Info about Ys IX: Monstrum Nox:

Official game description:
Bundle Comparison
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About the Game
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**Feared Protectors:** Play as any of the six notorious Monstrum, each with their own unique Gifts that grant abilities such as scaling sheer walls or detecting hidden objects to protect the city from shadowy creatures.  
**The World Within the Walls:** Explore the massive city, accept quests to aid the townsfolk, and enter the Grimwald Nox to vanquish the threats to Balduq.  
**Strength of the Night:** Familiar mechanics such as Flash Dodge and Flash Guard allow you to outmaneuver your foes, while new additions such as Gifts and Boost Mode further augment your ability to fight.  
Story
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"What is real is defined by what is not.  
Who one is defined by who one isn't."  
To move forward, one must accept these truths.  
"Yes, in this prison—this cradle—  
my dreams and reality became one."  
Renowned adventurer Adol “the Red” Christin and his companion Dogi arrive at Balduq, a city annexed by the Romun Empire, only for Adol to be detained before setting foot inside. While imprisoned, he meets a mysterious woman named Aprilis who turns him into a Monstrum, a being with supernatural Gifts and the power to exorcise monsters. Now, Adol must ally with his fellow Monstrum to fend off the fearsome threats emerging from a shadowy dimension called the Grimwald Nox, as well as unravel the mysteries of the Monstrum curse, and the truth behind the unrest within Balduq.

Release date: Jul 6, 2021

Categories: Action RPG, Exploration, Hack and Slash, Party-based Combat, Vertical Traversal, Tower Defense

Feature scans:
- Proton/Linux: score 10; verdict: Works Well; summary: User reviews indicate Ys IX runs excellently on Steam Deck with minimal tweaking, suggesting strong Linux/Proton compatibility. No negative Linux-specific feedback was found.
- Steam Deck: score 45; verdict: Tinkering Required but Runs Well; summary: Ys games, particularly Ys IX, run smoothly at 60fps on Steam Deck with minimal configuration needed. The main friction point is controller button mapping, which requires manual adjustment in Steam's settings due to regional differences. No third-party launchers or DRM are present, which is a significant advantage. Overall, the experience is very good but requires minor tinkering.

- Hardware Profile: No data
Feature extractions:
- Community Price:
  - Community fair range: $20.00 - $40.00
  - Reasoning: The community indicates that the full $60 price is too high, while $30 on sale is considered great value. A bundle with all DLCs for $28 is seen as a good deal, implying the base game alone should cost less. Therefore, a fair price range for the base game is estimated between $20 and $40.
- Playtime Metrics:
  - Game completion: 53.0h
  - Story completion: 40.0h
  - Session length: N/A
  - Endgame: N/A
  - Reasoning: The 53-hour report includes full completion (all side quests, discoveries, affections, NPCs), directly supporting gameCompletion. The 40-hour claim explicitly states main story without side content, supporting storyCompletion. The 45-48 hour estimate for all side quests provides additional corroboration for a full playthrough range, but does not separate story alone. No evidence for typical session length or endgame content was found, so those are null.
- Time-to-fun:
  - Summary: Ys IX: Monstrum Nox has a slow, tedious early phase that turns around once players unlock the Hawk ability and additional skills, making combat and exploration more engaging.
  - Stance: Clicks after
  - Anchor: Unlocking hawk ability
  - Time to anchor: N/A
  - Friction: slow combat early on; tedious first half; boring dialogue and cutscenes; repetitive side quests early; forced Grimwald Nox missions; slow exploration start
  - Unlock drivers: unlocking Hawk ability; learning more skills; new traversal abilities (grappling hook, gliding); story progression picks up; mid-game side quests improve
  - Conditions: difficulty can be adjusted; story progression; unlocking new traversal abilities; mid-game side quest content improves; player choice to explore after unlocking
- Player Archetypes:
  - Series Veterans (buy)
    - Motivation: Enjoying more of the same Ys adventure and series continuity
    - Playstyle: Compares mechanics to previous games, may use self-imposed rules for challenge, and explores for nostalgic references
    - Experience: veteran
    - Purchase stance: buy
    - Labels: veteran fan; series fan; old fan
    - Reference games: Ys VIII; Ys 7; Ys 5
  - Casual Newcomers (sale)
    - Motivation: Casual fun with a light action-RPG experience
    - Playstyle: Plays at a relaxed pace, ignores complex grinding, focuses on immediate enjoyment and story
    - Experience: newcomer
    - Purchase stance: sale
    - Labels: casual player; newcomer
    - Reference games: YS 8
  - Grind Hobbyists (sale)
    - Motivation: Achieving maximum character power through grinding
    - Playstyle: Repeats content to farm currency and levels, optimizes resource allocation, often caps out stats
    - Experience: familiar
    - Purchase stance: sale
    - Labels: N/A
    - Reference games: N/A
  - Story Devotees (sale)
    - Motivation: Experiencing a rich story with emotional beats and series lore
    - Playstyle: Reads all dialogue, completes side quests for narrative, explores for lore and easter eggs
    - Experience: mixed
    - Purchase stance: sale
    - Labels: N/A
    - Reference games: Ys VIII; Ys series


