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The Ys series turns 30 today

djtiesto

is beloved, despite what anyone might say
On June 21, 1987, Ancient Ys Vanished Omens was released on the PC-8801. This is one of my all time favorite franchises, amd I have played all of them except 8. When I was little, I remember EGM gushing over the Turbo CD Ys Book 1 and 2, especially the soundtrack, but it wasn't until I started a career that I picked up a Duo and the Ys games released on it. I was instantly hooked, and the production values were incredible for the time. Great VA, incredible 80s synthpop/buttrock, and running into enemies was a blast. I eventually played through the rest of the series, though I had to rely on fan translations for many of them before they came to GOG.

Favorite classic game: IV the Dawn of Ys
Favorite nu skool game: Origin
Favorite track: Darm Tower

Here's to 30 year's of unnecessary apostrophe's.
 
i only recently played the series, starting with memories of celceta and i loved it, since then i played through every modern release with the exception of origin and seven, but i'll get there.

here's to more 30 years, acording to some recent interviews the future looks bright to the series and i already can't wait to get my hands on Ys VIII
 
I just started this year, but it has quickly become one of my favorite series. Here's hoping Falcom can keep this train rolling, and they keep being localized.
Also,
thanks GAF for the introduction
 
The Hokuto no Ken of video games
Here's to another 30 years of yelling ATATATA whenever i slash monsters up as Adol or Yunica
uQuiIKIl.jpg
 
Ys 1 and 2 were some games that really shaped my tastes in my formative gaming years. Incredible, incredible experiences and I'm so glad I got to play them.
 
I didn't play an Ys game until 2011, but it quickly became one of my favorite game series ever. Here's to 30 more, etc, etc.
 
I had my first taste of this franchise with Oath in Felghana on PSP. I bought a PSP to play through some great games I thought I'd missed like Crisis Core; Kingdom Hearts BBS; MGS Peace Walker etc.

And yet Oath in Felghana is my favourite game on the handheld.

Fantastic series.
 
I played it on the Sega Master System 30 years ago. I absolutely loved that game. I read up on it and made my mom get it for me on the release date.
 
Here's to 30 more years of Adol wrecking ships, killing gods, and wooing the ladies.

Favorite Ys game is oath in felghana
 
Happy anniversary!

Started pretty late with the Ys series. I heard of the name since the SNES version of Ys III, but the first game I actually played was Ark of Napishtim on PS2 (to be fair, this was only the second game in the series to be released in Europe, I think?), which I liked, but I didn't really look into the series more. Only really got into the Ys games when XSeed started to release the PSP games. My favorite game is probably either Ys Seven or Ys Origin, depending on the mood.
 
I was late to the series but when I saw a trailer of Ys 1 & 2 Chronicles+ on Steam for the first time, the gameplay looked familiar that it was exciting when I had found out that the creators of that game were the same people that formed Quintet since I played their SNES Action RPG games. (Too bad that they're no longer around.)

Since then, I've mainly played the series on Steam.

Ys 1 & 2 Chronicles+ is my favourite followed by Ys Origins.
 
Ys is my favorite series.

I know how I am with backlog games (If I try to skip around, everything I started ends up sitting till I focus on one), so it took a bit to finally get to Ys Origin (the only one that has an English language release that I haven't played). Playing it now, though, and have been enjoying it immensely.

I originally played the Sega Master System port of the first Ys game back in 1989-90. I played (the super janky) Ys III on both Genesis and Super NES around 92-93. However I didn't really dig into the game until I bought a Turbo Duo in 95, and played that awesome TG-16 version of Ys I & II. I then picked up Ys III (TG-16 version...that OST. The Genesis version of the OST is pretty good as well). With emulators, I played 4 & 5 (as well as I could). Played Ark of Napishtim on PS2 and then VII on PSP. Played the remakes of 3 & 4 (PSP and Vita...Celceta is why I bought a Vita).

I've played many of the remakes of Ys I & II, as well. Even the DS version (It's nowhere near as good as many of the other versions...but I still enjoyed my time with it).

I'm looking forward to VIII, and I'm hoping for a remake (and subsequent English language version) of Ys 5.
 
Ys I & II is still one of my all time favorite video game soundtracks. I've been a huge fan of the series ever since I first experienced the PC Engine version.
 
I didn't learn of the series until a few years ago, then got Origin on Steam and expanded from there. Falcom made such a fantastic series and it was right under my nose all these years, put them on the map for me.

Can't wait to play VIII this year.
 
First played YS I and II when they released on the VC all those years ago, have been in love ever since. Happy birthday you beautiful bastard.
 
One of my favorite series and I'm eagerly awaiting VIII. Kinda glad I skipped on importing Vita version because PS4 one will be so good.

Still remember how happy I was playing Ys Book 1&2 for the first time on my TGCD which I got on clearance right before the Duo launched. The "Ys, the ideal utopia..." intro blew me away. The lush sound of the audio was something I wasn't used to in a game.

Ys 1&2 intro- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KT-y7bZlpJM
 
New to the series here, no regrets. I've played Oath, Origin and Seven, enjoyed em all. Looking forward to playing 8 and other entries I've missed!
 
