REVIEW: ‘Ys X: Nordics’ Is One of the Best The Series Has To Offer (PS5)

Ys X: Nordics is Nihon Falcom’s latest JRPG title in the Ys franchise. The title succeeds in including some new engaging elements, entertaining characters, and an exciting narrative. However, while its narrative and gameplay elements elevate it, the game notably lacks some features that would have made the experience more enjoyable.

Ys X: Nordics is one of the many adventure retellings of the adventurer and series central character Adol Christin. It occurs after Ys I and II and follows teenage Adol and his partner in crime, Dogi. On one of their many adventures, the duo wound up on the Obelia Gulf while on their way to the Celceta region. Here, they run into the Viking-like Norman tribe and their elite military force, The Balta Seaforce, along with their princess, Karja.

After a short confrontation, Karja and Adol separate but quickly reunite and get shackled together after discovering a magical item that grants Adolf Mana a powerful and mysterious ability that only a few can use. They’ll have to use it to stop the Griegers, a mysterious undead group that threatens the people of Obelia Bay.

Despite their differences and sheer contrast in personalities, Karja and Adol quickly learn to get along and fight together. They go on a quest to stop the Griegers and their sadistic assault by recruiting as many helpers as they can while traveling across the seas of Obelia Bay.

The narrative in Ys X: Nordics is some of the strongest the series has seen. Not only does the overarching narrative pique player intrigue right from the start by introducing the malicious villain group, but it also boasts personal character depth and growth through Karja. Despite starting as abrasive and rude, she quickly learns to be tolerant and friendly to the people around her, showing significant character development.

Gameplay-wise, Ys X: Nordics introduces several new combat mechanics. This includes Duo mode, which sees Karja and Adol dealing devastating attacks on enemies in turn-based mode while sacrificing speed. In contrast, the Solo mode is the faster, real-time mode that sees Both Adol and Karja attack simultaneously, with players controlling one character and the other being controlled by the AI.

Combat is fast and surprisingly responsive. AI enemies are also quite resilient and challenging, especially the bosses. All bosses have unique abilities and offer different challenges, making each encounter different from the last, forcing players to devise strategies to beat them. Switching between both modes constantly, depending on each scenario, is the best way to deal with most of the game’s most challenging bosses.

Players also have access to swappable accessories and skills that help turn the tide of combat. These skills include throwing an ax like a boomerang, executing heavy pierce attacks, massive ice AOE attacks, setting your sword on fire, and more. While these attacks cost SP, switching between characters allows players to use them with few limitations continuously. These skills are incredibly fun to use and are incredibly fast, making them quite satisfying.

Outside combat, players also have various traversal skills that are admittedly fun to use. These include the Mana grappling hook, which allows Adol and Karja to swing from platform to platform, and the Gullinboard, which lets them surf over land and water. These tools provide fun outside combat despite their purpose mainly for exploration and traversal.

Other than this,  Ys X: Nordics also introduces ship exploration and combat in the series. Players take control of the Sandras and explore the game’s oceans, running into several enemy ships. Naval combat is simple but incredibly responsive, and players can toggle between heavy and light rounds during fights. However, the naval combat is far from challenging and sometimes feels like a chore, but it offers refreshing variety to the gameplay experience.

The Sandras starts out as a run-down ship with very few staff, but this changes significantly as players meet and recruit characters throughout the game. One major fault with naval exploration is that there isn’t much to do and see aside from naval combat; as such, time spent at sea gets repetitive and boring quickly.

Regarding visuals, Ys X: Nordics is perhaps the best-looking title from the series thus far. While the character designs are mundane, the Grieger bosses have uniquely designed appearances. The models are also quite detailed, and the art direction is very impressive. From rural villages to expansive valleys, Nordics‘ environments are intricately crafted and feel lived in. Performance-wise, the game runs incredibly smoothly on the PS5, and load times are speedy, with minimal frame rate drops.

Overall, Ys X: Nordics is an incredible entry in the Ys series. While not without faults, the JRPG’s narrative and gameplay provide a great experience that elevates the series to new heights.

Ys X: Nordics is available now on PlayStation 5, PlayStation 4, Nintendo Switch, and PC.