Below are summaries of things people say about the game per category.
Each point is assigned a weight that represents how often it is mentioned across all reviews.
What players like:
- Improvement over Ys VIII (weight 0.64): Players frequently state that Ys IX improves upon Ys VIII in terms of boss quality, level design, combat, exploration, and siege mechanics, calling it a more refreshing and less grindy experience.
- Fast and fun combat (weight 0.42): Combat is repeatedly praised for being fast-paced, rewarding, exhilarating, and enjoyable, with many noting the satisfaction and speed of battles.
- Excellent music and soundtrack (weight 0.41): The music is consistently praised as top-notch, great, and mesmerizing, with specific mentions of Falcom's quality and captivating tracks that enhance the experience.
- Great exploration mechanics (weight 0.33): Exploration is highly valued, with abilities like gliding and wall-running enhancing vertical movement and making discovery more rewarding.
- Good gameplay for fans (weight 0.33): The game offers new elements while retaining the core Ys experience, with references and features that appeal to longtime fans.
- Likeable and well-written characters (weight 0.32): Many reviews praise the characters for being interesting, charismatic, endearing, and having their own individual stories that contribute to the overall narrative.
- Varied player opinions (weight 0.27): Some players find combat good, but not groundbreaking, while others think the game is one of the best entries, showing a mix of opinions.
- Engaging story experience (weight 0.24): The story is described as good, enjoyable, and worth experiencing, with a notable twist and a great balance that keeps players engaged.
- Fast exploration with abilities (weight 0.22): Monstrum abilities such as gliding and wall-running make exploration smooth and satisfying, enhancing the overall gameplay flow.
- Stellar character designs (weight 0.21): Character designs are highlighted as excellent, detailed, and stellar, with great models and animations that contribute to the visual appeal.
- Meaningful side quests (weight 0.15): Side quests are described as interesting, tied to characters, and offering decent story bits, adding depth to the overall experience.
- Runs well on Steam Deck (weight 0.11): The game runs perfectly or with minimal configuration on Steam Deck, making it a great portable experience.
- Enjoyable Monstrum mechanics (weight 0.11): Monstrum abilities are found to be enjoyable and fun, adding variety to both combat and traversal.

Common complaints:
- Feels Like Ys VIII Clone (weight 0.74): Many players find that the base and partner system is too similar to Ys VIII, leading to a sense of unoriginality and a less immersive experience. The game is often described as a weaker copy of Ys VIII.
- Weaker Than Previous Games (weight 0.41): The game is seen as a downgrade from Ys VIII in terms of story, graphics, music, and character development. It fails to meet the expectations set by its predecessor.
- Story Pacing Issues (weight 0.28): The narrative pacing is poor, taking too long to build up and feeling rushed towards the end. Players find the pacing not well grasped.
- Average Predictable Story (weight 0.18): The story is considered average and predictable, failing to engage players despite some initial setup. It lacks the wow-effect of previous titles.
- Outdated Graphics (weight 0.16): The graphics are criticized as being outdated, comparable to games from the PS2 or PS3 era. This issue affects the overall visual appeal and immersion.
- Repetitive Combat (weight 0.16): The combat system is considered repetitive, with players noting that using the same combos becomes monotonous. This reduces the long-term engagement with the gameplay.
- Monotonous Color Palette (weight 0.16): The game's color palette is described as oppressively monochromatic, with dull and gray visuals. This makes the world feel less vibrant and interesting.
- Boring Excessive Dialogue (weight 0.14): The game has too much boring dialogue and unnecessary talking, making it feel like a visual novel with little gameplay. This slows down the pace.
- Small Map Size (weight 0.14): The map is too small and the city of Balduq is bland with muted colors and repetitive structures. This limits exploration variety.
- Lacks Voice Acting (weight 0.12): The game has very little voice acting, with about 95% of the content unvoiced. This detracts from storytelling and character immersion.
- Missable Side Quests (weight 0.12): Side quests are missable if players skip certain chapters, which can lead to frustration. This design choice limits player freedom and completion.
- No Post-Game Content (weight 0.12): There is no post-game content or extra dungeons, and New Game Plus is just a restart. This reduces replayability and endgame engagement.
- Disappointing Treasure Loot (weight 0.08): Treasure chests often contain useless items like random food ingredients, making exploration less rewarding. This diminishes the incentive to explore.
- Formulaic Side Quests (weight 0.08): Side quests are described as formulaic and bloated with dubious writing, lacking creativity and depth. They feel like filler content.
- Unclear Dodge Timing (weight 0.08): The visual feedback for perfect dodge and block timing is unclear, making it hard to master the combat system. This affects gameplay precision.
- Convoluted Illogical Story (weight 0.08): The story is criticized as absurd, illogical, and cringey, with convoluted plot points. This undermines narrative coherence and player investment.
- Easy Difficulty on Hard (weight 0.08): Even on hard mode, the game is considered too easy, lacking challenge for experienced players. This reduces the sense of accomplishment.