After beating Trails in the Sky FC back in summer of 2015, I got to work on the Ys series and haven't turned back. So far I've done I & II Chronicles+, Felghana, Origin, Ark of Napishtim, Seven, Memories of Celceta, Dawn of Ys, and V. All were definitely worth a run, though I really hope V gets a fitting remake either before or after Ys IX (without the kind of half-baked new story additions/omissions used in Celceta). I've broken in my X360 pad through first-plays and replays of these games, a testament to the intensity of combat throughout the series.

After VIII, I might go back and finally play through Ys Book I & II, rather than one more time with I & II Chronicles+. But I really need to play other Falcom games about to get English versions, like XSEED's release of Zwei II, Brandish 2 (maybe 3 and VT/4 later), Legend of Xanadu (II), Dinosaur Resurrection and VM Japan (both are getting fan patches relatively soon).
 
I only started playing the games in 2011 but Ys quickly became one of my favorite series. I should probably finish II before VIII comes out.
 
I've been interested in the series, but have always been put off by the art style. That being said YS VIII looks pretty great.

Do you guys recommend looking past my hangups on the art and picking up either YS origins or VII or should I just wait for 8?
 
Oath in Felghana kept me company when I moved countries a few years back. Many fond memories of playing that game on the train. I liked Origins too but haven't kept up with the other releases for a while. I'll get to them some day.
 
30 years of Whys right?

I kid.

Hope we get many more of Adol's adventures in the years to come. Cannot wait for Ys VIII and am currently playing through Origins.
 
Do you guys recommend looking past my hangups on the art and picking up either YS origins or VII or should I just wait for 8?
The games usually have different character art between them, so that makes things more varied at least.

I'd definitely try any of the games already on Steam or PSN, since they all have fun combat and good pacing most of the time. Approach Ys VI, Seven and Memories of Celceta carefully since they have more noticeable flaws than Oath and Origin (but also some higher highs, like VI's backstory, Seven's music, and Celceta's overworld). People often recommend Oath/Origin because they're two of the most challenging and refined entries in the series, but also somewhat intimidating either due to difficulty or Origin's canon plot being locked behind a required Yunica or Hugo playthrough (plus bosses that only appear on one path and not the others). I & II Chronicles+ is the best place to start if you really want to understand the appeal of classic Ys, but it simply doesn't gel with many players because combat's weirdly simple and the bosses in Ys I Chronicles have inconsistent quality.

Or you could just wait for Ys VIII since it's a rather different game from anything else so far, based more on exploration, lots of mini-bosses (with great regular bosses), and a mix of party and solo-style combat.
 
My first encounter with this series was playing the fan translation of Oath ages ago. I remember thinking it was OK, but it didn't really leave an impression on me then. I also remember also trying out I and II Complete, but not sticking with them.

At some point I tried Book I & II and somehow the bump combat clicked for me and I was hooked. I gained a new appreciation for Oath playing the Steam release and Origin was even better. I've now played every game in the series except Celceta and VIII. I knew it had became my favorite RPG series when I found myself even liking the black sheep games, III and V. Though I couldn't finish Mask; it just feels too dry and dull compared to Dawn.

Let's all hope NISA's PC port and localization of VIII is up to snuff.

BTW, I heard of this new Ys fansite via HG101's twitter that is pretty well made: http://www.digitalemelas.com/
 
The games usually have different character art between them, so that makes things more varied at least.

I'd definitely try any of the games already on Steam or PSN, since they all have fun combat and good pacing most of the time. Approach Ys VI, Seven and Memories of Celceta carefully since they have more noticeable flaws than Oath and Origin (but also some higher highs, like VI's backstory, Seven's music, and Celceta's overworld). People often recommend Oath/Origin because they're two of the most challenging and refined entries in the series, but also somewhat intimidating either due to difficulty or Origin's canon plot being locked behind a required Yunica or Hugo playthrough (plus bosses that only appear on one path and not the others). I & II Chronicles+ is the best place to start if you really want to understand the appeal of classic Ys, but it simply doesn't gel with many players because combat's weirdly simple and the bosses in Ys I Chronicles have inconsistent quality.

Or you could just wait for Ys VIII since it's a rather different game from anything else so far, based more on exploration, lots of mini-bosses (with great regular bosses), and a mix of party and solo-style combat.

Thanks, I'll keep an eye out during the steam sale :)
 
The Hokuto no Ken of video games
Here's to another 30 years of yelling ATATATA whenever i slash monsters up as Adol or Yunica
uQuiIKIl.jpg

What is that from?

I love YS, I discovered it this years thanks to GAF. I'm in the last boss of Oath of Felghana. I'm a FALCOM fanboy now haha.
 
Awesome!


My first Ys experience was Ys Origins back in 2012 when I first got into pc gaming and steam.

Since then I finished ys 1 & 2 just a few months ago.

Planning to play the rest of the series as they come to steam.
 
I've started playing Felghana after seeing the "what I expected / what I got" pic on GAF 2 years ago. Now I've played most and it's one of my all time favs. Currently on Celceta. Massively underrated game.
 
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