Created in 1987 by Masaya Hashimoto and Yomoyoshi Miyazaki (along with their team at Nihon Falcom), the Ys series of Action RPGs stands as one of the earliest staples of the genre. While Dragon Quest and Final Fantasy rose to massive success, Ys never quite took off in the same way. Still, they've maintained a dedicated following in both Japan and the West.
The name "Ys" (pronounced like "ees") is based on the mythological French city of the same name:
Ys...is a mythical city on the coast of Brittany that was swallowed up by the ocean. Most versions of the legend place the city in the Baie de Douarnenez.Ys focuses on the life and adventures of Adol Christin, a red-haired fighter often accompanied by his comrade, Dogi. While there are three main types of gameplay (bump combat, party-based, and isometric/top-down), all the mainline Ys series games are action RPGs.
Ultimately, the series is exemplified by fast-paced combat and exploration combined with rigorous and methodical boss fights.
The world of Ys is one quite like our own - you might notice that the map looks an awful lot like Europe (which it is) and that the names of some peoples and places sound awfully familiar to ones in the real world. Ys is a heightened, magical version of some very loose historical events and trends.
There have been a total of seventeen games released, including "retconned" games like Ys III: Wanderers from Ys or Ys IV: Mask of the Sun and Ys IV: The Dawn of Ys and the tactics-based game Ys Strategy. In addition, Ys V: Lost Kefin, Kingdom of Sand has never been released outside of Japan (although fan translations are available).
Interested in learning more? Feel free to peruse the site's features (like the interactive map or the canon timeline) or start with the information below.
There are three primary types of combat in the Ys series:
Bump Combat (Ys I & II)
In the original iteration of the Ys series, no swords were swung. Instead, the player deals damage to the enemy by hitting them - ideally at a slight angle so as to avoid taking damage. It takes some getting used to, but can be very Zen when you get going.
Ismoetric/Top-Down (Ys Origin, The Oath in Felghana, VI)
Beginning with Ys VI: The Ark of Napishtim, the Ys series did a more isometric/fast-paced style of action combat involving gear upgrades and elemental abilities. This is perhaps the series at its most button-mashy with some especially tough difficulty spikes and boss encounters.
Party (Ys Memories of Celceta, Seven, VIII, IX, X)
Finally, the more generally modern games in the Ys series replace the solo action with parties of two to three which can be freely switched between. Each party member comes with its own strengths and abilities. Ys X: Nordics is technically classified as a "Cross" system game due to the mix of individual and synergistic abilities for Adol and Karja, but it is similar enough in experience to the other games to still be worth including.
Everything Else (Ys III, IV, V, etc.)
The rest of the series's games (including the canon Ys V) offer different kinds of play experiences. Ys III: Wanderers from Ys, for example, is a side-scrolling platformer modeled after Zelda II. The two Ys IV games (now combined in Memories of Celceta) were spins on bump combat. Ys V is a more traditional-feeling SNES ARPG. But there also exist Ys Strategy (a tactics-based game) and Ys vs. Trails in the Sky (a fighting game).
There are a few themes that keep popping up in the Ys series, and while each game has its own distinct plotline and doesn't *really* rely on any other game to make at least some narrative sense, you can generally expect some of the following ideas to be in any given playthrough:
A Can-Do Attitude
It's not just that Adol is a hero, it's that he always wants to help. But Ys really shines when the secondary and tertiary characters also realize that there's something they can do to pitch in - even if they're not directly saving the day. It's this spirit of come-togetherness that gives the series a lot of its warmth. Everyone has something to offer. Even you!
Communing With (or Combating) Nature
Nature and natural features are prominent in the Ys series. Whether it's weather machines, cataclysmic climates, fearsome beasts, or simply familiar-looking volcano and icy mountain areas, the impacts of nature and Adol's ability to traverse dangerous terrain is a core part of the Ys experience.
A Brush With the Divine
Gods in a broad sense are responsible for a lot of what happens in the overarching Ys story. There are more traditional churches and priests, yes, but even mythical figures like the Eldeen or Dragons have outsized impacts on the series's events. If you like your divinity to be imperfect and/or well within reach, the Ys series has a lot to offer you.
