Ys X: Nordics Review Summary

Excellent, engaging combat system: The combat system is a major highlight, praised for being fast-paced, fluid, and engaging. Many reviewers found it to be the best in the series, with responsive controls and satisfying feedback. The combat encourages strategic play through well-timed blocks, dodges, and skill combinations.

Enjoyable duo character mechanic: The duo mechanic, featuring Adol and Karja, is a refreshing change that enhances combat and character development. Players enjoy the unique skills and interactions between the two characters, with many considering Karja a standout character. The duo system streamlines party management and allows for more focused character customization.

Great graphics and soundtrack: The game features improved graphics, animations, and character models compared to previous entries. The soundtrack is consistently praised as phenomenal, dynamic, and memorable, enhancing both exploration and combat. Many reviewers consider the music to be a highlight of the game, as expected from the Ys series.

Engaging story and characters: The story is engaging, with well-developed characters and satisfying plot twists. Reviewers appreciate the personal and emotional connections formed with the characters, making the world feel alive and immersive. The narrative pacing is well-managed, avoiding tedious moments and maintaining player interest throughout the game.

Vast and rewarding exploration: The game world is vast and rewarding to explore, with interesting side quests and collectibles. The exploration is well-integrated into the story, avoiding typical fetch quests and offering meaningful content. The game provides a great sense of adventure and discovery.

Inferior to previous Ys games: Many reviewers feel this game is a step down from previous Ys titles, especially Ys VIII, citing a weaker story, less memorable music, and uninspired level design. Some reviewers feel the game lacks a sense of adventure and that the graphics are outdated.

Sailing is slow and tedious: Sailing is a major issue due to the ship's slow speed, tedious combat, and uninteresting exploration. Upgrades alleviate some issues, but the initial experience is a slog. The removal of upgrades in New Game+ further emphasizes the tedium.

Game is too easy: The game's difficulty is considered too easy, even on higher settings. Some reviewers found the skill tree inconsequential and the gem/depth system unnecessary.

Bland and repetitive environments: Reviewers found the environments to be bland, repetitive, and lacking in variety. The level design is often described as generic and restrictive, with noticeable invisible walls hindering exploration.

Slow start, long tutorial: The game starts slowly, with the initial chapters serving mainly as a tutorial. This slow pace and heavy reliance on cutscenes can deter players.

Duo combat system: Adol/Karja: The game's combat centers around a duo system featuring Adol and Karja, replacing the traditional party system. Players can switch between the characters or control them simultaneously in Duo mode, which encourages strategic play using their unique skills and the revenge gauge mechanic. This system emphasizes parrying and strategic blocking over attack spamming.

Strategic blocking/parrying is key: Combat emphasizes strategic defense through blocking and parrying, which fills a revenge gauge for amplified duo skills. Perfect blocks and dodges are rewarded with counter-attacks and special animations, making well-timed defenses crucial for success, especially on higher difficulties. Dodging is less useful than blocking.

Sailing and naval combat: The game features seafaring and naval combat as a significant component, with a customizable ship serving as a mobile base. While initially slow, ship combat and exploration become more engaging with upgrades, offering a change of pace and rewards, though some find it lacking depth or wishing for better level design.

Builds upon previous Ys titles: The game is set between Ys II and Ys IV, with gameplay similar to Ys VIII and IX but introducing new mechanics like blocking. Exploration is a strong point, and the game features a two-player system, a departure from previous entries. Some dungeons rely too much on hallways and look similar.

New Mana-based abilities: The game introduces Mana-based mechanics for movement and combat, including a hoverboard and grappling hook. While these abilities offer new ways to traverse the environment, some reviewers found them less impressive than similar mechanics in previous titles or poorly explained, requiring experimentation.

Excellent performance and optimization: The game generally runs smoothly on PC, Steam Deck, and Linux, with many users reporting stable performance and good optimization. The PC port is frequently praised, especially the work done by Durante/PH3 Games. Some users note that the game runs well even on older hardware or at higher resolutions.

Adjustable graphics, scalable performance: The game offers a variety of graphical settings and options, allowing players to adjust performance based on their hardware. While the game generally runs well, some users have noted frame rate drops in specific areas or when using certain settings. The game seems to scale well with both CPU and GPU power.

Dated but improved graphics: The game's graphics are considered dated by some, with comparisons to older console generations. However, others note improvements over previous entries in the series, with updated character models and a new graphics engine. The art style is consistent, but the limitations are more apparent on PC.

Minor bugs and occasional crashes: Some players have reported minor bugs and occasional crashes, although some bugs have been fixed. One user mentioned the need for frequent saving due to potential instability.

Fast loading times, quick saves: The game features fast loading times, especially on SSDs, and a caching system in the PH3 version further improves loading speeds for frequently accessed scenes. A feature allows launching directly into the most recent save.

Strongly recommended for Ys fans: Many reviewers recommend Ys X: Nordics, especially to fans of the Ys series and action RPGs. They praise it as a worthy addition to the franchise, highlighting its engaging gameplay and overall quality. Some consider it a must-play and one of Adol's best adventures.

Consider buying on sale: Some reviewers suggest that the game is good but not worth the full price, recommending a purchase during a sale. Others suggest waiting for an upgraded version expected to address some shortcomings. This point does not indicate review bombing.

Try the demo first: Reviewers suggest trying the demo to see if you enjoy the game's mechanics and style. It's a good way to get a feel for the game before committing to a purchase, especially for newcomers to the series.

Good entry point for newcomers: The game is considered a good entry point for newcomers to the Ys series. Its story is independent, making it accessible without prior knowledge of the franchise.

Not as good as Ys VIII: Some reviewers feel that Ys X doesn't quite reach the heights of Ys VIII, with some even preferring Ys IX. They suggest that while it's a decent entry, it may not live up to the expectations set by its predecessors.

Early timeline placement; accessible.: Ys X is set early in Adol's timeline, specifically between Ys II and Ys IV, making it accessible to newcomers. The game explores Adol's adventures before he becomes a renowned adventurer, with the story being largely independent of other entries.

Gameplay changes; Norse/Viking theme.: Ys X introduces significant gameplay changes since Ys Seven and incorporates Norse mythology and Viking themes. The game takes place in the Obelia Gulf region, offering a new setting for Adol's adventures.

Some missable quests/entries exist.: Quests are generally well-labeled, but some are missable if players don't thoroughly explore each map. There are also a few missable character entries, making completion slightly challenging.

Strong Adol-Karja partnership dynamic.: The game emphasizes the bond between Adol and Karja, who serves as a central character and partner throughout the adventure. Karja's character dynamic is more of a partner than a love interest.

Limited budget; simple visuals.: The game appears to have been developed on a limited budget, with resources primarily focused on the final third of the game. The visuals and scenario design have a simple charm, reminiscent of older PlayStation titles.