72 replies to this topic

[PlayerOnePhil]

Ys, the ideal utopia. Once a country so peaceful and prosperous, a country where children were as free as the wind. A country where harmony blew through the hearts of all men.

Ys, a kingdom ruled by the wisdom and charity of its six powerful priests. An empire watched over and blessed by the enchanting aura of its two beautiful goddesses.

Ys, the seemingly tranquil paradise, suddenly pulled from the height of its civilization to the empty abyss of infinite isolation.

How could such a land of promise simply vanish from the face of the planet? How could such prosperity be forgotten?

The legend has been silenced for over seven hundred years. And now the mystery unfolds.

After our Beyond Oasis Game Club, we've decided to keep the action-RPG train going with Ys: Book I & II (for the record, it’s pronounced “ease,” not “whys”). This was one of the very first console games to be released on CD in the U.S. back when it came out for the TurboGrafx-16. The series has earned a lot of fans over the years, but will newcomers to the series enjoy the simplistic "run into enemies to damage them" combat system? That's what we wanna find out.

Since most of you probably don't have a TurboGrafx to play the original on, your best best is to get the game through the Wii's Virtual Console (only 800 Wii Points, and you can now play it straight off an SD card!). Atlus also recently released a graphically updated version of the game(s) for the Nintendo DS under the title Legacy of Ys: Book I & II. You won't get the true old school Ys experience playing this version, but if that's all you got, then go for it.



We'll be discussing this game in episode 131. In the meantime, get playing and get us your comments and/or memories. As always, you can post them on this blog, in the forums, drop us an email, or leave a voicemail (713-893-8069).

Ye Olde YouTube Links:

[Indy aka Rex]

Dude, YES! Finally. Just as I've started to play Ys on the DS. I loved The Ark of Napishtim so much, 1 and 2 on the DS may not be the best renditions but seeing as how I lack a Wii... they will do.

[StinkingBishop]

I started to play this last week. I will get back to it later today.

When I started playing it my wife came down. She said "Why do you keep bumping into those monsters." So I told her "That is how the game works. You fight buy bumping into people" My wife replied "That is stupid. You didn't pay money for this did you?" And I said "Well points actually." and she said "Ok, give me your credit card, you obviously don't know how to use it."

I enjoyed the hour I put into it much more then she did. I liked the bumping mechanic. I mostly just got some XP, So I haven't experienced the story to much. but I plan on putting more time into it so I hope we can have a good discussion about it.

[Kirbutashi]

I like to think of it as more like a shoving contest. And the hero spent his whole life in school stealing lunch money.

[Indy aka Rex]

I like to think of it as more like a shoving contest. And the hero spent his whole life in school stealing lunch money.

I relate to him even more now.

[RareMonkey]

gah i will have to go down to the basement and dig up my old tg16 for this. the annoying thing about the bumping mechanic is that you have to make sure you are on the side or you will prolly get hit instead. We all know this game is about the insanely good music and I am looking forward to hearing it again.

[Sunflower4000]

This is exciting, having always read about Ys when I was young, I was always curious but never owned a TG-16 CD for it, now I can do it right.

[shouamabane]

I'll be buying the VC version of Ys this week.

Also, the PSP remake of Ys I & II looks great:



http://news.dengeki....000/148/148996/

Edited by shouamabane, 30 March 2009 - 03:33 PM.

[PlayerOneCJ]

I just beat that thing today. Ha!

Started playing. I'm enjoying it so far!

[thorbahn3]

I hate that my health doesn't regenerate when inside dungeons. That's bullshit because if I can do it anywhere else, why not in the dungeon? After all the monsters respawn over and over so I should be given a fighting chance.

[PlayerOnePhil]

I hate that my health doesn't regenerate when inside dungeons. That's bullshit because if I can do it anywhere else, why not in the dungeon? After all the monsters respawn over and over so I should be given a fighting chance.

Fairly early on, you can find a ring that restores your health in dungeons.

Explore, explore!

[PlayerOneStewy]

I hate that my health doesn't regenerate when inside dungeons. That's bullshit because if I can do it anywhere else, why not in the dungeon? After all the monsters respawn over and over so I should be given a fighting chance.

That's nothing. Try using any sort of healing item during a boss fight

[PlayerOneCJ]

Fairly early on, you can find a ring that restores your health in dungeons.

Explore, explore!

Is that in one of the chests that's locked? Am I supposed to open the ones in that first "real" dungeon?

[thorbahn3]

I'm up to the point where I beat the centipede. BTW the music is really good. So good it could be used in any current RPG and no one be any the wiser. Too bad sometimes the music goes all chiptuneish.

[redrock963]

I picked this up again after finishing some games in my backlog tonight.

