“Ys IX: Monstrum Nox” is the latest addition to the “Ys” series developed by Japanese video game developer, Nihon Falcom. With an over forty-year history spanning back to the beginning of video games, Nihon Falcom is also known for creating popular JRPG series like “The Legend of Heroes,” “Dragon Slayer,” and “Trails.” As the title suggests, this is the ninth game in the “Ys” series, and while I’m not a super expert on the series, I’ve dabbled here and there and this one certainly builds upon the previous games in the series. Maybe not in story, but in the evolution of the gameplay and graphics of course. This is a third-person action role-playing game that was originally released in Japan back in 2019 and later on Steam, Nintendo Switch, and PlayStation 4 in 2021. Now, it has finally made its way onto PlayStation 5. The first game in the series dates all the way back to 1987, and since then, the series has grown a fanbase, perhaps maybe not a vocal one, because I don’t think many people in the United States still even know what it is.
The player takes control of the returning character from the previous games, Adol. He is a red-headed traveler who enjoys exploring new cities, meeting new people, and helping those in need. Each game in the series is self-contained, so prior knowledge of the previous games is not necessary. In “Ys IX: Monstrum Nox,” Adol finds himself in the city of Balduq, where he is a fugitive and is dealing with a curse put upon him. The game plays similarly to the “Kingdom Hearts” series, where the player runs around attacking enemies and monsters in groups of three. The level designs can look a little bland at times, but it is typical for this type of game. The extra space is often provided for the sole purpose of having room to combat foes. The game’s main story takes roughly thirty plus hours to complete, not including side quests and other little things this game has to offer.
To break up the main story, to prevent it from feeling repetitive, the game includes these base defense mini-games called Grimwald Nox. In these areas, the player fights waves of giant monsters and collects rewards. Setting traps for the monsters can be tough, but if you do them right, it can be really rewarding, they also show up just about the right times where I wanted to take a break from continuing the overall narrative. Traveling around the cities and maps is one of the most enjoyable aspects of the game. You can have Adol teleport to specific nearby areas, and you can even run up tall buildings and briefly hover around. Easily one of the coolest ways to travel in a big open world map I’ve played in a video game recently.
So, I can’t say if the Ys series is for you, it really depends on how you feel about JRPGs in general. The character designs are heavily influenced by anime, and the monster designs are pretty cool and impressive. If you are indeed a fan of action RPGs the game offers a captivating and self-contained story, and even if you haven’t played any of the prior titles you won’t have to worry about constantly scratching your head asking what’s going on. While the level designs can be a little bland at times, I don’t have any real complaints here. If you’re looking for a new game to sink your teeth into, “Ys IX: Monstrum Nox” is definitely worth considering.
8/10
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Related: Nick Navarro Reviews
Gaming since I was given an original Nintendo as a kid. I love great storytelling and unique ingenuity. When both collide in a single game, I'm a happy gamer. Twitter/IG @NickNavarro87
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