Gameplay feedback:
- Action RPG with exploration abilities (weight 0.54): The game is consistently described as an action RPG focused on exploration, with movement abilities that unlock over time. This includes vertical traversal and party mechanics.
- Vertical traversal with wall running and gliding (weight 0.5): Movement mechanics include wall running, gliding, and zip-lining, enabling vertical exploration. These abilities are central to navigating the game world.
- City and dungeon exploration (weight 0.42): The game is set in a prison city and its surroundings, with both vertical exploration and dungeon crawling. The environment is sectioned off but open-ish.
- Gameplay similar to Ys VIII (weight 0.42): Many reviews note that the game borrows core mechanics from Ys VIII, including siege elements and battle systems. This establishes a clear lineage for fans of the series.
- Hack and slash combat (weight 0.37): Combat is repeatedly described as high-speed hack and slash with skill-based mechanics. Players engage in fast-paced, combo-driven battles.
- Monstrum abilities for combat and exploration (weight 0.36): Players transform into Monstrums, gaining supernatural abilities like teleportation, wall climbing, and gliding. These are used both in combat and exploration.
- Three damage types and party system (weight 0.33): Combat uses three damage types (slash, strike, pierce) with a party of three characters. This encourages strategic switching during battles.
- Flash Guard and Flash Move mechanics (weight 0.24): Combat includes parry and dodge mechanics known as Flash Guard and Flash Move. These timing-based abilities reward skilled play.
- Tower defense mode included (weight 0.23): A tower defense mode called Grimwald Nox is featured, involving wave battles and base defense missions. This adds a strategic layer.
- Multiple difficulty options (weight 0.23): Players can choose difficulty levels including Nightmare, Lunatic, and New Game Plus. This offers replayability and challenge.
- Exploration abilities unlock over time (weight 0.2): Movement abilities like double jump and wall climb are unlocked as the story progresses, creating a Metroidvania-like sense of progression.
- Anime-style action RPG (weight 0.16): The game is categorized as a Japanese action RPG with anime visual flair. This appeals to fans of the genre.
- Collectibles for exploration rewards (weight 0.14): Hidden items like Azure Petals and Grafites encourage thorough exploration. Collectible hunting is a key activity.
- Real-time combat with skill assignments (weight 0.14): Combat is real-time, allowing players to assign multiple skills and abilities. This emphasizes fast, tactical gameplay.
- High-speed combat with mobility focus (weight 0.13): Abilities emphasize mobility, with fast-paced attacks and movement techniques. This is a hallmark of the gameplay.
- Side quests develop characters (weight 0.12): Side missions focus on helping secondary characters, adding depth to the story and world-building.
- Dungeon puzzles with ability usage (weight 0.08): Dungeons feature puzzles that require specific character abilities to solve, adding variety to exploration.

