Ys: The Ark of Napishtim

"Some gameplay elements haven’t aged well, but others demonstrate that you shouldn’t fix what isn’t broken. A must for Ys devotees and JRPG fans."

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In "Ys: The Ark of Napishtim," players control Adol Christin, a skilled swordfighter, as he explores a mysterious island filled with ancient ruins and dangerous creatures. The game features fast-paced action-RPG gameplay, with a focus on combo-based combat and exploration. After a devastating shipwreck, Adol discovers the island holds the key to uncovering his past and saving the world from destruction.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

Single-Player Play through the game's story or campaign solo

Reviews

89%

Audience ScoreBased on 710 reviews

story112 positive mentions

grinding141 negative mentions

Fast-paced and enjoyable combat with a variety of elemental swords.
Great soundtrack that enhances the overall experience.
Interesting story that ties into the broader Ys lore.

Excessive grinding required to progress, especially on higher difficulties.
Dash jump mechanic is frustrating and poorly explained.
Some bosses have unbalanced difficulty and hitbox issues.

story
344 mentions
33 % positive mentions
63 % neutral mentions
5 % negative mentions
The story in "Ys VI: The Ark of Napishtim" is generally considered to be simple and somewhat predictable, serving primarily as a vehicle to guide players through gameplay rather than as a deeply engaging narrative. While it features interesting lore and callbacks to previous entries in the series, many reviewers noted that the plot lacks depth and character development, with some criticizing the antagonist's motivations as weak. Overall, the game is recommended for fans of the series who appreciate its action-oriented gameplay and music, but those seeking a rich story may find it lacking.
- “The story packs quite a lot of factions and events into its modest running time, while the worldbuilding is central to the overarching lore, providing valuable context for almost every other Ys game.”
- “The story is quite good, entertaining while not very deep.”
- “The story is also enjoyable, albeit a little basic.”
- “The story is... honestly pretty light.”
- “If I had to give my thoughts on the main story, I'd say 'it exists.' Honestly, I'd say the antagonist is the weakest part of the game, and that was a similar complaint I had with Celceta, but here it's even worse.”
- “The story is lackluster and kind of lazy; the game progression is nonsensical and has many triggers that you can outright miss and never progress the story without looking at a guide.”
gameplay
252 mentions
29 % positive mentions
63 % neutral mentions
8 % negative mentions
The gameplay of *Ys VI: The Ark of Napishtim* is characterized by fast-paced action and a straightforward combat system, though it suffers from some clunky mechanics, particularly the notoriously difficult dash jump. While many players find the core gameplay enjoyable and reminiscent of classic action RPGs, the execution of certain mechanics, such as hitboxes and platforming, can be frustrating and detract from the overall experience. Despite these issues, the game remains a solid entry in the series, offering engaging combat and a satisfying progression loop, though it lacks the refinement seen in later titles.
- “The core gameplay is good, with difficult bosses and intense dungeons, which are much more challenging than in other Ys games.”
- “Fast-paced action RPG with great bosses, addictive gameplay, and memorable music.”
- “The gameplay remains largely skill-based, but I did feel like the game expected me to grind at times, which is kind of lame for an action game.”
- “There's not much depth to the gameplay, janky hitboxes, un-telegraphed boss attacks, and downright unfair minibosses.”
- “The gameplay is fine, but I hate the dash-jumping parts. It's not mandatory to be able to dash-jump to progress the game, which is the only good part, but if you want to collect every chest or get to that special miniboss, you have to be able to dash-jump.”
- “The dash-jump mechanic and the cave area can go to hell, but hey, you can't win them all.”
music
227 mentions
56 % positive mentions
41 % neutral mentions
2 % negative mentions
The music in "Ys VI: The Ark of Napishtim" is widely praised, with many reviewers highlighting its high quality and ability to enhance the gameplay experience. While some feel it may not reach the heights of previous entries in the series, the soundtrack is still considered memorable and enjoyable, featuring a mix of fast-paced and atmospheric tracks that complement the game's action and setting. Overall, the music remains a standout aspect of the game, consistent with the franchise's reputation for excellent soundtracks.
- “The music is absolutely phenomenal as always; Falcom's sound team never leaves you wanting.”
- “The soundtrack rocks like all the other Falcom games.”
