reviewed Ys I & II Chronicles+
If you can accept that these games are originally from the late 80s, then Ys I&II are a delightful time. Everything that makes Ys special, from the thematic preoccupations to the incredible momentum generated by the synergy of fast-paced combat and banger music, is present here from the start. Chronicles also gets a big boost from the quality of its soundtrack - Falcom clearly spared no expense on the audio front, with new arrangements for every song that leverage live instrumentation and sometimes a full orchestra.
As for the individual games, I've always preferred Ys I, and that's still true on replay. It's wildly unbalanced, but understands the joy of an insane power curve - every level up or new piece of equipment makes a dramatic difference in damage output and survivability. The no-frills take on bump combat is more limited than in Ys II due to the lack of a magic system, but it's so fast-paced thanks to a much higher damage output. Adol never stops running and tearing through enemies while the soundtrack swings from strength to strength (First Steps Towards War! Palace of Destruction! Tower of the Shadow of Death!), and the short length ensures it never wears out its welcome, except perhaps in the notoriously unfair Dark Fact fight.
Ys II feels larger and more substantial, with fewer difficulty spikes and some more inventive boss fights thanks to the addition of fire magic. There's a wider world for Adol to wander through, but a much lower damage output and a less dramatic power curve mean the game has a slower pace overall. And while To Make the End of Battle is a series-best track, the soundtrack can't match I. It's a lot of fun, but for me it doesn't hit quite as well.
Saying that though, bump combat is having a moment and these are great games to revisit in 2024. They're definitely essential for Ys sickos
Reviewed on May 28, 2024