Ys X: Nordics was released last year in Japan to some critical acclaim, and has now made its way to both the West and PC. The PC version includes, among others: several graphical improvements and keyboard support, but also – unlike its predecessor Ys IX: Monstrum Nox, which received a co-op mode as a cheeky bonus when it launched on PC – Ys X: Nordics offers a local co-op mode from day one.
Ys X features the pretty boy Adol again, but this time he’s teamed up with the pirate Karja. Yes, that means ship-shaped exploration and combat. If you don’t have a friend to play co-op with, you can switch between both characters on the fly or control them together and build up their “Revenge Gauge” to perform combo attacks.
The Ys series started back in the 1980s, but has been gaining popularity in recent years, especially on PCs. Monstrum Nox was a Steam bestseller in July 2021, and genre expert Nadia Oxford felt it was the perfect entry point for the series.
I haven’t had a chance to experience the Ys series yet and I admit that I have never been involved in a sea battle that I enjoyed. If I want to slowly circle an enemy I don’t understand while shooting at him, I’ll write posts about RPG series I’ve never played, thanks. However, I wish I had time to experience blue skies and hooks. Maybe if I finish Ni no Kuni someday.
Ys X: Nordics, yes available on Steam. It costs £55/€60/$60 and there is a demo version where your save data can be transferred to the full game.
