'I Want To Get into Ys, But I Don't Know Where to Start'

'I Want To Get into Ys, But I Don't Know Where to Start'
The Ys Series is without question my favourite action centric JRPG franchise. But with so many games under it's name, it's quite difficult for a newcomer to check out Ys and establish the best starting point.
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🎵 M U S I C U S E D 🎵
Opening themes can be found via YT searches. Other music used:
Ys V OST - Lost Kefin, Kingdom of Sand - Niena
Ys Memories of Celceta OST - Underground Ruins
Ys - The Oath in Felghana OST - Valestein Castle
Ys I & II Chronicles - Feena (Ys I)
Ys IX Monstrum NOX OST - Bar 'Dandelion'
Ys IX Monstrum NOX OST - Prisoncity
Ys Origin OST - The Guidance of a White Tower
Ys Seven OST - Being Slow on the Waves
Ys VI The Ark of Napishtim OST - Reconciled People
Ys VIII Lacrimosa of Dana OST - Yesterday in Eternia
Ys VIII Lacrimosa of Dana OST - Sunshine Coastline
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⌚T I M E S T A M P S ⌚
0:00 - Intro and Series overview
2:33 - Ys I & II
4:44 - Ys V: Lost Kefin, Kingdom of Sand
6:04 - Ys VI: Ark of Napishtim
8:24 - Ys: Oath in Felghana
10:53 - Ys Origin
13:20 - Ys Seven
15:51 - Ys: Memories of Celceta
18:18 - Ys VIII: Lacrimosa of Dana
21:19 - Ys IX: Monstrum Nox
24:46 - Conclusion

[@RedRoomDisco]

I guess you could say it's pretty "Ys-sy" to get into the franchise.

[@BlueGrovyle]

The exit's this way, sir. (I'm kidding, I love puns.)

[@giuseppeparry1365]

Close, it's just "Ys-y"

[@Night_Raptor_5991]

_Ys_ this the best you can do?

[@giuseppeparry1365]

They didn't have much time to think about it for making an early comment. It was Yssential to make a pun Adol costs. This kind of effort is only made through Dogid determination, and as we all know, Aprilis the best month for puns. We Dana want to post them too late.

[@armandostockvideos8386]

​@@BlueGrovyle The exit ys this way, sir*

[@jlwest23]

Ys 6 was my first entry into this series and I never looked back.

[@eldritchautomaton]

I started at YS VII on the PSP and since then have been a lifelong fan.

[@waex26]

Literally perfect timing for this, was looking into this recently.

[@tonyballou]

I'm jealous I can't experience it all for the first time again. Hope you have a blast!

[@firebreather4192]

I'd say if you are planning to play through the whole series then play in release order, starting with Ys Chronicles. If you just want to try it out, start with Ys VIII as it's the best game. Ys V and the older PC Engine games are more for hardcore Ys fans. But in the end it's Ys and not Trails, so you can start wherever you like.

[@Naryoril]

Personally i played through the series between the releases of Ys 8 and 9 and played them chronologically, and I was happy with that. That said, some people don't like to go back to mechanically older games after they experienced the newer ones. I have no problems with that, and actually enjoyed the gameplay variety that came with the "random" mix of the different playstyles and engines as i progressed through the series.

[@firebreather4192]

@@Naryoril Yeah, because of the gameplay evolution I would recommend to play in release order as well. Playing in timeline order doesn't make so much sense for me when it comes to Ys.

[@SonicNotAmy]

Big agree. I got into the games in 2016 because I thought the old school bump combat was cook, and the games weren't very king. Release order feels great(except for Seven and Celceta in a few ways, personally)

[@SupriceSupplies]

​@@Naryoril I'm in a similar boat. Discounting 10 for obvious reasons, I went mostly in timeline order barring origin (after 2), 8 (after 7), and 5 (after 8). And with tempered expectations from gameplay due to me not going in release order, I'd say the only one that suffered from it was 7, which I still very much enjoyed overall. The frequent mixups in gameplay styles did wonders for keeping me engaged. Timeline order isn't really something I'd recommend to everyone, but it's definitely the fastest way to get introduced to the different styles of gameplay that the series has to offer, especially once Ys X comes out.

[@wiremesh2]

@@Naryoril I'm sure Chronicles made improvements to the originals, but I was impressed how well the bump system holds up. It's a lot more fun than going back and playing something like Zelda 1, imo.

[@Honest_Grifter]

Just restarted VIII on the switch, found a physical copy recently and had to scoop it up!!

[@TheKisekiNut]

That's another things with Ys games, buy them physical as soon as they come out. They always disappear soon after release!

