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Ys I & II Chronicles+ |OT|: A Valentine's Day Double Date With Two Goddesses!

Volcynika

Member
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Ys I & II follow the tale of wandering swordsman Adol Christin on an adventure to rid the land of Esteria of a horrible blight. Once known as the ancient land of Ys, a historic kingdom protected by goddesses and rich in mystical power and wealth, Esteria was settled by hardy inhabitants who established prosperous port towns and humble fishing inlets. But this peace was short-lived, and soon word spread of a looming darkness – confirmed by the appearance of horrendous monsters (first few, then many), swarming and destroying all of Esteria in their wake. Told to seek out the six books of Ys to reveal the key to defeating this evil, Adol ventures forth boldly, not knowing his very arrival had been written by the fates many centuries before.

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  • Platform: PC (Steam) Store Page
  • Developer: Nihon Falcom
  • Publisher: XSEED Games
  • Release Date: February 14th, 2013 (Unlocks ~10AM PST)
  • Price: $14.99
  • Achievements:
  • Requirements (via Store Page):
    • Minimum -
      OS:Windows XP
      Processor:pentium III 866 MHz
      Memory:1 GB RAM
      Graphics:64 MB VRAM, 3D accelerator compatible w/ DirectX 9.0c
      DirectX®:9.0c
      Hard Drive:2 GB HD space
      Sound:Compatible with DirectX 9.0c
    • Recommended -
      OS:Windows XP, Vista, 7 (64-bit supported)
      Processor:pentium III 1.6 GHz or higher
      Memory:2 GB RAM
      Graphics:64 MB VRAM, 3D accelerator compatible w/ DirectX 9.0c
      DirectX®:9.0c
      Hard Drive:3 GB HD space
      Sound:Compatible with DirectX 9.0c

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  • Classic buttonless “bump” combat receives a full analog-enabled upgrade for gamepad users, and is augmented in Ys II by a robust magic system.
  • Soundtrack selectable from among the original 80s FM-synth, an early 2000s MIDI-style remix or a modern studio performance by Falcom’s in-house rock band.
  • Character art selectable from 90s-style portraits or more modern anime designs.
  • Four selectable difficulty levels and optional boss rush mode grant players a true old-school challenge (if desired).
  • Transform into a demon to speak with any and every standard enemy in the game, creating unparalleled depth that still impresses even to this day. (Ys II only)
  • Unique Steam Achievements plus Steam Cloud support and leaderboards.
  • Adjustable high-resolution PC graphics with a smooth, consistent framerate.
  • Greater viewing area than in previously-available Ys I & II Chronicles editions.
  • Decorative screen frames available from the earlier Japan-only Ys I & II Complete PC release, in addition to the more modernized full-screen viewport of previous Ys I & II Chronicles editions.

Why the +?

Some examples of the work that has been done on the port:
I've made some comparison shots for Ys I & II Chronicles+ so that you guys can see how this port looks and the care I've taken working on it. The game has two display modes: "Complete" (4:3) and "Chronicles" (roughly the same as the PSP version). I took a bunch of shots in different display modes. You can also see how we've expanded the Chronicles art compared to PSP in the Ys II shots. I hope this clears up some confusion!

Ys Chronicles+ (HUD, etc. shot)
1x Size: Complete Mode | Chronicles Mode
2x Size: Complete Mode Filtered/Unfiltered | Chronicles Mode Filtered/Unfiltered
Letterboxing: Filtered/Unfiltered
720p: Complete Mode Filtered/Unfiltered Chronicles Mode Filtered/Unfiltered

Ys II Chronicles+ (Portrait/Dialogue shot)
1x Size: Complete Mode | Chronicles Mode
2x Size: Complete Mode Filtered/Unfiltered | Chronicles Mode Filtered/Unfiltered
Letterboxing: Filtered/Unfiltered
720p Widescreen: Complete Mode Filtered/Unfiltered | Chronicles Mode Filtered/Unfiltered

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Trailer

Ys. Not Y's.
 

