Ys Origin

Ys Origin is both a great introduction to the series and an interesting diversion from the formula. It’s worth playing, both for fans of the series that missed it on initial release and new players who love a JRPG with retro charm. Although one playthrough won’t take up much of your time, the multiple character setup and additional modes add enough gameplay to justify the price of admission.

I don’t know if I would recommend Ys Origin as someone’s first experience with the series – that goes to the masterpiece known as Ys VIII: Lacrimosa of Dana – but this is a great port of one of its best games. The music is catchy, the art is great, and the gameplay is some of the snappiest from the classic Ys titles. Given the game’s pedigree, I came in with very high expectations, and I’m happy to say most of those were met. Rarely exceeded, but this is a blast of a game that’s well worth playing for any action game fan.

Ys Origin on Switch is one of the most focused, fluid, and exhilarating action RPGs around.

Ys Origin is a title I hold near and dear to my heart. It’s not only my own personal favorite Ys title, but it is also one of my favorite games of all time. So it’s nice to see that some care went into this Switch port. While the repetition of exploring the same environments can undoubtedly dull the affair for some players, the stellar combat design, jaw-dropping soundtrack, incredible writing, varying level design, and the multitude of gameplay modes make this a one of a kind action RPG experience that any fan of the genre should pick up. This truly is the definitive version of this title, and I highly recommend it.

If you're a fan of action RPGs, especially retro ones, then Ys Origin is worth your time to invest in. The action gameplay flows well and is quite rewarding. While the game is challenging it's not overly difficult. Your hero does seem powerful and that's a nice feeling. There's also plenty of environmental puzzles and platform jumping to break-up any monotony of button mashing. This one also plays extremely well in undocked mode and hist the mark of a great action RPG all around!

Quotation forthcoming.

Ys Origin is a choice that you’d be hard pressed to pass up — especially for its price.

With exceptional boss fights, the copious amount of unlockables, and the short runtime, Ys Origin is a game that begs to be replayed and enjoyed again. This prequel is a terrific entry to the franchise that will make players eager to play the rest of the series.

Being an ARPG on the shorter side, the different perspectives in Ys Origin offer excellent replayability and gives players a pleasant, rounded experience without bogging them down with too many details. Even though the repetitive grinding can be a mind-numbing task to gain experience points, at least the controls are fluid, making this an easy game to enjoy. As the prequel to an already successful franchise, Ys Origin is a highly recommended addition to the series that gamers new and old to the story should not ignore.

Ys Origin has a good story, a great soundtrack and epic boss battles, so fans of the genre will find it highly replayable and recommended. It is essential for fans of the saga and at the same time it is the perfect title to try this video game series for the first time.

Despite its age and the backdrop of the tower remaining the same, Ys Origin still manages to shine. All three play-throughs are enjoyable and engaging, each with its own story, and each character feeling so very different thanks to their drastically different play styles. Better yet, even after finishing all three play-throughs, there's much more to enjoy including brand new modes like Speed Run, Time Attack, and even an Arena mode; tight, fast, controls and combat; wonderful big boss encounters. It's easy to see why it garnered its cult status, and this latest re-release is going to introduce it to even more players; players who will be eager to experience more, and there's plenty waiting in the long-running story of Adol.

Ys Origin is a solid port of a solid game. The somewhat dated visuals and basic gameplay don't hide the generally strong game design. It never reaches far beyond the level of "pretty good," but it's still a blast to play. If you've never played any of the Ys titles, then Origin is an excellent place to start. If you have, Origin might seem too basic compared to some of the more recent offerings, but it's still well worth a look.

Ys Origin serves up undeniably fun hack-and-slash action, with just enough lore to keep newcomers and series veterans alike satisfied. Although there is a healthy challenge and tons of replay value, staying inside of the same tower can get dull.

Ys Origin is an incredibly refreshing game. Featuring characters with incredibly diverse playstyles, simple-yet-challenging combat, and an unmistakably large amount of that tried-and-true Nihon Falcom polish, Ys Origin is not only a celebration of Ys, but of action RPGs as well.