[@nightwolf235]

Y’s VII intro song goes so hard on those violin and guitar solos. I loved playing through it on my psp

[@Javifaa]

That misspelling from the very first NA release (the Master System of Ancient Ys Vanished Omen) still lives on, I see. And yes, it's a misspelling, the Japanese title didn't have the apostrophe, neither did any subsequent English release, neither the sequels and prequel.

[@otgrey3927]

Ys VIII is the only Ys game I've played (on the PS Vita of all things) and I love the hell out of it. Currently completing a new game plus run.

[@NightFore]

Ys VIII is undoubtedly the best game for me to start with. The gameplay is fluid and dynamic while being modern. This game's soundtrack is also the reason why I became interested in Falcom games or J-RPGs in a broader sense, beyond just the well-known titles. Discovering Sunshine Coastline for the first time as a random KZbin recommendation was truly eye-opening. Especially when I realized it was just one of the early OSTs within the game, it dawned on me how great soundtracks can be in gaming experiences. That moment likely marked the beginning of my KZbin playlist dedicated to game OSTs. While waiting for Ys VIII to release in the West, I played Ys VI: Ark of Napishtim but never managed to finish it. As a first experience with the series, it felt kind of clunky to play, with mechanics like the Dash Jump causing some frustration that haunts me to this day. Nevertheless, the numerous great soundtracks in Falcom games still inspired me to play The Legend of Heroes: Cold Steel first, followed by Ys VIII. They remain some of my most favorite J-RPGs or even games I've ever had the chance to play.

[@Walamonga1313]

Soundtracks are so important to jrpgs imo. It's why FF, Ys and Trails are my fav

[@ernestoarteche4529]

Great vid idea! I've only completed Ys Origins and I loved it! The graphics, the music, the combat. Chef's kiss

[@argilium]

Ys Seven was my most favorite game of any genre before. It's the one that motivated me to finish the other Ys titles at the time which I wasn't really into before. Celceta then came a few years later but I wasn't as impressed. But then I finally got to play Ys VIII and that easily took my #1 game of all time. Anyway, I just want to agree with you that Ys Seven is one of the strongest titles in the series. It went away with solo Adol adventures but it offered something unique at the time as an action jrpg that is fast-paced (with a satisfying dodge and block/parry mechanic), party-based (providing both character switching and on-screen attacking members), and seamless (no boxing fights inside encounter screens). Most games at the time didn't have all of those or even right now. It's also the only party-based Ys game where you can change Adol's damage type by changing his weapon, and it has the most number of playable characters (especially if you count the temporary and permanent replacement for some of the party members or even Adol's other styles).

[@ZealotPara]

I haven't even played 97% of the games you talk about on this channel, but I love listening to you talk about these games in depth. Not only is it familiar and comfortable, but it's helping me build up my backlog of jrpgs. I recently replayed Paper Mario to get ready for the upcoming Thousand Year Door remake, and I think I awakened something inside myself after revisiting PM after I think over a decade. I---I think I'm a jrpg guy now. I've mostly been into platformers and shooters for as long as I can remember, but tbh, these last few years I've rarely loved playing any games like I did when I was a kid. But after a lot of self-care that I won't get into here, I have a much stronger sense of self and my true priorities in life. Anyway, something about Paper Mario just felt right to me. And now, I'm at the tail end of FFVII, I bought Ys VIII, and I've started Atelier Ryza! Those last two were informed by your videos too. Something about the draw of jrpgs is very enticing to me and I'm having an immensely good time with what I've played so far. I'm big into relatable narratives and characters, which most other genres don't do for me, so I'm glad I've converted myself. 😅

[@Kruxx26]

It's refreshing to hear someone else say good things about Ys Seven. I really liked it back when I played it. It's the last one I played before Ys IX. I also agree with your Ys IX comment. I believe that game should be experienced after playing the rest of the series. It feels like a love letter for the whole franchise.

[@T-ROF]

it worked and all of the titles were on sale in the Steam store - good timing!

[@saintfayde4438]

Celceta will always hold a special place in my heart since it was my first Ys game. Even after playing the rest, I still hold it in high regards. That said 8 is of course my favorite overall. Dana is just too precious and her theme still pops into my head randomly from time to time.

[@wendyjones3967]

I had heard of Ys but didn't know much about it....until I saw the Ys IX trailers and found this channel. I really enjoyed Ys IX and got the Ys VIII remaster. Now I'm looking forward to Ys X Nordics. As stated by others, these are stand alone adventures. There are only hints of previous adventures mentioned in dialogue, but nothing that makes you feel lost.

[@TheKisekiNut]

All standalone for the most part, but some nice links between games too for those who like the lore. I think it strikes a great balance there.

