A direct sequel to Ys I, Ys II immediately picks up where the first game ended. This time around, Adol has access to various forms of magic which are your main way of fighting most of the bosses.

Overall, the structure of the game is very similar to the first - you explore long, winding dungeons with brief moments spent in towns along your journey. The difference in this game is that the dungeons are MUCH longer and more maze-like, and you spend a lot less time in the towns comparatively. This isn't strictly a bad thing, what actually knocks the game down a bit for me is the pacing/build-up. Ys I is a very solid structure with a gradual build-up to the epic, climactic final dungeon. Ys II feels a bit more plodding, and the final dungeon has a bizarrely (yet still pretty good) chill theme that doesn't really convey the stakes well. It might seem like a minor complaint, but it's pretty important to get that right if you want to build up to a big finale.

Overall, I still really enjoyed the whole experience and the ending even if it didn't quite live up to the first game. I am excited to continue the series from here in the future!