Performance notes:
- Optimization praised overall (weight 0.19): Several reviews describe the game as well-optimized, with smooth performance and good visual/performance options. The Durante team port and auto-save support are positively mentioned.
- Steam Deck runs flawlessly (weight 0.17): Multiple players report the game runs perfectly on Steam Deck, even in crowded areas, with minimal configuration required. Some mention using launch parameters to hold 60fps with minor drops during particles.
- Smooth on max settings (weight 0.13): Players on high-end PCs report stable performance with all settings maxed out, no crashes, and smooth gameplay. Systems like 9900K with 2080Ti maintain 4K smoothly.
- Lightweight GPU-friendly performance (weight 0.13): The game runs with low GPU load, achieving 60fps on mid-range hardware like RTX 3060 at full HD or Radeon 6900XT at 4K default. Many note it is CPU and GPU friendly.
- Optimization concerns for low-end (weight 0.12): Some players claim optimization is not good, with recommended specs being unreliable and the engine inefficient for the visual detail. Low-end GPUs may still run fine according to others.
- Stable 60fps target met (weight 0.09): Players consistently report a solid 60fps experience on various configurations, with some considering 60fps essential for PC and Steam Deck. One note mentions a solid 60fps without issues.
- Animation and lighting issues (weight 0.09): Some players report general animation issues, poor cutscene animations, and a lack of lightmaps in man-made environments, affecting visual quality.
- Fast loading times on PC (weight 0.05): Players observe quick loading screens on PC, which contributes to a smooth overall experience.
- FOV slider available (weight 0.04): The game includes an FOV slider, offering customization to player preference.

Recommendations:
- Not for newcomers (weight 0.75): Multiple reviews explicitly state the game is not recommended for newcomers to the series, often citing the need for prior knowledge or better starting points like Ys VIII.
- Not as good as Ys VIII (weight 0.75): Many reviews note that Ys IX is weaker than Ys VIII in terms of fun, quality, and adventure, advising players to adjust expectations. This is a major point of comparison.
- Play Ys VIII first (weight 0.73): Many reviews strongly recommend playing Ys VIII before Ys IX, considering it the superior entry and a better starting point for newcomers. This is the most frequent feedback, citing Ys VIII's higher quality and story references.
- Great for action RPG fans (weight 0.24): The game is highly recommended for fans of action RPGs, Japanese ARPGs, and fast-paced combat. Many reviews highlight the gameplay as a key strength.
- High recommendation rating (weight 0.23): Some reviewers give the game a strong positive rating (e.g., 10/10, 8/10) and highly recommend it, emphasizing its quality despite comparisons to previous titles.

Other player notes:
- Players thank translators (weight 0.08): Some reviews express appreciation for the translation team, suggesting the localization effort is noticed and valued by players.
- Game is unfinished (weight 0.05): One review indicates the game feels incomplete, which may reflect broader concerns about missing content or polish.

