Where to Start in the YS Series (Chronology Included)

[@Friki-iSekai]

Ys 8 Lacrimosa of Dana is one of my favorite games of all time. That's why I started to fall in love of Ys games.

[@chaoticneutralgiraffe5514]

I just finished that game, fucking amazing!! Getting survivors, constructing a village, fighting adversity, murder mysteries, "Travel to the center of the Earth" arc, time travel, ghost pirates, fucking hell what a blast!! That game never stops giving!!

[@nickmaestro]

I got into the Ys series through Ys Seven. Instantly hooked, then I went back and played the other PSP titles. Once I got a PS Vita, Ys Memories of Celceta became my first platinum trophy. Then I platinumed the Vita and PS4 versions of Ys 8. Ys 8 is easily one of the best games I've ever played.

[@faizardianz]

I started playing Ys Seven probably like 2 years ago, i got hooked so bad, that was my first Ys game i played and the game was so good. And i hope i can continue to play the other series.

[@dustinvanwinkle5078]

Just recently got 8&9 on steam an plan on getting the rest of the series outside 5 pending a port. Having a blast playing 8 but still rlly early in- just reached the first raid

[@almadeoliveira2890]

I have a vita and got hooked after play Ys memories of celceta, such beautiful franchise

[@bakedbeef7814]

so sad ys "fans" only care about the party-based titles tho

[@nickmaestro]

@@bakedbeef7814 You have to consider that fans differ in age, access/interest to the older titles. I’ve played every canonical release on PlayStation portables and console. Of the solo Adol games, Oath in Felgana was my favorite. But the party system was just so addictive, fast paced and fluid.

[@Teknoman]

You have no idea how good your timing was on this upload 😅 I was just thinking why isn't there a chronological ys video the other day

[@AquiousK]

Thanks for all your content, Erik. Definitely thankful for some of the RPG‘s you have introduced me to, I have a big wish list for things I should play later. As well as the upbeat tone you carry.

[@wulfstanToF]

Started in Ys Oath in Felgana and fell in love with the series. And boy, that game is hard but really give the experience of an epic adventure and some touching story moments.

[@Iamtheamazingmrg]

I'd recommend starting with Ys 1 & 2 because its a) the original story, and b) the bump combat is dated (although still fun in its own way). Once you're through that, go to Ys Origin and that fills in a lot of the gaps behind the story. Then carry on in chronological order. Its all good though - they're all great!

[@DSan-kl2yc]

You know I didn't find bump combat dated at all. I expected it to be way weirder than it was. Once you get used to it, it's really great.

[@erikhepp4144]

100% agree with IX. I was absolutely blown away by VIII and never thought it would be topped but my GOD Monstrum Nox is incredible.

[@Gardab]

I was actually looking for a guide on how to start on Ys. Thanks for the video!

[@jeffrman777]

This is absolutely my favorite JRPG series of all time. Still remember playing Ys 1 and 2 on my Windows XP PC like 20 years ago. Time flies.

[@jessieolivarez7504]

The hardest part about the Ys series is getting ahold of physical copies. Most are in the triple digits in price for the PSP/Vita release. I started with Ys 8 and have played others since then. But going back to fill the collection is a painful experience

[@jackjohnson8305]

And this is why i stopped being a collector, too much of a pain for my heart and wallet.

[@avioracrown6967]

​@@jackjohnson8305you must be rich to be a collectors

[@ssjdennis6058]

I wish Celceta would come to the Switch. A "easy" port couldn't be to hard. Same goes for most other titles. Hopefully one day... Loved Origen, 8 and 9. Started playing because of you. You will forever have my thanks

[@joe_razor]

It's coming 😊

[@nezkeys79]

Same with 7 Felghana Napishtim

[@WolfPhoenix0]

I'm happy to say that I recently finished playing every single Ys game available on Steam. Ys 8 was my first Ys game and it's still my favorite!

[@ffxiikd1426]

Ys games are the joy, really i loved this series so much fun.

[@Keasy91]

I just dicoverd ys stared with 8 on nightmate its truly a masterpiece

[@cyberangel9967]

Great video and thanks for the timeline! Its been soo fun watching your videos! My first Ys game i played is Ys I&II chronicles and I'm near the end. I love that soundtrack the most and its soo badass! 😍 I want to follow the timeline for the rest of the games so i will start playing Origins soon.