[@willgt911]

"... like it's heroine who's easily the best within the series, no contest at all." Based. Instant like & sub

[@JulieFalcom]

My introduction was "Origin" in 2022. I didn't play it because it was the first game in the storyline and also the only one without Adol, but because I heared its soundtrack in a videogame radio stream. It was so amazing that I wanted to try this game and series. Now it's my favourite videogame series. In general I think most games work a entries, except III likely because of its insane difficulty from watching. The bumping games are the ones I have issues with.

[@nickmaestro]

My first Nihom Falcom game was Ys VII on PSP. Instantly hooked and fell in love with Nihom Falcom. Then when I got a PS VITA, I was introduced to Trails of Cold Steel after beating Ys Memories of Celceta. Now I do my darnest to never miss a Nihom Falcom title.

[@Eagleknight815]

Seriously, great video. Going to share it with a couple of friends that I was just discussing this last weekend and promoting Ys

[@pedrozanon7245]

I appreciate you talking about them in release order. Its how i played and recommend to folks. Its the best to understand the changes and evolution in gameplay and music, the 2 key factors in the series. I also feel chronological order can kinda be a whiplash exp, as you jumps from games that are totally different from one another.

[@Javifaa]

Chronological order is so clearly NOT the intended order it hurts when people try to follow it anyways. As much as it can hurt when the games are mostly standalone, anyway. Release order may looks weird if you omit the original versions of Ys III and IV (and hopefully V soon), but it still makes more sense than chronological.

[@prilaja]

Can't believe you didn't recommend the classic Ys Strategy. But other than that, this is the perfect guide!

[@ShindoKokoro]

I knew a guy who said he won a facebook contest back in the day to have his name be in Ys 7 as a quest-giving NPC. I checked and sure enough, it's in there, even on the PC version.

[@VorpalBender]

This was an excellent and well put-together video!

[@haumai0610]

I have play almost all of the Ys games (except Oath in Felghena and Ys V) and I have to said ys VII still have the most impact on me, the music , the charater, the gameplay and the story is perfect. I really like Tia and other Adol companies throughout the game, and when the ending hit in, my eyes tear up cause this is such a beautiful game to play. The other game that have strong impact on me is ys VIII (mostly because of Dana lol)

[@statesminds]

Felghana is one of the best ones go play it please

[@Walamonga1313]

Seven was easily my least favorite. Maybe only after Ys 2 lol. My guess is because I played the series in a weird order so the party system improved after it. That said I wasn't particularly interested in the story or characters either

[@Sunnyboy-ob4xz]

Personally I started with Ys VIII after I had caught up with the entire trails franchise, with very limited knowledge of the lore (red hair guy with a sword who goes on adventures). I feel like it was a very good starting point, the graphics and artstyle will be familar to fans of Falcom's many other games, the story is really good, characters are memorable and the music is divine.

[@MintCity]

YS 7 was my first entry into the series on my PSP. My god, did I love that game. So good and way ahead of its time.

[@Turbo_Waitress]

There are two things I would love from Falcom: 1) more playable Dogi 2) more older Y’s titles on Switch/Switch 2 This was a great video! Y’s feels like it has a lot more decent entry points than Trails, so it feels pretty accessible.

[@TheKisekiNut]

It's definitely simpler to get in to Ys than to Trails. Both are amazing JRPG franchises though.

[@jmporkbob]

kevin, lost kingdom of salt

[@makikuma91]

I started with Ys seven on the psp, and I couldn't believe how amazing the ost and gameplay hooked me in, making me wanting more.

[@thefuzzyone69]

I started with 3 on the SNES. 6 year old me couldn't comprehend how to say the name and said the individual letters but all the same, it was a great Christmas morning

[@lucinae8510]

I've only completed Ys VIII, but I think it's the perfect game to start. It shows you everything an Ys game should and can be, giving you a great first experience that you will never forget.

[@ManiacMonkboon]

Just want to say that I enjoy your videos and you're in my top 3 go to's for anything RPG related. 😊

[@LeeFreedom]

I dont know about anyone else but I heard a Ys song by accident (Sunshine Coastline) so I seek out the game it come from. Love it. Then I heard another song from another Ys game and cycle repeats.

[@mediaglitch]

Great video man, Good job covering so much in such a short amount of time.

[@robertmoorhead3731]

Haaaa! Guess who started Y’s 8 last week!! I’m agreeing with you completely so far! Excellent game.

[@armandostockvideos8386]

Bump combat is dope, you cant chance my mind.

[@JosephGamer20]

Thank you for the video I'm actually planning on playing the Ys series this year during my free time so this video came out perfect timing I do own Ys VIII on my backlog but I tried the Ys X trial version on the Japan PS Store and was really impressed with it so I might have a go on that one that being said thanks for the awesome video and looking forward to diving into the Ys series 👍👏

[@uppernimbus]

Awesome video man, I absolutely love the Ys games, and I cannot wait for Ys X: Nordics!!

