Ys SEVEN

84%
Game Brain Score Based on 733 reviews
  • story
  • gameplay
  • music
Ys SEVEN Game Cover
Ys Seven holds up in the conversion from PSP to PC, and stands out as the new best way to play an already great game.
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In "Ys SEVEN," adventurer Adol Christin and his companion Dogi explore the mystical land of Altago, battling diverse enemies and powerful hierarchies in this action RPG. The game introduces a new party system, allowing players to control three characters and switch between them for strategic combat. Players uncover the land's ancient secrets while saving its people from a grave threat.

  • PC
  • Windows
  • Play​Station
  • PSP
Genres & TagsPlay Modes

Reviews

84%
Audience ScoreBased on 733 reviews
story194 positive mentions
grinding92 negative mentions
  • Fast-paced and fluid combat system that emphasizes character switching and skill usage.
  • Engaging story with interesting plot twists and character development.
  • Excellent soundtrack that enhances the overall experience.
  • Graphics are dated, reflecting its origins as a PSP game, which may detract from the experience for some players.
  • Party AI can be frustratingly unhelpful during battles, leading to a reliance on the player for effective combat.
  • Some boss fights can feel overly long and tedious due to their high health pools.
  • story554 mentions

    The story in "Ys Seven" is generally regarded as a significant improvement over previous entries in the series, featuring a blend of familiar JRPG tropes and engaging character development. While some players find the plot predictable and filled with clichés, others appreciate its pacing and the emotional depth it brings, particularly in the second half. Overall, the narrative is described as enjoyable and well-integrated with the gameplay, making it a solid experience for fans of the genre.

    • “Ys Seven is a game that took what made Ys so endearing from prior titles and transitioned amazingly to a 3D environment, telling a beautiful and personal story while drawing out the best aspects of Adol's journey.”
    • “The storytelling is excellent, with a lot of plot twists that keep the narrative engaging throughout the game.”
    • “The story itself is great, but Ys isn't typically known for story; however, I thought the story in VII was one of the best in the series, maybe even the best.”
    • “The story is quite basic and is there only for padding; I find myself not caring about any of the characters at all; in fact, I find some of them annoying.”
    • “For starters, the story's not that great and has quite a few flaws to it that I'd say are enough to ruin any sense it has, as well as many unlikable characters.”
    • “The game's story was the weakest in the Ys series, and the fights with the dragons and the final boss are more annoying than challenging, which really kind of drained my energy and enthusiasm to get through the game.”
  • gameplay315 mentions

    The gameplay in "Ys Seven" is characterized by its fast-paced action and the introduction of a party system, allowing players to switch between characters with different attack types, which adds a layer of strategy. While the core mechanics are engaging and the combat is satisfying, some players noted issues with AI behavior, lack of tutorialization for key mechanics like flash guarding, and occasional camera problems that can detract from the experience. Overall, the game successfully combines exploration and combat, though it shows signs of its age and has some rough edges that may limit accessibility for newcomers.

    • “The gameplay is incredibly addictive, good music, the boss fights where kind of ... easy?”
    • “It has everything that makes a Ys game great: simple mechanics that are hard to master, an addicting gameplay loop, just enough freedom in party composition and character customization, a good story, enjoyable characters, and most importantly, excellent music!”
    • “The gameplay really opens up as you unlock enough combat skills and build a moveset to your liking, for there is a wide variety to choose from near the last third of the game.”
    • “It's obnoxious how slow the characters walk, the camera pans, and the scene unfolds, especially since the gameplay is otherwise quite fast.”
    • “Ultimately, the most damning thing about the game is that it literally never tells you how to flash guard, so unless you check the controls in the options menu, you may encounter a situation where, say, you put 30+ hours into the game completely oblivious to a core gameplay mechanic.”
    • “This suffers from odd design choices, extremely boring gameplay, and a low-energy soundtrack.”
  • music289 mentions

    The music in Ys Seven is widely praised, with many reviewers highlighting it as a standout feature of the game, consistent with the high standards set by previous entries in the series. While some tracks are noted as less memorable compared to earlier games, the overall quality remains excellent, contributing significantly to the game's atmosphere and enhancing the gameplay experience. Fans of the series can expect a mix of energetic orchestral and rock music that complements the fast-paced action and engaging storytelling.

    • “Every boss fight in this game was such a memorable spectacle and a fun learning experience, all while listening to perhaps the best OST in the whole series.”
    • “The music is amazing, in fact I would say it is the best in Ys, which is very high praise as the other games have outstanding tracks too.”
    • “Music is excellent as always with Ys games - the boss music always gets me pumped.”
    • “This suffers from odd design choices, extremely boring gameplay, and a low energy soundtrack.”
    • “Ys seven is disappointing in another critical aspect, and that's the music.”
    • “Like with the story and combat, there are a couple times the music does its job well, but 90% of the time, it's just kind of there, not being memorable in the least.”
  • graphics149 mentions

    The graphics of the game, originally a PSP title, are widely regarded as dated and low-budget, resembling visuals from the N64 era. While some players appreciate the nostalgic charm and artistic style, many criticize the lack of detail and resolution options, noting that the visuals do not meet modern standards. Overall, the graphics serve the gameplay well, but they may deter those who prioritize visual fidelity.

