'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.

[@wx266]

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!

[@eldritchautomaton]

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

[@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

[@pdg_strix2447]

great video, i discovered teh Ys series back last year when i was searching for jrpgs to install on my PSP 3000 and then i found Ys VII, the gameplay immediately cought me, so i gave it a try, now Ys is my favorite jrpg franchise, after seven, i played the oath in felgana and Ys VI, now im currently playing origin Seven probablyu ll be my all time favorite, was such a joy to play, i loved every single thing in the game, and playing on a PSP as it was made to, it was a blast, def gonna play it again this year

[@VorpalBender]

This was an excellent and well put-together video!

[@Eagleknight815]

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

[@ManiacMonkboon]

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

[@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 👍👏

[@mediaglitch]

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

[@uppernimbus]

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

[@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.

[@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.

[@acedan7080]

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

[@T-ROF]

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

[@ov2787]

Great vid man

[@socialistprofessor3206]

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

[@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.

[@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.

[@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.

[@mrcnub]

I played Ys III on SNES waaaaay back in the day when that was basically all the Ys a North American player could get their hands on, and only just within the last month discovered everything else that the franchise now has to offer. Imagine being completely unaware and just randomly stumbling down that rabbit hole one day. 😆 I'm playing Oath in Felghana right now since I was already familiar with Wanderers, but videos like this one have been very helpful in my attempt to figure out where to go next. Nice work!

[@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.

[@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😅

[@prilaja]

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

[@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.

[@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.

[@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. 😅

[@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

[@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.

[@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!

[@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.

[@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

[@robertmoorhead3731]

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

[@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.

[@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.

[@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!

[@jmporkbob]

kevin, lost kingdom of salt

[@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!

[@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

[@armandostockvideos8386]

Bump combat is dope, you cant chance my mind.

[@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.

[@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.

[@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.

[@disturbedrebirth]

I started on Ys 7 and I loved it!

[@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.

[@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

[@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.

[@GordonGordon]

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

[@OranusHaron]

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

[@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.

[@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.

[@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

[@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.

[@aaronmayfield6581]

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

[@Terranigma23]

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

[@abzer0gaming]

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

[@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.

[@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 😭

[@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

[@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).

[@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

[@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).

[@kylernyhagen7519]

Weird question for here, but any chance you'd look in to making a video on the Kiseki/Trails Manga? I recently discovered there's quite a few of them, and they're all quite good!

[@TheKisekiNut]

I'm not really a massive manga reader, so I doubt it!

[@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!

[@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)

[@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.

[@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!

[@eryyy554]

i need that book so bad❤❤❤

[@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.

[@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.

[@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.

[@maakasuekano776]

@TheKisekiNut what do you think of the localization Issues of Eiyuden Chronicle: Hundred Heroes.

[@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.

[@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.

[@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.

[@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.

[@rudidellama3718]

My first was VIII, I was quite far into the trails games, and wanted to play a action rpg, its a Falcom game so I went for it. After I went back and played the rest in order of release (the more modern version at least, so no YS V)

[@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. 😊

[@MrKlimcio]

Note to self: never travel by ship with Adol Christin...

[@HoroJoga]

If you want to experience it correctly, i'd go by release date. I myself didn't went this way, because I've went through I through IV (3 and 4 being the remakes), and then I jumped to VIII, but I kinda regret it.

[@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.

[@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).

[@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.

[@user-cf6yi5yq5i]

Finally!!!! Someone tell how to play it!!! I complete 1&2 and just get frustrated not knowing what play next)

[@lucapaneslowliving]

Hi Dom, a question for you, not related to Ys. It relates Record of Lodoss War-Deedlit in Wonder Labyrinth and I need your help to figure out if this is a JRPG or not. Many websites like RPGfan actually list it as an RPG. Of course its main genre is metroidvania but all the sites I do inquire they say it is also RPG. So can this be considered an action JRPG (although it has strong metroidvania elements)? Thank you for your help, because I'm not sure if I should add it to my JRPG collection.

[@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.

[@alumlovescake]

20:01 and her outfit

[@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.

[@jamesrule1338]

I started with Ys 1 on the Sega Master System. The next one I played was Ys 8, first the terrible PC port and then the superior Switch Port. Currently going back to to the previous games on PC before going on to Ys IX. It's really a series you can just get in almost anywhere.

[@Javifaa]

The PC port of Ys VIII has been quite stelar for a while… and stopped being terrible earlier than people give it credit for.

[@jamesrule1338]

@@Javifaa glad to hear that the pc port has been improved. The version on GOG I played (6 years ago!? ... wow) was quite bad.

[@Javifaa]

@@jamesrule1338 IIRC, they fixed most of what they could without redoing everything in less than a year after the launch. I'd say by then the port was better than the Ys Seven one (the worst PC port of the series, if you ask me). Some years after that, NISA contacted Durante to finally fix the port for good. And… well, the name speaks for itself, doesn't it?

[@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.

[@gabejva6071]

A few of these are on Vita as well, which is my preferred way to play them 🤓

[@TheKisekiNut]

Indeed they are, didn't want to list Vita since I was only focusing on modern platforms, but most of them are available on older hardware too.

[@ciuffoarancione8929]

Started with memories of celceta, really good game. Then played ys 8,a masterpiece! Then ys 9,really good game but not as lacrimosa of dana, my favourite ys game. I tried ys origins, i like it. I have to play oath in felgana and ark of naphitism which are probably good. I am expecting ys 10 to arrive in Europe.

[@letoxicm8930]

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

[@Legendalvin]

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