[@brandonthomas6602]

I love Ys, Oath in Felghana and Ark of Napishtam are my favorites but i like them all and i love when you talk about Ys!

[@garysteven1343]

I started with Ys Oath in Felghana back then when I had a PSP and I was looking for different games to expand my gaming horizons and instantly fall in love and started looking and played every single Ys game the mainline, non-canonical and their different versions. So far, I haven't played only the remake of Ys V for ps2 which I tried to but I couldn't play it because it was crushing for some reason. I still need to play Ys IX and X, but they are on my "must-play" backlog. My favorites are Felghana which is my starting game and Origins, both have a very special place in my heart and can't really pick between them.

[@kermitwithamustache3885]

Ys Seven was my first game But Ys IX is by far my favorite in the series because of how great the gameplay is Its like one of those obscure PS2 era action games done right

[@socialistprofessor3206]

I'm working on Ys IX now and recommended just jumping into one. They all stand alone and are a blast to play!

[@sofiee8531]

Started with Ys 1 and 2 chronology since they were short and cheap, and to my absolut astonishment found myself loving them! Just as you said; the music and characters is what makes these games, and that´s also what made me play through these two even if I didn´t love the bump mechanic. It made Nihon Falcom soar up to be one of my favorite JRPG developers out there, if they can make me love games with the bump mechanic they can do anything! 🙂Right now I am playing through Ys origins to get the backstory to the series, and found myself all giddy when I recognized music and sound cues from book 1 and 2... Planning to make Ys X my third game to play if it doesn´t wait too long to come out in the west, just so I can get the games in "true chronological order" just for fun.

[@Xenaximus]

Got introduced to the series through random music from the early games online, so I was extemely eager to try Ys I and II when they were released on the Wii's Virtual Console. Been a fan of the entire series ever since.

[@joshdavid9256]

Particularly nice that they are all on sale on steam right now. I picked up 8 today and played a few hours. I am pretty into it!

[@ov2787]

Great vid man

[@MiyuOSU]

Ys VIII was the starting point not only for the Ys series but for all the JRPGs I am playing nowadays and I'll never forget the amazing adventure this game was ( also contains the greatest boss of all time ), sadge the GOAT Dogi is playable only in a single game 😭

[@acedan7080]

I was thinking in introduce me in the saga and this video just come out. Thank u so much

[@beddall6]

Great vid. Enjoying my first play through of Ys VIII at the moment. I’ve noticed you game a fair bit on PC also, you ever considered getting a Steam Deck? That’s the place I’m mainly playing it at the moment, and then my main PC every now and again.

[@ADAMAGAYAN]

Thanks for the video! ❤ my first one was YS9 Monstrum Nox, and I had a lot of fun playing it last year. I got YS 8 in my backlog for years, so it’s time to finally play it, too. I’m also intimidated by the “Trails/Kiseki” series, cuz there’s a ton. I got cold steel on my psn, but didn’t give it a go yet.

[@SirBanana1992]

I started with Ys 1&2 PC-E on Wii Virtual Console. While an acquired taste it was easier to justify as an old game as it came from much more experimental years. Fell in love with the retro style soundtrack so hard and sticked around. Also, having played Ys X, that one may be a very good starting point with its ups and downs when it does come out, I would still side with suggesting Origin or VIII the most. And I'm terribly sorry, Dana is amazing and was also a fav of mine.......but I am now a Karja fan, it helps that she's designed as an axe and shield wielding viking (Yes I changed her costume back to her viking one immediately and sticked with it).

[@TheKisekiNut]

I am looking forward to seeing what Karja's all about, I've kept my exposure to Ys X minimal so I can go in as fresh as possible when it releases.

[@OranusHaron]

YS 7 and Oath was my first entry. I enjoyed Ys 7 was my favorite game for a long time.

[@shadowsquid1351]

Memories of Celceta was the game that sold me not only on Ys but on Falcom games in general, after it I started & finished the 4 Cold Steel games which took me years 😅 Though I'd say Ys 8 is my absolute favorite Falcom game so far, it's perfect in every category imo.

[@abzer0gaming]

Perfect video to show off to those who are waiting for Promethium's Ys: Age of Heroes.

