Nihon Falcom’s Ys series is something special. Since its debut in 1987, adventurer Adol Christin has embarked on countless journeys, faced off against many different foes, uncovered world-changing secrets, and made new friends along the way. While some characters have followed Adol nearly every step of the way—specifically his best friend, Dogi—each entry in the series is typically standalone and told out of chronological order.
It is due to this unique structure that nearly every Ys title (with the exception of Ys II) can be played at any time; newcomers are encouraged to jump in with whatever title looks most interesting to them. With 2026’s Ys X: Proud Nordics, that hasn't changed, and this time around, it might even appeal to a whole new group of fans: those who enjoy the open seas and the adventures that await there.
Ys X: Proud Nordics isn’t an entirely new entry in the series, a fact that has caused some controversy among players. The game is an enhanced version of 2024’s Ys X: Nordics and was announced shortly after the original title’s Western release. This timing was due to Ys X: Nordics hitting shelves in Japan back in 2023, with the English localization taking over a year to complete.
Following the announcement, many fans questioned if the original version was even worth playing, while those who had already taken the plunge asked the exact opposite: Is Ys X: Proud Nordics worth the revisit?
Whatever the case may be, there is no denying that Proud Nordics is the definitive release; newcomers shouldn't even bat an eye at the original Nordics. The real question is: Is Ys X: Proud Nordics worth playing in general, and is it a big enough upgrade to warrant a second purchase for owners of the original?
Ultimately, that decision depends on the individual, but Ys X: Proud Nordics is easily one of the best Ys titles to date and a perfect place to dive in for those new to the series.
The Story:
Ys X: Proud Nordics picks up moments after the ending of Ys II, which in itself was a direct continuation of Ys I. The game begins with Adol and Dogi riding the ship they boarded at the conclusion of the second game, accompanied by Dr. Flair Rall. Flair joins the group as they set a course for Celceta, the location where Celcetan flowers are said to bloom. These rare flowers are capable of treating and curing most illnesses, making them a must-have for doctors. However, the trio must first pass through the Obelia Gulf, where trouble ultimately arises.
Shortly after setting sail, their ship is attacked by the Balta Seaforce. The ship’s captain is executed for failing to adhere to their rules; rather than paying for safe passage across the ocean, the captain had hired his own mercenaries to fight back, ultimately sealing his own fate. While Adol, Dogi, and Flair have no choice but to watch this unfold, they can't help but feel for the captain as the Seaforce takes over the vessel and drops the passengers off at their destination.
A Bound Fate
Once they arrive in the town of Carnac, the group plans their next move and sets out to find work. To continue their journey, they need funds, and the best way to earn them is to utilize their unique skills. While Dogi finds work at the harbor and Flair stops by the local clinic, Adol goes to meet the town's local Mercenary Guild. However, after he begins hearing the strange voice of a girl telling him to find her, Adol's next adventure is truly set in motion.
This leads him to discover a mysterious shell that blesses him with the power of Mana. He quickly realizes that using this newfound ability is the only way to defeat the strange, wolf-like monsters appearing around town. Without Mana, these beasts simply heal their wounds and get back up—a phenomenon no one in town has ever seen before.
The Shield Brother and Sister
Shortly after the wolf incident, Adol receives a mysterious letter telling him to meet at the beach, where he discovers Karja of the Balta Seaforce waiting for him. During the attack on the ship, Adol had momentarily crossed blades with her, and she has now been directed by her superiors to seek him out. After a quick sparring match, Karja realizes that Adol has also been blessed with the power of Mana—something only Normans such as herself should be able to use.
As the two find themselves surrounded by the wolf monsters once again, a mysterious chain appears around both of their wrists, and they begin fighting in perfect sync. Without words, the two find they can communicate their thoughts and actions, working together as one. They make short work of the enemies, but the ordeal leaves them both confused. Karja blames Adol, but even he has no idea what is happening.
While Karja has no intention of sticking around, their Mana seems to have different plans. As she attempts to leave, the chains reappear, pulling the two back together. It becomes clear they are not only mentally connected, but physically bound as well.
