The English localization of Ys 10: Nordics was released last month for Nintendo Switch, PS4, PS5, and PC. With the original Japanese version being released on September 28th of last year, this makes Nordics’ English localization one of the fastest in the modern Ys series. In our review, we said the game is a great starting point for players who are new to the series. Let’s take a look at why this latest entry is also a great entry point for new players.
The Gameplay
The gameplay of Nordics is very fun, taking inspiration from other series such as Sonic and The Legend of Zelda as well as Final Fantasy. Between the action-packed combat of the modern Ys games and the additional movement offered by some of the Mana abilities, with the addition of the upgradeable boat, the game is a blast to play. It’s also significantly easier to fully level up the skills that Adol and Karja can learn, and leveling the skills up feels more rewarding when it can lead to unlocking even more skills. Duo mode, though not likely to return in a future Ys title, is also very fun. This includes the Duo-exclusive skills, which are part of the Release Line.
The Level Design
As we mentioned in our review of Nordics, its level design strikes a good balance between the near-full openness of Monstrum Nox and the segmented areas of Ys games before Monstrum Nox. The waters of Obelia Gulf are segmented into several Wind Waker-style maps, much like the regions of Lacrimosa of Dana. These sections are fully open, like in Monstrum Nox, but with level transitions between them. Dungeons are also more experimental with their designs, blurring the line between a dungeon and an explorable area. Another feature carried over from Monstrum Nox is the greater verticality of the level design.
The Music
Nihon Falcom is known among its fans for its games, which have stellar soundtracks. Nordics is no exception, with its soundtrack featuring several standout pieces of music. Ranging from energetic and upbeat to peaceful and contemplative to laidback and silly, the soundtrack accompanies and accentuates the emotional beats of the story. Some of the area themes are used on multiple islands, like Heat Hazard. Others are exclusive to their respective areas, such as Place to be Rooted.
The Story
The plot of Nordics takes place earlier in the Ys timeline, just after the events of Ys 2. While the series does have a tradition of making references to previous games’ stories, you seldom have to understand these references to understand or enjoy the story of the game. In this game’s case, there aren’t as many events to reference. A recurring thread throughout the game’s story references the fact that Adol and Dogi intended to travel to Celceta before the circumstances forced them to stay in the gulf.
The Writing
Another thing Falcom games are well-known among their fans for is their excellent writing and endearing characters. Nordics is no exception to this. From the game’s second protagonist, Karja, to the people who can accompany Adol and Karja on the Sandras, they all have character arcs that progress as the game does. One of the quality-of-life features introduced in this game, giving NPCs an icon that displays whether they have new dialogue, gives the strong writing more opportunity to shine. As with Lacrimosa of Dana, even tertiary characters have their own stories and arcs that play out in the background, while Adol and Karja’s story does.
Final Thoughts
Depending on what you’re looking for in a new series to jump into, there are plenty of great games in the Ys series to start with. Ys 10: Nordics has so far earned a score of 80 on Metacritic, putting it alongside some of the highest-rated entries in the series. In our review, we placed Nordics alongside Lacrimosa of Dana in terms of quality in the Ys games, which is the most popular entry in the series. It’s hard to top Lacrimosa of Dana, but Nordics certainly comes close. If you’ve been thinking of getting into the Ys series or looking for a new JRPG series to sink your time into, Nordics is a great place to start.
