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Ys X: Nordics | Review Thread

Thick Thighs Save Lives

Thick Thighs Save Lives

NeoGAF's Physical Games Advocate Extraordinaire
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Game Information

Game Title: Ys X: Nordics

Platforms (Western Release):
  • PC (Oct 25, 2024)
  • PlayStation 4 & 5 (Oct 25, 2024)
  • Nintendo Switch (Oct 25, 2024)
Trailer:
Developer: Falcom

Publisher: NIS America

Review Aggregator:

OpenCritic - 79 average - 88% recommended

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Metacritic - 82 average based on 14 Critic Reviews

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Critic Reviews


33bits - Fernando Sánchez - Spanish - 91 / 100
Ys X: Nordics is presented as a solid addition to the franchise, offering evolved gameplay and new playable elements. The Mana String is quite interesting and gives many new possibilities to the protagonists that make the game more dynamic and fun. On the other hand, the naval combats, although interesting, have left us a little cold. Still, Ys fans are in luck because the spirit of Ys is still intact and in top form, and it's still devilishly fun.
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Checkpoint Gaming - Charlie Kelly - 7 / 10
Ys X: Nordics may not have been the flourishing and vibrant first venture in the series I was after, but I'm also far from turned off by the franchise. Its fast-paced action combat with a plethora of strategies and abilities to employ never ceased to satisfy my brain's often insatiable need for flashy fighting. Backing it is kickass battle music with a heavy emphasis on electric guitar riffs that never get old. Though I wish the story, world and lore found within were more captivating, pretty and memorable, I can't fault how fun and solid the gameplay loop of perusing both the vast seas and involved islands is. There are plenty of secrets, fun gameplay moments and goodies that await. Having considered all that, I'd call Ys X: Nordics a damn fine seaworthy ride indeed. Nothing more. Nothing less.
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Final Weapon - Raul Ochoa - 4.5 / 5
Ys X: Nordics is a crowning achievement for Falcom as one of its most vibrant and compelling action RPGs yet. The setting of the Obelia Gulf invokes a sense of adventure and mystery, while its characters, locations, and lore keeps players engaged. As the young hero Adol and the pirate princess Karja, players experience a combat system that sets the new standard for the franchise as well.
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GameMAG - Russian - 8 / 10
Ys X: Noridcs is a competent development of a long-running series, and a great opportunity for new players to get to know it better.
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Gamersky - 心灵奇兵 - Chinese - 8 / 10
As the latest game in the Ys series, Ys X: Nordics doesn't stray far from the familiar formula. It takes a cautious approach, delivering a JRPG experience of consistent quality that lasts around 30-40 hours. If you're looking for a return to a classic RPG adventure with well-rounded combat, systems and gameplay, or if you have a deep affection for the Ys series, then this game will certainly meet your expectations.
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God is a Geek - Lyle Pendle - 7 / 10
Ys X: Nordics is a fun enough RPG with enjoyable combat, but dull sailing sections and subpar visuals make it a slightly disappointing sequel.
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Hey Poor Player - Kenny McKee - 4.5 / 5
As far as Ys chronology goes, Adol’s latest adventure is nothing if not a big step backward. If you ask me, however, this game is a major step forward. Offering an incredibly compelling story, intuitive new mechanics, and a refreshing and unique take on the Ys formula without compromising its identity, Ys X: Nordics is a literal boatload of fun that series fans and newcomers alike. I’d say that good things are on the horizon for Adol from here on out, but, well, we already know that’s true.
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IGN Korea - Seongho Moon - Korean - 8 / 10
One of the developer interviews mentioned something about implementing a Souls-like element to the game, which was a bit of a concern. Once the game was released, it kept the classic taste of Ys, all while adding creative cinematics thus if you’re once a fan, this game won’t disappoint. Classic ARPG masterpiece as Ys would be, we recommend everyone to give it a try.
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INVEN - Youngseok Yang - Korean - 8.3 / 10
Ys X successfully expands and evolves Falcom's action style. A clean, flowing story that befits the adventures of the young Adol is presented, accompanied by excellent BGM. Moreover, offering plenty of additional enjoyment through New Game+ was also delightful. The challenging content is also quite engaging, giving a glimpse of Falcom's efforts in preparing for a new era.
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Nintendo Life - Mitch Vogel - 8 / 10
Ys X stands as another great entry in this long-running action series, bringing in some cool ideas of its own without straying too far from what made its predecessors so beloved. Enjoyable combat, an excellent soundtrack, and an engaging world to explore all make this one an easy recommendation, even if it can stumble a bit with its performance and doesn't totally stick the landing with all its new ideas. We'd highly recommend Ys X if you're at all a fan of the past entries or are looking for another solid action RPG to add to your collection.
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NookGaming - Isaiah Parker - 9 / 10
I’m thrilled to report that Ys X: Nordics isn’t just good, but in many ways it represents Ys at its best. I have some foibles with it, such as an occasionally inconsistent presentation and a comparative lack of memorable environments. However, it’s a mostly successful modernization and refreshment in a series that was in need of exactly that. Coupling this with improvements to cutscenes elevating an already great story and some of the best boss fights in the series, and you have a game that won’t be leaving my mind any time soon. I’m always excited for what’s coming next with Ys, but as I reflect on this title, I’m downright impatient as I think of the ways they can push its changes even further. Our 10th is always a big deal, and it’s clear that Ys understood that.
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PSX Brasil - Portuguese - 90 / 100
Quote not yet available
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Saudi Gamer - Arabic - 9 / 10
Just when I finally got burned out of the franchise after Ys IX, Ys X took all the necessary steps to elevate the franchise to higher heights and make one of the best games in the long running franchise by providing the most action packed RPG in Falcom's history despite the obvious budget choices.
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Spaziogames - Gianluca Arena - Italian - 8 / 10
Ys X Nordics is an intuitive and refreshing action JRPG (more action than RPG, to tell the truth) that captures the spirit of the old episodes of the franchise and gives the player a lot of room to explore, loot and fight across the islands of the Obelia Gulf. Not the prettiest PS5 title to date, but certainly a funny and intuitive one.
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The Outerhaven Productions - Scott Adams - 4 / 5
Ys X: Nordics showcases the impressive capabilities of the new engine developed by Nihon Falcom. Adol controls exceptionally well, and Karja adds depth to the roster of characters he encounters. Although the game starts off slowly, once you acquire all the necessary tools, it plays like a dream.
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TheSixthAxis - Miguel Moran - 8 / 10
Ys X: Nordics maintains a lot of the qualities that this series has come to be known for. Some of those qualities aren't necessarily a positive, like the familiarly linear dungeon encounters and the less-than-impressive visuals of the game, but a lot of it works great. Combat is the best it's ever been, naval gameplay is a fresh and welcome addition, and Ys X: Nordics introduces refreshing character moments with Adol and Karja that I'm desperate to see more of in the next entry.
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VGChartz - Thomas Froehlicher - 7 / 10
I have deeply conflicting feelings towards Ys X: Nordics, to such an extent that it turns out to be difficult to score. The part of me that really enjoyed the battle system and sense of exploration, which are both better than ever before in a Falcom release, would opt for a high mark; the part of me that's disappointed with the characters, narrative, and visuals would score it lower.
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Last edited:
Go_Ly_Dow

