Ys X: Nordics

Item: Ys X: Nordics
Rating: 86
Author: VaporLens

Last updated: 2025-03-19

Summary

Excellent and engaging combat system.
Enjoyable duo character mechanic.
Great graphics and soundtrack.
Vast and rewarding exploration.
Fun ship battles and exploration.
Sailing is slow and tedious.

Reviews (sample size): 688
Helpful reviews: 75%
Unhelpful reviews: 20%
Protest reviews: 4%

86%
Helpful reviews with positive sentiment
14%
Helpful reviews with negative sentiment

Positive points: 1495
Negative points: 977
Gameplay points: 381
Perf. points: 103
Rec. points: 510
Misc points: 137

Point	Description	Importance
Excellent, engaging combat system Description 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. Importance 96%	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.	96%
Enjoyable duo character mechanic Description 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. Importance 61%	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.	61%
Great graphics and soundtrack Description 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. Importance 57%	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.	57%
Engaging story and characters Description 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. Importance 40%	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.	40%
Vast and rewarding exploration Description 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. Importance 40%	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.	40%
Fun ship battles and exploration Description The addition of ship battles and sea exploration provides a fun and refreshing gameplay experience. Upgrading the ship and mastering the wind mechanics adds depth to the exploration. The final ship quest and boss fights are particularly creative and enjoyable. Importance 39%	The addition of ship battles and sea exploration provides a fun and refreshing gameplay experience. Upgrading the ship and mastering the wind mechanics adds depth to the exploration. The final ship quest and boss fights are particularly creative and enjoyable.	39%
Easy to pick up and play Description The game is easy to pick up and play, with smooth and responsive gameplay. The combat system is addictive and rewarding, with a great sense of impact and rhythm. The game offers a fun and laidback hack'n'slash experience. Importance 25%	The game is easy to pick up and play, with smooth and responsive gameplay. The combat system is addictive and rewarding, with a great sense of impact and rhythm. The game offers a fun and laidback hack'n'slash experience.	25%
Satisfying parry-focused combat Description The parry-focused combat mechanics, particularly the Just Guard system, are satisfying and impactful. The generous timing window and significant rewards for successful parries encourage strategic play. The game offers a challenging but fair experience, especially on higher difficulties. Importance 14%	The parry-focused combat mechanics, particularly the Just Guard system, are satisfying and impactful. The generous timing window and significant rewards for successful parries encourage strategic play. The game offers a challenging but fair experience, especially on higher difficulties.	14%
Well-optimized PC port Description The PC port is well-optimized, with smooth performance and customizable settings. The controls are easily mappable, and both keyboard/mouse and gamepad control work exceptionally well. The game includes local co-op, which is a welcome addition. Importance 13%	The PC port is well-optimized, with smooth performance and customizable settings. The controls are easily mappable, and both keyboard/mouse and gamepad control work exceptionally well. The game includes local co-op, which is a welcome addition.	13%
Karja is a standout character Description Karja is a standout character, with many reviewers considering her one of the best in the series. Her character arc is well-developed, and her interactions with Adol are enjoyable. Her strong personality and unique perspective add depth to the story. Importance 12%	Karja is a standout character, with many reviewers considering her one of the best in the series. Her character arc is well-developed, and her interactions with Adol are enjoyable. Her strong personality and unique perspective add depth to the story.	12%
Good localization and voice acting Description The game features good English localization and voice acting, enhancing character humanization and emotional delivery. The writing is well-done, making the story and characters believable. The inclusion of both English and Japanese voice options is appreciated. Importance 8%	The game features good English localization and voice acting, enhancing character humanization and emotional delivery. The writing is well-done, making the story and characters believable. The inclusion of both English and Japanese voice options is appreciated.	8%