Overall most helpful review

Posted on: April 29, 2015

LuxEtUmbra

Games: 387 Reviews: 4

The definitive version of Ys VI

The definitive version of Ys VI - Ark of Napishtim is here, with widescreen support and several art images as extras. It was one the first games on the series that got an english release, not officially available on PC until today. This version from XSEED is the better english release, as it retains the original videos from Falcom, that were replaced on PS2 by not good CGs. And for the people that tried it on PSP, rest assured, this is a perfect release, different than Konami's PSP version that had several problems. The Ark of Napishtim shares the same engine of Oath in Felghana and Origin and in my opinion, it's overall a better game than Oath in Felghana, with excellent art, soundtrack and ambientation. As it's older, the gameplay is less polished than on the successors, but great anyway. And for the hardcore gamers, it comes with a new mode where you can't use potions, that goes more in line with the subsequent games. This is one of the best Action-RPG games ever made.

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Posted on: April 29, 2015

GloryQuestor

Verified owner

Games: 1182 Reviews: 7

Not the Best Ys Game But Still Worthy

I've been a fan of Ys for a very long time, starting with the original DOS port from 1988 and collected every port of the game to date (asides from the PS Vita Memories of Celceta), including the Ys: Legacy anime boxset. I have the PSP port of Ys VI, so I already have an opinion on where Ys VI itself falls in comparison to the other games: I believe it to be nudging the bottom of the game list. The biggest reason why that is lies in the fact that the monsters are the toughest in the series by far, with some monsters seemingly impenetrable from the get-go unless you have the right weapon or strength score. None of the other games had this feeling of being completely outmatched right from the start, even after you start grinding EXP. This is supposed to be Adol six games in at his prime, not Adol just starting out from the beginning. So, why am I rating this 4 stars? Because I know that tastes in the series differ, and Ys VI is by far not a bad game in itself. As mentioned, it's tough as nails, but tolerable to the point where you want to continue pushing forward to see what's next. Those who have played the modern remakes or Origin will be right at home with the way this game plays, so the learning curve is not all that hard. Weapon switching also works well enough, although Origin refined this mechanic and made it better. In my overall experience, though, if you are a veteran player, this is a given. If you're starting out with the series for the first time, however, you should not start here. Ys Origin or Ys I & II Collection are much better starting points for the new entrant. Ys VI is definitely for the fan who stuck with the series and wants something more challenging, even if it is a bit unforgiving.

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Posted on: September 13, 2019

Lord_McSmith

Games: 83 Reviews: 1

Still Special

A lot of people will say that Ark is a weaker game compared to Oath in Felghana and Origins, and they're basically right. It's a rougher experience for sure, but it has some features that set it apart from and maybe even above the later games. The environments, in particular, are more vibrant and give a better sense of scale than Oath's underground ruins or Origins' endless tower. Having three different swords to master is a fun and varied experience and upgrading them is satisfying in a way the other two games never quite captured in my opinion. And personally, I liked the story in Ark at least as much as the one in Oath. The individual characters are interesting and memorable, and talking to them reveals a lot of cute little subplots that really help bring the setting to life. I played Ark after beating Oath, and it feels like a prototype. There are some mechanical issues that can cause unnecessary frustration and that were cleared up in later games. But it's still a Ys game. It still has the frenetic action and kickass soundtrack the series is known for, and it's definitely still worth playing if you're looking for a solid action-adventure title.

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Posted on: April 5, 2019

MotherKojiro

Verified owner

Games: 481 Reviews: 195

Best Ys in Quite Some Time!

Full disclosure: my favorite Ys is 3, which is widely considered the black sheep, so your mileage may vary. In that spirit, this is one of my favorite Ys games thus far; the combat is solid, you have a variety of swords on par with each other (rather than just a linear progression), and the adventure is grand! Best of all, it's not soul-crushingly difficult; it's really not that tough at all, at least on Normal. Yes, when you reach a new area, you're way out of your league, but levels come very quickly, and in no time, you'll be sneezing enemies into subatomic particles. Progression is nice and smooth, so you won't find any real dead zones. My only complaint about the mechanics would be the jumps; you have to do this ridiculous maneuver that's never adequately explained to cross large gaps, but this is thankfully rare. The visuals are neat, and the island atmosphere is an interesting change of pace for the series. I especially liked the final area; there's something very cozy about it. The music isn't what you'd expect from the series, but it's still interesting, even if it has to grow on you a little. Characters are actually pretty memorable, even the minor ones, and while the story isn't going to blow any minds, it's good for Ys. There's some really neat world building going on, too, from the new Rehdan species to the way that this attempts to tie all of Adol's adventures together (it mostly succeeds) for the first time in the series. If you like Action-Adventures, this is a good buy.

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Posted on: May 14, 2015

Akanbe

Verified owner

Games: 11 Reviews: 1

Ys: Ark of Awesomeness

Not the best Ys game, but definitely very good and worth your money. If you've already played the other Ys PC games and are looking for more Ys goodness, Ark of Napishtim is certainly a worthwhile choice.

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