I've gotta say, I've got the DS version, and I wish I could play the sequels the same way by crashing into stuff with the Stylus. That is the most fun thing EVER!

I only have one complaint about this game thus far, and that it sort of suffers from the same problem that most old RPGs have... Getting lost. It's nice that the DS version tells you what your next objective is, but with no real world map, sometimes I find it hard to get to that objective. I couldn't imagine how maddeningly difficult it was back the day without the DS mini-map and objective list.

Is there a decent walkthrough of this online somewhere? I tried my old faithful RPGClassics.com to find a shrine that maybe had some maps or something, but no luck.

Thanks!

[RareMonkey]

Fairly early on, you can find a ring that restores your health in dungeons.

Explore, explore!

this is true and that ring is your savior it seems at times too.

[Valke]

Just started playing and found it a little frustrating to get started with the whole bumping mechanic. However once you get used to the whole system its actually quite unique and challenging. This is actually the first time for me playing this game and I'll be interested in hearing from the people who have played it before but haven't touched the game in years.

[redrock963]

Is that in one of the chests that's locked? Am I supposed to open the ones in that first "real" dungeon?

The Heal Ring is in the Mine dungeon from what I'm reading. I haven't gotten that far into the mine dungeon as of yet though.

[RareMonkey]

its amazing how fast i was able to blow through the Ys book 1, only took me like 4 hours to play this time. I guess that is the advantage of playing these games so many times when i was a kid.

[StinkingBishop]

I played some more last night and learned that i spent the first 500 xp not using any weapon or armor. After buying a sword and armor I brought up the equipment screen and saw them listed so I thought they where automatically equip. Wasn't until i bought a new sword that i learned you had to select it with the pink box.

I got stuck on one of the first things last night. The Mayor asks me to get the silver bell, so i go north and entering the ruins or what ever does not allow me to go any wheres, and talking to the thief guy tells me they only steal since others steal from him. I hope I did not miss something.

[PlayerOneStewy]

I played some more last night and learned that i spent the first 500 xp not using any weapon or armor. After buying a sword and armor I brought up the equipment screen and saw them listed so I thought they where automatically equip. Wasn't until i bought a new sword that i learned you had to select it with the pink box.

I got stuck on one of the first things last night. The Mayor asks me to get the silver bell, so i go north and entering the ruins or what ever does not allow me to go any wheres, and talking to the thief guy tells me they only steal since others steal from him. I hope I did not miss something.

Take a very close look at the statues inside the shrine.

[StinkingBishop]

Ok. I figured it had something to do with them, but last night nothing was jumping out. Tonight I will figure it out.

[atat23]

What's this bumping mechanic everyone is talking about? In the DS version you swing a sword, you don't bump into them as such.....?


I was playing this on the train and laughed way too loud at the abruptness of:

Spoiler

"Sarah.......has been murdered"

Problem with playing DS on the train though is that my arms start to cramp up so can't play for more than 15/20 minutes at a time.


Still the game seems pretty easy so far, I came out after getting the first book at about lvl 18 and 20k gold, every monster seems to take about 1 health off me and I'm playing it in normal, maybe I'm abusing the enemy respawn too much. Added to this I got the silver shield before the ruby shield, do they have other effects I'm missing? otherwise why even use the ruby shield?

[StinkingBishop]

What's this bumping mechanic everyone is talking about? In the DS version you swing a sword, you don't bump into them as such.....?


I was playing this on the train and laughed way too loud at the abruptness of:

Spoiler

"Sarah.......has been murdered"

Problem with playing DS on the train though is that my arms start to cramp up so can't play for more than 15/20 minutes at a time.


Still the game seems pretty easy so far, I came out after getting the first book at about lvl 18 and 20k gold, every monster seems to take about 1 health off me and I'm playing it in normal, maybe I'm abusing the enemy respawn too much. Added to this I got the silver shield before the ruby shield, do they have other effects I'm missing? otherwise why even use the ruby shield?

When your playing on the DS are you using the stylus? I think I heard on Retronaughts that with a stylus it is different, but when you use the dpad it plays like normally, which is you just run into characters and then keep bumping into them, or you can walk back then run into them again. What ever.

This is a minor first 5 min in spoiler,

Spoiler

but apparently you cant enter the shrine if you do not talk to the lady (sara) that tells you to go get a sword, armor and shield after you get them then you cant eneter the shrine. I thought I did, but I must have died and not have saved after I talked to her.

This game is a lot of fun. I am glad I am playing it. I must say it really looks good, and the music is great.

[probune]

Just for laughs I started playing the DOS version of Ys 1 the other day. It's pretty interesting.

[redrock963]

I just finished Book 1 tonight. It was indeed a pretty amazing game thus far.

I only have 2 minor complaints.

