Ys I & II Chronicles
Release Date: July 16, 2009
RPG, fantasy, isometric view, package, remaster/remake, action RPG, jRPG, singleplayer
Compilation of remakes of the first two installments of the Ys cycle, in which we play Adol Christina - a brave warrior trying to stop the invasion of demons and monsters. What distinguishes these titles from other Japanese RPGs is the combat system - during the game we do not have a separate attack command, and we attack enemies using a standard motion system, hitting them from different directions.
Ys I & II Chronicles is a compilation of remakes of the first two installments of the Ys series - Japanese action RPGs, developed by Nihon Falcom. The production debuted on PlayStation Portable and later on PC; a few years after the original release, an improved version, titled Ys I & II Chronicles+ appeared on the latter platform.
Story
Action of the games included in the set begins in the fantasy land of Esteria, which has been attacked by hordes of monsters. During the game we play as Adol Christin, a brave warrior who decides to face the threat. To do this, the hero must not only climb to the top of the Devil's Tower, but also find six holy books that record the history of the mythical kingdom of Ys that existed seven hundred years ago. In the second part of the series Adol encounters a mysterious flying island, whose inhabitants struggle with the invasion of demons. As you can easily guess, it is up to him to discover its causes and find a way to stop it.
Mechanics
In both productions forming the Ys I & II Chronicles compilation we observe the action in isometric projection. At first glance, the fun does not differ from the genre formula - in the course of the adventure we travel through a vast land, talk to NPCs and perform tasks for them, as well as fight against adversaries. What distinguishes the title from other games of this type is the combat system - the battles take place in real time and we do not have a separate attack command at our disposal. For example, a frontal attack can end up worse for us than for the opponent, making it more effective to hit from behind or from the side. Moreover, in the second part of the series the devs introduced the possibility of casting spells, as well as transforming into a demon - in this form Adol can talk to adversaries and learn about their motivation.
Game modes
In addition to the basic story mode, Ys I & II Chronicles offers a Boss Rush mode, in which we deal only with boss fights. In addition, before the start of the tournament, the player can choose one of four difficulty levels.
Technical aspects
Compared to the originals, games that form Ys I & II Chronicles boast primarily improved visuals and newly redesigned characters portraits; however, the players can switch to the original version of the latter at any time. The same applies to the soundtrack - in the game we may be accompanied by original pieces from the 1980s, their refreshed arrangements or a completely new soundtrack. Moreover, in Ys I & II Chronicles+ the devs increased the resolution and field of view.
Last updated on May 3, 2020
Videos and Screens
Ys I & II Chronicles+ Summary
Game Series: Ys
Platforms:
PC Windows February 14, 2013
PlayStation Portable July 16, 2009
Developer: Nihon Falcom
Publisher: Nihon Falcom
Age restrictions: none
