Ys I & II Chronicles+ Review Summary

Improved and engaging story: The story is noted for being more fleshed out and improved compared to previous iterations. Players find it engaging, nostalgic, and well-developed for its time.

Enjoyable and fun gameplay: The gameplay is described as interesting, fun, and exciting. Players find the overall experience enjoyable, with satisfying combat and engaging mechanics.

Highly praised music and soundtrack: The game's music and soundtrack are frequently highlighted as stellar, amazing, and highly praised by players. The OST is noted for its excellence and immersive qualities.

Improvements over previous game: The game is seen as an improvement over its predecessor, Ys I, in various aspects such as gameplay, story, and overall polish. Players appreciate the enhancements and quality of life improvements.

Addition of magic system: The introduction of a magic system is a notable feature, adding depth to combat and gameplay. Players find the magic functionality enjoyable and a significant improvement.

Lack of map and guidance: Players frequently mention the absence of a map or minimap, making navigation difficult and leading to confusion about where to go and what to do.

Boss design and difficulty: Bosses, particularly in Ys I, are noted for their high difficulty and design issues. Some bosses require magic to damage, making physical attacks ineffective.

Control and language issues: There are significant issues with controls, particularly with keyboard controls and virtual direction problems. Additionally, the game's use of archaic English and lack of subtitles in other languages are noted.

Technical and port issues: There are various technical issues, including bugs, low resolution, and problems with the port, which affect the gameplay experience.

Tedious leveling and grinding: The leveling system and the requirement for extensive grinding are criticized for being tedious and time-consuming.

Magic-enhanced combat system: The combat system is notable for its integration of magic elements, providing a unique and engaging combat experience with various abilities and magic staves.

Complex and maze-like dungeons: Dungeons in the game are complex and maze-like, featuring puzzles and requiring exploration. This adds depth and challenge to the gameplay.

Rich NPC interactions and dialogues: The game includes rich NPC interactions and dialogues, enhancing the story and providing a more immersive experience through character interactions.

Improved leveling system: The leveling system has been improved, providing a more satisfying progression and character development experience.

Unique bump combat system: The combat system features a unique bump mechanic, where players use body-slamming and push combat for an entertaining and fast-paced experience.

Performance and FPS issues: The game has several performance-related problems, including gameplay being tied to FPS and the game running too fast at times. Some players also reported issues with the game running at 120 FPS.

Visual and graphical problems: Players have encountered various visual issues such as distorted cutscenes, low resolution, and problems with fullscreen mode.

Positive feedback on artstyle: The game received praise for its 2D art style, which players found appealing and well-designed.

Virtual direction issues: Some players reported severe issues with the virtual direction, describing it as乱晃 (shaky or unstable).

Not for casual or new players: The game is not recommended for casual or normal players, as well as those new to the series, due to its complexity and niche appeal.

Dive into the world of Ys: The game is recommended for those who enjoy the Ys series and want to explore its world and lore further.

Recommended for ARPG fans: Fans of action RPG games, especially those from the NES/SNES era, are likely to enjoy this game.

Play Ys Origin before Ys I and II: Players recommend experiencing Ys Origin before diving into Ys I and II for a better understanding and appreciation of the series.

Worth playing despite flaws: Despite some cumbersome mechanics and aged aspects, the game is considered worth playing.

Game completion: 13.0h.

Story completion: 9.0h.

The game is fun immediately due to its fast-paced gameplay and engaging boss fights, although navigation issues can cause some friction.

Friction: difficulty keeping track of locations.

Unlock drivers: fast-paced gameplay; engaging boss fights.

Nostalgic Story-Seeker: Explores the game for its narrative and historical context, tolerating outdated mechanics. Motivation: Nostalgia and story. Stance: buy.

Newcomer Explorer: Explores the game despite getting lost and facing challenges, appreciating the game's simplicity and charm. Motivation: Exploration and overall enjoyment. Stance: sale.

Series Enthusiast: Plays the game for its improvements over the first title and enjoys the series as a whole. Motivation: Series continuity and improvements. Stance: buy.

Steam Deck: The overall user feedback for the Ys series, particularly Ys I & II Chronicles, on the Steam Deck is highly positive. Users appreciate the deep story-telling and character development, especially the origin story of Adol Christen. Importantly, one user explicitly mentions playing the game exclusively on the Steam Deck with no issues, indicating a seamless experience.

Linux and Proton: The game has excellent compatibility with Proton/Linux, as evidenced by the user's experience playing it exclusively on Steam Deck without any issues. The ending and soundtrack were particularly praised, enhancing the overall gaming experience.

External guides: The primary issues highlighted by users revolve around the necessity of external guides and significant navigation difficulties. Many users find the game confusing and difficult to navigate without consulting walkthroughs, which suggests that the in-game guidance may be insufficient.

Korean patch disrupts achievements: A user-created Korean language patch is causing issues with the proper unlocking of in-game achievements.