Don’t expect the latest port of this Ys title to change the way you think about the modern RPGs. It definitely lacks some of the complexity that you might take for granted in recent Ys installments. Despite this, I couldn’t stop coming back to the tower for just one more try. Ys Origin is utterly addictive in all the best ways.

While not particularly deep in combat system and level design, Ys Origin is still enjoyable today just like 14 years ago, thanks to reactive controls and an extreme fluidity of the experience, also on the narrative front.

This Switch version of the game is a good way to experience it. While I greatly enjoyed the PlayStation Vita port, it suffered from a lot of framerate issues that the Switch version has a better time with. While it’s important to keep in mind that this is a relatively low-budget game from 2006, I think its presentation holds up nicely. Ys Origin isn’t my favorite Ys game, but it’s a very good one and I think its distinct flavor when compared to Ys VIII makes it a great pick-up for Switch owners who want something a little lighter to occupy their time with.

Ys Origins is more than just a simple hack n’ slash action role-playing game! Solving puzzles as you climb the Demon Tower and its unique boss battles make the game a truly magical experience and a great way to jump into the Ys series. Ys Origins may suffer from information overload and feels a little outdated it is still a game that you should consider trying out, especially if you’ve ever been curious about the Ys series.

What downsides it does have are either due to its age or just the fact that the designers prioritized a fun dungeon crawl over character building. That’s fine. The game you have here is a fine, crisp, energetic dungeon crawl that’s good to pick up and play and rewards you with bosses that are tough enough to matter but not so hard that you’ll want to throw the game in the garbage. So let’s hear it for Ys Origin. And if you’re in the mood for any of that? Give it a shot, why don’t you?

It would seem that the primary (and lone) setting of Ys Origin isn’t the only aspect that emphasizes repetition. Unlockables are earned by completing the game with the two characters available, and then the third that becomes playable after that. Bonuses include a time attack, arena mode, new character forms, and more. Fortunately, there are unique story beats for each one, some new bosses as well, and they each play quite differently. While a single playthrough can take 6-10 hours, the additional content makes replays worthwhile, so Ys Origin is a fairly Ys-sy recommendation. The one-note setting aside, this is a great action-RPG to add to your Switch library.

Despite abandoning the series' all-too-iconic red-haired hero, Ys Origin is one of the most memorable and enjoyable entries in the franchise. With multiple characters, incredibly tight controls, and rewarding unlockables and bonus modes, it's a perfect entry into the series for newcomers as well as an absolute treat for veteran Ys players. The lack of a map and the simple combat can sometimes be a bit of a frustration, but they're ultimately minor annoyances in an otherwise incredible old-school action RPG.

The story here takes a back seat to the brilliant and compulsive dungeon crawling gameplay, which should appeal even to those who don't tend to enjoy action RPGs. No puzzle, no battle and no single room ever outstays its welcome in Ys Origin, resulting in one of the briskest, easy-going games we've played in a long time. Sure, the visuals could be better, the overall length might be too short for hardcore RPG fans and there's a lot of grinding afoot, but this remains a solid choice if you're a fan of this sort of thing. An easy recommendation to pretty much anyone who has an interest in RPGs, Ys Origin is perfect even if you've never touched a game in the series before. Now, can we get Ys: The Oath in Felghana on Switch, too?

Ys Origin is an engrossing dungeon crawler with a killer soundtrack that can serve as a great introduction to Ys series, or a rewarding prequel for longtime fans who missed out on previous releases. Any Switch owner looking to sink into an action RPG would do well to gives Ys Origin their attention.

A fine way to get your feet wet with Falcom's long-running series. [Issue #50 – January/February 2021, p. 23]

Though the combat has some limitations and the game may be a little frayed around the edges, Ys Origin is absolutely worth a look for anyone who somehow dodged previous releases on PC, PS4, Vita, or Xbox One. It’s also one of the most accessible starting points into the Ys franchise as a whole, and doesn’t require a huge time investment, as most players can finish a single story in about ten to twelve hours, with each progressive playthrough taking slightly less time. For long-time Ys aficionados, it’s neat to see where the lore that has become a staple of the series has its origin.