[@davidhill8565]

The Ys series in story-based chronological order is: • Ys Origin • Ys I: Ancient Ys Vanished Omen • Ys II: Ancient Ys Vanished Final Chapter • Ys X: Nordics • Ys: Memories of Celceta • Ys: Oath in Felghana • Ys V: Kefin, City of Sand • Ys VIII: Lacrimosa of Dana • Ys VI: Ark of Napishtim • Ys Seven • Ys IX: Monstrum Nox

[@HanSDevX]

I played Y's 1 first and dark fact took me like 5 hours to beat in highest difficulty mode.

[@Walamonga1313]

Dark Fact is one of the worst bosses I've ever fought. I really liked Ys 1's bump system, but hate the boss fights. And Dark Fact was by far the worst. Even worse than the bat

[@Oatmeal_Ghost]

Haha I just started the Ys series this year and my first game was The Oath in Felghana. I played it on normal mode and I thought it was difficult but very satisfying and really loved it. I didn’t know I was starting with the hardest game!

[@Walamonga1313]

It's also the worst one imo, so thankfully nowhere to go but up! And it's not even a bad game, I just didn't get immersed or enjoyed it as much as the rest. The dungeons and locations didn't grab me and I hated most bosses (so many were just bullet hells or platforming)

[@TainoMoya]

@@Walamonga1313 i personally highly enjoyed it and think its up there. Because of the character interactions and that it has voice acting

[@kangtaw]

Woow i like this review so much. You discuss about one of my most favorites series: The YS series !

[@mikewasasuke9695]

Weirdly enough, my first exposure of Ys was playing Ys Oath of Felghana on my old flip phone that was from Japan around 2002-3. It was a demo of the japanese version which you can play until the first boss. I was a kid that time and I didn't know back then how awesome a game it would be after I played the remaster

[@alexism9656]

I know this video is old but thanks anyway. I barely found out this series existed with Ys X and, after checking out the demo, I'm hooked

[@Walamonga1313]

My starting points would be Origin, Napishtim or Lacrimosa. Or if you really feel retro, then Ys 1&2 (they're pretty much 1 game).

[@NachtKaiser666]

Celceta is also the second of Adol's adventures chronologically, that was my entry point in the series

[@BoliLelly]

I started with Ys1. After that I did Ys Origin then Ys 9 then Ys 8

[@Lifeless14]

i fell in love with this series when i was recommended oath in felghana by a friend. i still remember playing this late in my bed on psp

[@alvarolopez4311]

Just the video I needed as an introduction to this game series

[@martinde-serres8724]

The best way to play and enjoy the series IMO is to go in release order so you can witness the evolution of the gameplay with each installment

[@DSan-kl2yc]

The thing we have to remember is that someone who's never played Ys before might not have a reason to do that. And that's coming from someone who just beat 1 and 2 and loved the experience

[@superarty7]

Man, I love this series. Started with Books of Ys I&II on the DS. Playing it on touch screen only made it even harder, but I was so hyped by this series since forever I couldn't care less. I still working my way through all the games and recently bought Ys 8 and memories of celcetta, even tough I had already best the SNES version of Ys 4. Now I only need Ys 9 to get all the games (except 5).

[@TheRafaelbrites]

I started playing Ys in 2021 and now is one of my favorite RPG franchises. Except for Ys V, i played everyone until Seven. Felghana is my favorite. Fantastic game, fast paced, good characters and a freaking stellar soundtrack!

[@bustergundo516]

Finally a video on this.

[@danielnielel]

I'm finishing my first playthrough of Ys Origin as my first title of the series. I'm just falling in love constantly with this game - the combat feels so smooth and good, the skills charging and opponents are well made, mainly those bosses with proper challenge and the soundtracks kicks so much ass. I'm planning to play Origin a 2nd time with the another character and then go through the chronological order but probably I can't play all those titles yet since I got a potato PC lmao. By the way, great video and thanks a lot ;)

[@CynicalGamingBlogTerry309]

2:04 Still is the best version to play, because you get Ryo Yonemitsu's incredible OST and a higher level cap. Plus the retro aesthetic. Also Dark Fact isn't such a pain in the ass to beat compared to Chronicles.

