Ys Origin

“The gameplay of Ys Origin is the heart of its appeal, offering a fast-paced 2.5D action RPG experience with smooth mechanics and satisfying hack-and-slash combat.”

“Each protagonist has distinct mechanics: Yunica favors melee attacks and mobility, Hugo fights with long-range magic and tactical positioning, and the final character offers an entirely different, more advanced playstyle. These variations ensure that each route feels mechanically unique, adding great replay value.”

“The game’s structure—ascending through the single, sprawling Darm Tower—gives it a clear sense of progression, with each floor introducing new enemies, mechanics, and environmental themes. The gameplay flows well with fast-paced combat, intricate level design, and challenging boss fights, making Ys Origin incredibly addictive.”

“The soundtrack, composed by Falcom Sound Team JDK, is nothing short of legendary. Songs like “Scarlet Tempest” and “Oboro” exemplify the studio’s unmatched ability to marry melody and intensity, making the soundtrack one of the most beloved in the series.”

“Timeless music: the soundtrack is nothing short of phenomenal, with energetic tracks that perfectly complement the high-octane combat and serene melodies that enhance the game's quieter moments.”

“Ys origin is an amazing game with some of the highest consistent quality music I've heard in a video game up till this point; every single track is an absolute banger or at least really good.”

“Stunning and beautiful graphics, smooth fun and accessible gameplay, so far great story and writing; grew up on Final Fantasy, Dragon Quest, and Secret of Mana, but never really made it around to this series and I can see I've been missing out!”

“Visually, Ys Origin maintains the series' signature art style while enhancing it with improved graphics.”

“The visuals are stunning; the game is played with a 2D isometric view, but all the scenes have 3D models, only your main character is sprites; the gameplay is awesome, good action RPG Zelda-like; the audio is top notch, all the OST and background music is so good, like very, very good, it would stick to your head all day; it also has good boss fights, good dungeons; I love this game.”

“Normal mode was not grindy at all and unlike Ys I & II, Origin is much more straightforward in giving instructions.”

“However, on later playthroughs, you will understand the boss patterns better and be able to beat them in subsequent runthroughs with almost no grinding.”

“Still, solid system, which absolutely doesn't get frustrating as you go (i.e. no grinding absolutely required, at least on normal difficulty playthroughs).”

“It's a comparatively short game, but it has strong replay value due to differences in story details and gameplay depending on the main character chosen. Beating the game with Yunica or Hugo unlocks a third character with a unique playthrough, new bosses, and the true ending, enriching the lore and encouraging multiple playthroughs.”

“Ys Origin features three campaigns, each about 10 hours long, with distinct storylines and playstyles. This variety, alongside multiple difficulty levels and bonus modes, creates immense replayability and makes it one of the most complete and replayable games in the Ys series.”

“Playing the game with all three characters adds significant replay value since each character plays completely differently and offers unique story elements. Coupled with unlockable extra modes and achievements, this ensures a rich and varied experience for multiple playthroughs.”

“Each campaign presents the same core events but explores them from different emotional and thematic angles.”

“Completing the game with both characters unlocks a third, secret protagonist whose storyline brings the narrative to its emotional conclusion.”

“At the start it appears to be a fairly standard JRPG-esque story with the memorable and challenging hack and slash gameplay Ys is known for, but as you play through the game multiple times with each of the characters, what was first a simple, borderline cliché, if well executed tale becomes far more memorable, complex, and touching.”

“The story is concise yet resonates through consistent character development.”

“All 3 characters get pretty good character development, but Hugo seemed to have the strongest.”

“The plot's pretty good, too - about as straightforward as you'd expect in a game like this, but I think the character development carries it, and the fact that there are three slightly different versions of it (one of which is unlocked by clearing the game once, has you initially fighting against the other protagonists, and includes additional plot revelations) improves replayability.”

“Normally I don't like such characters that think they are it, but even from the very start, without knowing his story yet, I already liked him somehow and he actually made me laugh.”

“Also, the Roos have some hilarious dialogue.”

“About halfway through the game, I realized that it's also possible to decode the runic language of the Roo characters, and I found their lines to be quite humorous.”

“The environments, though limited to a single tower, feature surprising variety—from fiery caverns to crystalline sanctuaries—each rendered with care and atmosphere.”

“The music is marvelous, and it perfectly complements the mood and atmosphere of the game.”

“The soundtrack ranks among the best game soundtracks of all time, creating an atmospheric richness that complements the excellent visual presentation.”

“No bugs, no glitches and no problems.”

“The game’s age shows in some low-resolution textures and static cutscene animations, but its clarity and performance are pristine, especially in the modern Steam version.”

“The controls are customizable, performance is smooth, and quality-of-life features like quick saving and configurable difficulty levels make it accessible to both newcomers and veterans.”

“The game is very well optimized, and it can run smoothly on any PC, even your grandma’s.”