Aeana

Member
I really hope it turns out to be the definitive Ys 1&2. Considering how much I disliked the Chronicles PC port, a lot of work had to be done to make it so, but it seems like a lot of work was indeed done. We'll see.
 

Prophane33

Member
Very excited for this; give me unfiltered all the way! This will not be my first time playing these games, as I've had them on VC forever; unfortunately, even as a gamer weaned in the 80s, I just can't get into the "bump" combat. I was really into the two previous Ys games on Steam so I pre-ordered this as early as possible, the fact that it has 3 versions of the soundtrack and all these other little bells and whistles made it a no brainer.
 

Aeana

Member
Very excited for this; give me unfiltered all the way! This will not be my first time playing these games, as I've had them on VC forever; unfortunately, even as a gamer weaned in the 80s, I just can't get into the "bump" combat. I was really into the two previous Ys games on Steam so I pre-ordered this as early as possible, the fact that it has 3 versions of the soundtrack and all these other little bells and whistles made it a no brainer.
If you can't get into the bump combat, what makes you think you'll like this version? It still has that.
 
It's times like these I really regret selling off my gaming notebook T__T

Still haven't finished YsII on PSP ....always ended up getting bored around the snow cliffs. Not to mention, I heard half the damn game takes place in teh final dungeon no?
 
I really love Ys II. If anyone playing these for the first time is worried that Ys I is maybe a bit too bare and that II will just be more of the same, then don't be. They really just feel like one big game with Ys I being the intro.
 

Aeana

Member
It's times like these I really regret selling off my gaming notebook T__T

Still haven't finished YsII on PSP ....always ended up getting bored around the snow cliffs. Not to mention, I heard half the damn game takes place in teh final dungeon no?
You can play this game on like, any computer.
 
J

Jotamide

Unconfirmed Member
But...I wanted Ark of Napishtim on PC. :(

Also, why are XSEED trailers so cheap-looking?
 

Xander51

Member
I've always meant to play more of the Ys series than I have. This looks like a cool collection, might have to take the plunge.
 
Already pre-purchased this package. Not sure when I'll have time to sit down with it, but I'm looking forward to playing them none the less. The graphical fidelity on PC blows the PSP ports out of the water.

And this release gives me hope that TitS FC could see a Steam release...

Also, why are XSEED trailers so cheap-looking?

You have to cut them some slack. XSEED is literally eight to ten people and they do all of the promotional stuff in-house.
 

duckroll

Member
Looking forward to playing Ys 1&2 again after a loooooooong time! Hopefully the effort put into this release pays off. Getting excited! :D
 

klee123

Member
Gonna try it tonight. Bought Ys 1 and 2 Eternal Complete directly off Falcom years ago and absolutely loved them, but having it on steam is nice too.

Not a big fan of the new art introduced in Chronicles. Much prefer the art in Eternal. It's like they moe-fied all the Female characters -_-
 

Teknoman

Member
I kinda want to play it in the framed mode. Maybe framed mode, Chronicles art, and Complete's Falcom in house soundtrack.

Btw anyone want to make some old school grid icons for the games?
 

Sinatar

Official GAF Bottom Feeder
I'm really looking forward to this. I'm pretty new to the franchise (the steam release of Oath of Felghana was my first real encounter beyond renting YsIII on the Genesis eons ago) but have since become a complete nutter for it. Both Oath and Origins completely rocked my world so I'm ready to see where this all began.
 

wyrdwad

XSEED Localization Specialist
How does the gameplay compare to origins?

I played a bit of origins, and the controls felt...bad...

?!?!

The Ys games are known for their fluid, perfect controls, and Ys Origin refined them to such an extreme extent that it's often cited as one of the most well-controlled games in a series of extraordinarily well-controlled games! What didn't you like about it?!