[@kidd0218]

Thanks for the video! I'm hoping to get back into the YS series. My first and only one so far is Ys Memories of Celceta😅

[@giuseppeparry1365]

Probably the best game to start with is the best game for whichever style of gameplay the player prefers. If you prefer: "Bump system" then YsI&II "Hack-and-slash" then Ys Origin "Party-based" then Ys VIII If you're here for the story on the other hand, I'd say Ys VIII no contest. Of course, the one disadvantage with this approach is that if you play the best game first, every later game might disappoint you. (Also the Ys VIII footage with Adol fighting an enemy with the wrong damage type was painful to see). Ys is pretty awesome. It has a continuity and built-up world bigger than almost any other franchise, yet is still 100% accessible at any game (except for Ys II) unlike Trails. You could say it's the best of both worlds. Top-tier world-building with extra rewards for those who've seen the others, yet fully accessible and losing nothing of the experience for new players. An Ysy recommendation.

[@DDevilized]

I mean it's hard to have a preference for style of gameplay when there are very few franchises out there that feature the bump combat or the very specific hack and slash gameplay of the Napishtim games. I don't think anybody would choose Ys I+II going by that logic.

[@giuseppeparry1365]

@@DDevilized I don't think the hack-and-slash of the Napishtim games are that specific. Sure, they have their own slight variation on the style, but... so does every hack-and-slash game. As long as you like that style of combat, you should like Napishtim, Felghana and Origin. As for the bump system... you might have a point. It is pretty rare. The only games I can think of with a similar style is Hydlide or Xak. Maybe that should be... people who are into simple-but-satisfying 2D retro action combat like Zelda.

[@chid255]

Awesome video, I'm currently going through this series and am a little over halfway done. We share a lot in common in terms of taste, Ys VIII is definitely my favorite, and Seven takes second place. I'm in the same boat of having no idea why it gets dunked on by some, you notice how the sp attacks are so much cooler than they are in Ys VIII? Stuff like Adols pentagram attack, or Dogis grand slam that takes a full bar to even use, Ys VIIIs were a little toned down in comparison, and I never see that get brought up! Oath is a little bold to recommend as an entry point, it's way harder than the other Ys games, wowee I got whooped a lot playing that one! Oh and I love Ys I&II, I think everything except the bump combat aged great, even the story which is told sparatically, but it's packed with a ton of neat lore!

[@tohphu7081]

Might be a hot take but I'm personally glad that the Ys series have barely any continuity between them. The only ARPG I've played from falcom before I entered the series was Tokyo Xanadu so I honestly didn't have good expectations for Ys. But after finding out I could start the then latest Ys8 without going through the prior games, unlike the trails series, I decided to give it a shot and boy did it blow me away. Don't think I would've been invested in Ys at all if my introduction wasn't Lacrimosa of Dana to be honest

[@benmcmanus4154]

My anticipation for Ys X has finally got me to take the plunge into the series. It’s interesting how there are three eras of game design, going from the bump action of Chronicles, to the action platforming of Napishtim, to the party based design of the recent games. I’ve decided to go the game design route, as in, the earliest iterations of these eras. So, my first Ys game is Ark of Napishtim, as it leads to other games in the series. I considered playing through chronicles first, but because it’s pretty much a stand alone entry being the only one with the bump system, I didn’t want it to be my first impression of the series only for it to be pretty much unrelated to the rest of the series outside of story. I think I’ll play chronicles when I’d like a change up in how the games feel, like taking a break from a run of the Napishtim style or the party based style. Anyway, I’m really enjoying the Ark of Napishtim! Just got the 2nd sword, it’s really satisfying getting better and better at the gameplay, but the characters and story are taking me by surprise with how much I’m enjoying them too. The music and art are incredible, heck even just the art on the PSP box is so impressive. And by the by, I’m playing the kinda awful PSP port on original hardware, and I’m still having a great time! But I sure am looking forward to the other PSP entries having better performance lol. I’m most excited to get to Seven (love the vibe), Monstrum Nox (darker vibe which I also enjoy *cough* emo) and Nordics when it comes out. Oath, Dana and Origin all seem like popular and well-liked entries so I’m looking forward to them too, with Celceta and Chronicles being the least interesting for whatever reason, but I’ll still get to them. I have to say, it is *really* nice to get into a new series that’s been going for so long. And that it has plenty to dig into with a good amount of variety to keep things fresh! Interested in picking up some of Falcom’s other smaller entries too, like Zwei, Xanadu Next and Tokyo Xanadu (are they related?), and Gurumin. I’ve looked into Trails, but they’re a bit too long-winded for me right now - if someday I start on them; it’ll either be with Sky, Zero, or the upcoming Daybreak. Long live Falcom!

[@milton8822]

Lacrimosa of Dana was my first Ys and played in my eternal PS Vita.. now I have to play it again on my new ROG Ally

[@polterghost_]

I "started" with Ys: The Oath in Felghana which was the first game to be released on Steam if Im not mistaken. Due to high difficulty level though I dropped it and forgot about the series. I returned to it when Ys 8 got all the patches and it was amazing. Ys 9 was also great and now while I wait for 10 I dont really want to go back to older titles.

