Ys X: Proud Nordics

Ys X: Proud Nordics is the definitive way to play Adol’s seafaring adventure with a great story alongside a strong, memorable cast and even better re-balanced combat that feels like a solid entry for new fans to get into the franchise. Enhancements, improvements, and new game modes make the latest release feel like a total package that the original should have been, but it’s a hard game to recommend to those who picked up the original, as a couple of extra hours of content is hard to justify...Ship gameplay is surprisingly fun, arcade-y and easier to explore, so much it is the best adaptation of Assassin’s Creed IV: Black Flag’s naval combat. Extra side content adds a new campaign to the base game that gives more context to the Norman lore, with a huge map to explore that makes the base game’s other islands feel much more generic.

Ys X: Proud Nordics is an odd duck: though it’s most certainly the definitive edition of the tenth Ys game, it’s a tall order to get someone to pay full price for a game that could’ve easily been a cheaper DLC expansion, especially if they’ve already played Ys X: Nordics. I greatly enjoyed this game myself and was thoroughly entertained by this new installment of Adol the Red’s adventures, but I’m in the position of not having had a chance to try the original beforehand. I think any newcomers to Ys X should certainly add Proud Nordics to their collection, but those who’ve already crossed these waters might want to wait for a price reduction before doing so again.

Ys X: Proud Nordics isn’t a revolutionary reinvention of the series, but it is the most coherent and streamlined Ys in years. The maritime system works, the duo combat deepens the formula, and the build options give players more control than ever. The story is solid, but it lacks the emotional high point of its strongest predecessors. The combat is refined, but not limitless. The re-release is the best version, but not an automatic upgrade. What remains is an action RPG that almost never loses its rhythm. And sometimes that’s exactly what a series needs: not a revolution, but a sense of direction.

Another great entry into the long-running series, Ys X: Proud Nordics is highly recommended, provided you haven’t played the original. For those who have, there just isn’t enough new content to justify paying full price.

There’s no doubt that Ys X: Proud Nordics is a great action RPG. Featuring a stellar story and fun combat, the action never gets dull. The new story content and gameplay additions are great, although veteran fans will have to decide if they want to replay the game this soon again. However, whether they dive right in or wait a while, the good news is that Proud Nordics will be delivering a fantastic experience once they pick it up, as it’s the definitive version of Nihon Falcom’s latest RPG.