1) I reached the level cap like, in the middle of the mines, so it seemed like fighting monsters for the rest of the game was utterly pointless. By the time I finished it, I had like.... 99999999 or whatever the cap for gold is. I know part of it was game limitations, but I'm a level whore, and it sort of made me sad to not level. ;_;

2) All of the backtracking in the final dungeon. It's a minor complaint, but it still got on my nerves cause I got so lost, especially in those parts with the mirror warps.

That aside. I did really dig this game, despite its shortness. I cannot wait to get through Book 2, and I also plan on playing 3 and 4 when I finish that.

[atat23]

When your playing on the DS are you using the stylus? I think I heard on Retronaughts that with a stylus it is different, but when you use the dpad it plays like normally, which is you just run into characters and then keep bumping into them, or you can walk back then run into them again. What ever.

Just using normal controls on the DS but after reading an article about it I see that the DS seems to have taken the bumping mechanic out all together and instead you just attack enemies normally.

[PlayerOneStewy]

I'm just about done with Book I, I think. Currently fighting a boss in the tower that's giving me fits.

[Valke]

Just for laughs I started playing the DOS version of Ys 1 the other day. It's pretty interesting.

Anyone ever tried playing the Famicom port?...Yea if you haven't...don't bother seeking it out.

[Indy aka Rex]

One of my favorite things about the Ys games so far has been their relatively short length. It really cuts back on the amount of filler and gives you the right amount of story that a JRPG needs.

[RandomlyRossy]

I gave the DS version a go and I am not liking it at all so far. I'll prefix this by saying I am not a JRPG person, I've dabbled over the years but the only thing I've played to any great extent is Final Fantasy Tactics A2, which I adore. For the most part though no JRPG has really held my attention with story or gameplay.

Anywho back to Ys, firstly I found it pretty infuriating that I had to talk to EVERYONE before I could move on, especially when the game wasn't really clear about that at all and moreso when I died a couple of times and had to repeat the process. The reason I died is I have NO CLUE how the combat in the game works. From the comments in this thread the way the combat in the DS version works seems to be unclear but I died before I could ever figure out what to do. I eventually just gave up and walked past all the enemies to get to the other town/city place. Then when I got there I was given the wrong bloody directions, or at least I think I was. I am pretty sure I was told the fortune teller for to the south east when she was in fact south west.


Anyway I'll give it another chance or two as I'd quite like to take part in the discussion but my initial impressions are bad and if it weren't for the game club I wouldn't be playing anymore.

[redrock963]

I'm just about done with Book I, I think. Currently fighting a boss in the tower that's giving me fits.

Is it that one that's the two floaty heads with the elements things swinging around them? Because that one gave me trouble too. I had to use my potion just to beat it >_<

[PlayerOneStewy]

Is it that one that's the two floaty heads with the elements things swinging around them? Because that one gave me trouble too. I had to use my potion just to beat it >_<

newp!

[Ondore]

I didn't exactly get off to a good start on this, I went out to grind for gold to get a shield and random enemies decide "Fuck you, you're dead".

[Indy aka Rex]

I didn't exactly get off to a good start on this, I went out to grind for gold to get a shield and random enemies decide "Fuck you, you're dead".

That's what you get when you let random strangers bump you from behind.

[Ocelot]

Obligatory link

I just found out about the Ys series about a year ago and played the first one, currently playing Ys 2 and loving every second of it. Btw I really love the music in this game(s), it friggin rocks

[Valke]

Btw I really love the music in this game(s), it friggin rocks

I couldn't agree more, especially when you consider the date this game came out.

I'm just about to enter the tower and dreading every second of it already.

[Ocelot]

I couldn't agree more, especially when you consider the date this game came out.

I'm just about to enter the tower and dreading every second of it already.

You're talking about the last tower from the first Ys, right? Let's just say, if you like the music of this game, you're gonna love that place

[Serraxor]

When I heard about this Game Club, I got my Turbo out and signed up for this forum. I wasn't allowed to post until I was approved, so I went at Ys Book I & II like a madman while I waited... and beat the whole thing in two days! I managed to finish it with 100% completion before my forum membership was even approved!

I had bought a Turbo with Ys Book I & II, Ys III and 27 other games about four years ago, but I only really bothered to play Ys Book I & II now. I never knew they would be so... short. Or so easy. Just to keep the good times rolling, I played Ys III on Turbo CD as well. I ended up beating it in less than a day after I beat the first one. Despite their shortness, these games are fantastic. And I agree 147%; the music is absolutely amazing... and is actually WAY better on TurboGrafx than on DS.

[Serraxor]

You're talking about the last tower from the first Ys, right? Let's just say, if you like the music of this game, you're gonna love that place

I loved the super cheesy "Robotech-Style" wailing guitar in that stage. I broke into air guitar far too many times for it to be healthy because of that.