As a seasoned adventurer who has traversed countless realms and battled hordes of mythical creatures, I found myself embarking on a nautical journey with Ys 10: Nordics. Having been captivated by the exhilarating action and immersive storytelling in Ys 8 and Ys 9, I approached this new installment with high expectations.
Similar to The Legend of Heroes: Trails through Daybreak, Ys 10: Nordics marks a somewhat new direction for Falcom. Instead of simply building upon their established series formula, it seems like they’re striving to break away from success and explore something fresh. It makes sense given that Adol, the former Crimson King and rebel against Lacrimosa, has reached a point where his journey can no longer follow the same path.
Stepping back in time now, I find myself delving into the heart of Ys 10’s narrative. This epic unfolds between Ys 2: Ancient Ys Vanished and Ys 3: Memories of Celceta, following the adventures of our hero Adol, his trusty companion Dogi, and the enigmatic Dr. Flair. Their vessel, the Adamas, traverses the vast expanse of the Obelia Gulf when it’s intercepted by a Norman faction known as the Balta Seaforce. In exchange for safe passage through their Bay, they demand a steep toll that our captain, unfortunately, couldn’t afford. Stranded in Carnac, a place heavily influenced by the Seaforce, we’re left waiting for our next move.
Even though they may seem predictable at times, many characters are fully fleshed out and appropriately developed. Without a doubt, Karja stands out as the leading character, transitioning smoothly from being intimidating and harsh to forming a heartwarming sibling-like connection with Adol.
Indeed, similar to many stories in the realm of Ys, there exist legends about the Sea King’s Throne and enigmas surrounding eternal beings known as Griegr. Not too long afterward, Carnac experiences an attack by a band of Griegr, who are in search of a fitting “Vessel.” With the townsfolk abducted, it falls upon Adol and his latest companion, Karja Balta from the Seaforce, to rescue them, resist the Griegr invasion, and eventually uncover why they’re connected by an unusual energy called Mana.
In a peculiar situation (let’s say a girl’s voice echoing from a seashell instructing Adol for assistance, no cause for alarm), they are tied together through Mana cuffs, preventing them from wandering too far apart. This unusual circumstance occasionally results in amusing incidents, but thankfully, it isn’t excessively emphasized. Consequently, Adol’s destiny becomes entangled with the Seaforce and Norman society.
Despite starting at a slower pace than “Ys 9: Monstrum Nox,” “Ys 10” gradually unfolds into an intriguing mystery as you come to know the inhabitants of Carnac, the Balta Seaforce, and Trident, the three powerful generals of Griegr. The characters are not overly unique, with Grenn, the Mayor’s son who yearns for recognition, Yolds Dolnsen, a woman with a fiery temper, Grimson, Karja’s father who is charming yet maintains emotional distance while relying on her abilities, being among them.
While some may find it predictable, many characters in this story are fully fleshed out. Without a doubt, Karja stands out as the central figure, transforming from imposing and uncaring to forming a heartfelt bond with Adol that feels like sisterhood. I enjoyed their dynamic (even during their joint fight against a group of infamous pirates), but the continuous exchanges about staying vigilant did become repetitive. However, Karja’s amusing responses to Adol’s eagerness to take on every side quest, explore every mystery, and embark on every adventure made up for it. The positioning of the title in the series timeline seems unusual since it’s seldom mentioned in subsequent games, but it’s a minor issue compared to the other challenges Ys 10 faces.
Absolutely! You’re correct that Flash Guard is no longer relevant, and compared to earlier, the importance of simply blocking (or parrying) enemy attacks is greater than the need for dodging, except in instances where you want to dodge to avoid blue-tinged attacks.
In Ys 10: Nordics, despite some resemblances in narrative style and character development, it significantly alters its combat system, world layout, and exploration. With the introduction of Mana cuffs, Adol and Karja now employ a revamped Cross Action system. This departure from traditional parties consists of a duo, where Adol acts as the swift attacker and Karja delivers heavy blows. You’re free to switch between them whenever you like, and this action not only recharges your partner’s SP (allowing them to attack enemies independently), but also restores their health.
Despite each character possessing distinct abilities such as Adol igniting branches using fire and Karja constructing ice platforms to scale higher, the standout innovation lies in their ability to launch simultaneous attacks. This significantly boosts your offensive capabilities and opens up opportunities for using new duo skills, capable of inflicting immense damage.
In addition to providing protection against unavoidable attacks, Duo Mode is crucial. Timing a parry correctly not only makes the enemy trip, opening up an opportunity for a strong counterattack but also triggers a stylish coordinated move with its own cinematic effect. Furthermore, mastering this technique allows you to accumulate the Revenge Gauge. This gauge fills as you absorb damage through blocking, and when full, it amplifies the power of your next team-up skill significantly.