- “The music is great as always; if you like fast-paced hack and slash and a lot of grinding accompanied by one of the best soundtracks ever created for a game, this game is for you.”
- “The music is a joke compared to pretty much every other game in the series, and they couldn't be bothered to do an actual arranged version with instruments like in Oath in Felghana, so it all just sounds like hyper MIDI.”
- “First of all, the music is quite underwhelming compared to the other entries, but I said okay, maybe this is a good game in other regards.”
- “The music in this game... oh dear sweet Jesus, the music... after the disaster that was Ys V's soundtrack (just why?) Sound Team J.D.K.”
grinding
143 mentions
1 % positive mentions
1 % neutral mentions
99 % negative mentions
Grinding is a prominent aspect of the game, often seen as both a necessity and a source of frustration for players. Many reviews highlight that while grinding can lead to significant power boosts and is integral to progressing through tougher bosses, it can also feel tedious and inflate playtime, especially on higher difficulty settings. Overall, the experience of grinding varies, with some players finding it enjoyable and rewarding, while others view it as a chore that detracts from the overall enjoyment of the game.
- “You'll need a second life for grinding.”
- “I even put in a couple of hours of grinding for it until I realized I would be here literally all day killing the same 5 blobs and eventually gave up on it.”
- “My biggest complaints about the game would have to be how much grinding you're expected to do just to not be overwhelmed at some bosses... but that's not atypical for Ys games.”
- “The only downside to the game is the grinding at the end to upgrade swords to max. The story is typical JRPG save the world, nothing special.”
graphics
80 mentions
40 % positive mentions
54 % neutral mentions
6 % negative mentions
The graphics of the game are generally praised for their vibrant colors and charming aesthetics, despite being considered outdated by modern standards. Many reviewers appreciate the blend of 2D and 3D art styles, noting that the visuals hold up well for a title originally released in the early 2000s, especially after remastering for the Steam release. While some technical issues and graphical glitches were mentioned, the overall presentation is described as beautiful and nostalgic, appealing to fans of the series.
- “The graphics are gorgeous, and the exploration is excellent.”
- “The game features a gorgeous 90's fantasy anime aesthetic with a pumping soundtrack to match.”
- “The graphics also do an excellent job of bringing a fictional world to life with vibrant colors and a variety of enemies in different dungeon and overworld settings.”
- “The graphics are dated (even by 2003's standards), but functional.”
- “The game originally came out on the PS2, but other than the graphics quality, it could have just as easily been developed for the SNES a decade earlier.”
- “Graphically, it hasn't aged well.”
replayability
10 mentions
30 % positive mentions
40 % neutral mentions
30 % negative mentions
Overall, the game's replayability is mixed; while some players appreciate the extra modes and challenges available, others feel that it lacks depth compared to previous titles in the series. Many mention that replaying on harder difficulties or pursuing achievements can extend playtime, but the absence of varied character experiences limits its overall replay value.
- “I beat the main story in about 22 hours, but the replay value is there with extra modes.”
- “This game is well worth the asking price if you are looking to invest in replay value on harder difficulties.”
- “15.29€ is not a bad price for a good game with loads of replay value.”
- “My only gripe is that compared to Ys Origins (3 different characters with differing stories and difficulties and gameplay styles to go along), this really has comparably little replay value.”
- “[replayability - bad]: other than doing different difficulties, speedruns, or getting all the achievements... there's not that much reason to replay it.”
- “- replayability is thin, no Alma's trials.”
character development
7 mentions
57 % positive mentions
14 % neutral mentions
29 % negative mentions
Character development in the game is criticized for being limited, primarily focusing on a few characters like Olha, Isha, and the village chief, which detracts from a more expansive narrative. While the character design and graphics receive praise, the overall depth of character development is seen as lacking despite the presence of excellent dialogues and an intriguing story.
- “The game shines with excellent dialogues, character design, intriguing story and beautiful world.”
- “The character designs are really nice and the graphics are pretty good for such an old polygonal game.”
- “Character design is good too.”
