Play it on: PC, iOS, Android, PlayStation Portable
Pros
If you’re an absolute purist who wants to see where the series began, Ys I & II Chronicles is the most accessible way to play the first Ys games. These remakes retain the gameplay of the original titles and add some quality-of-life features. They also add some exclusive extra content, and some of the easter eggs featured in these games are delightful. Also, you’re kind of getting two games for the price of one, even though Ys II is a direct continuation of Ys I.
By starting with Ys I & II, you’ll see how Adol met Dogi and hear some leitmotifs that are occasionally referenced in later games in the series. Also, it’ll help you appreciate just how far the series has come since these games.
Cons
What you need to know about Ys I & II is that, remake or not, these games are old. Ys started out using the “bump” combat system, which features no attack button and instead forces Adol to smash his face into enemies off-center to inflict damage. Honestly, I do think the bump combat is kind of fun once you get used to it, but it does not make a good first impression, unless you love games hailing from the 1980s.
Aside from that, there’s just all kinds of jank that will probably make you raise your eyebrows. Almost half of Ys I I takes place in a tower that you literally can’t leave, and you’ll hit the level cap well before the end of the game. Ys II features some long maze-like dungeons that can feel difficult to navigate. Neither game explains its mechanics well, and both rely on you to figure out their intricacies.
These games ask a lot of totally new players, and neither plays anything like Ys games available today. I’d only recommend those with iron wills or a love of vintage games to start here.
If you like Ys: I&II
For the absolutely wild folks who enjoy this combat system, you’ll want to dig into the original versions of Ys IV. Ys IV: Mask of the Sun for SNES and Ys IV: The Dawn of Ys for the TurboGrafx-CD are both surprisingly distinct games that play similarly to Ys I & II, and they even directly continue from them in a few ways. Neither game was ever officially released in English, though, so you’ll need to apply fan translations to enjoy them today. I’d say that’s a tough sell, but if you’re the type of person who wants more bump combat, you were probably prepared to patch some vintage games too.
Nowadays, these versions of Ys IV have been “replaced” by Ys: Memories of Celceta, which is both a remake and yet another version of Ys IV. Yes, this is very confusing for anyone who isn’t an Ys superfan. Just don’t worry about it and play the official English releases if you’re catching up on the series.
With all this, hopefully you’re now inspired to pick at least one of these recommendations and make your way into a truly wonderful gaming series. And if it clicks for you, then oh boy, do you have a lot of games to play next!
.