Go_Ly_Dow

Member
Some good scores. Hands full with Metaphor and then DQ3 but will play this in the new year for sure!

I didn't play 9 but loved 8 a lot.
 
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Reactions: Isa
Isa

Isa

Member
Likewise day 1 for this. Looking forward to dorking around on a ship and not having it get destroyed and washed ashore for once lol. I'm with the HCG though, I miss the anime cutscenes of the OG's, those Ys books I&II were soooo good. The incredible soundtrack(s) too. My gf regularly asks me to put some of the songs on, like that one dungeon song that starts off softly with dripping water and then gets more intense.



Can't wait to hear the new tunes. I'll be playing through with Jpn VO as the english stuff is kinda iffy to me.
 
JayK47

JayK47

Member
Sweet. Pirates. We have so many great jRPGs that just came out and are coming out soon. I wish I had more time.
 
RaptorGTA

RaptorGTA

Member
man i LOVED Ys VIII....though i didnt beat it. i still need to....but with how good 8's been...then again I didn't play 9 either..
 
Paltheos

Paltheos

Member
Isa said:
Can't wait to hear the new tunes.
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Probably worse, unfortunately. From what I've heard from people, it's worse than Ys 9's OST, which was a big step down from Ys 8's. Unisuga's gone and there's only one leftover track from him in the game (which I've heard and ofc it's amazing), and Jindo afaik was busy at the time arranging for the the Ys 35th Anniversary album so there are only four tracks from him. Almost half of the OST was outsourced to Singa (again), meaning you're already running on coin flip odds at best of a track being good or crap.

(Relative newcomer) Koguchi's supposed to be pretty good here so I'm interested in hearing his stuff. I've already listened to a couple of his tracks from the game. Some of his instrumentation is not-a so great (that Osaki guitar from the '00s should not be reappearing in the lord's year), but his musical sense is good. His compositions are good. I'd taken issue with some of his arrangement work in Trails into Reverie but he seems better from what little I've heard. Looking forward to hear more of his stuff.

Dark times for Falcom music fans overall but I am anxious to listen to the handful of actually amazing tracks that still make into their games seemingly despite themselves.
 
jshackles

jshackles

Gentlemen, we can rebuild it. We have the capability to make the world's first enhanced store. Steam will be that store. Better than it was before.
Played some of the Japanese release, but decided to hold off for the English version so that I'm not having to use as much brain muscle to play it. Some text and dialog heavy games like that start to become a bit of a taxing chore to play, instead of a relaxing hobby time. Great for learning, bad for enjoyment. I wanted to enjoy this one.

