Ys X: Nordics

Release Date: October 25, 2024

RPG, TPP, fantasy, ships, action RPG, jRPG, singleplayer

7.8

OpenCritic

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The tenth installment in a series of Japanese action RPGs. Ys X: Nordics stars Adol Christin, traveling to the far north where he faces the immortal undead known as Griegers.

Videos and Screens

[1:08] Ys X: Nordics - Accolades Trailer

[2:12] Ys X: Nordics Launch Trailer

7.8

OpenCritic Rating

Game is Recomended by 75% of Critics. There are 61 Critic Reviews.

OpenCritic

PlayStation Universe: 7.5 / 10 by Joe Richards

While Ys X: Nordics might not light the world on fire by itself - and certainly has some core issues that could do with refining - I found that most of these issues slid into the back of my mind as I kept on playing. The story of Adol, Karja and the Griegr is enough to keep the game moving forward and the character moments that flesh it out were good. Ys X manages to demosntrate the key strengths of the franchise but unfortunate balance and shaky new mechanics hold it back from being a homerun.

Full Review

Hardcore Gamer: 4 / 5 by Chris Shive

Ys X: Nordics brings welcome changes to the template that made its predecessors enjoyable. The ship exploration and naval battles add a new dimension to exploration that wasn't present in previous games. The shift from a three-member party to two does put limit on play variety, but having two constant playable characters brings a different dynamic which works well in the greater context of the story. These changes help differentiate Ys X: Nordics from other entries in the franchise, but it maintains the elements fans have come to expect, such as recruiting people for their base and watching it grow. The story takes interesting turns, especially later in the game, and all is done with a great accompanying soundtrack and frenetic mana-enhanced combat. Returning Ys players will find many elements that are familiar, but enough changes were made to make this new entry stand out from what came before it.

Full Review

Wccftech: 9.3 / 10 by Francesco De Meo

Ys X Nordics stands as one of the best entries in the series, second only to the excellent YS VIII: Lacrimosa of Dana. With a cast of charming characters, an engaging story, and fast-paced action gameplay powered by some interesting mechanics that force players to balance offense and defense, the franchise by Falcom has taken a decisive step forward, delivering a highly polished and satisfying experience.

Full Review

7.5

GAMERS Score

Average score from 64 votes. 102 players anticipated the game.

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Ys X: Nordics is the tenth installment in a series of action jRPGs originating from 1987. It was developed by Nihon Falcom, also known for the series The Legend of Heroes.

Plot

Ys X: Nordics is set after Ys IX: Monstrum Nox. Young adventurer Adol Christin leaves the ancient Kingdom of Ys and sets out north, meeting a seafaring civilization, the Normans. Over time, he learns more about the people and the greatest threat to them, the immortal undead called Griegers.

Mechanics

Ys X: Nordics is a third-person game expanding upon the ideas introduced in the previous installments of the series. The player traverses the land, completes quests, fights enemies, developing the player character and his party. The game does, however, introduce some significant novelties.

The primary new mechanic is a ship. The player can sail between the islands, use nautical maps for navigation and take part in naval battles. The combat was changed as well, as a new system was added to it. Cross Action lets us choose between two combat modes; "solo mode" has us controlling a single character, with the other companions attacking automatically, while "combination mode" has us controlling two characters at once, chaining their attacks into flashy combos.