Ys Origin

 PlayStation 4
User Score
7.4

Mixed or average reviews- based on 56 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 38 out of 56
  2. Mixed: 9 out of 56
  3. Negative: 9 out of 56
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  1. thefoxthatbarks
    Dec 11, 2020
    5
    This title is completely mediocre in every aspect. It's not pretty to look at (wasn't even at the time), the environments and level design are bland and redundant, the characters and story are uninspired. I thought the bosses were the only saving grace until I encountered the boss that required an unreasonable amount of grinding.
  2. AdoMobA
    Mar 12, 2023
    7
    Pros
    - fun combat against varied enemies
    - 3+1 characters with varied skills and playstyles (3 of them have their own EX forms able to buy from the post game arena shops making the total of characters up to 7) - interesting story told from three different points of view - plethora of post game content to keep you satisfied and for you to get your money's worth Cons - the three    Pros
    - fun combat against varied enemies
    - 3+1 characters with varied skills and playstyles (3 of them have their own EX forms able to buy from the post game arena shops making the total of characters up to 7)
    - interesting story told from three different points of view
    - plethora of post game content to keep you satisfied and for you to get your money's worth

    Cons
    - the three playthroughs happen through the same 25 floors, with the only changes being boss order and cutscenes
    - game is weirdly optimized to the point it crashes if you die more than two times, but this happens only on the first two main bosses

    Ys Origin is a game I wish I had gotten as a child since there is so much content to lose your time to. The story feels like an early 2000 anime and it gets told to you from the three different perspectives of three distinct characters: Yunica, Hugo and Toal.

    The moment you are finished with one of the three playthroughs you open up the boss rush and boss arena for you to bash your head against a plethora of challenges. It also opens up a shop in which you can spend the currency earned in those extra challenges for various bonuses and other things.

    One of the unlockables are the superforms of the three protagonists, plus a bonus fourth character which you can then throw at the story and the challenges as well. This game offers so much content for such a low asking price, you are doing yourself a disservice if you don't play it.

    As to the bad, if you want the full story and to unlock all the post game content, you must finish the three playthroughs that are on offer. These playthroughs will run you through the same twenty five floors, with the same enemies (though different boss order). What makes this bearable is the fact that the three protags have different enough fighting styles and abilities that it is kept fun.

    What I find less excusable is the fact that the game has a tendency to crash on the first two major boss fights if you die more than two times. For a 2017 PS4 remaster of a 2006 game I find it more than sad the game crashes on a PS5. You can avoid this by overleveling the bosses though.

    Ys Origin is an ARPG and thus you can overlevel anything and make sure you don't die as often. The difference a single level makes is so massive that cannot be overstated. If you are the same level as the boss you will have 200 HP and it will be doing 25 damage to you. One level higher and you have 206 HP but you are getting hit for 10 damage. And then two levels above you have 211 HP and suddenly they hit for 1 damage. Overleveling works wonders.

    All in all Ys Origin works best as a solid pallet cleanser between your bigger games you intend to play. However If you are a fan of the grander Ys series, this game does a decent job of setting up the events of the first game. Definitely recommend this hidden gem.    … Expand

Critic Reviews

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Metascore
77

Generally favorable reviews - based on 18 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 13 out of 18
  2. Mixed: 5 out of 18
  3. Negative: 0 out of 18
  1. Playstation Official Magazine UK
    Apr 11, 2017
    80
    A total nostalgia bomb from start to finish, this JRPG has all the spells and whistles - not to mention ornate text boxes and a wonderful original soundtrack. Count me in. [Apr 2017, p.91]
  2. RPG Fan
    Apr 3, 2017
    82
    Ys Origin is a great place to start if you're new to the series like I am. It offers some replayability and the chance to explore the world of Ys, tempting you to delve into the rest of the series. If you already own the PC version, there's not really any reason to pick up this port, as there are hardly any changes. However, I can safely say this is the perfect time to get into Ys; with Ys VIII releasing sometime this year, and the easy accessibility of the rest of the series both on Steam and PSN, you'd be doing yourself a disservice passing up this solid series.
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  3. RPGamer
    Mar 13, 2017
    70
    Ys Origin is a great gateway into the Ys series, as well as another high-quality entry for those who are already sold on the series. Its streamlined approach offers a perfect combination of being able to showcase what Ys is all about without demanding too much of time commitment. Those looking for an engaging experience of combat and exploration should check it out.
    Read full review
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