Ys X: Nordics Hands-On – Adol’s Upcoming Journey Contains Action, Vikings, and Boats

Same vessel, another day.

Following the series’ usual custom, fans in the Western regions have been made to wait a considerable amount of time before they can enjoy Ys X: Nordics, the newest installment in the enduring action-RPG series featuring the protagonist Adol Christin. Fortunately, the wait is almost over, and after spending an hour exploring different parts of the game to experience its dual-combat action, delve into its essential storyline, and test out the new naval battle system, I believe this maritime adventure could be worth the usual localization delay.

Replacing the typical large party in recent Ys games with only two characters in Nordics results in a more concentrated experience, whether in terms of action-packed combat or a more focused story. Those alterations were sufficient to revive my enthusiasm for this enduring adventure.

If you have somehow been able to not come across Ys (pronounced like “ease”) for 37 years, this show narrates the exciting escapades of a young explorer named Adol, many of which include plenty of epic sword fights and grand stories. Ys X: The Nordics take him to the Obelia Gulf, which is inspired by Vikings, where he battles undead creatures known as the Griegr and befriends a new warrior princess named Karja. Don’t worry if you missed some parts of the series, each story can be enjoyed on its own. Since this one comes after Ys II in 1988, you don’t need to know much to follow along. After a brief cutscene reintroducing some familiar characters, I was fully informed and prepared to confront a massive, malevolent foe.

Every Ys game has its own unique style, and Nordics is no different. The main difference is choosing to deviate from the usual party system seen in recent games, and instead spotlighting only two characters: Adol and Karja. This affects both the combat, built around these powerful warriors, and the story, which from the start seemed more focused than past Ys games.

The fighting was fluid, rapid, and slightly difficult, as I had to alternate between Karja, whose Nordic power made it easy to remove enemy armor, and my trusty Adol, who I utilized to deliver final strikes after my enemies were defenseless. There were an overwhelming number of menus and upgrade options for me to fully understand during my short demo, but I could see there is a lot to learn, such as mastering the joint attacks that I could unleash after accumulating enough mana.

The emphasis on the story’s two main characters also affects the plot, according to Falcom president Toshihiro Kondo. He explained that by focusing on only two characters, the development team was able to dedicate more attention to them, resulting in a more impactful storyline centered around Karja. As a person who can become tired of complex stories with an excessive number of characters to keep track of, that was like music to my ears.

Another practical reason is the smaller scale. According to Kondo-san, “We intended to release it on the [Nintendo] Switch, but having numerous party members has constraints on the console.”

Certainly, an Ys game always incorporates a fresh mechanic to introduce some excitement, and in Nordics, that mechanic is naval combat, fitting perfectly with its viking theme. During the brief time that I played, I battled against groups of foes using cannons and aimed at shield generators to deactivate a force field guarding an island. This silly part was certainly entertaining, as cannonballs comically aimed at targets, but also a tad too basic, resembling a mini-game rather than something substantial, and I doubt I’ll find much enjoyment in it during the long campaign. That being said, it is difficult to predict how much this will develop over the 20+ hour duration, but it is likely to become more substantial.