Ys: The Ark of Napishtim

89%
Game Brain Score Based on 616 reviews
  • story
  • gameplay
  • music
Ys: The Ark of Napishtim Game Cover
"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."
Starting at $5.21Buy now
Get on Steam

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.

Play Modes

Reviews

89%
Audience ScoreBased on 616 reviews
story101 positive mentions
grinding115 negative mentions
  • Fast-paced and enjoyable action RPG gameplay with a solid combat system.
  • Great soundtrack that enhances the overall experience.
  • Interesting story that ties into the broader Ys lore, with engaging characters.
  • Dash jump mechanic is frustrating and poorly explained, making certain areas difficult to navigate.
  • Significant grinding is required to progress, especially for boss fights.
  • Some bosses have unbalanced difficulty, leading to frustrating encounters.
  • story308 mentions

    The story of "Ys VI: The Ark of Napishtim" is generally considered to be straightforward and somewhat generic, serving primarily as a vehicle to guide players through gameplay rather than offering deep narrative engagement. While it features some interesting lore and character connections to previous entries in the series, many reviewers noted that the plot lacks refinement and can feel disjointed, with pacing issues and a reliance on backtracking that detracts from the overall experience. Despite these criticisms, fans of the series may still find enjoyment in its charm and the nostalgic callbacks to earlier games.

    • “The story is quite good, entertaining while not very deep.”
    • “The story is pretty interesting and has some great characters, as well as provides some important lore for the series.”
    • “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 lackluster and kind of lazy; the game progression is nonsensical and has many triggers that you can outright miss, making it impossible to progress without looking at a guide.”
    • “The story is very short and simple, taking about 12 hours to finish, but I felt like it was shorter because I wasted a lot of time backtracking and figuring out where to go since the game doesn't tell you where to go.”
    • “The plot is pretty by-the-numbers, but I was entertained; however, the story is not tight enough to guide you from boss to boss, leading to a lot of time getting lost without a walkthrough.”
  • gameplay224 mentions

    The gameplay of *Ys VI: The Ark of Napishtim* is characterized by fast-paced action and hack-and-slash mechanics, which are enjoyable but marred by a notoriously difficult dash-jump mechanic that many players find frustrating. While the game retains the series' signature fluid combat and engaging boss fights, it lacks the refinement seen in later titles, leading to mixed feelings about its overall execution. Despite its shortcomings, the core gameplay remains addictive and fun, appealing to both series veterans and newcomers.

    • “The core gameplay loop of diving into a horde of enemies and slashing around at them as they explode into money and items is deeply satisfying, and elaborate boss fights are tense and rewarding.”
    • “Fast-paced action RPG with great bosses, addictive gameplay, and memorable music.”
    • “Despite all of this, and despite a dash jump mechanic that was so reviled it never again saw the light of day and led to a double jump being added, the game is still fun, and the story finally answers a great deal of lingering questions about the game's narrative that have existed since the very first one.”
    • “The dash jump mechanic and the cave area can go to hell, but hey, you can't win them all.”
    • “The gameplay is weaker in practically every area: Adol's moveset is skimpier; dungeons lack the sense of momentum lent by Oath in Felghana's combo system; bosses spam obnoxious moves and then retreat out of reach.”
    • “But speaking of jumps, there is one mechanic for doing long distance jumps which is absolutely painful and significantly hurts the player experience - can’t understand how it was released in this state.”
  • music212 mentions

    The music in *Ys VI: The Ark of Napishtim* is widely praised, with many reviewers highlighting its 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 excellent, featuring memorable tracks that complement the game's atmosphere and fast-paced action. Overall, the music remains a standout aspect of the game, consistent with the high standards set by the *Ys* franchise.