A Story of Companionship
The story of Ys X: Proud Nordics is ultimately one of companionship and self-discovery. Unforeseen circumstances force Adol and Karja to go on the run, separated from the town and the friends they made there. Physically bound together, they set sail to take on a mysterious group that has seized control of the ocean.
By officially becoming "Shield Brother and Sister" under the Balta Seaforce, the two develop a relationship that goes beyond simple friendship. Karja, in particular, undergoes significant growth; having only known the lifestyle of a hardened warrior, she finally begins to set forth on the path toward the person she was always meant to be.
The Protagonists
Similar to past Ys titles, Adol is mostly a silent protagonist, though players can choose his responses during dialogue. Additionally, there are moments where Adol speaks his mind or makes comments during gameplay. This is the most he has ever directly spoken in a Ys game, yet he still serves primarily as an avatar for the player.
Karja, on the other hand, truly steals the show, sharing the protagonist role with Adol. She is the one who speaks to nearly everyone, explains new concepts, and provides the emotional core of the story. While past Ys titles had party members who shared the spotlight, none have reached the same extent as Karja. This is her story, and Adol has simply done what he does best: wandered into it.
The Crew
Along with Karja, Adol is joined by a supporting cast that boards their ship throughout the story. These characters have their own personal battles to contend with, and each takes a turn in the spotlight. While they never become party members in the traditional sense, they are just as important as the two leads and help the world come alive.
What initially begins as a lonely crew of two eventually grows into a complete pirate gang, and the friendships developed between them feel genuinely real. By the end, you as the player will hate having to say goodbye, as Adol’s adventures will inevitably take him away from this place—possibly never to return. It is a bittersweet feeling, but the journey is well worth it.
The Unique Experience That is Ys:
In the Ys series, every single title is unique in both gameplay and tone. Because of this, not every entry will resonate with everyone, and players often find their own personal favorites. When looking at the modern versions of each released game, it is easy to see just how distinct they are.
The original Ys I & II are top-down, sprite-based games featuring a "bumper car" combat system. They lean heavily into the "bullet hell" style of shoot 'em ups, with projectiles covering the screen and complex enemy patterns to learn. While they are shorter experiences, they feature multiple towns and dungeons to conquer and serve as the beginning of Adol’s journey.
The third entry, Ys VI, and Ys Origin transfer this style to a 3D isometric view and introduce the ability to jump. Bosses can be just as intense, requiring memorization and quick reflexes, but the experience feels different from the original two games. Ys Origin also takes place entirely within a single dungeon and plays much more like a Metroidvania, featuring branching paths and areas locked behind specific abilities.
Ys V was a more standard action RPG for the SNES, focusing on exploring caves and visiting towns between key dungeons. It differs from the rest of the series but stands as the "safest" entry regarding general gameplay.
The fourth entry and Ys SEVEN are the two titles that feature full 3D character models and allow players to swap between party members. This swapping mechanic was used to match enemy weaknesses and progress through map areas that required more than just Adol's skills. While these entries felt like a natural progression from the isometric titles, they were still unique enough to stand out, and character switching eventually became a series staple.
The Modern Era
Ys VIII, IX, and X are the first full 3D entries. While they build upon the style introduced by Ys SEVEN, they each put a unique spin on the gameplay.
Ys VIII takes place on a mysterious island after Adol’s ship crashes and the crew washes ashore. The main focus is survival as Adol reunites with the remaining passengers. While the game doesn’t include traditional survival mechanics, progression is similar to a Metroidvania, with new paths unlocking as Adol gains abilities. The island is a bright, sunny paradise with unique internal areas, such as vast forests, to explore. There is a reason this game quickly became a fan favorite; to this day, many consider it the "must-play" entry.
Ys IX, on the other hand, shifts the focus to a dark, dusty prison city. Gone are the bright colors and Metroidvania progression, replaced by a massive hub world with hidden underground dungeons. The game introduced a wide range of movement options—such as running up walls, gliding, and grappling—marking a major departure from what came before.
