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With any series as lengthy as Falcom‘s Ys or Trails, you’re bound to get a bounty of questions on the internet about where is best to begin.
Thankfully, there are people like our first community spotlightee to help us.
I started watching The Kiseki Nut (aka Dom) on YouTube a few years ago for his JRPG content, but it was only recently that his “I Want to Get Into Ys, But I Don’t Know Where to Start” video did exactly as described on the tin.
He (along with a bevy of other internet resources) helped catapult me into a series that I quickly developed a deep love and appreciation for. So when I was mulling over the folks I most wanted to chat about Ys with for YsLink’s launch, Dom came straight to mind.
I feel very lucky that he was willing to share his time and energy with me for this interview, so please be sure to scroll to the bottom and check out a few of my favorite videos on his channel before you go!
YSLINK – Your YouTube channel started out as an appreciation of the Trails series but quickly evolved into a broader look at JRPGs. When did Ys come into the mix for you, and what did you initially think?
TKN – While I was mostly a dedicated Trails channel, Ys was always within that mould too. That’s why even during my early days I would still do the odd Ys video here and there. It was more a case of mine appreciating Falcom as a whole rather than just Trails, though Trails was the bread and butter of the channel in the early days. I actually experienced Ys before Trails with Origin and was blown away by its synth rock music and gameplay, so naturally wanted to check out more when the opportunity arose.
YSLINK – Your videos are a superb entry point for a lot people who are interested in Trails and Ys. But how do you balance your own fandom with the demands of quality content creation?
TKN – That’s always been the toughest part, finding a balance between passion projects and the videos that bring views. While I enjoy making pretty much every video I do, there’s no doubt that some have more of an appeal to me during the creation process. I just accept that these projects sometimes won’t hit, though in many cases they will pick up an audience over time. The ‘Where to Start with Ys‘ video started off below expectation as an example, but it was something I really wanted to make. Over the past year though, it has seemed to have found its own place in the algorithm. That’s rewarding for me, as I know that videos like this help bring new fans in even if it’s at the seeming derivation of the channel’s viewership.
YSLINK – It’s been over five years since you posted a video called “Why I Loved Ys VIII” – how do you think the game has held up, and have you replayed it recently?
TKN – It’s still the best in the series, and one of my favourite games of all time. While I haven’t played it for a fair number of years now, I remember many parts of the game vividly and still recommend it whenever I am able to. There might have been an ‘aligning of the stars’ moment with Ys VIII too, as I played it around the time where a big change in my life was about to occur (my time in Japan was over, and I was just about to end that journey). So the idea of one journey ending, but another beginning through the game was kind of an interesting situation, especially since I hadn’t played anything for over 2 years by that point. Even so, if I played Ys VIII now for the first time, I’m confident it would still be my favourite in the series.
YSLINK – What would you most like to see the Ys series accomplish or alter in its future entries?
TKN – 100% an Ys V remake. It’s the only blot on the series to date, and that’s a shame because it has one of the better stories for the earlier entries too. It’s clear Falcom haven’t forgotten it, as they’ve still made references to the game in the modern entries.
YSLINK – Finally, which Falcom game do you most wish you could wipe from your memory just to play again for the first time?
TKN – Tough one really, I think it has to be split between Trails of Cold Steel 1 and Ys VIII. Trails of Cold Steel ignited my love of that series, and pretty much put me on the path to eventually make the channel. Ys VIII for the reasons I mentioned before, it was a time in my life that was pivotal in many respects.
Thanks again to Dom for his time and for reminding me to go check out the Ys Origin soundtrack again.
And as promised, here are a few of my favorite videos from The Kiseki Nut:
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