    • “The music is also killer just like every other entry in the series (also the music is included as ogg files and is worth a listen outside of playing the game).”
    • “The soundtrack rocks like all the other Falcom games.”
    • “The music is absolutely phenomenal as always, Falcom's sound team never leaves you wanting.”
    • “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.”
    • “While bosses were pretty annoying with wonky hitboxes and boring mechanics, the music was bland and not memorable compared to previous games.”
    • “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.”
  • grinding117 mentions

    Grinding is a prominent and often tedious aspect of the game, with many players noting that it is necessary to progress, especially on higher difficulty levels. While some find the grinding experience rewarding and enjoyable, others criticize it for being excessive and detracting from the overall gameplay, particularly when it comes to boss encounters. Overall, the game appeals to those who appreciate grinding, but it may frustrate players who prefer a more streamlined experience.

    • “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 negatives I had with this game is that it may require a bit of grinding at times.”
  • graphics76 mentions

    The graphics of the game are generally praised for their vibrant colors and charming aesthetic, reminiscent of early 2000s titles, with many noting the successful remastering for modern platforms. While some reviewers acknowledge that the visuals are dated compared to contemporary standards, they appreciate the nostalgic appeal and the detailed environments that enhance the overall experience. Overall, the graphics are considered solid for the game's age, contributing positively to its presentation despite occasional glitches and configuration issues.

    • “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.”
  • replayability10 mentions

    Overall, the game's replayability is mixed; while some players appreciate the extra modes and challenges available, such as harder difficulties and speedruns, others feel that it lacks substantial content to encourage multiple playthroughs. Comparisons to previous titles in the series highlight a perceived decrease in replay value, with many noting that aside from a few modes, there isn't much incentive to revisit the game.

    • “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.”
  • atmosphere7 mentions

    The atmosphere in this Ys game is notably distinct, characterized by a uniquely immersive quality that is enhanced by its exceptional soundtrack. Reviewers highlight how the music not only complements the gameplay but also stands out on its own, effectively supporting the narrative and enriching the overall experience. Overall, the combination of hardcore gameplay, a captivating story, and a remarkable soundtrack creates a compelling and atmospheric environment that sets it apart from other entries in the series.

    • “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.”
  • stability6 mentions

    Overall, the game's stability is generally positive, with most users reporting smooth performance and no crashes, even at native 4K resolution. However, some players have experienced occasional graphical glitches, particularly when entering new areas, which can be resolved by restarting the game.

    • “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.”
  • character development6 mentions

    Character development in the game is highlighted by strong character design and engaging dialogues, contributing to an intriguing story and immersive world. While the graphics are noted as impressive for an older title, the overall focus remains on the quality of character interactions and aesthetics.

    • “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.”
    • “Great character design.”
    • “The character design and music are fine... that's about it.”
    • “Character development feels shallow and uninspired.”
    • “The characters lack depth and meaningful growth throughout the game.”
  • humor5 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 juxtaposition of challenging gameplay with an abundance of healing items to be comically absurd, creating a blend of difficulty and ease that adds to the game's charm. Additionally, the community's cult-like enthusiasm for the game contributes to its humorous appeal, making it a unique experience.

    • “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.”
    • “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 funny thing is I was dead set on Origins being the best until I played through this one.”
  • optimization4 mentions

    Overall, the game is well-optimized for a variety of systems, running smoothly and bug-free, particularly on modern hardware where it achieves 4K at 60fps. However, there are reports of performance issues on the PSP version, indicating some inconsistency in optimization across platforms.

    • “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 read bad things about the game's performance on the PSP.”
    • “So you can tell the game was optimized for all kinds of computers.”
  • emotional4 mentions

    The emotional aspect of the game is highlighted by its heart-warming story that continues the journey of Adol Christin and revisits beloved characters from previous installments. Despite some technical limitations, the beautiful graphics enhance the overall experience, making players feel a deep connection to the narrative.

    • “Although technically outdated, the graphics are beautiful and the game tells a lovely, heart-warming story.”
    • “- heart-warming, emotional story”
    • “Ys beauty is wholesome fun, and I loved following the story of Adol Christin and the returning characters from the last game.”
Positive mentions (%)Positive
Neutral mentions (%)Neutral
Negative mentions (%)Negative

Critic Reviews

62% average critic score

Buy Ys: The Ark of Napishtim

Play time

76hMedian play time
51hAverage play time
2-100hSpent by most gamers
*Based on 2 analyzed playthroughs

Videos

Similar Games