As for Ys X? Many fans will be happy to learn it takes a page out of Ys VIII’s book, especially with the release of Proud Nordics.
A World of Endless Water
The main focus of Ys X: Proud Nordics is the open sea and the multiple islands that make up this region of the world. The sun is almost always shining, the music is upbeat, and the various dungeons help mix up the pace. The Metroidvania aspects seen in VIII have been removed from the main story—though they return in the form of a new optional island—but there is still plenty of exploration thanks to side paths encountered during the journey. Despite this, fans of VIII may not fully enjoy the newly introduced ocean gameplay, which makes up a large chunk of the experience. Thankfully, Proud Nordics has introduced several new features to alleviate the issues some had with the original release, while keeping the original options for those who enjoyed that style of gameplay.
All of that being said, this only scratches the surface of what Ys X: Proud Nordics really is. There are many pieces to this puzzle, and it all begins with the core exploration and combat systems—the staples of any good JRPG.
Exploring the World of Ys X:
Similar to the titles that came before it, the first half of Ys X: Nordics consists of exploring islands, tackling dungeons, and visiting various towns. Taking a page from the Trails series, Ys X features a wide range of characters to speak with between main story beats, and their dialogue updates as the plot progresses. Engaging with these NPCs reveals additional information about the world and can occasionally unlock full side stories. Thankfully, NPCs with something new to say are marked with an icon above their heads and are shown on the map for easy access. While many events still require backtracking to previous towns—which is easily handled via fast travel—new side events are clearly displayed on the map without the need to physically visit the location first. Although some areas are marked with a question mark to indicate a point of interest, the game generally does a great job of ensuring players do not accidentally skip content—with the exception of two specific conversations that require backtracking before triggering the next main story event.
Beyond character dialogue and side quests, towns feature various shops where Adol and Karja can restock supplies and purchase new equipment. Shop inventories update throughout the game, meaning some items are technically missable, though fortunately, nothing essential is ever permanently lost. These shops allow players to use two types of currency: standard gold is the typical go-to, but gathered supplies can also be traded. While these tradable supplies aren't as abundant as money, you still earn plenty of them throughout the journey, and they allow you to purchase items at a significant discount. For instance, rather than spending 5,000 gold, a player could trade 50 pieces of supplies—a great deal considering you might have over 1,000 in your inventory at any given time.
After leaving the towns, the rest of the world is comprised of small islands and the caves and dungeons located within them. Islands typically feature branching paths with treasure or items hidden down each one, all filled with enemies to defeat along the way. Sometimes these side paths or treasures cannot be accessed until a specific ability is unlocked—making a return visit necessary to achieve 100% completion—but for the most part, these are linear stages from start to finish. A boss typically awaits at the end to bring the excursion to a close, though later side quests might lead you back. Overall, each island is utilized to its fullest; although many are short, the sheer number of them creates one of the most expansive worlds in a Ys title to date.
Mana Powers and Navigation
Regarding navigation, some parts of the world are gated by specific ability requirements. These primarily take the form of Mana powers granted to Adol at the beginning of the game. Most of these abilities are unlocked during moments when Adol's mind is spirited away to an unknown island inhabited by a mysterious old man, though a few are obtained from treasure chests. The first major ability is the Mana String, which allows Adol or Karja to swing across gaps or pull themselves toward anchors. Later, they unlock the Mana Rider—essentially a hoverboard. The Mana Rider allows the protagonists to cross water and make jumps that would be impossible on foot. Mana Sense is also unlocked during the first half of the game, allowing the heroes to see invisible platforms, switches, and hidden treasure; it even receives a significant upgrade later on. Together, these abilities are key to progressing the main story and often provide the reason for revisiting smaller islands.
In addition to standard navigation powers, each character possesses a specific Mana Burst. Adol's weapons harness the power of fire, while Karja is granted the power of ice. Together, they can burn obstacles blocking the path or freeze water to create platforms. While the main game doesn't strictly require these for every encounter, they are essential for solving puzzles and are utilized much more frequently in the new content introduced in Proud Nordics.