[@DSan-kl2yc]

What's different with dark fact

[@shootingrock7213]

@@DSan-kl2yc Dark Fact is really difficult in the Chronicles version, specifically the PC version due to the fact that his attack speed are quite fast, even depending on the amount of frames you're running--- he also moved faster too. So if you're running the game with no frame limit, good luck beating him--- however if you set it to a limited 30 fps or 60 fps, it should be more easier.

[@Dr.Gortman]

Is this a informed and well put together guide to this awesome series? Ys, Ys it is

[@B1az1ngSuN]

what I love about this series is that it just keeps getting better, they really have taken this IP and turned it into a fine wine. I am trying not to get my hopes up for Ys X and just being patient I dont wanna over hype it because they have big boots to fill.

[@Poisonjam7]

Ys 8 is getting a “remastered” release on PS5 later this year (November). If you can hold out that long, it’d be a great place to start. Or pick any of the others and play them until the re-release of 8 comes out. I would recommend 9 as a good starting point, but unfortunately the game is already going for over $100 on PS4, despite being released just 2 years ago. I guess it had a pretty small print run.

[@RichardRG86]

Lacrimosa of DANA was my first and I still think it's the best. The Oath in Felghana and Origin are runners up for me. I love the whole series though.

[@johnofthewired]

you bring up a point in this as to why i love your channel, not hate for difficulty! some game i want a challenge but sometime i just want to enjoy playing and the story. that and i love the ys games!

[@vorpal22]

Thank you! I have Origins, VIII, and IX, and I didn't know where to start. I think I'll take your advice and try either Origins or IX first.

[@theopatino2379]

I got and enjoyed 1&2 for the DS when it came out, bought Origins on Switch, just haven't got into it much yet. I played and enjoyed the demo of 9 on Switch

[@AJB-jr6ll]

I started with 3 on the SNES. My personal favorites are Oath in Felganha and Ark of Napishtim.

[@timegame4016]

Thanks erick for mentioned godfather of all the rpgs you are legend

[@selay333]

One of the only game series I go back to every few years or so.

[@AsakuraYukiko]

I'll start with Origin. Then nap, then VIII, then iX. Then cry.

[@DukeCyrus]

Ys and Atelier are the games are ones that I hear about game after game from and they frighten me with their sheer number of games

[@rubenter2442]

I only started playing this series with Ys 8 got the true ending on my first playthrough this franchise is a gem

[@GamingWithSpoons]

Ys is such a great series I'm really glad I got into it. I did a video on this as well on my channel a while back to make it easy for newcomers to be able to jump into the series. Great video.

[@altercell_]

Great idea for a video! Idk how I’ve still never played an Ys game

[@djsangre]

I started in order of release. Some suggest to start from titles with the same game engine from older to newer and considering only remakes. Some suggest to follow the chronology. I think Book 1&2 is still very fun with its bump system and 2 has the best ending together with 8 and 9. I agree with Eric, just keep in mind guys how ferociously hard the dash jump can be in Napishtim. My suggestion is: 1&2, Felghana, Origin, Napishtim, 7, Celceta, 8, 9. With Kefin (5) optional because it’s bad.

[@8bpianoplayer]

I started playing Ys with TG-16 CD Ys Books 1 and 2 waaaay back in the day. I was hooked after that, and played all of them (except V and IX is on my backlog...)

[@germin9784]

I'm playing through the games now, mostly in chronological order. I started with 8 though, because I just had a chance to play it and it got me interested in the rest. I just finished Origin, right after 1 and 2, which is the only other way I'm deviating from the chronology

[@infiniteaaron]

Oh my gosh... This is just like the Ateliar series on Steam. There are a couple hundred dollars worth of things to buy... I am going to have to watch this video again to figure out which to buy first (once they're on sale at some point - does that happen with Ys?).

[@luis_glacius]

My first time playing Ys was the Steam demos of Ys IX an Origins, loved Origins Art and graphics, but I had Ys I & II on wishlist, wanted to start right, so I bought I & II, loved them, but damn I was on normal difficulty and it took me three whole days to finaly beat Dark Fact, when I finally beated him I jump and scream of joy, or my first play in Origins and using Hugo in normal difficulty defeated Nygtilger with only 1 Hp left , it was the best, now I hooked on the franchise

[@MrLenZo]

I started with the oath in felgana in the psp. and, I immediately fell in love with it I really loved the diffculty. And i wish the coming ys games is like it

[@nicolas-ebr88]

But, whats the main story on the YS game? I have played a couple games, i know theres some comflicts amoung countries, but, is there a story?, or its just adol looking for aventures and making friendo? Thanks for the info

[@ltb1345]

I think Origins, 1, and 2 are the "arc" about the titular land of Ys. It seems like 7 is a direct sequel to 6 as well. Other than that, though, they're self-contained stories.

