Ys is a Metroidvania

As Ys has slowly devoured my life and my Steam Deck’s battery, I’ve begun to ask myself why. Why did this franchise get such a hook in me in a way that excellent ARPGs like Secret of Mana, NieR: Automata, and many others didn’t?

I think it’s because Ys is (not so) secretly a Metroidvania.

Along with my abiding love of JRPGs, Metroidvanias have a firmly rooted place in my heart. I got the true ending on Hollow Knight, 100%ed both games in the Ori series, and even did speedruns of Gato Roboto for a time.

Now obviously Ys is marketed as a series of Action RPGs, and I believe that that is a broadly accurate descriptor. But the same aspects that make Ys stand out within the ARPG genre also make it structurally identical to the best that the Metroidvania genre has to offer.

To wit, let’s look at some common characteristics of Metroidvania games and how they’re seen in the Ys franchise.

1. Ability-Gated Progress

Seen perhaps most obviously in Ys IX: Monstrum Nox (the most Metroidvania of all the Ys games, in my opinion), this basically just means that parts of the map are visible to you but not accessible until you’ve unlocked certain abilities.

For Ys IX, the way you interact with the early game’s map looks completely different to the end game. You’re grounded and slow to start. But by the later chapters you’re flying over rooftops, dashing up walls, and slipping under low gates. 

Even in games like Ys VIII, however, you find map progress occasionally gated behind the number of people you’ve added to your campsite. Slightly different, yes, but thematically the same.

I don’t see how this is functionally any different than unlocking a new missile in Metroid, and I think the fact that many Ys games let you unlock double jump speaks for itself.

2. Emphasis on Exploration

One of the most rewarding parts of the Ori series is its unbelievably beautiful scenery. Exploration in that game is its own reward.

Similarly, I argue that Ys VIII: Lacrimosa of Dana places a great emphasis on exploring the Isle of Seiren to unlock landmarks, discover hidden treasure chests, and ultimately aim for a 100% completion rate.

However, I would say this is one potential sore point: in the Ys games, exploration is generally not required to progress. Especially in the more recent games, the actual game progress is linear. The earlier bump combat games, though, and to some extent the Napishtim engine games, do implicitly encourage exploration as a core mechanic.

3. Interconnected Map Sections

Starting with the very first game, a tight, interconnected map has been a staple of the Ys franchise – just like with Metroidvanias.

While Ys X: Nordics compromised this tenet somewhat to give more depth to the ship combat and exploration, in essentially every other Ys game the player can freely navigate from one end of the map to the other and is sometimes even required to for story purposes.  

This also ties in with the general Metroidvania trend of back-tracking. While few Ys games necessitate back-tracking, almost all of them encourage it. You backtrack with new abilities to get more treasure or unlock secrets. Doesn’t that sound familiar?

4. Trash Mobs and Tough Bosses

Finally, and in my opinion behind only ability gating in importance, each Ys game has a structured model of running through respawning trash mobs in order to reach a boss fight which often relies on recently learned mechanics or abilities.

While the final part of that – the addition of mechanics – is not universally true across Ys games, it is an extremely common feature.

All you have to do is look at Ys III: Wanderers from Ys to see how this mechanics looks in 2D. This screenshot on its own gives me intense Castlevania vibes, and even in the 2.5D or 3D games, that feeling of combat progression persists.

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So, there you have it. Indisputably, Ys is a Metroidvania as much as it is an Action RPG.

(Author’s note: I just started playing a translated version of Ys V. I can say firmly that Ys V is not a Metroidvania. The other points still stand!)

Disagree? Agree? Let me know in the comments!