Info about Ys I & II Chronicles+:

Official game description:
Long, long ago, there was an ancient kingdom called Ys which prospered under the auspices of two heavenly Goddesses. Over time, the kingdom came to be known as Esteria, and its divine history was largely forgotten by all but the descendants of those who once preached the Goddesses’ will. The only reminder of this lost lore was a cursed spire at the foot of a giant crater, which locals came to regard as “The Devil’s Tower.”  
Eventually, the men and women who called Esteria their home began mining a uniquely radiant silver from the nearby mountains, and development boomed. Towns were built, and the land became rich with life.  
Then, all at once, monsters began to appear. Only a few at first – but soon enough, the land was swarming with them, and the Esterians had no choice but to hide in fear, remaining ever vigilant just to stay alive.  
Our story begins with a young man who’d heard rumors of these misfortunes, and strove to verify them with his own eyes; a brave swordsman with an adventurous spirit bolstered by his own youthful naiveté.  
His name was Adol Christin.  
With no regard for his own safety, Adol set sail toward Esteria through a heretofore impassable barrier of neverending storms. There, he was destined to become ensconced within a 700 year-old mystery that would ultimately take him to a long-lost land nestled amongst the clouds...  
Ys I & II Chronicles+ is the most modernized and up-to-date remake of Falcom’s classic franchise-spawning action RPGs from 1987 and 1988. Come see how the story began, and witness the birth of a legend!
Key Features
------------
*   Classic buttonless “bump” combat receives a full analog-enabled upgrade for gamepad users, and is augmented in Ys II by a robust magic system.  
*   Soundtrack selectable from among the original 80s FM-synth, an early 2000s MIDI-style remix or a modern studio performance by Falcom’s in-house rock band.  
*   Character art selectable from 90s-style portraits or more modern anime designs.  
*   Four selectable difficulty levels and optional boss rush mode grant players a true old-school challenge (if desired).  
*   Transform into a demon to speak with any and every standard enemy in the game, creating unparalleled depth that still impresses even to this day. (Ys II only)  
*   Unique Steam Achievements plus Steam Cloud support and leaderboards.  
*   Adjustable high-resolution PC graphics with a smooth, consistent framerate.  
*   Greater viewing area than in previously-available Ys I & II Chronicles editions.  
*   Decorative screen frames available from the earlier Japan-only Ys I & II Complete PC release, in addition to the more modernized full-screen viewport of previous Ys I & II Chronicles editions.

Release date: Feb 14, 2013

Categories: Action RPG, Exploration, Character Progression, Boss Fights, 2D Side-scrolling, Story-driven Gameplay, Magic System

Feature scans:
- Wiki: score 10; verdict: Needs Improvement in Navigation and Guidance; summary: 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.
- Proton/Linux: score 10; verdict: Works Well; summary: 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.
- Steam Deck: score 10; verdict: Seamless; summary: 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.

- Hardware Profile: No data
Feature extractions:
- Community Price: No data
- Playtime Metrics:
  - Game completion: 13.0h
  - Story completion: 9.0h
  - Session length: N/A
  - Endgame: N/A
  - Reasoning: The evidence provides direct and indirect mentions of playtime for Ys I & II Chronicles+. The first quote mentions that Ys I lasts just over a few hours and Ys II has a slightly longer playtime. The second quote indicates that finishing the game in 13 hours is possible. The third quote states that it took 9 hours to beat the game with a guide. The fourth quote mentions an approximate duration of 16-17 hours for the combined playtime of Ys I and II. These quotes help estimate the typical playtime for game completion and story completion.
- Time-to-fun:
  - Summary: The game is fun immediately due to its fast-paced gameplay and engaging boss fights, although navigation issues can cause some friction.
  - Stance: Fun immediately
  - Anchor: Fast-paced gameplay and engaging boss fights
  - Time to anchor: 0h 0m
  - Friction: difficulty keeping track of locations
  - Unlock drivers: fast-paced gameplay; engaging boss fights
  - Conditions: fast-paced movement; varied boss fights
- Player Archetypes:
  - Nostalgic Story-Seeker (buy)
    - Motivation: Nostalgia and story
    - Playstyle: Explores the game for its narrative and historical context, tolerating outdated mechanics.
    - Experience: veteran
    - Purchase stance: buy
    - Labels: fan of action RPG games from the NES/SNES era; old-school player
    - Reference games: NES/SNES era games; Ys Origin
  - Newcomer Explorer (sale)
    - Motivation: Exploration and overall enjoyment
    - Playstyle: Explores the game despite getting lost and facing challenges, appreciating the game's simplicity and charm.
    - Experience: newcomer
    - Purchase stance: sale
    - Labels: new to the series; casual player
    - Reference games: None specifically mentioned
  - Series Enthusiast (buy)
    - Motivation: Series continuity and improvements
    - Playstyle: Plays the game for its improvements over the first title and enjoys the series as a whole.
    - Experience: familiar
    - Purchase stance: buy
    - Labels: fan of the series; YS enthusiast
    - Reference games: Ys I; Ys Origin