- “Character development suffers, mostly because the focus is really only on Olha, Isha, and the village chief for the most part.”
- “The character design and music are fine... that's about it.”
atmosphere
7 mentions
71 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
29 % negative mentions
The atmosphere of the game is highly praised for its unique and immersive qualities, enhanced by an exceptional soundtrack that complements the gameplay and narrative. Reviewers note that the music not only supports the game's ambiance but also stands out on its own, contributing to a captivating experience that distinguishes it from other titles in the Ys series. Overall, the combination of atmospheric elements, engaging story, and solid gameplay creates a memorable and cohesive environment.
- “It's different from other Ys games in that this game's OST is more atmospheric.”
- “Hardcore gameplay - wonderful music - astounding atmosphere - this is the Ys series in a nutshell.”
- “Like all Ys games, the soundtrack does an excellent job supporting and defining the atmosphere of the game, but at the same time, the music easily stands on its own.”
- “It fits, or rather, creates the atmosphere to fit the storyline and dungeons wonderfully.”
stability
6 mentions
17 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
83 % negative mentions
Overall, the game's stability is generally positive, with most users reporting smooth performance and no crashes, particularly at native 4K resolution. However, some players have experienced occasional graphical glitches, especially in widescreen mode, which can typically be resolved by restarting the game or utilizing nearby save points.
- “Runs great, looks great, sounds great, plays great.”
- “Buggy as hell.”
- “Some graphical glitches after playing for a while, but restarting would fix them.”
- “Like a lot of these ports, there are occasional graphical glitches on the edges for widescreen users.”
humor
5 mentions
100 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
0 % negative mentions
The humor in the game is characterized by its quirky mechanics, such as inconsistent boss attacks that can lead to both frustrating and amusing moments. Players find the game's balance of difficulty and healing items comically absurd, as it allows for easy recovery from seemingly unfair challenges. Additionally, the community's cult-like enthusiasm adds a layer of humor, making the experience both entertaining and endearing.
- “Also, it was kind of funny when I looked more into this game for questions I had, to learn the Ys community seems to lean quite a bit into the cult part of 'cult classic', complete with a webpage made for 'indoctrination'.”
- “The game showers you with healing items as though it knows it has a ton of cheap damage and invincible enemies, so it is somehow frustratingly difficult while also hilariously easy to get through at the same time, as you can just eat nine honeycombs when a group of invincible enemies 100-0s you or you fall asleep at the keyboard long enough for a boss's long-winded attack to finally hit you.”
- “The funny thing is I was dead set on Origins being the best until I played through this one.”
optimization
5 mentions
60 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
40 % negative mentions
Overall, the game's optimization is commendable, with smooth performance and minimal bugs across various systems, particularly on modern hardware where it runs at 4K and 60fps. However, some users report minor stuttering at certain points, and there are concerns about its performance on older platforms like the PSP.
- “You can tell the game was optimized for all kinds of computers.”
- “Ys4 has better graphics, very nice music, a good plot, and interesting characters - it runs smoothly and is bug-free.”
- “As one might expect from a 2003 game made natively for PC and only slightly improved and updated, it runs smoothly in 4K at 60fps on a modern graphics card.”
- “I experience minor stuttering at certain points of the game, but nothing really game-breaking.”
- “I read bad things about the game's performance on the PSP.”
emotional
5 mentions
100 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
0 % negative mentions
The emotional aspect of the game is highlighted by its heartwarming and nostalgic storytelling, which resonates deeply with fans of the series. Reviewers appreciate the return of beloved characters and the ability to evoke feelings reminiscent of the original Ys games, despite some technical limitations in graphics. Overall, the game successfully delivers an engaging and touching narrative experience.
- “Although technically outdated, the graphics are beautiful and the game tells a lovely, heart-warming story.”
- “- heart-warming, emotional story”
- “By far my most favorite 3D Ys story-wise, it brings out the exact same feeling that the first Ys games managed to achieve emotionally. If you're one of the few people like me who enjoyed the original Ys games for their story, you must get this one.”