Release Date: October 25, 2024
The tenth installment in a series of Japanese action RPGs. Ys X: Nordics stars Adol Christin, traveling to the far north where he faces the immortal undead known as Griegers.
Ys X: Nordics is the tenth installment in a series of action jRPGs originating from 1987. It was developed by Nihon Falcom, also known for the series The Legend of Heroes.
Ys X: Nordics is set after Ys IX: Monstrum Nox. Young adventurer Adol Christin leaves the ancient Kingdom of Ys and sets out north, meeting a seafaring civilization, the Normans. Over time, he learns more about the people and the greatest threat to them, the immortal undead called Griegers.
Ys X: Nordics is a third-person game expanding upon the ideas introduced in the previous installments of the series. The player traverses the land, completes quests, fights enemies, developing the player character and his party. The game does, however, introduce some significant novelties.
The primary new mechanic is a ship. The player can sail between the islands, use nautical maps for navigation and take part in naval battles. The combat was changed as well, as a new system was added to it. Cross Action lets us choose between two combat modes; "solo mode" has us controlling a single character, with the other companions attacking automatically, while "combination mode" has us controlling two characters at once, chaining their attacks into flashy combos.
Ys X: Nordics features colorful, manga-like high-quality visuals.
Platforms:
PC Windows
PlayStation 4
Nintendo Switch
PlayStation 5
Developer: Nihon Falcom
Publisher: NIS America
Age restrictions: 12+
Top s for Ys X: Nordics Video Game:
System Requirements for Ys X: Nordics Video Game:
PC / Windows
Minimum System Requirements:
(1080p, 60 fps) AMD Ryzen 5 1600, 8 GB RAM, graphic card 2 GB GeForce GTX 1050 or better, 7 GB HDD, Windows 10/11 64-bit.
Recommended System Requirements:
(1440p, 60 fps) Intel Core i5-10400, 16 GB RAM, graphic card 4 GB GeForce GTX 1650 or better, 7 GB HDD, Windows 10/11 64-bit.
Game Ratings for Ys X: Nordics Video Game.
Pure Nintendo: 7 / 10 by Kirk Hiner
I credit Falcom for continually tweaking the action JRPG elements of the Ys series, this time introducing naval battles and restricting melee combat to just two characters. Not everything works in Ys X: Nordics, but the open exploration and streamlined combat compensate for the elements that frustrate.
Checkpoint Gaming: 7 / 10 by Charlie Kelly
Ys X: Nordics may not have been the flourishing and vibrant first venture in the series I was after, but I'm also far from turned off by the franchise. Its fast-paced action combat with a plethora of strategies and abilities to employ never ceased to satisfy my brain's often insatiable need for flashy fighting. Backing it is kickass battle music with a heavy emphasis on electric guitar riffs that never get old. Though I wish the story, world and lore found within were more captivating, pretty and memorable, I can't fault how fun and solid the gameplay loop of perusing both the vast seas and involved islands is. There are plenty of secrets, fun gameplay moments and goodies that await. Having considered all that, I'd call Ys X: Nordics a damn fine seaworthy ride indeed. Nothing more. Nothing less.
Hardcore Gamer: 4 / 5 by Chris Shive
Ys X: Nordics brings welcome changes to the template that made its predecessors enjoyable. The ship exploration and naval battles add a new dimension to exploration that wasn't present in previous games. The shift from a three-member party to two does put limit on play variety, but having two constant playable characters brings a different dynamic which works well in the greater context of the story. These changes help differentiate Ys X: Nordics from other entries in the franchise, but it maintains the elements fans have come to expect, such as recruiting people for their base and watching it grow. The story takes interesting turns, especially later in the game, and all is done with a great accompanying soundtrack and frenetic mana-enhanced combat. Returning Ys players will find many elements that are familiar, but enough changes were made to make this new entry stand out from what came before it.
Average score from votes.