Ys I and II

[soop]

I've been wanting to play this for years, and I finally picked up a TG-16 copy for a reasonable price (well £3 is more than reasonable).  I heard people say about voice acting?  I haven't heard any yet though, is that a later Ys?

Anyway, I played for a little, walked into a cave and died, and here's my first impressions:
This title would probably have blown my mind back in the day.  I'm not a huge fan of stuff like Final Fantasy, but this seems a tad more accessable because (and I'm guessing a little here) the emphasis is on the story rather than the fighting.

Also, the Art is really good, loved the intro, and the music rocks too.

I'm not sure if I'm really going to get into it at the moment, but I'm happy to hear arguments for it.

[CrackTiger]

The emphasis is actually more on action than story, especially compared to the FF series.

The voice actors are professionals who previously voiced characters such as Duke, She-Ra and Skeletor. You can hear voice acting in the intro.

The only cinema between the beginning and ending is the intro for Ys II.

Two of the best soundtracks evAR.

[soop]

You can hear voice acting in the intro.

Really?!  I'm gonna spin it up again...

[CrackTiger]

You can hear voice acting in the intro.

Really?!  I'm gonna spin it up again...

There is an opening cinema that plays before you hit any buttons. It takes a minute for the Alan Oppenheimer naration to begin. After starting a new game, another cinema plays, which is music only.

[soop]

got it.  I hit start on the Falcom/Hudson screen.  It is pretty good voice acting.

[NecroPhile]

Thomas Hayden Church, fuck yeah!

I don't know how anyone can not enjoy playing Ys.  The soundtrack alone makes it worth playing.

[Keranu]

The emphasis is on both action and story!

One of the things that makes Ys so magical is that it progressively gets better as you play along. I don't think I've ever played another game in my life that accomplished this as well as Ys I & II have. So if you think it's OK now, you'll probably be in love by the end.

[VestCunt]

Anyway, I played for a little, walked into a cave and died,

Ouch.  You gotta level up in the field, then the hills, and then clear the palace before venturing into the cave!

This title would probably have blown my mind back in the day.  
....
I'm not sure if I'm really going to get into it at the moment, but I'm happy to hear arguments for it.

I still blew my mind in '97 after playing N64.  I can't imagine seeing it in 1990.
Stick with it.  It's great.

[soop]

I think I'll try completing Soldier Blade first, and maybe take my GT out when I finish Yoshi's Island on my GBA, but I'm gonna give Ys a damn good shot

[tpivette]

I was considering this game to be my next TG  purchase, but have been on the fence about it . Always wanted this one when I was a kid. Seems as though everyone likes it, so I guess I'm gonna finally pull the trigger on this one

[CrackTiger]

I was considering this game to be my next TG  purchase, but have been on the fence about it . Always wanted this one when I was a kid. Seems as though everyone likes it, so I guess I'm gonna finally pull the trigger on this one

You'll find this game in most top ten Turbo and PCE game lists.

[nat]

Technically, it's two games not one. They just glued them together and removed your ability to JUST play the second one for the TG-16/PCE release.

Here's my (blasphemous) thoughts on Ys. I didn't play these games until 2006 or 2007 because I wasn't interested in RPGs as a kid... even into adulthood. It wasn't really until the last 7-8 years I even gave most RPGs a chance. Anyway, after 17 years of hype I was a little let down. I often wonder if the large number of people who list Ys I & II in their top 10 is attributed to the people that played it back in 1990 and have those epic memories ingrained in their heads, or if I'm just missing something.

At its core, the Ys series really isn't all that special or different from anything else. Ys I and II's biggest claim to fame was voice acting in an era where voice acting on a console video game was unheard of. By the time I got around to these games, voice acting was old news (decades old) so that particular novelty was lost on me. Strip away the voice acting, and what do you have? In the case of Ys I at least, an above average action RPG with great music. And the music really is great; in my opinion, this is by far the series' greatest asset.

The Solomon Shrine section in Ys II, on the other hand, is just inane. That part brought the whole experience to a screeching halt for me. Not only is the design of the Shrine very poor, it's also poorly drawn. It's often times difficult to tell where you are able to go and the whole thing just comes off as sloppy. This might not necessarily be a dealbreaker, but I remember the Shrine taking up a significant portion of the game. How about the rest of Ys II? To be honest, I don't even remember, but I'm sure the music was nice.