[@Kade_Bauman]

Thanks for this video. I think I’m going to go in release order, since the gameplay seems to be the real highlight of Ys. I feel like it would be weird to jump around so much.

[@TaiketsuG]

I can still remember when i first started the series and love the heck out of it till this day and even sometimes revisit them for trophy hunting bc its so much fun. Im highly looking forward to Ys X and if i could erase my memory i would delete it for Ys VIII experience again bc its peak Ys for me still

[@Moulinoski]

My recommendation is to start with Ys 1&2 on PC. It’s easily accessible via Steam. The way that I experienced the series when I got into it two years back was to play through Ys 1&2 PC, then Origins, The Oath in Felghana, Ys 5 (SFC), Ys 6, Memories of Celceta, Ys 7, Ys 8, and Ys 9. Basically, it’s a pseudo timeline-engine mix. I stuck Ys 5 in the Napishtim engine “arc” because if you squint very hard, you could say it’s a proto-Napishtim engine game. I also intermittently played through older games as I played through the series. I actually like Ys 4 on SFC, Ys 4 on PCE is alright (cutscenes are awesome), Ys 1&2 on PCE, Ys 1 on Famicom (never again), and Ys 3 on Genesis, PCE, and SNES. I went from “eh, I’ve heard of Ys” to “omg I love Ys” in the span of a year. I have Ys X but I haven’t played much of it. Now that the localized version was announced (and for Steam no less), I have less incentive to play it on Switch other than to brush up on Japanese (and the font they used is… something else).

[@disturbedrebirth]

I started on Ys 7 and I loved it!

[@significant_dong]

I started at Ys VIII. That’s actually how I found this channel. Looking for reviews on it. Now I’m playing through trails.

[@Integra76]

Ys 9 is the one that got me into the series. Loved it. Then I played 8 which is great too. Either of them I would say is a good entry point into the series. Origins was my first Ys game but I couldn't get into it.

[@danielwerner86]

Ys VIII is one of the best games I've ever played - I almost get a bit emotional just thinking about the story and how perfect of a character Dana is. Just spot on. Ys IX was also good, but it felt like they were trying too hard to copy VIII in a setting that didn't really fit. Sometimes it felt more like Assassins creed than Ys. Here's hoping Ys X will go back to that awesome adventurous feeling.

[@letoxicm8930]

Well said, YS VIII is god-tier RPG. I just finished X and felt it kindda missing something especially the fight mechanics.

[@biggusotongus1121]

If you're still testing whether you want to fully wet your foot, play the most accessible one: Ys VIII. Starting with Chronicles might instead deter you from playing the rest of the series if you don't have fun with it. Happened to me, though I managed to push through and ended up loving the series.

[@SuspiciousScout]

I was thinking of Monstrum Nox as my starting point just because it has the most "modern" gameplay and graphics, so I will likely enjoy it's gameplay most, but I guess if the story is *that* important to the experience, then Ys 8 doesn't look too bad either.

[@dogryme6]

Ys Origin was my main entry point to the series, I'd say it was excellent! Still I am glad to hear about the other good games. Both of Oath in Felghana, and Ark of Naphishtim onwards sound like next big points of interest. Lacrimosa of Dana and Monstrum Nox look like they'd be very interesting to play, should I ever reach them.

[@GordonGordon]

Your videos got me into the Trails series. This one is dangerous for me ...

[@JsmashTech]

I need a Ys anime. I think this series could be legendary if done right.

[@ndpGAMES]

I actually started with Monstrum Nox not knowing anything else about the series. Just thought it looked like a cool game. Enjoyed it a lot and started up Dana sometime after when it came to PS5. Super excited for Nordics, but gotta find time for those older ones too!

[@MrJeremyMagic]

I didnt start it until "Oath in Felghana" on the psp. Then my love for it bloomed my curiosity to go back and play "Ark of Naphistm on Ps2" I was always aware of Ys but it just didn't jive with me at the time. Then I played "Ys Seven" which was amazing and is currently the format that the game is going nowadays. Then I played "memories of celceta" then "Ys 8 - Lacrimosa of Dana". It was great. Then I procrastinated playing "Monstrum Nox" only making it halfway when I did. I should go back and finish it. Ys 1&2 just didn't really make it to my bucket list. I just kinda watched videos on it and it just wasn't really my thing. Lacrimosa of Dana, I played it on PS Vita and I figured out the definitive Version is on the PS4 and also on Steam I believe. There's more content in those versions. As for Oath in Felghana. The psp remake version was amazing. I beat it on every difficulty and 100% it. Nightmare was indeed a nightmare, which is a difficulty that never returned for the series. Very tough and very fun. Since Oath in felghana I only played every YS on hard mode since then. Very Hard but I felt the game was much more enjoyable that way. Skirmishes don't really last long and the game is mostly puzzles and exploration so the small skirmishes being very tough is amazing. Sure you can grind & make things easy but its not really necessary and totally optional. Still gotta make time and go finish Monstrum nox before eventually making time to even play Ys X when it comes out. It's a great series, very niche though. So it's not easy to get into when everyone just wants graphics like Breath of the wild. Creativity to wander aimlessly. Because in the end Ys is quite classic in terms of game direction and story narrative. It's quite linear not including hidden items and secrets. Not many people like that kind of game anymore.