    • “While Oath in Felghana and Origin are not graphics powerhouses, their combination of sprites and 3D environments has a certain charm to them.”
    • “Graphics: while the graphics themselves are clearly outdated and low-budget, they still have a charm to them and I really love the character models and environments.”
    • “Don't let the early-2000s dated graphics deter you from playing this immensely rich, action-oriented game.”
    • “Two problems: the graphics look badly dated even for its original release date on PSP and especially for a PC port.”
    • “Ys Seven was originally released on the PSP, and graphically, it looks like an N64 title.”
    • “Although the storyline is fascinating and amazing as usual, I really could not stand the graphics; the movements are slow, blocky, and generally don't flow.”
  • grinding98 mentions

    The grinding aspect of the game has received mixed feedback, with many players noting that while it can be time-consuming and tedious—especially for leveling skills and crafting materials—it is often seen as optional rather than mandatory. Some players found the grinding enjoyable and rewarding, particularly when it comes to mastering skills and crafting better equipment, while others felt it detracted from the overall experience, especially during the game's final hours. Overall, the game offers a balance of grinding that caters to completionists but may frustrate those looking for a more streamlined experience.

    • “The average grind level is manageable; if you go to the final dungeon a bit underleveled, you might need to grind for about 1 or 2 hours, but overall, the game isn't that grindy, to be honest.”
    • “You'll need a second life for grinding.”
    • “One thing that makes this game drop some points is that each special ability has 10 levels that you can rank them up through, but the amount of grinding required to do so is pretty time consuming.”
    • “Two problems: the graphics look badly dated even for its original release date on PSP and especially for a PC port, and the character skills involve hours of grinding to master even with a linked weapon and the best skill accessory because there are ten ranks in each.”
    • “The grinding in seven is somewhat worse since you have to grind for material drops now in order to be able to craft better gear, material drops often dropping based on chance.”
  • emotional20 mentions

    The emotional aspect of the game is highlighted by its impactful ending, which resonates deeply with players, often leading to tears. While the story may be considered generic, it is infused with moments of genuine charm and cleverness that evoke strong feelings, particularly through well-executed character development and touching music. Overall, the game is praised for its ability to create a significant emotional connection, making it a memorable experience.

    • “And yet, the ending tugs at your heartstrings in such a neat way, I couldn't help but shed a tear when it was all over.”
    • “Such a great game, the ending really hit me emotionally.”
    • “The music during the confrontation near the end (the song is called 'Reincarnation') is just so touching.”
  • character development11 mentions

    Character development in the game is highly praised, with reviewers noting that all characters, particularly the playable ones, possess logical backstories and engaging arcs. The development is described as surprising and well-executed, drawing favorable comparisons to previous titles in the series. Overall, it contributes significantly to the game's narrative depth and player engagement.

    • “All characters (especially playable ones) had a logical backstory and interesting character development.”
    • “The character development was great.”
    • “Fortunately, the character development and story are usually pretty much done at that point, so it's not too much of a sacrifice.”
    • “Surprising character development from one particular smirking individual.”
    • “And then Ys Seven... oh my... it's maybe on par with Ys VIII when it comes to the scenario and character design.”
  • stability10 mentions

    Overall, the game's stability is generally solid, with no major hangs, crashes, or story-blocking glitches reported. However, some users have experienced freezing issues when attempting to run the game in full screen mode, and there are minor bugs related to screen resolution settings. Despite these issues, the game is considered well-executed overall.

    • “Game freezes if I try to run in full screen mode.”
    • “One thing that's kinda buggy is the screen resolution setting.”
    • “Great game overall, and I find that the mechanics are very well done, excluding a couple helpful mechanical glitches.”
  • atmosphere9 mentions

    The game's atmosphere is generally considered less immersive compared to titles like Celceta and VIII, which effectively convey a sense of exploration and survival. While it features strong boss design, enjoyable music, and well-designed levels, some players find the environmental visuals lacking and the atmospheric music uninspiring, leading to a feeling of monotony during gameplay.

    • “Great boss design, great music, likeable characters, and great atmosphere.”
    • “+ great atmospheric levels”
    • “Also a very atmospheric feel & design in levels.”
    • “This game has a lot less atmosphere to it than Celceta and VIII, with Celceta feeling like a true unexplored forest and VIII really capturing that colony of castaways feeling.”
    • “This game has a lot less atmosphere to it than Celceta and VIII, with Celceta feeling like a true unexplored forest and VIII really capturing that colony of castaways feeling.”
  • humor6 mentions

    The humor in the game is highlighted by its laugh-out-loud dialogue and entertaining voice acting, featuring fun characters that contribute to the comedic experience. However, some players note that the overall plot and locations feel somewhat generic, relying on familiar tropes.

    • “Voice acting is hilarious.”
    • “Fun characters with interesting and funny dialogue.”
    • “The main quest has great dialogue and is even laugh-out-loud funny at times.”
  • optimization2 mentions

    The game is praised for its excellent optimization, running smoothly without significant performance issues.

    • “It's also worth noting that the game runs smooth as butter and is generally fairly well-optimized.”
Positive mentions (%)Positive
Neutral mentions (%)Neutral
Negative mentions (%)Negative

Critic Reviews

77% average critic score

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Play time

28hMedian play time
25hAverage play time
15-40hSpent by most gamers
*Based on 16 analyzed playthroughs

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