As More Games Adjust to Modern Audiences, Ys Is Still Ys

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Over time, many beloved gaming franchises have adapted significantly to cater to contemporary players, sometimes at the cost of their original essence. While updates to certain gameplay elements were necessary due to their perceived sluggishness or outdated feel, this transformation has not always preserved the games’ unique characteristics.

With an increasing number of game titles aiming to cater to all gaming console users, it’s reassuring to note that the essence of Ys series remains centered on hack-and-slash gameplay.

If you’re not already familiar, the Ys series is an easy-to-grasp action RPG featuring Adol Christin, a character with red hair who embarks on various adventures after finding himself lost in diverse locations. The primary gameplay involves Adol battling numerous monsters by using swift slashes. Although some aspects of the game have evolved over time, such as transitioning to fully 3D graphics and introducing new characters, the fundamental mechanics continue to revolve around slashing enemies.

Observing Adol and his charming anime companions cutting through monsters provides a sense of emotional release. The developers at Nihon Falcom ensure that controlling these characters is always smooth and swift. Remarkably, even when the games are adapted for Switch with occasional dropped frames, combat remains enjoyable, highlighting how underestimated straightforward gameplay mechanics can be.

For gamers who began playing Ys games during the PSP era and are still enjoying the latest versions, it’s clear that the fundamental gameplay has remained consistent. As we discussed earlier, you primarily slash through enemies as Adol. The fact that a company can maintain such faith in its long-standing gameplay mechanics is what sets this action RPG apart, even when the graphics aren’t top-notch or the performance falls short.

Over the years, Final Fantasy has experienced quite a bit of fluctuation in its gameplay style. Initially, it was known for its classic Japanese Role-Playing Game (JRPG) structure with turn-based battles. However, it later transitioned into games that were linear but still featured turn-based combat. After that, there was an open-world version with real-time combat, followed by more linear games adopting real-time combat. And then, surprisingly, they returned to an open-world game with real-time combat again! It’s like they can’t decide on a consistent direction.

In Ys VIII: Lacrimosa of Dana, Adol is stranded on a deserted island where he has to slash things.

For a long time, the Resident Evil series by Capcom used tank controls, much like how they did things for years. However, this was eventually swapped out for the over-the-shoulder shooting style seen in Resident Evil 4, which ended up influencing many third-person shooters that followed. Later on, Capcom switched to first-person horror with Resident Evil 7 and Village, but they continued using third-person shooting for their remakes.

In the game Ys IX: Monstrum Nox, the character Adol finds himself investigating a mystery concerning a peculiar prison within a town. His primary method of problem-solving involves attacking or slashing various objects. Additionally, due to a mysterious curse, he gains the ability to transform into a more powerful and intense version of himself.

Ubisoft’s Assassin’s Creed has gone through a few transformations over time. Originally, it was an open-world stealth game, but it experimented with this foundation by incorporating numerous playable characters. Over time, it evolved into an open-world RPG, and then attempted to revert to the original stealth formula. Now, it’s considering a blend of both genres across various games.

In the game Ys X: Nordics, Adol finds himself joining forces with a swashbuckling young woman who’s a pirate. And as you might expect, their main objective is to hack through various obstacles together!

In the ever-evolving landscape of gaming, companies strive to adapt and evolve with the aim of earning more profits. They may thrive, falter, or repeat this cycle endlessly. Yet, amidst these constant changes, it’s reassuring to know that Nihon Falcom consistently delivers Ys games, maintaining their original essence throughout.

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2025-03-25 15:43