I guess there's hope for you with Ys I & II, though, since they're completely and utterly different games from Ys Origin. The controls in Ys I & II are pretty much just... running controls, since combat is buttonless/automatic. Whether you'll consider that an improvement or not, however, I couldn't say. They're pretty much perfect and spot-on, IMHO... but then, I'd say the same about Ys Origin's.

(Were you using a gamepad when you played Ys Origin? Because that might be the crux of the matter here. For any Ys game worth its salt, a good gamepad is practically a requirement...)

Also, why are XSEED trailers so cheap-looking?

Also a little surprised by this comment. A lot of time and effort went into making that trailer, and it's also the first and only HD trailer we've ever released. What makes it qualify as "cheap-looking"?

At any rate, I don't mean to focus on the negative. I'm really glad to see you guys excited for this release, and Volcynika, thank you very much for creating this lovely OT!

-Tom
 

Ledsen

Member
I don't know why so many people dislike the bump combat. It looks a bit wonky, sure, but in practice it plays beautifully and makes the game super fast.

Also a little surprised by this comment. A lot of time and effort went into making that trailer, and it's also the first and only HD trailer we've ever released. What makes it qualify as "cheap-looking"?

At any rate, I don't mean to focus on the negative. I'm really glad to see you guys excited for this release, and Volcynika, thank you very much for creating this lovely OT!

-Tom

I think it's the font used for the blurbs, it does make it look like a random PowerPoint presentation. It even has drop shadows! Other than that it's great.
 
I don't know when I'll play them but I already pre-ordered it a while ago, I'll do anything to get more Falcom games on Steam. (Please bring Trials next)
 

wyrdwad

XSEED Localization Specialist
I don't know why so many people dislike the bump combat. It looks a bit wonky, sure, but in practice it plays beautifully and makes the game super fast.

Yeah, I totally agree. Kurt from Hardcore Gaming 101 once said that the combat in Ys I & II felt kind of like playing a Rocky training montage, with constant, precise forward movement set to '80s metal... and I always really liked that description. The fact that it's a battle system which encourages you never to stop moving just seems like such a fitting beginning to a fast-paced series like Ys.

I think it's the font used for the blurbs, it does make it look like a random PowerPoint presentation. They even have drop shadows! Other than that it's great.

Man, it's always the font, isn't it? ;) I guess when it comes down to it, we're just not good with fonts, I dunno. We used to always just pick whatever we thought looked most aesthetically pleasing for our trailers, and people would totally hate whatever we chose. Lately, however, we've actually been making more of a point of picking something unique and appropriate for every trailer, never defaulting to anything standardized and generally trying our damnedest to theme the font with the game's contents (in this case, old-school game = old-school font)... but it still never seems to go over well.

Guess we'll just have to keep working at it!

-Tom
 

Instro

Member
Good timing on the OT, I had forgotten to pre-purchase. I really do need to finish Felghana though, I made it to the final area and haven't gotten back to it for a couple months now or so. Playing on Nightmare makes progress slow, so the game is a bit of a slog to get through. It's rewarding, just not ideal for a first playthrough if you want to get it finished without sinking a ton of extra time into the game. Maybe I'll knock it out this weekend.
 

Remk

Member
I think it's the font used for the blurbs, it does make it look like a random PowerPoint presentation. It even has drop shadows

That and it also covers the whole screen; smaller and integrated into the other trailer images would look much better.
 
The problem with the trailers is the text, I'd let the gameplay speak for itself. Still, I love the Hair Metal Trailer one because of the FLASH BACK TO WHEN MEN WERE MEN
 

BearPawB

Banned
?!?!

The Ys games are known for their fluid, perfect controls, and Ys Origin refined them to such an extreme extent that it's often cited as one of the most well-controlled games in a series of extraordinarily well-controlled games! What didn't you like about it?!