So, I'm absolutely picking this up day one. But it also comes out the day after Romancing Saga 2 remake. Think I'll play that on the Switch, and this on PC.
 
  • Thoughtful
Reactions: Isa
Isa

Isa

Member
Paltheos said:
Probably worse, unfortunately. From what I've heard from people, it's worse than Ys 9's OST, which was a big step down from Ys 8's. Unisuga's gone and there's only one leftover track from him in the game (which I've heard and ofc it's amazing), and Jindo afaik was busy at the time arranging for the the Ys 35th Anniversary album so there are only four tracks from him. Almost half of the OST was outsourced to Singa (again), meaning you're already running on coin flip odds at best of a track being good or crap.

(Relative newcomer) Koguchi's supposed to be pretty good here so I'm interested in hearing his stuff. I've already listened to a couple of his tracks from the game. Some of his instrumentation is not-a so great (that Osaki guitar from the '00s should not be reappearing in the lord's year), but his musical sense is good. His compositions are good. I'd taken issue with some of his arrangement work in Trails into Reverie but he seems better from what little I've heard. Looking forward to hear more of his stuff.

Dark times for Falcom music fans overall but I am anxious to listen to the handful of actually amazing tracks that still make into their games seemingly despite themselves.
Click to expand...
Good points. Its definitely a tough bar for them to reach since they set it so high. Kind of crazy, I don't think killer gfx with Falcom I think killer tunes but most is from prior generations. From what little I've heard of the new stuff it wasn't bad but it was only 3 songs lol.
 
Isa

Isa

Member
jshackles said:
Played some of the Japanese release, but decided to hold off for the English version so that I'm not having to use as much brain muscle to play it. Some text and dialog heavy games like that start to become a bit of a taxing chore to play, instead of a relaxing hobby time. Great for learning, bad for enjoyment. I wanted to enjoy this one.

So, I'm absolutely picking this up day one. But it also comes out the day after Romancing Saga 2 remake. Think I'll play that on the Switch, and this on PC.
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Dang, didn't think they were so close together. I'd held off starting up Metaphor debating between this Ys X and Romancing Saga 2. They all have their qualities for sure, and we're definitely spoiled for choice.
 
Icymanipulator

Icymanipulator

Member
adamsapple said:
You're not missing out much. 8 is vastly superior to 9, IMO of course.
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Ya this seems to be the general consensus.
I’ve actually had 9 on my wishlist for like a year lol, but between not going deep enough on sale and just being busy with other games and life in general I’ve never gotten around to it.
But yes, someday I WILL play it lololol
 
manzo

manzo

Member
How is the PS5 performance on this? Still contemplating if I will play this on PC or PS5. Comfy couch vs Durante's port.
 
Sentenza

Sentenza

Member
adamsapple said:
You're not missing out much. 8 is vastly superior to 9, IMO of course.
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I don't even agree.
Ys IX may be hit and miss with the narrative (then again, that's true for every title in the series) but its navigation tools and power ups made it extremely fun to grind through. Not a single bit below Ys 8 (which had its fair share of boring parts itself).

Also, I'm playing Nordic's demo right now.
Jesus Christ, I overall like the series very much, but FALCOM really doesn't know how to make an intro that isn't boring to the point of tears and dragged forever.

I've already gone through at least 3 cutscenes and dialogues filled with exposition of people talking for MINUTES about shit I couldn't genuinely care less if I tried.
I get that they need to set the "premises", but there would be certainly better ways to achieve it.
 
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Kazdane

Kazdane

Member
This looks great and I'll get to it eventually, currently juggling Metaphor and Ys III (after playing I, II and Origins) and loving them, so I'll get to it because I'm really looking forward to see how the series has evolved throughout the series.
 
Mitsurux

Mitsurux

Member
About 3 hours into the demo on switch. Really enjoying it so far (how long is the demo?). Game runs pretty good on switch (better than 9) with only a few issues. Shadows are a little jittery on the boat sails (pretty noticeable at the beginning of the game). And slight object pop in at some areas... but nothing that bad.
 
jshackles

jshackles

Gentlemen, we can rebuild it. We have the capability to make the world's first enhanced store. Steam will be that store. Better than it was before.
Booted up the demo and... my monitor immediately died about 4 seconds into the opening cut scene.

Maybe a coincidence... but now I gotta deal with sending this hulking thing in for repairs or replacement.
 
Sentenza

Sentenza

Member
I played the demo to completion.
The good news is that it's a sizable one. As a free sample I'd say it's pretty generous.
The bad news is that being the introductory part of the game it contains a lot of the most boring shit: slow paced cutscenes, exposition in spades, super-linear sequences, etc.
 
Danny Dudekisser

Danny Dudekisser

I paid good money for this Dynex!
It's an Ys game, so I'm basically in no matter what. Need to finish Metaphor first, which'll take a while.

For whatever reason, I'm kind of tempted to play this one on the PS5 Pro. I've played all the others on PC, but yeah.
 
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