Ys IX: Monstrum Nox

Ys IX will delight you if you expect dynamic gameplay, world exploration, a bunch of challenges and fast-paced battles.

Overall, I quite enjoyed my time with Ys IX. It is a generally fun and entertaining game, with action elements that are wonderfully honed. It is a shame that the graphics in the Switch port diminish the experience as much as they do, because otherwise the title fits rather nicely on a handheld system thanks to its polished control scheme and wealth of content. What could have easily been one of the best action RPGs on the Switch is held back by the visuals, though it is a testament to just how strong of a game Ys IX: Monstrum Nox is that I view it so fondly despite this port’s obvious flaws. I certainly hope that Adol the Red’s adventures will continue if they persist with Ys IX’s entertaining gameplay.

There are JRPGs that break boundaries and experiment with crazy ideas. Ys is not that kind of game, but instead just focuses on delivering a great and complete experience with well designed known systems and cool characters. Monstrum Nox continues Adol’s story with brand new crazy adventures.

Despite the performance issues there is plenty to like here. The story is engaging and the characters are likeable. Using the Monstrum abilities adds a genuinely new layer to the core Ys gameplay and combat remains a blast to play through. The Switch may crumble a little under the weight of the game, but Ys IX: Monstrum Nox is still highly recommended.

Ys IX: Monstrum Nox isn’t a massive step up over its tropical predecessor, but it hits all the right beats it needs to make for an addictive and engaging action-RPG. Fast-paced combat, a memorable setting, and a surprisingly content-rich open world make for an experience that action-RPG fans won’t want to miss out on. Were it not for the performance issues, we might even be inclined to say this is the best example of the genre on the Switch yet. Given those problems, however, a totally unreserved recommendation of Ys IX: Monstrum Nox on Switch is tough to make. Performance is reported to be a little bit better on PS4 and PS5, so if you have access to one of those consoles, we’d recommend getting it there. Otherwise, you’re still in for a good time on Switch — just brace yourself for those frame drops.

Despite at times significant performance issues, Ys IX: Monstrum Nox works well enough when it matters on the Switch. Players able to spend their time on Balduq on another platform will want to consider doing so, but if your only option is to play on the Switch or you really want to play on the go, Monstrum Nox is still at its core one of the best action-RPGs I’ve played in years.

All in all, Ys IX is an excellent entry in the series with interesting new combat and traversal mechanics. Battles are fast paced and fun as hell; there's also no shortage of things to do, even if unlocking the city isn't quite as satisfying as opening up new island paths in the previous game. The Switch certainly isn't the best place to experience Adol's latest exploits, though, so unless portability is a must, I'd advise looking into other versions, if that's an option. Darker in tone, Monstrum Nox is largely a strong step forward, and Ys fans aren't likely to walk away disappointed. I, for one, am excited to see where Adol the Red's next book takes him.

Ys IX: Monstrum Nox is a good ARPG. Although it can be improved on a graphic and technical level, it offers a lot of fun thanks to its proposal and story. Recommended for new players and essential for fans of the saga.

Ys IX: Monstrum Nox has the type of performance issues we shouldn’t be seeing on consoles these days. When it’s cooking, however, it provides a fully satisfying JRPG adventure for those seeking unique monsters to fight, vast environments to explore, and intriguing mysteries to unravel.

If innovation is not the strong point of Ys IX Monstrum Nox, which is actually Ys VIII with the game structure of Tokyo Xanadu, Falcom nevertheless delivers a dense and complete J-RPG. The richness of the action, the characters, the music and the narration shows that the developer has the qualities of a good Japanese action-RPG perfectly in mind, even if his interventionism will make one cringe. Ys IX is a safe bet, but perhaps not as legendary as its predecessor who pushed the limits of level design. Regarding the technical specifics of this Switch version, we note that despite very visible problems when exploring the city (aliasing, clipping, drop in framerate ...), the fights manage to offer a stable framerate. An experience below the PS4 version but which will satisfy those who wish at all costs to play in portable mode.

Ys IX: Monstrum Nox on Nintendo Switch has noticeable performance and visual issues in some key areas, but is still worth your time and a fantastic action RPG if you only play on the go and enjoyed Ys VIII: Lacrimosa of Dana on the system.

This is a poor adaptation of a good ARPG. There are many technical issues that affect both the graphics and the gameplay, so it’s up to the player if you’re willing to accept these sacrifices.

Ys IX: Monstrum Nox is a successful and must-have Japanese RPG for Adol fans, but it's not the decisive step forward that a legendary series like Ys deserves. The Switch version is plagued by too many technical uncertainties.

Ys 9 is an adventure game that pleased me and it will make series fans happy due to the great quantity of new mechanics, however, it needed more visual polish to cater to a bigger audience.

If in general the hybrid nature of Nintendo Switch tends to balance the technical limitations of the hardware with portability, in this case there is no valid reason why you should prefer this second version of Ys IX: Monstrum Nox to the one launched just a few months ago on PS4 and PS4 Pro, which has even been supporting 4K resolution for some time.

Ys IX: Monstrum Nox is a great game that maintains enough elements of previous Ys games so that longtime fans will feel at home while the Monstrum gifts breathe new life into the gameplay. This is a must-play for fans of the series or action JRPGs in general, but while the hardware limitations of the Switch do not ruin the game or make it unplayable, they have been sources of frustration that take some of the fun away from the experience. Handheld mode suffers from muddier graphics, tiny text and the occasional massive framerate plummet during a boss battle. If playing Ys IX: Monstrum Nox on the go is essential, the Switch version is serviceable enough where the headaches from the performance issues don’t outweigh the positive aspects, but if it’s an option, the PlayStation 4 version is the superior way to experience Ys IX.

Even if Ys games are more action-packed than most other titles that fall within the very broad JRPG umbrella, Ys IX has less action than it probably should. Again, I don’t want to leave you with the impression that Ys IX is a bad game, because it’s definitely not. But it’s also not a great game, either, and given that we’re talking about a series that has produced a couple of those, that means Ys IX can’t help but fall a little short of expectations.