So why should I bother with Ys?
Why do you want to see her cry?
Why should you... But I just...
Alright, you want a serious answer. For me, Ys has been an exciting journey since getting a taste of it with the SNES version. It's simple, has a straightforward story to it with decent characters, and is simply fun all around. I'm always hoping that someone will port their next title over to the West, or that someone has finally finished a fansub project for their most recent titles.
The gameplay may not have the best looking CG or sport the latest trends in hack 'n slash, but like its music, has a very specific style to it that has retained its appeal over the last two decades. Falcom seems to have recognized that and has done little to alter the formula that their fans seem to love, grinding out the rough spots when needed and tweaking it in just the right places with each new chapter. Or completely re-inventing a chapter from scratch as they did with Felghana.
Their changes might not always pan out as well as some of their fans have hoped, too, but I think they've had a lot more hits than misses in that department. Especially when they take control of a project themselves instead of licensing it out to others. Ys has firmly held onto its own special niche thanks to sticking to its own basics and has never been about trumping the competition in the same way that has made it a life-and-death struggle for much larger studios.
Quite possibly because it does firmly stick to its old school design principles, the franchise can come off as either sadly nostalgic, quickly frustrating, or even boring to other gamers weaned on today's next-gen milkshakes. When compared to its peers within the genre, its hard to ignore where it can come up short. It's not unusual to run across reviews that slot Ys for not keeping up with the times. But at the same time, not everyone loves cheeseburgers, either.
Ys might be too much for some tastes, even when lathered in the good kind of cheese.
More importantly, try it for yourself. Track down a copy of Ys VI or import a PC version of The Oath in Felghana and give those a shot to see if there's something for you. Or do a bit more research on your own by watching a few more videos or reading up on other sources. Then take the plunge if you want to try something a little different.
Because if you love taking bite-sized morsels of action, have a soft spot for anime artwork, enjoy kicking back a shot-sized serving of storytelling, and can't get enough of speedy special attacks, hardcore bosses, and J-rock playing sweet violin with your reflexes, then Adol the Red is waiting to take you on an adventure you may not forget.
Just be sure that you're the one sailing the boat.