I guess there's hope for you with Ys I & II, though, since they're completely and utterly different games from Ys Origin. The controls in Ys I & II are pretty much just... running controls, since combat is buttonless/automatic. Whether you'll consider that an improvement or not, however, I couldn't say. They're pretty much perfect and spot-on, IMHO... but then, I'd say the same about Ys Origin's.

(Were you using a gamepad when you played Ys Origin? Because that might be the crux of the matter here. For any Ys game worth its salt, a good gamepad is practically a requirement...)


Played with a 360 controller, found doing that move where you have to move/stop/fire really hard to consistently pull off. I had to sort of flick the stick. It seemed like an important move, that I could never perform when I wanted to.

I also disliked that I couldn't play it more like a twin stick shooter (I only tried the girl). I disliked that I couldn't fire away from where I wanted to go
 

Ledsen

Member
Man, it's always the font, isn't it? ;) I guess when it comes down to it, we're just not good with fonts, I dunno. We used to always just pick whatever we thought looked most aesthetically pleasing for our trailers, and people would totally hate whatever we chose. Lately, however, we've actually been making more of a point of picking something unique and appropriate for every trailer, never defaulting to anything standardized and generally trying our damnedest to theme the font with the game's contents (in this case, old-school game = old-school font)... but it still never seems to go over well.

Guess we'll just have to keep working at it!

-Tom

lol I had no idea :) Like I said, the trailer itself is great. It's just that a serif font like that makes me think stuff like "Times New Roman = old MS Word = work/school", and the fact that it's pastel colored, has a black outline and drop shadows makes me think of 90's PowerPoint presentations. So yeah, it's old-school, but it doesn't evoke the sort of old-school I think you're after (classic 2D gaming goodness + completely awesome butt rock music). It's not a big deal at all, and the most important thing is that the game looks goddamned ACE!
 

wyrdwad

XSEED Localization Specialist
The problem with the trailers is the text, I'd let the gameplay speak for itself.

We usually try to, but in this case, the trailer exists largely to differentiate this from the PSP version of the game and explain what that + in the title means.

Aside from the screen frame, that's less something that can be shown, and more something that needs to be textually explained.

...Either way, keep the feedback coming! I'm not trying to be one of those indignant people who defends our work staunchly with absolutely no basis. Constructive criticism is always welcome, and helps us improve for the future. As noted, we're a team of about a dozen people, and we've got over a half-dozen games in various stages of publication that we're working on at once, so we're bound to need a little guidance every now and again.

Played with a 360 controller, found doing that move where you have to move/stop/fire really hard to consistently pull off. I had to sort of flick the stick. It seemed like an important move, that I could never perform when I wanted to.

Actually, that move is included more as a throwback to earlier Ys titles for people who really, really WANT to perform it. It's never required and really isn't very important in the slightest -- I don't think I ever used it even once when I was playing, as I never really had to.

I also disliked that I couldn't play it more like a twin stick shooter (I only tried the girl). I disliked that I couldn't fire away from where I wanted to go

I'm... not sure I understand. Especially if you only played as Yunica, whose moves are very much structured in the tradition of hack-and-slash titles (a la Devil May Cry). I'm not sure I can envision how her controls would even function as a "twin-stick shooter."

Maybe the game was a different genre than you were expecting? Because yeah, I don't think we ever gave any indication that it would play in that fashion...

And Ys I & II Chronicles+ plays even less like a "twin-stick shooter" since combat, as mentioned, is structured in such a way that you literally just run into enemies to kill them. The damage you take vs. inflict is largely based on the angle and trajectory of your impact, so it's all about circling around enemies and precisely lining up your fast-paced movements with the enemy's.

You do gain the ability to shoot fireballs in Ys II, but these just literally fire straight ahead of you (possibly with a bit of homing action, depending on what other items you have equipped at the time), from wherever you happen to be standing and in whatever direction you last moved.