Items and Resource Management
Finally, Ys X handles items in a unique way. While standard crafting materials are simply picked up, healing items and food require empty bottles for storage. Some shops sell medicine along with the container; once used, the empty bottle remains in your inventory for future use. In general, players must possess bottles to carry consumables. This limits the number of healing items you can bring into a fight, but it rarely becomes a major issue since Adol and Karja can heal by standing still—a mechanic that is only disabled in specific areas of the game.
Alongside gathering materials and filling potions, Ys X reintroduces the fishing mechanic from Ys VIII. This serves as another way for players to gather resources while enjoying a relaxing mini-game. There are rewards for catching every species of fish, so it is well worth your time to cast a line whenever you see a fishing spot.
Two Characters as One, The Duo Combat System:
Of course, there is more to exploring than just picking up items and talking to NPCs. The Ys series has always placed a major focus on combat, and Ys X: Nordics takes this in a new direction with the Duo Combat system.
The Combat
Similar to past 3D Ys titles, this entry features a character swap system where both Adol and Karja are playable at all times. Adol is a faster and lighter sword-user, while Karja is slightly slower but hits harder with her axe. The leader can be swapped in and out at any moment during battle, and the game provides many tactical reasons to do so.
Rather than having a standard MP bar, each character has a set amount of Mana to use for special attack skills, which can be mapped to the four face buttons while holding R1. Once their bar reaches zero, they must rely on normal attacks. However, the unique mechanic here is that one character's drained Mana actually refills the other character’s bar, allowing them to take over with their own skills. Once players get the hang of it, both characters can be switched in and out of battle to form chain combos and ultimately destroy everything in their path. Some skills require more Mana, and recharging might not always keep up, but as the two grow stronger, this eventually stops being an issue. With enough practice, a chain combo of 99 can be achieved, and even the fiercest boss will be shredded to nothing.
Another major change to the combat is how dodging and guarding work. Rather than featuring Flash Guard and Flash Move—which required dodging and blocking with perfect timing—the game introduces Blue Attacks and Red Attacks. Blue Attacks are special moves that Adol and Karja automatically dodge as long as they are dashing when the move makes contact. This acts as an automatic Flash Move and allows the characters to counter with a dash attack of their own. Red Attacks, on the other hand, cannot be dodged; however, by hitting R2 with perfect timing, they can be blocked and countered with a special attack. While normal attacks can also be blocked with perfect timing, the standard guard feature has largely been replaced by the Duo Combat system, which unites Adol and Karja into a single unit.
When holding R2, a shield is automatically deployed, and all attacks are carried out by both characters in unison. While these attacks deal slightly less damage individually than a single character's strike, the overall barrage of hits is much faster. This means Duo Mode ultimately results in more damage than standard play, and the attached skills are much stronger as well. The downside is that skills in this mode drain both characters' Mana bars, so they cannot be spammed as easily, but the sheer power is more than worth it. Combined with the fact that you are always in a guard state while attacking this way, Duo Mode easily outclasses standard play. Proud Nordics has adjusted the difficulty slightly to help balance this out, but it still tends to be the go-to for most enemy encounters.
Using Mana Powers
Mana powers can also be used in combat to gain an edge. The Mana String allows characters to fling themselves at enemies, the Mana Rider can be used to run them over, and Mana Sense can actually be used to control time and space itself. These add another layer to a system that continues to challenge players with each new boss encounter. Between the introduction of shields and fights that require the speed of the Mana Rider to outrun specific attacks, combat becomes much more than the simple "hack and slash" gameplay Duo Mode might suggest—especially on higher difficulty modes where every perfect block and dodge counts.
The Upgrades
Although killing enemies and leveling up is the main way to get stronger in Ys X, the game also features a robust Mana Seed mechanic that evolves throughout the experience.
Mana Seeds are items of different colors that provide various effects when equipped to a character. These seeds can only be placed in slots that have been opened for that character, which are locked behind both the character's current level and another item granted at fast travel points. Once a slot is opened, placing seeds will increase base stats and provide additional passive abilities. When seeds of the same color are placed near each other on an adjoining "line," the skill is strengthened. This means players will want to plan out their builds and keep seeds of the same color close together whenever possible.
