Ys X: Nordics Review Summary

Fluid, satisfying combat system: The combat system is fluid, fast-paced, and satisfying, with responsive controls and impactful feedback. The game features visually impressive animations, special effects, and a variety of skills and combos. Many reviewers consider it a significant improvement over previous titles.

Forgiving, rewarding parry mechanic: The game features a generous parry/guard system that is easy to learn but rewarding to master. Well-timed blocks and dodges lead to satisfying counterattacks and special animations. This mechanic enhances player engagement and makes combat more strategic.

Improved performance, optimized graphics: Recent updates and optimizations have significantly improved the game's performance and visuals. Reviewers note smoother frame rates, better graphics, and fewer bugs compared to the initial release. This has led to a more positive reception of the game.

Engaging adventure, satisfying story: The game offers a well-paced and engaging adventure with a satisfying story. Reviewers appreciate the clear guidance, manageable difficulty, and complete narrative arc. The game avoids common JRPG pitfalls like excessive grinding or convoluted plots.

Well-developed, appealing characters: The game features well-developed characters with detailed backstories and satisfying arcs. Reviewers highlight the appealing character designs and the strong relationships between the main characters. Kaga is a standout character, praised for her strength and personality.

Tedious and repetitive exploration: The game's exploration is criticized for being tedious and repetitive, particularly the sea exploration and naval combat. The ship's slow speed early on, combined with uninspired map design and repetitive environments, makes exploration feel monotonous. Additionally, loading screens disrupt the experience.

Awkward and unconfigurable controls: The game suffers from control issues, including awkward default keybindings, lack of proper controller support (especially for non-Xbox controllers), and inability to remap keys effectively. These issues make the game difficult and uncomfortable to control, even after attempts to adjust settings.

Frequent game crashes: The game experiences frequent crashes, sometimes multiple times per hour, and generates large crash dump files. These crashes can occur during cutscenes, loading screens, and prolonged gameplay sessions, requiring frequent manual saving to avoid losing progress.

Disappointing final boss/ending: The final boss fight and ending are described as disappointing, rushed, and unsatisfying. The final area is considered boring, and the ending fails to resolve plot points adequately, leaving the reviewer with a sense of anticlimactic closure.

Concerns about developer progress: Some reviewers express concerns about the developer's (Falcom) graphical capabilities and overall progress, feeling they are falling behind industry standards. There are also criticisms regarding business practices, such as selling 'Royal Editions'.

Dual-character combat system: The game features a dual-character combat system where players control two characters simultaneously, allowing for strategic switching and coordinated attacks. While generally well-received, some reviewers noted potential control issues due to limited keybinds and a reduction in the number of playable characters compared to previous entries.

Emphasis on defensive combat: The combat system emphasizes defensive maneuvers like blocking and parrying, with opportunities for counter-attacks. Some reviewers found the defense timing generous and the overall difficulty low, while others appreciated the faster pace and the ease of executing precise parries and dodges compared to previous games.

New sailing and ship battles: The game introduces a new sailing system with ship battles and exploration. While some found the sea battles uninteresting or initially slow, others enjoyed the ship customization and combat mechanics, drawing comparisons to Assassin's Creed Black Flag.

Traditional adventurous story: The game's story is an adventurous tale set early in Adol's adventures, focusing on exploring the northern region. While some found the plot to be traditional, others appreciated the departure from recurring themes and the focus on adventure.

Focus on Adol and Karja: The story focuses on Adol and Karja, with each character bringing unique abilities to the battlefield. The game features fewer playable characters than previous entries, but character development is increased.

Improved, but inconsistent PC optimization: The game's PC optimization has significantly improved, especially after the 2.0 update, resolving initial issues like stuttering and crashes. Many players report smooth gameplay at high frame rates and resolutions, even on mid-range hardware, with some community tweaks further enhancing performance. However, some players still experience inconsistent frame rates and occasional crashes, indicating optimization is not perfect for all systems.

Playable on Steam Deck: The game is playable on Steam Deck, with some users reporting stable performance at 30-60 FPS. This makes it a viable option for portable gaming, although performance may vary depending on settings and specific hardware configurations.

Underutilized CPU/GPU: Some users report that the game does not fully utilize their hardware, with CPU and GPU usage remaining below maximum capacity. This suggests potential for further optimization to improve performance.

Unimpressive, similar graphics to previous installments: Several reviewers noted that the graphics are not significantly improved compared to previous installments and are similar to promotional videos. One reviewer also mentioned that graphics are not a strength of Falcom games.

Dust texture bug obscures screen: A specific bug causes a dust texture to expand and flicker, obscuring the screen during gameplay. This is a notable visual glitch that can negatively impact the player's experience.

Highly recommended for Ys fans: Many reviewers recommend Ys X, especially to fans of the series and newcomers. It's considered a good entry point due to its accessibility and engaging gameplay. Some suggest it's on par with or better than previous installments, while others find it a worthwhile addition despite minor flaws.

Wait for optimization patches: Several reviews mention technical issues, particularly regarding optimization and performance on PC and Steam Deck. Some recommend waiting for patches or price reductions before purchasing to ensure a smoother experience. Some reviewers even refunded the game due to these problems.

Anticipation for Ys XI: Many reviewers express anticipation for the next installment in the Ys series, Ys XI. Some hope for improvements to controls, dungeon design, and bold innovations in the next entry, while others are simply eager to see where the story goes next.

Consider purchasing on sale: Several reviewers suggest waiting for a sale or price reduction before purchasing the game, citing its high cost. They recommend carefully considering the price before buying, especially if money is a concern.

Start on higher difficulty: Some reviewers recommend starting the game on a higher difficulty level, such as Nightmare or Inferno, for a more challenging experience. They suggest that the game may be easier compared to previous installments, and that starting on a higher difficulty can unlock additional content.

Norse-inspired setting and story: The game's story is set in Obelia Bay, inspired by Norse mythology and Viking pirates. Players will encounter the Norman-descended Balta Navy and the enigmatic Griegers while exploring islands, conquering seas, and completing NPC requests.

Disappointing music: The game's music is a bit disappointing, with only a few memorable tracks and some BGM that feels out of place. This detracts from the overall experience.

Game re-released with optimization: The game has been re-released with significant optimization to address previous issues. Some older negative reviews may still be visible, but they may not reflect the current state of the game.

Controller support and Steam issues: The Steam version had a delayed release due to issues. The game supports custom controller keybindings in the in-game settings, but does not support Steam Input. Some reviewers suggest that the game is better played with a controller.

Item transactions and free DLCs: Islands and seas have NPCs that sell items, offering both gold and barter transactions. There are 2 free DLCs to claim: empty bottle and lunch box, which are essential for blending. Having an extra empty bottle allows you to carry one more potion.