-Tom
 
I was going to hold off on this for a Steam sale not too long ago since I picked up the PSP version to play on the go.

Then I saw this:

Soundtrack selectable from among the original 80s FM-synth, an early 2000s MIDI-style remix or a modern studio performance by Falcom’s in-house rock band.

Made me giddy as all get up.
 

wyrdwad

XSEED Localization Specialist
I was going to hold off on this for a Steam sale not too long ago since I picked up the PSP version to play on the go.

Then I saw this:

Made me giddy as all get up.

To be fair, though, that also applies to the PSP version.

-Tom
 

BearPawB

Banned
I'm... not sure I understand. Especially if you only played as Yunica, whose moves are very much structured in the tradition of hack-and-slash titles (a la Devil May Cry). I'm not sure I can envision how her controls would even function as a "twin-stick shooter."

Maybe the game was a different genre than you were expecting? Because yeah, I don't think we ever gave any indication that it would play in that fashion...



-Tom

Oh I realize what I am saying makes little sense. I knew nothing about the game before buying it during a steam sale because people rave about the series. So I loaded it up, picked the ranged character, and when I couldn't shoot at the enemy while moving away from an enemy I got frustrated. Haha that isn't a problem with the game that's a problem with me.

So you are right, I had no idea what I was getting into. But I may try again knowing that one move isn't super important. I really liked the look/pace of the game.
 

wyrdwad

XSEED Localization Specialist
The Eternal Complete games were AMAZING. How is this package different again?

It's basically Ys I & II Complete, but with the updated features (and modern-day compatibility) of Ys I & II Chronicles -- which means you get to pick from among the original PC-88 soundtrack, the Ys I & II Complete soundtrack, or an actual studio-performed arrangement from the JDK Band that's exclusive to Chronicles. You can also pick from two different character art styles: the style used in Ys I & II Complete, or a redrawn and more modernized art style with a few extra moe undertones.

From the other side, then, the Japanese release of Ys I & II Chronicles included all of these features, but lacked the classic screen frame, and also had a more zoomed-in viewport, showing everything from a more close-up perspective, but allowing you to see less of your surroundings on a single screen than Ys I & II Complete. This mode is still present in Chronicles+, but you're also free to pick "Complete mode" and get the same expanded viewport plus frame that you would've experienced when playing Ys I & II Complete back in the day.

-Tom
 

wyrdwad

XSEED Localization Specialist
What version of To make the end of battle was used in the hair metal trailer?

Heh. That was the old-school version from the *first* JDK Band -- from their very first album, in fact.

The full music video can be viewed here, but I must warn you... it's so '80s, it might make you grow ankle-warmers:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dhO37PCNAu0

(And yes, I'm aware the audio doesn't sync with the video all that well for something that claims to be better synched than the official video... but trust me, compared to the official version, it's a huge improvement!)

-Tom
 

Teknoman

Member
Heh. That was the old-school version from the *first* JDK Band -- from their very first album, in fact.

The full music video can be viewed here, but I must warn you... it's so '80s, it might make you grow ankle-warmers:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dhO37PCNAu0

(And yes, I'm aware the audio doesn't sync with the video all that well for something that claims to be better synched than the official video... but trust me, compared to the official version, it's a huge improvement!)

-Tom

JDK Band, the album, is amazing, might I also suggest:

http://youtu.be/a0MdspfaKTI

I need to buy this.
 

wyrdwad

XSEED Localization Specialist
I need to buy this.

You do indeed. It's amazing.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bo-ga8R-KKk

You just don't hear music like that on gaming-related albums anymore! Even the modern JDK Band -- whose CDs are still extremely awesome and well worth picking up! -- have a more modern air to them. This stuff, though, is just... raw, unfiltered and amazing. It's got that earnest indie garage band quality to it that anyone who enjoys '80s music undoubtedly can't get enough of, and remains one of my personal favorite Falcom music releases.

-Tom
 
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