Initially, both Adol and Karja are limited in how many seeds can be chained together. However, at higher levels, many more slots become available, and special colored seeds provide even more buffs than the standard blue, red, or yellow ones. These provide a significant edge later in the game and are complemented by the base equipment and accessory system.
Equipment itself comes in the form of weapons, armor, and accessories, each of which can be further enhanced by visiting shops with specific material requirements. Accessories also provide additional passive skills and abilities on top of stat gains, and swapping between them to fit the current situation is highly recommended.
Challenging but Still For Everyone
The series has always been known for its difficulty, and fans will be glad to know that remains unchanged. On the flip side, newcomers might be happy to learn about the game's Easy Mode, which refills the Mana bar much faster and grants additional experience points. This can be toggled on and off at any time, so those frustrated with a specific boss fight can fall back on this if necessary. If the difficulty seems intimidating, don't worry—this is a title anyone can clear.
Taking to the Seas:
As previously mentioned, the biggest change for Ys X is the shift to the open sea. Rather than traveling to different locations on foot or simply being transported by boat, Ys X: Nordics gives Adol and Karja complete control of their own ship. This vessel serves as the primary way to traverse the world and is also where they form a "pirate crew" to assist them. The ship acts as one of the main hub bases in the game and is a crucial part of the gameplay—one that many players will either love or dislike. Those who fall into the latter group will be pleased to know that Proud Nordics features a ship assist mode to make these sections easier, and the new "sea breezes" allow for much faster navigation. This is a clear example of Falcom taking criticisms of the original release to heart and doing their best to improve the experience without altering its core.
Sea travel consists of several different elements. First is simple navigation, where players traverse the open world to land on various islands. There are multiple points of view that can be toggled, and the ship can be set to move forward automatically or require manual input from the analog stick. Some players might be disappointed to learn that the ship does not use realistic physics; it feels more like a car than a maritime vessel—you can even do donuts in the ocean if you wish—but it handles well overall. It shouldn't take players long to get used to the controls, though there is a slight learning curve.
Outside of standard travel, other ships will attack, and key points on the map will trigger these naval battles. Yellow beacons unlock faster travel lines, allowing the ship to move significantly quicker, while other spots spawn enemies for resource gathering. Initially, combat options are limited to a cannon, but eventually, additional weapons with limited ammunition are unlocked, and abilities like the Mana Shield come into play. Some specific ships must be boarded and cleared on foot, allowing Adol and Karja to flex their "land legs" even at sea. Overall, the combat system works well, and those familiar with ship combat in other games will know what to expect, as it never becomes overly complicated. While certain sea bosses—especially the fake merchant ships—can be a challenge, the lack of manual aiming means most fights are over in seconds.
Along with standard ship battles, Ys X: Nordics contains raids where Adol and Karja attempt to recapture islands and outposts. In Ys VIII and Ys IX, there were modes where Adol and his friends had to survive waves of enemies in tower defense-style encounters; Ys X flips that script. Instead of defending, you are the one attacking. Your goal is the same as the enemies in previous titles: destroy the defenses and reach the center of the base. These battles begin on the ship, but once Adol and Karja make landfall, the gameplay shifts into a gauntlet of enemies leading up to a final boss. Similar to previous titles, these battles are graded, and better scores result in higher-quality rewards. Fortunately, you can retry these later if you fail to achieve an S rank, though doing so isn't necessary for progression.
Adol and Karja's Crew
The final feature of the ship is the crew gathered by Adol and Karja. As mentioned before, the vessel serves as the main base for our protagonists, and nearly everyone they recruit along the way joins the journey. Characters can be spoken to throughout each chapter, resources can be gathered or purchased from the on-board shops, and side stories can be initiated here. Each character also brings unique ship upgrades, with some offering further expansions as the story progresses.
Of course, the ship's appearance can be customized, and side activities such as tuna fishing and sea creature observation can be undertaken while at sea. Combined with crew conversations that unlock while physically sailing and the letters delivered by the crew’s faithful bird companion, the ship is loaded with things to do at almost any given time. This helps the world feel alive and allows players to watch the characters come into their own during every step of the journey.