[@neo_b]

imo Ys 7 or 8 are the best to get into, and also the best in general

[@Nikita_Akashya]

I personally was reluctant to start the series at first due to my very buggy fingers when it comes to action RPGs and games in general. But I had a great time so far. I tried to play Ys 1 first but my setup wasn't good to play on and then I bought Ys 8 on Switch and played that first. Wonderful game. The map may be ass, but i had a great time with it still. The characters were pretty great. Hummel was my favorite. I then played Ys 1& 2 over christmas and had a great time with those games. And I'm honest here, Ys 2 is my favorite Ys game actually. I love the bump system and the magic system is also great. Alter magic is fun and the time magic is really useful. My favorite part was setting the NPCs on fire tho. There is no other game that lets you do this. I just find it funny. Especially the old man who comments on "Kids these days and their fire balls". It was great. I then played Celceta and had a lot of fun with it. It is one of the weaker games due to very forgettable villains, but the characters were pretty ok and I really liked the music. The shoes were also super fun to use. And breaking the game through forging. My favorite effects were absorb and freeze. It was such a cool mechanic but the ending was a bit too abrupt in my eyes. And the final dungeon made me lose my mind. But I just really wanted to be done with it when i played that section. Oh, but before Celceta I played Origin. I loved it. I just suck at the platforming. It really took me a few tries to get used to Yunicas wind ability. It was a bit too finnicky at first. Hugo destroyed my hands with his gameplay. The last character actually can translate what the roos are saying and it is amazing. But Origin was very fun to play and i really enjoyed the story too. Also the added backstory for Ys 1 and 2. I loved it. I played Felghana at the beginning of the year and it was pretty hard even though i was playing on the lowest difficulty. The platforming kinda broke me and some bosses were just really hard to fight with my buggy fingers and the game eating my inputs all the time. It was still a great game though. I had a good time with it. The ending was just kinda sad though. But most Ys endings are sad. I played Ys 6 for like 7 hours and then switched to a lets play. I like the game, but the platforming is a bit too finnicky for me even though I grasped the dash jump after doing it for like an hour straight. But I remembered certain sections I did not want to play and so I didn't. I also don't really like the music in Ys 6. It is not bad, but there are a lot of very high pitched sounds mixed in and my noise perception is very sensitive to high pitched sounds. My friend played the PS 2 version and those cutscenes are definitely a thing that exists. I also really hate the pirate girl. Her voice is the worst thing ever and I want her removed form the game. She is sadly also in Ys 5. I really do not like her. Ys 6 had a cool story though. I like Geis. He is super cool. I watched an Ys 5 playthrough and I don't think it is a bad game per se. I don't mind a game being easy. The story was kind of interesting actually but magic is sadly very, very useless. I hope Ys 5 gets a Remake one day. Ys X has a new engine now, so perfect time to remake Ys 5. I still need to play Ys 7 and 9. I have them ready on PC and switch. I just hope those games are fun. A certain Adol enjoyer already clued me in that YS 9 made him even hotter. But yeah, i have played almost all the games now. I ma just missing Ys X in my collection now. I hope we can order it soon. I really want that Limited edition. Ys is an amazing franchise and I am glad I got into these games. Mostly thanks to your videos. Keep going and I wish you a great weekend.

[@Legendalvin]

I'm now 4 hours in YS X , it's so much better than IX

[@Parallelepiped2]

Thank you for your guide. This is a series I’ve always heard about but never got into. I believe some titles are still available on PS Vita

[@TheKisekiNut]

A lot of them are, I kept it to modern hardware for this vid though as I imagine a lot of people no longer have a Vita.