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:
- Improved and engaging story (weight 0.96): 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 (weight 0.8): 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 (weight 0.76): 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 (weight 0.61): 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 (weight 0.6): 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.
- Well-presented boss battles (weight 0.49): Boss fights are highlighted as well-presented, fun, and improved. Players appreciate the unique and fair boss battles, adding to the game's charm.
- Unique and charming combat (weight 0.48): The combat system is described as unique, charming, and satisfying. The bump combat system is noted for its fun and intuitive mechanics.
- User-friendly controls (weight 0.22): The controls are noted for being easy and user-friendly, contributing to a smooth and enjoyable gaming experience.
- Good value for money (weight 0.15): Players feel that the game offers good value for its price, making it a worthwhile purchase.
- Fantastic and strong ending (weight 0.15): The game's ending is praised for being fantastic and strong, providing a satisfying conclusion to the story.
- Instant save feature (weight 0.14): The game includes an instant save feature with many save slots, enhancing the gaming experience by providing convenience and flexibility.

Common complaints:
- Lack of map and guidance (weight 0.81): 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 (weight 0.59): 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 (weight 0.32): 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 (weight 0.32): There are various technical issues, including bugs, low resolution, and problems with the port, which affect the gameplay experience.
- Tedious leveling and grinding (weight 0.27): The leveling system and the requirement for extensive grinding are criticized for being tedious and time-consuming.
- Short and rushed story (weight 0.26): The game's story is criticized for being fairly short and feeling rushed, with some story beats feeling improvised.
- Negative overall experience (weight 0.23): Many players express that the game is not recommended, not worth the time spent, and provides an unenjoyable experience.
- Archaic design elements (weight 0.21): The game retains some archaic design elements that detract from the overall experience, making it feel outdated.
- Frustrating hidden content (weight 0.15): The game features hidden content that can be frustrating to find, adding to the difficulty and confusion.
- Cutscenes and display issues (weight 0.14): Cutscenes are distorted, and the game has issues with display, particularly on large screens, affecting the visual experience.
- Gameplay tied to FPS (weight 0.14): The gameplay is tied to the frame rate, which can cause issues with the game running too fast at times.
- Health recovery issues (weight 0.08): Players find the health recovery mechanics to be miserable, adding to the difficulty and frustration of the game.
- Game becomes too easy (weight 0.08): Once players master the mechanics, the game becomes too easy, reducing the challenge and enjoyment.
- Accidental NPC interactions (weight 0.08): Players frequently experience accidental interactions with NPCs, which can be annoying and disruptive to gameplay.
- Controller issues (weight 0.08): There are issues with controller support, affecting the gameplay experience for those using controllers.
- Lack of new content (weight 0.08): The game is criticized for not offering new content, making it feel stale and uninteresting.
- No voice acting (weight 0.08): The absence of voice acting is noted as a drawback, affecting the immersion and overall experience.

Gameplay feedback:
- Magic-enhanced combat system (weight 0.62): 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 (weight 0.51): 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 (weight 0.46): The game includes rich NPC interactions and dialogues, enhancing the story and providing a more immersive experience through character interactions.
- Improved leveling system (weight 0.4): The leveling system has been improved, providing a more satisfying progression and character development experience.
- Unique bump combat system (weight 0.4): The combat system features a unique bump mechanic, where players use body-slamming and push combat for an entertaining and fast-paced experience.
- Enhanced and mature gameplay design (weight 0.37): The game features an enhanced and mature gameplay design that is both story-driven and location-based. Players appreciate the improvements made to the overall gameplay mechanics.
- Challenging boss fights (weight 0.36): Boss fights are a significant part of the game, requiring strategy and often grinding for stats and items to overcome.
- Story continuation and lore (weight 0.3): The game continues the story from previous installments, enriching the lore and providing a cohesive narrative experience.
- High-speed action gameplay (weight 0.3): The game is an action JRPG with high-speed gameplay, featuring fast character movement and entertaining combat mechanics.
- Map navigation and exploration (weight 0.29): Players need to draw their own maps for navigation, which adds a layer of challenge and immersion to the exploration aspects of the game.
- Balanced difficulty levels (weight 0.29): The game offers balanced difficulty levels, including a Nightmare mode for those seeking a greater challenge.
- Trading and item usage (weight 0.22): Trading and the use of items play a significant role in the game, enhancing gameplay and providing additional strategic options.
- Map expansion and teleportation (weight 0.22): Map expansion and teleportation mechanics allow for easier navigation and exploration of the game world.
- Improved atmosphere and world detail (weight 0.17): The game boasts an improved atmosphere and a detailed, diverse world that enhances the overall immersion and enjoyment.
- Transformation and disguise mechanics (weight 0.17): Unique mechanics such as transformation and disguise spells add variety and strategic depth to the gameplay.
- 2D shooting and ARPG mechanics (weight 0.17): The game combines 2D shooting mechanics with ARPG elements, providing a unique and engaging gameplay experience.
- Side quests and optional content (weight 0.16): The game features side quests and optional content, adding depth and replayability to the overall experience.
- Health recovery and save features (weight 0.16): The game includes health recovery mechanics and an instant save feature, improving the overall gameplay experience.
- Gold acquisition and equipment management (weight 0.15): Gold acquisition and equipment management are important aspects of the game, requiring strategic planning and resource management.
- Direct sequel with added magic (weight 0.1): As a direct sequel, the game introduces new magic elements while maintaining continuity from the previous installment.
- No traditional attack button (weight 0.1): The combat system does not use a traditional attack button, relying instead on unique mechanics like the bump system.
- Grinding for boss encounters (weight 0.1): Grinding for stats and items is often necessary to prepare for boss encounters, adding a layer of strategy and preparation.
- Time Attack mode (weight 0.09): Time Attack mode offers a challenging and fast-paced gameplay experience, testing the player's skills and speed.
- Engaging soundtrack (weight 0.09): The game features an engaging soundtrack that enhances the overall atmosphere and enjoyment of the gameplay experience.
- Movement and pacing (weight 0.09): The game features fast-paced movement and pacing, contributing to an overall entertaining and engaging gameplay experience.

