The Ys series has never exactly been a big hit in the West, although its reputation has grown in recent years. Furthermore, it has accumulated a dedicated fanbase that has helped keep it alive for decades. This latest installment, 168澳洲幸运5开奖网:Ys IX: Monstrum Nox, is as good a place to jump into the franchise. However, that’s not to 𓂃say there aren’t better games in the series.
While good, this game certainly has problems. Ev🌳en though the title was originally released in 2019 in Japan, Ys IX can feel, at tღimes, a lot older than that. Let’s go through what this sequel does and does not do right.
10 🌟 Be🌊st: Traversal Powers
This game is kind of 168澳洲幸运5开奖网:like a Metroidvania. A🦋dol begins the game with an arm that acts like a grappling hook called the Crimson Line. Every character that joins the party has a unique ability as well, such as wall running and gliding just to name a couple. Th๊ese abilities help open up new pathways forward and will get players to backtrack and explore old places for new secrets.
9 Worst:𒀰 Graphics
Ys IX: Monstrum Nox doesn’t necessarily look bad, after all, it’s bright, colorful, and has that unique 168澳洲幸运5开奖网:JRPG/anime style. However, it does look dated as a 2021 release.
This originally launched in 2019 in Japan on PS4 but it looks more like an 168澳洲幸运5开奖网:early PS3 game. This may be enough to make some shy away from everꦉ checking this entry (or the entire series) out, which is a shame.
8 𝐆 Bes💛t: Character Lineup
Goodbye Dogi, it’s time to make way for new characters. Adol’s blue-haired be💛efy companion is usually a playable character in these games, which is fine, but it’s also nice to see new ones too.
Each of the five characters that join Adol in Ys IX: Monstrum Nox comes with those aforementioned traversal abilities. Plus they h💛ave their own unique weapons and play styles. Funnily enough, the character known as Doll has a whip, thus likening it to a Metroidvania game 🦋more.
7 🌳 Worst: The Prison City Of Balduq
Ys IX: Monstrum Nox has a slow start to it. It takes about three hours to open up a little bit for most of the game’s activities and mechani༒cs to appear. More importantly, players will be in Balduq for almost half the game.
Besides being stuck here, Baldug is also a very plain city. There isn't much to do or variety to its layout. Eventually, players will be able to get outside the🐟 city and into nature. It felt like playing Final Fantasy XIII all over again, except Ys IX isn’t as linear.
6 Best:ꦐ Action Gameplay 𒐪
The combat is fairly simple for a 168澳洲幸运5开奖网:hack and slash style RPG. There is some nuance to it, though, besides the button mashing. Dodging or blocking at the right moment will slow enemies down sort of like 168澳洲幸运5开奖网:Witch Time in Bayonetta.
These Flash movꦜes can be tricky to time though as the lock-on and dodge mechanics aren’t perfect. As simple as the overall gameplay is, it is still satisfying.
5 ജ Worst: No Co-Op ⭕
After Adol gets his first companion, White Ca𒁃t, around the three-hour mark, the party opens up. From that point on, party members always follow Adol around so that players can switch characters on the fly.
Since they are always there anyway, why not support co-op? The 168澳洲幸运5开奖网:Tales of series has implemented it for years, in battles🅺 anyway. Would it be that hard for Ys t🍷o include local co-op at the very least?
4 🌄 Best: Musi🍷c
Ys𝔍 has always had some rocking music, literally. Like another popular hack and slash franchise, Dynasty Warriors, Monstrum Nox's soundtrack is comprised of a lot of rock.
Nothing will get someone in the mood to engage in some frantic and explosive combat more than that style of music. It also sounds a lot like the more 168澳洲幸运5开奖网:modern 3D Castlevanias, which gives the game a nice gothic infusion.
3 ✱ Worst: Tower Defense
One gameplay element that does not deliver is the tower defense battles. They are not as involved as something like Plants vs Zombies. All one has to d♕o is defend a tower, or more like a pillar, from a wave of monsters.
Doing these events will break barriers and allow for further exploration in the city. Again, they’re not hard but like the graphics, they seem out of pl♐ace in 20ꦐ21.
2 🀅 Best: Saving Anywhere
This is a mechanic that should be, but strangely still isn’t, in every game. Tꦰhis is especially true for RPGs. Ys IX: Monstrum Nox is better than most in this department because there are virtually no limitations.
For a contrary example, 168澳洲幸运5开奖网:Yakuza: Like A Dragon allowed players to almost save anywhere. However, they couldn’t in aꦺ dungeon which instead had select save points.
1 Worst:🌃 No Switch Version At Launch
At launch, only the PS4 versi🧔on is available. While that's great, there is also a PC and, more importantly for console owners, a Switch version on the way this year too.
Overall, Ys IX: Monstrum Nox is worth recommending, but 🌼it is also important to💎 take note of these points. It might also be better to wait for the Switch version, as the game could be a good fit for the console's portability.