[@Terranigma23]

Great video like always and can't wait for Trails Daybreak (July 2024) and Ys X (Fall 2024). :)

[@eryyy554]

i need that book so bad❤❤❤

[@JaidynReiman]

Its really annoying how they've done Dogi dirty. He's in every single game (except Memories of Celceta) but he's only playable in Ys VI. I get why; the idea behind it is that in each subequent "party-based game" they want a full new playable cast except Adol himself. But they always find some loose justification to keep him out of the active party even though he's a capable fighter alongside Adol. At least in Ys IX its most justifiable; the party members _must_ be the Monstrums, and Adol is the only one without a specific lore backstory purpose for being playable so it at least works better in that game. In YS VIII the only justification is "he's helping protect base camp" making this a particularly egregious one. My official starting point was Ys VIII but I did watch ZetaPlays do a full let's play of Mask of the Sun a long time ago. After Ys VIII it was Ys Origin on Switch then Monstrum Nox. I haven't played any other Ys games yet, but I am getting Ys X once it launches in the west.

[@kairoumiker3160]

This video was perfect for me, i wanted to try Ys since forever but wasnt sure where, after watching this Video i decided to give Ys VIII a try

[@ShadowXeldron]

I got into the series through listening to the music, actually. I'd previously watched a video about the PC-88 originals and after a bit or random browsing on Smash Custom Music I ended up getting 1 and 2 Chronicles on Steam. And I loved it! Outside of Ys 1's title screen being... suspect it's a wholehearted recommendation from me. I'm currently playing the Napishtim games and I like to use a keyboard and mouse. You all only think dashjumps are hard because you're using a controller. Plus Ys 2 gave me a foil Steam card so it literally paid for itself.

[@HalfpennyTerwilliger]

I played Ys 8 recently and I'm stoked to play 9 and 10 (and maybe go back to Celceta as I enjoy the group based gameplay specifically).

[@johnathanrhoades7751]

I’m in the middle of Origins as my first game. I picked up viii and ix shortly after starting and also took advantage of the current steam sale for vi, oath of felgana, and chronicles 1&2z. (They’re SUPER cheap at them moment. Sub $5)

[@DrCasey]

I've been catching up on the Ys series since the beginning of 2022, after having ignored the series for close to twenty years (I played the Famicom versions of Ys 1 and 2 as a kid). So there's enough Adol lore for 100 games? This series could last for a really long time. Like until the 22nd century long. I wonder how old we'll be able to see Adol. Maybe we'll get an adventure of him in his 30s or 40s sometime? According to very old canon he dies at 63 while going to the North Pole, so we know he never settles down entirely. And Falcom games portray older adults very well - see the small army of very physically fit characters in their late 60s and early 70s. It would be cool to have a game with manly and grizzled 46 year old or whatever Adol.

[@user-kr5vm8nk1d]

The only thing stopping me getting into the series is the size of my backlog. Maybe I’ll check it out with Ys X.

[@grey_wulf]

My first Ys game was Ark of Napishtim. I thought it was a pretty fun game. But my favorite is Lacrimosa of Dana.

[@aaronmayfield6581]

My only want for this video would’ve been a diagram at end of it. Otherwise, great video. I enjoyed it a lot.

[@noname72390]

ys 5 sands of keflin was actually pretty good and one of my favs but you have to download the snes translated one though to actually enjoy it and with how heavily alchemy from Keflin influenced the final boss and his actions in monstrum, i believe that was their way of hinting to us that 5 is the next remake.

[@TheKisekiNut]

I've played it too, and did enjoy it. But nowhere near to the level of the other Ys games, it needs a remake.

[@omegaman182]

Upon hearing the ys Vlll theme did anyone else go "wait! I've heard that before?" . Its matches the ballroom theme from Anastasia the dreamwork animation, that bugged me for ages till I figure it out.

[@alumlovescake]

It sounded familiar too me to when I first heard it but I don't think I have ever seen or heard of Anastasia before.

[@PloysMaw]

I've been meaning to get into the Ys series for a while and bought VIII for around 10$ on a E-Shop sale a couple of years ago and it's still on my backlog mainly because how much room it takes up. But through this video I've decided to buy Ys VI, Ys Oath of Felghana and Ys Origin. As I feel like playing something on the shorter end and all Ys Games are on sale at the moment on Steam. One thing I can say though I'm excited to pick up Ys X, it looks like a blast and I'm hoping the Switch version runs well.

[@1000tlt]

My man got schnice timing

[@danielehartmann2787]

Ys8 is basically the best Action JRPG-Game ever made in my opinion. A nearly perfect game and its "flaws" are more a product of its time rather than bad design.

[@icemankilla24]

Just got done playing through all the games going by the canon timeline, so starting with YS Origin. I would say this is the way to go if you plan on playing all the games. 😊

[@Faustustopheles]

8-10 hours for Origins... I'm twenty plus and not even half way. I get lost and go back and forth having no idea what to do or where to go next. also it's available on Vita and looks amazing.

[@Lamasis2]

Started with Origin and then finished every released game in less than 3 months, except 5, hoping for a remake.