Expert. Ys VI (PS2) - Janky as all get-outs, but this is the game that got me into Ys. Fast, frenetic combat. Ys: Oath in Felghana (PC) - And this is the other one. Refines the formula in Ys VI, and proves one of the best remakes of a game out there. Ys Origin (PC) - More of the same. Thought I wasn't going to like everything being in the tower, but it works. Three player characters can be somewhat repetitive, but the game is good enough to justify playing through all of them. Ys Seven (PSP) - My former favorite of the series. Miss the jump button, but it does a great job of updating the formula again. Ys Celceta (Vita) - Fun, but not as good as Seven for me. Ys VIII (PS4) - Probably my favorite of the series now. Crazy fast combat and exploration elements that open up as you progress. I could do without the defense segments, but otherwise one of the greatest modern ARPGs. Ys IX (PS4) - Small downgrade from Ys VIII, but still very fun.
So basically I've finished every game in the series in some form. Still wouldn't mind running through the Duo/SNES versions of Ys IV, though. I have played both of them.
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Post by Kazin on Dec 6, 2022 15:34:57 GMT -5
And the soundtracks. Is there a bad Ys soundtrack? I've liked the music in every game.
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Post by bonesnapdeez on Dec 6, 2022 16:02:24 GMT -5
The music owns hard. Reminds me, years after I got the game I figured out that Eternal had the soundtrack's sheet music on a bonus disc. Yeah I could have just found this on the internet but it was still cool.
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Post by Ex on Dec 6, 2022 17:48:35 GMT -5
I'll touch on what others said later, for now quick run down on my experiences. Keep in mind, many Ys games released on many different ports. If you see a game you want to play but don't own the platform, check to see if the game appeared on another platform. Or consider emulation... Ys games I've beaten / platform beaten on / my score / quick thought:Ys Eternal / PC / 8/10 / Very nice remake of the first Ys, hard to get legit but has an English fan translation. Ys III: Wanderers from Ys / TGCD / 7/10 / Side-scrolling design isn't so great, but has a KILLER OST. Ys IV: Mask of the Sun / SFC / 4/10 / Falcom didn't make this crap and you can tell, horrible game. Ys V: Lost Kefin, Kingdom of Sand / SFC / 7/10 / A decent action-JRPG but Falcom was aping better SNES action-JRPGs.
Ys VI: The Ark of Napishtim / PC / 7.5/10 / Good update on the Ys formula, the jump button did nothing wrong. Ys: The Oath in Felghana / PC / 8/10 / This game rocks literally and figuratively, Falcom knocked it outta the park. Ys Origin / PC / 10/10 / Ys with all fat cut out, amazing fun, Falcom knocked it outta the stratosphere. Must play!
Ys Seven / PSP / 9/10 / Ys gets reinvented for a new age, and despite being too wordy is still a great time. Ys: Memories of Celceta / Vita / Finally Falcom shows Tonkin House and Hudson Soft how to properly make Ys IV.
I plan to play these in time to come:
Ys II via Ys I & II Chronicles via PSP.
Ys VIII: Lacrimosa of Dana via PS4. Ys IX: Monstrum Nox via PS4.
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Legacy of Ys: Books I & II for Nintendo DS sucks donkey butt.
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Post by toei on Dec 6, 2022 18:53:40 GMT -5
I love the so-called bump system. Being able to just run through enemies and level up in seconds was so liberating at a time where I was always playing RPGs. I found the first two games a bit overrated - they're very 80s, not quite developed enough for me. I liked Ys III on the Genesis, enjoyed both versions of IV a lot, V, VI, Origins. For me what was so great about the early games is how concise and fast they were.
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Post by bonesnapdeez on Dec 6, 2022 21:27:01 GMT -5
I liked DS Ys. Quirky and does its own thing. The "slanty" graphics remind of Lucienne's Quest, of all things. Certain tracks sound great on the DS too. Case in point,
One Ys game I'd truly avoid is the Famicom Ys I. Whoever ported that had no idea what they were doing; it's a janky mess.
Ys Strategy isn't going to win over anyone either. It's not a strategy RPG, more like a slow ass RTS.
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