[@ophidianmind333]

The first two games are two parts of a single story and the rest of the games are later isolated adventures that Adol has over the years (with the exception of Ys Origin, which takes place before he was born). There are a few characters that make repeat appearances (most notably Dogi) as well as there being some repeated themes, references to previous adventures, and hints of things to come in future games, but the continued story is more of being chapters in Adol's life regarding his adventuring rather than a single continuous plot starting in any one adventure.

[@SiliconSlyWolf]

I think it's good to mention that the PC of Oath in Felghana is harder than the PSP version. You don't have a much survivability in boss fights. And PC Origin uses the same system. PC Ark of Napishtim uses the same overall game design as well, and has a couple healing difficulty options, but I haven't played that version much to explain it. PS2 Ark of Napishtim allows for using healing items in boss fights

[@Hyphu]

I'm currently building my Ys collection to play, mostly because I'm almost done playing all the Trails game(finished all up to daybreak western release). Ys 1&2 are gonna be tricky to play for me lol I dont like that bumping mechanic. Thanks for this video! I wanted to see if they were connected. I do like getting to know the full story or at least some knowledge just like Trails.

[@chrisflyvr]

Will start with them. At least an introduction from a real hardcore-longtime-guru-fan. who played tehm all actually. thank You

[@Crim_Zen]

looks like I need to replay 1 and 2. I've been trying to play in the chronological order for a while now. VIII was my most recent dive into the series and it reminded me how out of place the release timeline is, so I had to drop it a few hours. I was just missing so much context. Note, I beat 1 and 2 back in 2016, so I don't really recall what happened in it. It's a shame V hasn't been ported yet.

[@petros-v4w]

And now we are, Oath In Felghana memoire remake is coming to the West!!! We also need YS Seven and the first YS 1/2 chronicles remakes!!! I think these are the only ones left behind to the handheld PSP

[@carlosrueda9204]

great topic. I haven't play Ys or a Trails game. yet.

[@kerijizo]

Ys is really great game..played almost all of them, I just hope someday we can see the end of adol journey.

[@ricksmith4840]

Never!!! Adol is immortal!!!!

[@kerijizo]

@@ricksmith4840 dude relax... What i mean is getting the proper end to his journey so he can rise up to become legend..

[@ricksmith4840]

@@kerijizo lol dude I know what you meant. I was joking.

[@styinax]

I'd recommend started with ys seven ❤

[@justifiedfun9811]

Just discovered this series, working through 8 now

[@lucianwong420]

I actually got introduced to Ys because of Trails of Cold Steel. So i bought a few Ys games and i’m gonna start with Ys 7 first.

[@benseac]

Ys VIII is also on the Luna gaming service

[@almadeoliveira2890]

Ys grabbed me by the neck in memories of celceta, now I'm playing lacrimosa of Dana, after that I'll jump right into Ys origins

[@rodelcorton8815]

Haha im all over the board with ys i started with ys vi on ps1 and been looking forward to it ever since and i agree that the party system makes ys easier than the solo ones but there are still merits to it i suggest playing all the party ones 1st before going solo :)

[@SeveredLegs]

Gotta love the Neck computers..... :)

[@KramerJones]

Just beat ys 3 this year & I beat origin last year!

[@Airik1111bibles]

I love Y's but I'm having a hard time getting through Y's 8. I don't know why? The game is cool , good story awesome game play cool graphics it's the whole pkg . Honestly I liked playing better on the Vita even though the Switch has more content and better graphics I feel like it plays better on the Vita hardware. . I might go back and finish playing it on my Vita , I think it's the splitting of the story line that cause me to lose intrest. . ..And that's less on the Vita. Oath in Felghana was the best and I loved 7 .

[@mshelton5036]

Just got Origins 2 days ago and enjoying it.