Performance notes:
- Performance and FPS issues (weight 0.25): 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 (weight 0.24): Players have encountered various visual issues such as distorted cutscenes, low resolution, and problems with fullscreen mode.
- Positive feedback on artstyle (weight 0.1): The game received praise for its 2D art style, which players found appealing and well-designed.
- Virtual direction issues (weight 0.1): Some players reported severe issues with the virtual direction, describing it as乱晃 (shaky or unstable).

Recommendations:
- Not for casual or new players (weight 0.24): 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 (weight 0.24): The game is recommended for those who enjoy the Ys series and want to explore its world and lore further.
- Recommended for ARPG fans (weight 0.18): 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 (weight 0.17): 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 (weight 0.17): Despite some cumbersome mechanics and aged aspects, the game is considered worth playing.
- Play after newer titles (weight 0.16): It is recommended to play this game after experiencing newer titles in the series for a better understanding and appreciation.
- Great for story and universe fans (weight 0.1): This game is ideal for players who appreciate well-told stories and expansive universes.
- Compact and intense experience (weight 0.1): The game offers a compact and intense experience, making it suitable for players looking for a shorter but engaging game.
- Origin story of Adol Christen (weight 0.1): The game is recommended for those interested in the origin story of Adol Christen, the protagonist of the Ys series.
- Needs a remake (weight 0.09): Some players feel that the game needs a remake to better integrate the two stories and improve the overall experience.
- Set up configuration first (weight 0.08): It is advised to set up the game's configuration before starting to ensure the best possible experience.

Other player notes:
- Korean patch disrupts achievements (weight 0.11): A user-created Korean language patch is causing issues with the proper unlocking of in-game achievements.

Emotions:
- Frustration (weight 0.18): Players are frustrated primarily due to the game's challenging boss battles and maze-like dungeons. The difficulty in controlling the game with a keyboard, forced use of magic in some boss battles, and issues with cutscenes and fullscreen mode also contribute to this frustration.
- Nostalgia (weight 0.13): Players feel nostalgic due to revisiting the game after many years and reflecting on past experiences with the series. The remaster of classic games, rich world, engaging story, and comparisons to previous versions like Ys I and TurboGrafx-16 CD version also evoke this emotion.
- Enjoyment (weight 0.13): Players enjoy the game's story, gameplay mechanics, and combat system. The fun gameplay, additional abilities, and awesome soundtrack also contribute to a positive experience.
- Joy (weight 0.11): Players find joy in the game's improvements, engaging gameplay, and compelling story. The enjoyable enemy designs, boss fights, good graphics, and great soundtrack also contribute to this feeling.
- Positive (weight 0.09): Players have an overall positive experience with the game, praising its music, story, and environments. They recommend the game to series fans and appreciate its classic gameplay.
- Negative (weight 0.07): Players express negative feelings due to the game's high difficulty without a guide and frustration with complex maps. Criticisms of the bump system, game navigation, and lack of subtitles in Brazilian Portuguese also contribute to this emotion.
- Appreciation (weight 0.04): Players appreciate the game's historical significance, quality, and detailed gameplay mechanics. Positive experiences with the story and gameplay also contribute to this feeling.
- Disappointment (weight 0.03): Players feel disappointed due to unenjoyable experiences with dungeons and dated aspects of the game. Controller issues and easier bosses compared to Ys I also contribute to this emotion.
- Satisfaction (weight 0.03): Players feel satisfied with the improved gameplay, graphics, and additional content. The fun and satisfying combat also contributes to this feeling.
- Excitement (weight 0.02): Players are excited about discovering the depth of enemy dialogues and the magic system. The enjoyment of the improved sequel also contributes to this emotion.
- Amusement (weight 0.02): Players are amused by the unique monster dialogue and cool spells. Interactions with NPCs also contribute to this feeling.
- Sadness (weight 0.01): Players feel sad after the end of the duology, reflecting on the emotional impact of the story.
- Happy (weight 0.01): Players feel happy due to the strong ending of the game.
- Excited (weight 0.01): Players are excited to see where the character Adol is headed next in the series.
- Nostalgic (weight 0.01): Players feel nostalgic due to the graphics preserving the nostalgic feel of the game.}