04/13/05 >> Ys: The Ark of Napishtim

Genre: Console RPG

Developer: Falcom

Publisher: Konami

Official Site

 

 

 

 

 

 

Ys: The Ark of Napishtim for the Playstation 2 should be seen as a 'Classic' game more than anything else. This game is much like Zelda and Alundra, where much of the action involves hack-and-slash, except Ys is much more involved with the characters. And this is a good thing.

You play as Adol, a red-haired boy who washes ashore on the Canaan Islands. Storyline is quite average for this genre, with very few plot twists. You'll find that there really are only 2 towns to go around and the rest are fields for your adventuring. Sometimes you may get lost on where to go and will spend quite a bit of time looking for what to do, much like other adventure games.

 

The gameplay of Ys really shines. The battle system consists of Adol running and attacking. Using slashes, jumps, well-timed techniques and sword magic, you're presented with a huge variety of moves to kill your foes. Fighting does not get boring in Ys; it's always fast-paced and requires some degree of skill. Dungeons are normally short and deplete of puzzles, so you won't be spending hours in the same place and setting. Some are the bosses are difficult and may take some time to defeat. I normally found myself using Hit-and-Run tactics, which worked for most bosses. There are a few side-quests to engage in to receive items to help you along, though most of them do not provide any back story. When you do beat the game, you are presented with another option to fight all the bosses in the game in a Time Attack mode, which can be rather fun.

 

As for the graphics, Ys uses simple sprites and could really appeal to old school gamers. Portraits in text boxes are sometimes accompanied by well drawn full-body shots. Adol's sprite while attacking and jumping are always consistent and never look awkward. Bosses always look elaborate and really give off the feeling of danger. Attack animations like beams of light or slashes look vivid and clear, making it easier to see and dodge.

Ys' music is nothing short of spectacular. Though you don’t hear the normal RPG music here with computerized beats, there are some interesting rock tunes. Boss battles come alive with the music and it really sets the mood for dungeons. Voices aren't that bad, but could have been better. The voices seem low, but can be easily adjusted by lowering the music in the Options menu. Every line in this game is spoken. There aren't any generic NPCs with no portrait or voice in Ys, so everyone has their own picture and voice to go along with it.

 

Ys is a good game that you should spend money on if you like Action RPGs or Adventure games. The overall experience is great and will keep you busy for some time. You won't find this sort of fast-paced action in normal turn-based RPGs.

 

 

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Game Score: 8.7

A great 'classic' game that will remind players of the good old days of yesteryear.

 

Developer Grade: N/A

 

 

 

Reviewed by Jesse/expertise626