[@PurpleRupees]

I started there and loved it. It kinda spoils Ys 1 and 2 but I'm personally okay with that. Gameplay is more important than story to me and Ys Origin is a masterpiece in that regard.

[@mshelton5036]

@@PurpleRupees Thanks for the recommendation I will have to get those. Just started playing Baldo enjoying it, like an old school Zelda a "dungeon crawler".

[@PATOfThePAT]

6:25 "Try easy. It's not that easy" I'm not sure if that was intentional or an error 😂

[@ophidianmind333]

I agree that Ys IX could make a great introduction to the series because it is probably the least difficult Ys game and it has an amazing combat system that is the best I have played in any action RPG be it Eastern or Western. However, I think starting with the earlier games by release date is the best way to experience the series as you get to see it gradually evolve with each release. Though inserting the remakes right after the originals is also a good idea as the games are different enough for each to be a unique experience while also providing a nice back-to-back comparison. The early games also tend to be fairly short, so you're only looking at somewhere between 8-20 hours for each game. This isn't the easiest way to experience the series as the earlier games are more difficult and less user-friendly in format as Erick has pointed out. My introduction to the series was Ys: The Vanished Omens on the Sega Master System and while I love it, I would probably only recommend that port to die-hard fans of Ys I who want a very hard version of the game or to those building a Master System collection. The ideal start would be playing Ys Books I & II on the Turbo CD (which is also available on the TG-16 Mini) as I think it is the best version of those games. It is also more player-friendly because the level cap is much higher as part of the two games being combined into a single longer game. The remakes as Ys I & II Chronicles are also nice and make a decent alternative if you have trouble accessing Ys Books I & II. Ys III: Wanderers from Ys is a trickier recommendation because its gameplay takes a while to get used to and the initially awkward controls combined with the difficulty will probably chase away a lot of players who aren't used to mastering retro hard games. Though I can say that the Genesis version is the best version to play as it plays the smoothest, the combat and platforming are easier because of how it plays, and the soundtrack is excellent on the Genesis soundchip. Some swear by the Turbo CD version of the game and I enjoy that one as well, but it is also the most difficult version and it has a few big flaws like really choppy scrolling and abysmal English voice acting (though that might be a plus to some people). A lot of people would suggest skipping this one and playing the remake The Oath in Felghana instead and I can kind of see why as it is easier to pick up and play, but I still think those who do so are really missing out. Ys IV is probably the last complex recommendation because there are two very different original versions of it and a remake as well. Neither of the two original versions were released outside of Japan, but both now have English fan translations available for them. Ys IV: Dawn of Ys on the PC Engine Super CD is the superior version in my opinion even though it was never deemed canon and I would suggest playing that one first. Ys IV: Mask of the Sun on the Super Famicom is also a decent game and it was considered the canon version until it was replaced by the remake Ys: Memories of Celceta. From there the series is more simple to follow with V (Japanese only but has an English fan translation), VI, Origin, VII, VIII, and IX. There are also some side games and obscure remakes that you won't be able to play in English, but those are a topic for another time. While I am a huge fan of the series and love all of the main games (even the oft-maligned III and V), my absolute favorites are Ys Books I & II, Ys VIII, and Ys IX. Playing just those three could also give a somewhat decent overview in showing where the series began and what it evolved into with the most recent games.

[@Speedy2332]

Just bought Ys Origins in the current steam sale, probably gonna play 1+2 and 3 on the psp after that if I have the time for it :D

[@georgeharris572]

when I'm asked where to start I say "you start at the beginning and when you get to the end stop". that said I always confuse YS with Lufia, think it's the same design team

[@moisescarvalho3863]

Hey, Eric! Whats up?! Please, share your toughs on Valkyrie Elysium. Are you in the team of the worried?

[@kyoru]

my first one is ys ark of napihshtim. now you make me really wanna play ys 9😅

[@adburltv]

actually Ys 8 is not available for phones right now, but they have said they are going to make a phone version

[@wpelfeta]

I don't like the bumping mechanic. When does Ys ditch the bumping mechanic for more natural combat style?

[@abaddon1503]

Not too sure if you haven’t figured it out by now since it’s been a year, but that would be either Ys 5 (considered one of the weakest games in the franchise) or Ys 6 (the first 3D game and the progenitor to modern Ys) onwards in release date order.