While past titles featured locations like the base camp in VIII, the tavern in IX, or Redmont in The Oath in Felghana, the relationship system has never felt as impactful as it does here in Ys X. This tight-knit group has become a highlight in the series' history. They are the reason saying goodbye is so bittersweet when the game finally reaches its conclusion, and they are also a major reason why fans who played the original Ys X: Nordics might want to return for Proud Nordics.
Öland Island and Proud Nordics:
There is no denying that Proud Nordics is the definitive version of the original Ys X. However, the question for many remains: is the game truly that significant of an improvement, and is it worth playing a second time for those who have already beaten Nordics?
Truthfully, there isn't a vast amount of substantial content being added here, so players of the original won't miss out on too much. That doesn't change the fact that the additions are fun, though. They complement the original game perfectly and can extend the general runtime by a dozen hours or so—depending on how much time one is willing to invest. Each section of the new Öland Island can be completed in an hour or two, but finding all the treasure chests and items, along with taking on extra activities, extends the playtime further.
So, with that being said, what exactly has been added for Proud Nordics?
Graphical Upgrades and Performance
The first change that can be seen throughout the entire game comes from the resolution and the frame rate. Proud Nordics supports higher frame rate options—up to 120 FPS—and runs in native 4K. Outside of this, the models and textures remains the same as the original version, which unfortunately can look a bit flat in some areas. Mountains, in particular, are lower in detail, and the higher resolution makes this a bit more obvious. It isn't a deal-breaker by any means, but those hoping for a significant visual upgrade may be let down.
On the other hand, the new Öland Island seems to feature a different lighting than the rest of the game, with quite a bit more detail added into its map design as well. This island simply looks better than the rest of the game, showing that they could have gone back and touched up previous areas without impacting the frame rate. Again, this really isn't an issue considering the gameplay itself more than makes up for it, but one can't help but wonder what Ys XI could look like.
Platform Assist and Ship Assist
As previously mentioned, Proud Nordics includes an option to aid players with ship battles, but it also introduces a platform assist feature. Toggling this on adds extra footholds to platforming sections, making those parts of the game a bit easier. Although platforming isn't a huge focus in Proud Nordics, there are moments where precision becomes key, and falling can result in unwanted backtracking. It is a nice quality-of-life feature, though I personally kept it off and only toggled it on for testing purposes.
Faster Ships
The final change that carries throughout the entire adventure is none other than the ship's speed. As mentioned previously, sailing into yellow pillars of light and taking down the enemies that spawn will unlock lines in the ocean that allow you to travel faster. The original game was known for having a slow sailing speed, so having these fast tracks is a very welcome addition. Of course, you can still fast travel to any island or key point of interest, but these new paths speed up initial exploration greatly.
Öland Island
Outside of the handful of changes seen throughout the game, Öland Island itself is what truly makes Proud Nordics, well, Proud Nordics. This is a massive island that opens up roughly before the halfway point of the adventure and becomes a location Adol and Karja must regularly visit from then on. While the rest of the game consists of small, self-contained, stage-like islands, this location takes a page out of Ys VIII’s book and feels a bit more like a Metroidvania in comparison.
The first time players access the island, there is really only one path forward. There are plenty of treasure chests and side paths that can be seen, but accessing them requires new abilities that are unlocked during the main story later on. Instead of simply heading back to the ship and waiting, the game directs players through the initial field area, up to an abandoned coliseum, and eventually through the first dungeon on the island. It is here that the game introduces Karja’s cousin, Canute, and his shield-sister, Astrid. Karja and her cousin do not exactly see eye to eye, but this chance meeting is what leads both her and Adol down a new story of discovery. This is a tale that doesn’t directly impact the main plot of Ys X, but it does provide additional backstory and gives players a deeper understanding of the world. It is an interesting setup, though missing this story doesn't ruin the original game's plot in any way.