If it sounds like I'm trying to rag on these games, I'm really not. I had plenty of fun playing through them, with a few minor exceptions, although it's true I found part I to be the more enjoyable of the first two. If we're looking at all four entries, I'd say I had the best time with III, for all the slack that people give it. Zeta once pointed out that I/II get hyped so much it'd be almost impossible NOT to be disappointed on some level. The opposite could be said of III, and maybe he's right, although I do have a tendency to like when developers take a series and do something a bit different with it (Super Mario Bros. 2, Zelda II, Ys III, etc). I do remember liking the music in III better than any of the others, also.

Either way, Ys I and II is something you probably should own if you have a TG-CD (or PCE). Shit, it's been six years, I should probably go back and play these things again and see if my initial impressions still hold up.

[tlaloc]

Technically, it's two games not one. They just glued them together and removed your ability to JUST play the second one for the TG-16/PCE release.

Not entirely true:

Enter this password and you get to watch the cinematic segue outro/intro between the two games, as the following link showed me:

wayback://joyce.yale.edu/bt/turbo/cheats.htm

Ys BOOK I AND II - Password

Darm Tower 25F:
1d2g5/TzFY9??/?*rrrrj
jjx$w/PP1TWtt/$jfjfjf
zPaoa/oaoaoao/aoaoZpZ
pZS
all you need to do is hit button 2 to read volume fact

[nat]

That's some "password."

[kazekirifx]

I think it speaks volumes that newcomers are still so impressed by the music. It's been over a decade and a half now since pre-recorded music has become the norm in video games. So why would newcomers still be impressed by the the music on the earliest CD-based console that came before all of that? My explanation is that the music plays more of a central role in most Turbo games like Ys and Lords of Thunder. Nowadays, while huge amounts of time and money are being spent on the soundtracks of major console games, the music is seen as merely complementary, as in a movie soundtrack. The music rarely takes center stage, as it did in many Turbo games. So people tend not to notice and remember the soundtracks in these new games as much. I recall reading a recent Japanese review of Lords of Thunder where the reviewer said something to the effect of, "While the music is loud enough to drown out the rest of the game, the music in Winds (Lords) of Thunder somehow still seems to enhance the theme and gameplay."

Still, I must acknowledge that only a small portion of the Turbo's library have truly amazing soundtracks like Ys and LoT. The majority of PCE and Turbo CD titles used music such as that which could be produced relatively easily and inexpensively using electronic equipment such as a PC and a Roland midi module, and oftentimes halfhearted composition as well. (Still, the fact that it sounded more advanced than SNES and Genesis chiptunes was enough to impress most at the time.)

[nat]

While I'd hardly consider myself a "newcomer" (owned a Turbo and been on the scene for 22 years, although maybe you weren't referring to me), I think a lot of it has to do with style. It was a different era in the late 80s/early 90s. In-your-face and electronic synth-based music was still really popular. Music took a more upfront role in media, and not just video games. You see the same sort of differences when comparing TV shows of that era with stuff that came later. As time has gone on, music in visual media has moved from playing an integral role to one of glorified ambient noise. It's actually a major peeve of mine.

On your second point, I'd argue that a greater percentage of Turbo games have amazing soundtracks than just a "small portion." In fact, for me it seems like 2 out of every 3 games (CD or cart) Turbo games has at least really good music, if not amazing.

[BigusSchmuck]

Ys I and II is what got me to get a Duo. Enough said. I will say though, I did like the boss music better in Ys IV, but thats only cause it sounded a lot like Ywenie Malsteen's far beyond the sun. Makes you wonder if he played a part in some of the music that was created in that game...

[kazekirifx]

While I'd hardly consider myself a "newcomer" (owned a Turbo and been on the scene for 22 years, although maybe you weren't referring to me)

Was referring to soop, and I didn't necessarily mean newcomer to the Turbo, but at least newcomer to Ys I and II.

On your second point, I'd argue that a greater percentage of Turbo games have amazing soundtracks than just a "small portion." In fact, for me it seems like 2 out of every 3 games (CD or cart) Turbo games has at least really good music, if not amazing.

