Ys I & II Chronicles+ is the most modernized and up-to-date remake of Falcom’s classic franchise-spawning action RPGs from 1987 and 1988. Come see how the story began, and witness the birth of a legend!
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Honestly, for a duology of games from the 80s these still hold up really well. Sure some of the difficulty spikes are kinda BS and yeah some of the dungeons are pretty rough but I overall really enjoyed both of these games
I loved this game so much I have been trying on nightmare just to get my ass whooped
A great example how a game can overshine its rather awkward mechanics (and bullshit difficulty spikes) through sheer "vibes", a constant sense of foward momentum and also having a fan-effin-tastic soundtrack.
If you can accept that these games are originally from the late 80s, then Ys I&II are a delightful time. Everything that makes Ys special, from the thematic preoccupations to the incredible momentum generated by the synergy of fast-paced combat and banger music, is present here from the start. Chronicles also gets a big boost from the quality of its soundtrack - Falcom clearly spared no expense on the audio front, with new arrangements for every song that leverage live instrumentation and sometimes a full orchestra.
As for the individual games, I've always preferred Ys I, and that's still true on replay. It's wildly unbalanced, but understands the joy of an insane power curve - every level up or new piece of equipment makes a dramatic difference in damage output and survivability. The no-frills take on bump combat is more limited than in Ys II due to the lack of a magic system, but it's so fast-paced thanks to a much higher damage output. Adol never stops running and tearing through enemies while the soundtrack swings from strength to strength (First Steps Towards War! Palace of Destruction! Tower of the Shadow of Death!), and the short length ensures it never wears out its welcome, except perhaps in the notoriously unfair Dark Fact fight.
Ys II feels larger and more substantial, with fewer difficulty spikes and some more inventive boss fights thanks to the addition of fire magic. There's a wider world for Adol to wander through, but a much lower damage output and a less dramatic power curve mean the game has a slower pace overall. And while To Make the End of Battle is a series-best track, the soundtrack can't match I. It's a lot of fun, but for me it doesn't hit quite as well.
Saying that though, bump combat is having a moment and these are great games to revisit in 2024. They're definitely essential for Ys sickos
As for the individual games, I've always preferred Ys I, and that's still true on replay. It's wildly unbalanced, but understands the joy of an insane power curve - every level up or new piece of equipment makes a dramatic difference in damage output and survivability. The no-frills take on bump combat is more limited than in Ys II due to the lack of a magic system, but it's so fast-paced thanks to a much higher damage output. Adol never stops running and tearing through enemies while the soundtrack swings from strength to strength (First Steps Towards War! Palace of Destruction! Tower of the Shadow of Death!), and the short length ensures it never wears out its welcome, except perhaps in the notoriously unfair Dark Fact fight.
Ys II feels larger and more substantial, with fewer difficulty spikes and some more inventive boss fights thanks to the addition of fire magic. There's a wider world for Adol to wander through, but a much lower damage output and a less dramatic power curve mean the game has a slower pace overall. And while To Make the End of Battle is a series-best track, the soundtrack can't match I. It's a lot of fun, but for me it doesn't hit quite as well.
Saying that though, bump combat is having a moment and these are great games to revisit in 2024. They're definitely essential for Ys sickos
Weird to think that running into enemies to do damage was considered "action" in 1987. Even weirder is it's still bizarrely enjoyable gameplay.
J'ai tardé à écrire au sujet des Ys I & II car je ne sais jamais trop quoi en dire...si ce n'est que les années passent et le que charme qu'exerce ces deux jeux ne cessent d'opérer. Le plaisir est intact. Ils figurent toujours parmi mes jeux préférés. J'en apprécie jusqu'aux moindres menus défauts. La série a connu de nombreux épisodes par la suite, dont certains qui ont fait date. Cette collection est parfaite pour remonter à la source. Et quelle source ! Je pourrais écrire sur ces deux jeux une belle tartine qui serait vite rédhibitoire : gameplay addictif, musiques exceptionnelles, très bonne histoire, superbe design, excellente rejouabilité, du challenge, etc. Mais quand on a soif, parler d'eau ne désaltère pas. Alors inutile de disserter en regardant l'eau s'écouler quand il suffit de se pencher...