After beating this introduction, the battle arena opens up, allowing Adol, Karja, or the duo together to take on different monsters. Similar to the raids, these fights are graded, and higher scores net better rewards. Each fight has a recommended level attached, so sometimes it is better to come back later if achieving a high score feels out of reach.
Moving past the arena, Mana Ride Races are another additional activity unlocked later on, featuring multiple courses to conquer. Once again, it is a fun little side activity, but it doesn't have a major impact on the overall game. It simply allows players to use the Mana Ride ability in a unique way and encourages them to try maneuvers they might not have attempted while simply exploring.
Beyond these extras, the island contains many more puzzles compared to the main game, featuring a new ability called Mana Hold. This ability lets either Adol or Karja pick up special blocks that can be thrown to create platforms and solve puzzles, but it can be used in other ways as well. Fire-breathing blocks can be picked up and placed in front of enemies to torch them, and bombs can be grabbed out of the air and launched back at attackers. There are even boss fights that require the use of this maneuver to prevent certain death. The mechanic is integrated well, though the aiming can occasionally feel finicky. Sometimes the boxes needed for a puzzle can get jammed into a wall or lost, meaning the mechanic doesn't always work perfectly. Fortunately, there is a reset button to return objects to their original positions, but this often means resetting the entire room—which can be a pain if the glitch occurs near the end of a long puzzle.
While the island as a whole feels similar to Ys VIII’s presentation, it isn’t quite on the same level—which is to be expected. This is a single island within a larger game, whereas Ys VIII was built entirely around that concept. Even with backtracking and discovering hidden paths using new abilities, Öland Island remains a directed experience. While Ys VIII hid side quests down optional paths, Öland Island consists mostly of story-progression paths and will constantly send you back to the main quest once you reach the end of a segment. Canute will often ask Adol and Karja to return only when they are ready. Outside of gathering treasure or side activities, there isn't much else to do here besides the new subplot. And that’s okay.
Even with the lack of side stories, Öland Island is a beefy experience in its own right and feels like a sneak peek at what could be next for the series. It offers fans of the original Ys X a new challenge, but it is truly worth it only for those who absolutely loved the original and are craving more. If you simply liked the game but feel you've had your fill—or don't want to purchase the title again at full price—you shouldn't feel pressured to return. As fun as Öland Island is, it can be hard to justify a second purchase solely for this content. However, for those experiencing Ys X for the first time? You're among the lucky ones who get to enjoy both Öland Island and the base game to their absolute fullest.
And More
Besides Öland Island, Ys X: Proud Nordics also contains a new challenge dungeon and an additional final boss. Furthermore, the game includes all of the previous cosmetic DLC for Ys X: Nordics, and there is even a new tracker to show you how many items you still need to find within an area.
As I have mentioned several times, Ys X: Proud Nordics is the complete package and the definitive way to play through the title. It has effectively replaced the original Ys X: Nordics, meaning newcomers should not even bother with the previous version. The only exception would be if the original could be found at a much lower price and you, as a player, decide you can live without the quality-of-life improvements and the added content. Even then, I strongly recommend playing the game in its best state, because it truly is something special.
Should you play it?
Ys X: Proud Nordics is easily one of the best entries in the series, period. From the solid gameplay to the ocean exploration, this story of Adol, Karja, and their crew is engaging from start to finish, and one can't help but get a bit misty-eyed at the thought of saying goodbye.
While not everyone may like the changes introduced by the inclusion of sea exploration and ship battles, Proud Nordics has greatly improved upon the issues players had with the original release, and the addition of Öland Island is sure to put a smile on the faces of all the Ys VIII fans out there.
Overall, Ys X is an enjoyable experience from beginning to end and is easily one of the highlights of the franchise. Players of the original Ys X might not find enough reasons to return for a second go, but newcomers are in for a real treat as they get to experience the game for the first time. There is no denying that the game can be visually lacking in some areas, and the awkward Mana Hold could use a bit of touching up, but neither issue ruins the experience or takes away from its solid gameplay.
VERDICT: Recommended
Reviewed on PlayStation 5
Review Copy was Provided
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