Indeed, Flash Guard is no longer relevant, and while dodging remains useful for avoiding enemy attacks with a blue tinge, parrying has become more crucial. This change is quite significant and requires some adjustment. Certain skills (like the rising slashes) seem less effective, and in many cases, attacking together in Duo Mode proves more productive than solo play. However, there are instances where one character might need to venture off independently for exploration and combat.
Instead of trekking through vast interconnected regions on foot like in Ys 9, I now journey across the gulf aboard my ship, the Sandras, and uncover multiple island destinations.
In Ys 10, the gameplay isn’t the issue, it’s the repetitive nature of certain battles, particularly against bosses. These fights often revolve around parrying attacks and building up a Revenge Counter to use a powerful duo skill. If a boss has a Break Gauge, you’ll find yourself using skills more effective at depleting it to make them vulnerable. Essentially, the strategy is about wearing down your opponent and repeating this process, though there are exceptions. Lowering the game’s difficulty opens up more combat options, but if you don’t enjoy parrying attacks (even when they’re easy to perform), then Ys 10 might find it challenging to keep your interest.
The customization seems uniquely innovative, as it introduces a novel skill tree blending elements from Trails’ Orbments, including node linking. This system grants passive advantages based on the Mana Seeds inserted, and can even modify the characteristics of certain attacks. The freedom to interchangeably combine passives, sacrificing some perks for others, feels rewarding, despite early benefits appearing somewhat insignificant.
A key difference is that instead of roaming expansive foot-traversable areas like in Ys 9, players now sail across the Gulf on a ship called Sandras, and investigate various islands. While these explorations can be quite linear, there are some optional paths to discover. The new Mana String and Mana Board provide enjoyable navigation, and they have also enhanced the design of the dungeons.
Nevertheless, the sailing experience might seem rather routine at first given the Sandras’ sluggish pace and prolonged recharge period for boosts. Furthermore, ship battles can become laborious, particularly when trying to chase down enemy ships with basic cannon fire just to slow them before deploying an EX Armament for the decisive strike.
As a gamer, I’ve got to say, the overall packaging of this game is top-notch! The fresh engine from Falcom truly outshines its predecessors, particularly when it comes to character designs, facial expressions, and environment textures. It’s like stepping into a whole new world!
Progress noticeably escalates as additional enhancements – such as rapid-fire ammunition and flaming projectiles that accumulate burn damage – become accessible, along with abilities like Mana Sail. Additionally, the ocean’s wind currents offer more chances for swift movement, while various locations and landmarks also present numerous fast travel points.
Combat also gets better, as you ram into other ships and board them to engage in wave battles and looting. Other activities like spotting marine wildlife, locating precious cargo, tuna fishing, and much more are also available alongside side quests to rescue townspeople and liberate areas captured by the Griegr.
In a manner reminiscent of Beast Hunts from Ys 8, the player encounters a scenario where they need to demolish numerous Obstacle Stones and vanquish sea vessels. Afterward, they set foot on land to conquer the location. Various team members offer distinct advantages during this phase, such as lessening damage received or providing unlimited dash abilities. However, it can become repetitive (bringing back thoughts of Hostile Takeovers from Skull and Bones), though the stealth infiltration and charging through adversaries is enjoyable and offers attractive prizes.
To wrap it up, we have the presentation. The new engine developed by Falcom shows significant progress compared to past titles, noticeably in character models, facial expressions, and environmental textures. Nevertheless, there are instances, such as a dungeon’s ordinary color scheme or the outward appearance of islands before embarking on them, where the visuals may seem somewhat unimpressive.
As a dedicated fan, I must admit that Ys 10: Nordics seems to be taking a different path compared to its esteemed predecessors. Yet, it offers a captivating Action-RPG experience that’s hard to resist. The characters are endearing, the story intriguing, and the activities are downright fun!
Although the expanded scope might’ve diluted the visual quality a bit, I didn’t encounter any performance hiccups, and the music remains impressive, albeit falling short compared to Ys 8 and 9. The voice acting is generally well-done in English, but Adol’s voice can become a tad grating at times. Luckily, his Japanese voiceover still sounds great.
Title “Ys 10: Nordics” piqued my curiosity. Although I thoroughly enjoyed “Ys 8” and “Ys 9“, I went in excited about the new combat system, sailing, and exploration features, but left with a sense of appreciation yet still feeling somewhat uncertain. It’s undeniable that it seems like a step down from its previous versions. Nevertheless, it offers an enjoyable action RPG experience with likable characters, an intriguing plot, and fun activities.
This game was reviewed on PS5.
Read More
- SQR PREDICTION. SQR cryptocurrency
- DOP PREDICTION. DOP cryptocurrency
- PUPS PREDICTION. PUPS cryptocurrency
- LDO PREDICTION. LDO cryptocurrency
- USD CHF PREDICTION
- KNINE PREDICTION. KNINE cryptocurrency
- DOGS PREDICTION. DOGS cryptocurrency
- TON PREDICTION. TON cryptocurrency
- NEON PREDICTION. NEON cryptocurrency
- HI PREDICTION. HI cryptocurrency
2024-10-16 16:12