Developer: Advance Communication Publisher: Victor Release: 08/26/88 Genre: Action RPG
Even though RPGs had a low profile until the 16-bit and PlayStation there was still a decent selection available for the NES and the Sega Master System. Both Sega and Nintendo were proactive in fostering an audience for the genre although their efforts were not entirely a success. One title that I was always jealous of on the Master System as a NES owner was Ys. While it was not the best version and had a questionable localization I found the game compelling. Little did I know there was a Famicom version in Japan that did not make the trip. While it is largely a port there are enough differences and additions that it almost feels like a remake.
Ys stars a wandering swordsman named Adol looking for adventure. Upon his arrival in the town of Minea he meets a fortune teller named Sara who informs him of a great evil terrorizing the land of Esteria. The simple task Adol embarks on soon becomes a quest to find the ancient books of Ys before malevolent forces use their knowledge to rule the country.
As a series Ys started its life on the PC-88. But it remains one of the most ported games of all time and has hit nearly every major platform in some form or another. The Famicom version is one of the first console ports. This should have been an easy home run. Instead there are minor gameplay differences that are annoying but not necessarily deal breakers. Much of the content is also different so even if you are familiar with some other version it might throw you off. A fan translation has made this edition available to a wider audience but it remains a curio at this point.
Ys is an action RPG however its combat is a point of contention. Rather than swinging a sword you ram in to enemies off side to deal damage. Depending on the version this always has some quirks and the Famicom game is no different. Adol moves slower and due to the smaller sprites the hit boxes are smaller. There was some leeway in terms of attacking but because your movement is restricted to a grid it is all or nothing. The control is also a little sluggish which can make combat frustrating, especially during boss battles. I was able to adjust but it is less than ideal.
Even though Ys is not a long title there are a number of changes here. One of the most significant is the leveling curve. Rather than 10 levels the cap is now 24. This had the potential to make the game a ridiculous grind however experience comes so easily you can hit level 18 or 19 in the first major dungeon. It feels no different than the other versions in practice. A few mini quests and puzzles have been added to liven up a few underused areas. Some of the bosses have new attack patterns and are more difficult. The layouts of the dungeons have been changed and most importantly there is a “new” final boss. These changes do not impact the general flow of the game as it is still the same teaser of a title it always was. But they do make the NES game distinct.
Despite the myriad changes and additions to the game it is still short. I only had to grind three times and each was for about ten minutes. A few of the boss battles tripped me up a few times due to their new patterns and the sluggish controls. But even then I was able to complete this version of the game faster than all others in under three hours. Ys 1 has always been a brief experience which is why it is usually paired with its sequel. But that would not start until the seminal Turbo CD game.
Ys was never a stunning looking title. But of all the console versions the Famicom version is the ugliest. The sprites are short, squat, and lack detail and worst of all recycle constantly. The NES’ limited color palette means the overall palette is bright and garish at times. The biggest let down is the music. The Ys series is legendary for its phenomenal music. Outside of a few tracks the soundtrack here fails to meet the standards of the other versions. There are a few new music tracks but overall you are not playing this one for its production values.
In Closing
Despite its lesser graphical fidelity Ys is still a good game on the Famicom. It’s Ys; it is hard to mess that up. Let us pretend the Nintendo DS editions do not exist for the sake of this conversation. It is genuinely surprising this did not make the trip overseas. This is a solid version of the classic that will do if it is your only option. But there are far too many better versions out there now.