[@connortovey9070]

As a small addition to this video; Ys X: Nordics is confirmed to be slotted between Ys 2 and Ys 4

[@Ghost-ul8eu]

I only ever played through the Ys 1 and 2 on the TurboGrafx on the Wii and thought they were fun.I always wanted to get more into this series and got YS 8,but I wanted to look at other games in this series.

[@eduardo0379]

The first Ys game I finished was Oath in Felghana on PC, I think it was back in 2012 or so. Quite late to the party eh? After that I played Origin, followed by I & II Chronicles+. I still have Ark of Napishitim on my library, and I plan to finish that one off before starting any other entry.

[@zengram]

I played Ark of napshtim Ys seven Ys memories of celceta Ys oath in felgana Ys origins. Planning to play lacrimosa and Ys 9

[@DavJoestar]

Thanks a Lot Erick ! I really want to Enter un the series :3 i think i Will go with Lacrimosa of Dana

[@RafaelCabusGantois]

I'm dying to begin in the series, but I'll try "gameplay wise" meaning trying to go in the same direction of the evolution of the gameplay, this way I won't feel like I'm playing a "prehistoric" game. Probably I'll play I+II first, then Origins, 3, 4, 6, 7, 8 and 9, since we don't have a Ys V available (I play on Switch or Steam)

[@theultimategamer95]

Honestly you can just start anywhere (though I wouldn't recommend starting with 9 due to all the references), since all the games have self-contained stories, more or less (except Ys 1 and 2).

[@ハトシェプスト-f7c]

I started with the oath in felghana ( remake )

[@kevex3929]

What's the last game shown in the intro? Also, Ys needs way more recognition than it has! Such a sick series!

[@xyannail4678]

I thought it was Atellier Shellie from the Dusk Trilogy but I don't know if the one next is Tales of Arise? Sorry trying

[@philosophyoftrucking]

Killer collection.

[@rhapthorne3023]

What's the game in the intro with the three girls?

[@ltb1345]

I skipped Ys 1 and 2 because that gameplay definitely isn't for me, so I started with The Oath in Felghana since it was "the next one", I thought. Big mistake, lol. I just switched over to the modern Ys games after that. I'm loving Memories of Celceta though. At least I'll play 8, 6 (maybe), 7, and 9 in chronological order.

[@chronofantasy1987]

The first two were kind of my first ones back on a NES emulator I believe or whatever old system it came out on back then. I didn't really like them as much back then and I always thought it was comical having to walk/run into the enemy to attack. It was a meme back then before meme was a thing. I don't know if I'd count it though since I didn't play them all the way through. I don't remember what my actual first one was that I went through. It was one of the old random ones before YS8 and I think before even YS7 came out. Maybe it was Memories of Celceta and I remember origins being among some of the early ones I played too. Fun series but the stories seem kind of standalone for the order to not really matter as much.

[@GatsuRage]

they never explained on the first game of why he was at the beach where he was first found... now I just started the second one and I was wondering if they ever tackle Adol's origin?

[@skochin]

I remember beat Ys I and II on famicom, fan translated roms using Everdrive. I don't recall those being too hard...maybe they changed something in those PSP or TbGfx

[@kelvinrafael6361]

can you do that legend of the sky where to start?

[@rjproduction486]

I think ys 9 difficulty is kinda wack. I think the normal mode is actually the easy mode, and the hard mode is actually the normal mode so on. I played ys 9 in hard mode to get me some decent challenge, but the results is I defeated all the boss without using any healing item in my first try!

[@hyde_stopStealingMyUsername]

I just beat Ys I in nightmare mode and I'm worried the other games are gonna be too easy because apparently 1 is the hardest.. And I need difficulty in games. Maybe I'll have to do a challenge run when I get to 9 then..

[@yousif467]

Whats the outro ost called ?

[@Joshhow]

Ys 8 was my first and I was instantly hooked. I have only played the ones on the PS4. I want to try out the remake of 3, looks very similar, if not identical, to the gameplay of Origin, which was also awesome. We're they made with the same engine?

[@karloroci05]

sir! thank you so much for these videos.. i just need your help though. I am about to buy YS VIII or Witcher 3 for my switch.. Just need your opinion which is better and worth it.. just having a hard time to decide 🙂

[@Mr._Matt]

"Ys-y" difficulty for Ys sounds fitting. =p