Games NOT Beaten 2017

[Segata]

This legit sucks.

Definitely not what I was hoping to hear.

I admit the parts of Ys Seven where characters drone on and on via plot exposition, were not fun. From what I understand, said plot exposition was expounded further in Celceta. It sounds like it's even worse in VIII. Ys is supposed to be fast paced rip roaring fun with minimal dialogue. That's why I think Ys Origin is the best, because it encapsulated that idea wholly and never wasted my time. I don't know man. People love long-winded, non-interactive, superfluous cutscenes a whole lot in JRPGs these days.

And mandatory mini-games can always burn in hell.

I'll still give VIII a try eventually. I haven't gotten around to Celceta yet though.

He's wrong tho. It's easily the best modern Ys game. The translation sucks not the writing. It truly is a fantastic game. I wasn't high on Seven and Celceta was ok. VIII keeps the modern formula but tightens it up and offers better gameplay, a fantastic OST. The mechanics with Dana is sublime. The game gets better as you go. The first few hours is just exploring the island and killing bosses. The game really picks up when you reach the north side of the island and then keeps going a mile a minute. There is A LOT to do in this game. Yes, it is Adol saving the world from something there is a nice twist to it this round. Something never before done in a Ys game. Then if you beat an optional dungeon very late in the game you can unlock the ability to play solo as just Adol and playing Solo as Adol in his silver armor felt like playing Oath in full 3D. Ys VIII does have dialogue but it's still fast-paced. Esp later in the game when you get an Adventure item. Even tho this Ys game is a 40-hour affair like the modern games it doesn't feel like that. You don't have to grind at all really and the materials you will get mostly on your adventures so rarely a need to grind for those either. The game still moves fast. It's damn fun. Also, the side quests are usually pretty fun and worth doing them to get rep up for the bonus dungeon at the end. I esp loved the dungeon that survives till the end and has tough tough tough enemies. The boss fights are some of the most fun I had in a Ys game in a long time. One of the toughest bosses is in a dungeon that's optional but you want to beat it to get the best armor. When the game was finished it really felt bittersweet because you do feel a bond with the characters coming together.

I came into this game lukewarm because I have not been the biggest fan of the Ys seven formula. I want Ys games to go back to Origin, Oath & VI at him very least. This game made me realise why I love the Ys series so fucking damn much again. I still do think Oath and such is the best formula for the series but this game is still fantastic and worth playing.

[marurun]

After all the hype aaaaannnndddd...........

Ys VIII is the worst game in the series by a wide margin.

This legit sucks.

Wow, I'm really sorry to her that. The only "modern" Ys game I've played is a healthy chunk of Ys Origin. What are your thoughts on that one?

[Segata]

Origin is a great game. You have to play it 3 times fully to get the full story and ending. So that's about 12 hours each character. So it's technically the longest of that style of Ys game. I don't believe there is such thing as a bad ys game thus far. I'm just not a fan of Seven. I don't think Seven is bad but it's not a game I desire to replay ever again.

[Exhuminator]

I don't believe there is such thing as a bad ys game thus far.

I appreciate your fervor for VIII, but there is at least one bad Ys game:

[Segata]

Eh thought V was worse, that is the game that nearly bankrupt Falcom. When I think bad RPG tho I think of Infinite Undiscovery or Mystic Quest. V and IV still play fine to me. They are just the weakest if the Ys games and not very good but not bad per say IMO.

[marurun]

I think what Falcom is really lacking these days is the interpretive lens of Hudson Soft.

[PartridgeSenpai]

There aren't any more.

Well there is one I haven't played:

Eh, that's dlc. It is the same levels with added obstacles and a short time restriction. It is good though.

Luigi U isn't the same levels at all. It's the same world map, but it houses all new levels. It is very speed-focused though. All (or just about all) the levels have 100 second time limits, so most of them are focused around running through the level as quickly as you can while not dying (and possibly collecting star coins). I played through it last year. I thought it was pretty good. Not like $50 good like they'll charge you at Gamestop, but if you get the version where it's bundled in with the first NSMBU game, or if you can pick it up for like $20 digital it's a worthwhile experience I feel

[BoneSnapDeez]

I think what Falcom is really lacking these days is the interpretive lens of Hudson Soft.

This.

And Ys Origin is the best ARPG released since Phantasy Star Online. It's sublime.

[The game gets better as you go. The first few hours is just exploring the island and killing bosses. The game really picks up when you reach the north side of the island and then keeps going a mile a minute. There is A LOT to do in this game. Yes, it is Adol saving the world from something there is a nice twist to it this round. Something never before done in a Ys game. Then if you beat an optional dungeon very late in the game you can unlock the ability to play solo as just Adol and playing Solo as Adol in his silver armor felt like playing Oath in full 3D. Ys VIII does have dialogue but it's still fast-paced. Esp later in the game when you get an Adventure item. Even tho this Ys game is a 40-hour affair like the modern games it doesn't feel like that. You don't have to grind at all really and the materials you will get mostly on your adventures so rarely a need to grind for those either. The game still moves fast. It's damn fun. Also, the side quests are usually pretty fun and worth doing them to get rep up for the bonus dungeon at the end. I esp loved the dungeon that survives till the end and has tough tough tough enemies. The boss fights are some of the most fun I had in a Ys game in a long time. One of the toughest bosses is in a dungeon that's optional but you want to beat it to get the best armor. When the game was finished it really felt bittersweet because you do feel a bond with the characters coming together.

Glad I shelved this for now. I appreciate your insight, but all of these qualities you mentioned and expanded upon make the game sound even worse. I shouldn't have to wait for an Ys game to "pick up" - look at how speedy the classic games were right out the gate. Optional dungeon? 40 hours? Yikes. Materials? Oh boy. Totally disagree that the game "moves fast." It's slower than a snail taking a shit. The first segment has Adol "working security" on a boat. It's so damn tedious. This should have been a cutscene or better yet, a blurb in the instruction manual (let's pretend those still exist).

As I mentioned earlier, a character literally states that "it's time to run errands." I feel personally insulted.

Falcom dropped the ball here. I may give the game another go when I'm travelling or something. But for now I'd rather play virtually anything else.

Also, NO BUMP SYSTEM. Blasphemous.

[Segata]

Could not disagree more but ok. Even when I find a Ys buddy we can't agree.

[Exhuminator]

Could not disagree more but ok. Even when I find a Ys buddy we can't agree.

Well let's be honest and not pretend all Ys are the same. It's totally understandable someone could prefer certain eras of Ys over others.

There's the initial Ys era that's all about fast paced bump combat and minimal exposition, we're talking Ys through Ys IV (the first two Ys IVs, not Celceta).

Then there's an era of Ys that keeps the fast pace, but requires actual sword swinging, and ups the cutscene presentation. Technically this started with Ys V, but is most strongly represented from Napishtim to Felghana to Origin.

Lastly there's modern Ys, which apes a lot of recent JRPG tropes. This began with Ys Seven, continued with Celceta, and is most strongly exemplified by Ys VIII.

Bone simply prefers the first Ys era overall. He loves Origin because it captures the spirit of first Ys era well, despite having non-bump combat.