Ys Origin is the chronological start of the Ys series and is an action RPG. I’ve not had much to do with the series, only having played Ys eight, but this game is still pretty entertaining. The game offers two different characters for the player to play through the game. It’s a classic anime RPG from a time before anime RPG’s were a big hit in the west, but it is a good game.
Players will have the option of a few modes. Though, they will need to play through the story first. There is also an arena mode where players can fight through enemies and even play as Adol Christin. Time attack is quick and fun and tasks players with taking out several enemies within a time limit. But, the final mode is probably the most interesting. There is a speedrun mode that players who love the game will enjoy. They can play through the game as quickly as possible and work to decrease their playtime. It’s ambitious to have a mode in a game that could take ten hours to finish. This mode is solid, and players who can’t get enough of Ys Origin will have fun with it.
As mentioned before, players can choose between two characters. Yunica is considered the main character and has an ax, which is perfect for short-range combat. The other playable character is the mage Hugo, and his long-range magic is also rather powerful. Both of these characters have their own stories to take on, so players will want to play through the game twice to see their stories come to their conclusions. If the player can complete the game, they will unlock one final character. This character, known as “The Claw” is a powerful close combat brawler. He is more challenging to play than Hugo or Yunica, but for someone who has beaten the game, it will be a little easier. It’s always cool when games give players another character to play as and have a strong one, for say, nightmare mode is a plus.
Battle in Ys Origins is simple. Players will swing or shoot their way through enemies. Both styles work well, and it’s easy to play as both characters. As they take down enemies, the pair will fill up a boost meter. Activating this meter will give Hugo or Yunica more power in their attacks. It’s good to use this when things get hairy, but players can use it whenever. The duo will also gain magic as they push through the tower. They start with wind magic, which helps them sail from platform to platform. There are other powers like fire and water that come into play later. Players can also use wind, for instance, to shield themselves from attacks. It’s a good idea to make use of these powers as they will help the player climb the tower.
There is also other equipment the heroes will collect. There is a mask that lets players see hidden things and even a necklace that stops traps. These items are useful additions to the hero’s collection and it’s always nice to stumble upon a new tool. They each look interesting and have properties that make scaling the tower a little easier. As the player battles through the game, they will take on numerous enemies. The characters will need to take down many a foe to level up and grow stronger. Grinding is not a bad idea as earlier Ys games were often known to be quite hard. Sometimes though, a one level up can be all one needs to get through to the next fight.
This game a multitude of bosses, some of which only appear in, say Hugo’s, or Yunica’s storyline. These changes to the boss line up do change up the game. Players who master Hugo won’t immediately know what boss they will fight when they play as Yunica. It’s interesting to play through this game with multiple playthroughs because the boss lineup does change the feeling and flow of the story. Players will need to keep themselves safe by saving at Goddess statues. To use these statues, the player must purify these statues as the demons have overloaded them with darkness. The goddess statues not only help the player save but can infinitely heal the player as well as offer up boons. These boons do take a while to earn, but they will assist the player in the long run.
As players destroy the monsters in the tower, they will collect SP. SP stands for Spirit Power. Using this power, they can max out their armor, gain more health from herbs and weaken damage from traps or enemies. There are numerous powers, some that require massive amounts topping at 50000. It can take a long time to gather the SP, but it is worth it to unlock every upgrade. I enjoy the fact that the characters each have character art. Every time Hugo or Yunica meets someone they will see character art. It’s a great thing to see these characters as they’d look because the characters are small on the screen. Each character is lively, and players are sure to find their favorites.
The music in this game is a little weak. I’m a big fan of a good OST, but this soundtrack repeats regularly. Spend too much time grinding, and the songs work themselves into the player’s head. The game would have been better if the song didn’t loop so often, but the music is still relatively good. The game also has a blood level option. It’s different to see how much blood can spew from enemies. The game initially sets it as low, but players can jump in and make the game gory. The enemies will spew blood and splatter the dark tower with it. It changes the feeling of the game, and I prefer the blood to a lack of it.
Ys Origin is a solid game in the Ys series. It shows off the past of the Ys world and helps people get into this fantastic series. While it may not be the best Ys game and doesn’t compare well to other Anime RPG’s it’s still a solid game. Hugo and Yunica have to climb a devilish dark tower; will the player help the pair reach the top and take out the demons that rule over it?
Disclaimer: A review key was provided