Emotions:
- Disappointment (weight 0.14): Players expressed strong disappointment due to the perception that Ys IX is a significant step down from its predecessor Ys VIII. Frequent complaints included a weak and poorly paced story with a rushed ending, formulaic gameplay, a drab and uninteresting city setting compared to the vibrant island of Ys VIII, and outdated graphics. Many felt the game lacked the passion, innovation, and engaging character development that defined the series.
- Satisfaction (weight 0.13): Satisfied players praised the game for its improved boss quality, level design, and refined combat mechanics. The fluid movement, responsive controls, and enjoyable exploration, especially once all Monstrum abilities were unlocked, were highly valued. The story's plot twist and character development, alongside a strong soundtrack and a sense of completionist fulfillment, left many with a positive overall experience.
- Frustration (weight 0.12): Frustration stemmed from repetitive forced content like Grimwald Nox raids and tower defense sections, which broke the game's pacing. Players also cited tedious grinding, unclear dodge and parry timings, and a lack of voice acting as major issues. Technical problems, poor UI design, and constrictive early-game areas further contributed to a sense of being restricted and annoyed.
- Enjoyment (weight 0.1): Players found genuine enjoyment in the game's fast-paced combat and the exhilarating freedom of vertical exploration using Monstrum abilities like wall climbing and flight. The lively city of Balduq, engaging characters, and a compelling central mystery kept many engaged. Despite some acknowledged flaws, the core gameplay loop and the sense of progression ultimately delivered a fun and satisfying Ys experience.
- Excitement (weight 0.07): Excitement was generated by the innovative vertical exploration and the superhero-like feel of the Monstrum movement powers. The darker, more mysterious story and the addictive, face-paced battle system, which encourages aggressive play, were highly praised. Many players were also thrilled by the promise of the series' future and the excellent quality of the PC port.
- Happiness (weight 0.04): Happiness was derived from the game's fantastic soundtrack, the enjoyment of exploring Balduq, and the satisfaction of the game's ending. Players expressed joy in the return of familiar series elements, like hearing Dana's voice, and appreciated the game's balanced Nightmare difficulty. The successful blend of city exploration and Monstrum gifts brought a sense of pure enjoyment.
- Joy (weight 0.04): Players experienced joy from the fluid and chaotic gameplay, particularly the freedom of wall climbing, gliding, and turning into a monster. The addictive combat, rewarding exploration system, and heartwarming ending that gave each character a promising future were key sources. The ability to play as a modded cute cat girl and the many references to previous games added to the delight.
- Appreciation (weight 0.04): Appreciation was expressed for the game's high-quality soundtrack, user-friendly systems, and the soul put into its design despite budget constraints. Players valued the gradual character depth, multiple perspectives, and the respectful portrayal of Adol. The engaging atmosphere and well-ported translation were also recognized as strong points.
- Boredom (weight 0.03): Boredom set in due to a slow, uninteresting first half to the story, filled with repetitive quests and bloat. The gray, concrete environments and low enemy variety made exploration feel monotonous. The simple and easy combat, combined with long periods of unengaging dialogue, led many to lose interest for up to 90% of the game.
- Annoyance (weight 0.03): Annoyance was primarily caused by the forced, repetitive tower defense and wave-based arena battles. The convoluted story and reliance on JRPG tropes were common complaints. Other irritants included high early-game skill costs, a lack of a post-game map, and specific character elements like Mighty Bull's lovey-dovey scenes.
- Sadness (weight 0.02): Sadness was a common response to the game's emotional and bittersweet ending, which involved saying goodbye to beloved characters and Adol's inevitable departure. The death of Aprilis and the overall feeling of an adventure ending resonated strongly. Some players also expressed sadness over missing characters from Ys VIII and the feeling that the game wasn't fully finished.
- Nostalgia (weight 0.02): Nostalgia was triggered by seeing old friends and characters from previous Ys titles in side quests and cameos. The story twist and classic Ys flavor also evoked memories of older games. Some players even expressed a longing for the return of the Napishtim engine and Ark engine mechanics.
- Slight disappointment (weight 0.02): A recurring slight disappointment was that Ys IX, while still a good game, did not quite reach the heights of Ys VIII. Criticisms focused on a weaker story, less creative art direction with outdated graphics, and a tedious outdoor map with limited enemy variety. Specific gameplay elements like the awkward ranged character also contributed to this feeling.
- Affection (weight 0.01): Affection was directed towards the game's companions, especially the cute White Cat character, who was a highlight for many. Several players noted that the game grew on them over time, eventually becoming a favorite entry in the series. The character of the Doll was also singled out as a beloved JRPG character.
- Love (weight 0.01): Players expressed love for Ys IX, with some even preferring it to the acclaimed Ys VIII. The theme, combat, exploration, and characters were all praised, often tied to the game's unique fall/spooky season atmosphere. The entire experience of playing Ys IX was viewed with great fondness.
- Amusement (weight 0.01): Amusement arose from the humorous portrayal of Adol as an accidental 'edge lord' and his consistently bad luck. Players found joy in comparing his abilities to characters from other media and spotting humorous series patterns and cameos. The game's light-hearted moments, such as the 'freaky' bartender, were also a source of entertainment.
- Admiration (weight 0.01): Admiration was felt for Falcom's ability to innovate and deliver a polished JRPG despite limited resources. The clean animations, quality soundtrack, and gradual character development were praised. Players admired how new staff ideas successfully combined with classic Ys design elements to create a compelling experience.
- Anticipation (weight 0.01): Anticipation was high for future titles in the series, with many looking forward to Adol's next adventure. Players expressed excitement for Ys X, hoping it would address some of Ys IX's shortcomings. The uncertainty of what surprises Falcom would bring next also fueled positive eagerness.
- Engagement (weight 0.01): Engagement was driven by a compelling narrative mystery that kept players hooked. The satisfaction of finding hidden collectibles and unlocking new abilities as the story progressed was a strong motivator. The well-paced, character-driven story was cited as a primary reason for sustained interest.
- Regret (weight 0): Regret was expressed over the game's cut or unfinished content, specifically the 'ancient arc scenario,' which appeared to have been removed. Players wished this content had been included to provide a more complete and rich experience.}