I guess it depends where your cutoff point for 'amazing' is. I consider Ys and GoT calibur amazing. Cotton and Super Air Zonk are still marginally amazing. Games by Telenet like Valis and Cosmic Fantasy are average for the Turbo. I can name some truly bad ones on PCE too though, like Astralius and Road Spirits. Those were a couple games I was duped into buying back in the 90's. They sound like below average midi module music from Amiga or X68k. Doesn't deserve to be recorded on a CD.

Ys I and II is what got me to get a Duo. Enough said. I will say though, I did like the boss music better in Ys IV, but thats only cause it sounded a lot like Ywenie Malsteen's far beyond the sun. Makes you wonder if he played a part in some of the music that was created in that game...

I think the song served as inspiration, or Falcom ripped it off, depending on your perspective.

[VestCunt]

Technically, it's two games not one. They just glued them together and removed your ability to JUST play the second one for the TG-16/PCE release.

Here's my (blasphemous) thoughts on Ys. I didn't play these games until 2006 or 2007 because I wasn't interested in RPGs as a kid... even into adulthood. It wasn't really until the last 7-8 years I even gave most RPGs a chance. Anyway, after 17 years of hype I was a little let down. I often wonder if the large number of people who list Ys I & II in their top 10 is attributed to the people that played it back in 1990 and have those epic memories ingrained in their heads, or if I'm just missing something.

At its core, the Ys series really isn't all that special or different from anything else. Ys I and II's biggest claim to fame was voice acting in an era where voice acting on a console video game was unheard of. By the time I got around to these games, voice acting was old news (decades old) so that particular novelty was lost on me. Strip away the voice acting, and what do you have? In the case of Ys I at least, an above average action RPG with great music. And the music really is great; in my opinion, this is by far the series' greatest asset.

The Solomon Shrine section in Ys II, on the other hand, is just inane. That part brought the whole experience to a screeching halt for me. Not only is the design of the Shrine very poor, it's also poorly drawn. It's often times difficult to tell where you are able to go and the whole thing just comes off as sloppy. This might not necessarily be a dealbreaker, but I remember the Shrine taking up a significant portion of the game. How about the rest of Ys II? To be honest, I don't even remember, but I'm sure the music was nice.

If it sounds like I'm trying to rag on these games, I'm really not. I had plenty of fun playing through them, with a few minor exceptions, although it's true I found part I to be the more enjoyable of the first two. If we're looking at all four entries, I'd say I had the best time with III, for all the slack that people give it. Zeta once pointed out that I/II get hyped so much it'd be almost impossible NOT to be disappointed on some level. The opposite could be said of III, and maybe he's right, although I do have a tendency to like when developers take a series and do something a bit different with it (Super Mario Bros. 2, Zelda II, Ys III, etc). I do remember liking the music in III better than any of the others, also.

Either way, Ys I and II is something you probably should own if you have a TG-CD (or PCE). Shit, it's been six years, I should probably go back and play these things again and see if my initial impressions still hold up.

Next time you play it, just stop for a second and think of Dragon Warrior.  That's the secret to Ys epic-ness.  

By the time I finally got Ys 1-2, I had already beaten Ys SMS, Ys 3 SNES, played Need for Speed on 3DO, and purchased a N64, but I still loved it.

Ys 1-2 is a nine-on-a-scale-of-ten game with a few technical bells and whistles that put it over the edge and blew people away.  The problem is that it will forever be a c.1989-1990 release at its core.   When people try to think back twenty years and judge games, they seem to make generalizations and equate games over a span of several years; in Ys' case, maybe '90-92.  This is a relatively small difference, but technology advanced drastically in those years and Ys ain't no FFIV.  Furthermore, cutting-edge technical flair (CD music, voice acting, FMV, early polygons, etc.) is always the first thing to turn sour with age. Too many gamers hear Ys hype and imagine some mythical TURBO DUO game that scored a perfect 10 (!) in EGM.  This leads them to expect some sort of Lords of Thunder cream in their pants until they realize they're playing a glorified version of Hydlide (albeit an awesome one) and they get frickin' pissed off.  If they were to shift gears and envision a game that scored a 10 compared to contemporaries like Dragon Warrior, I think they would be more appreciative.

[BigusSchmuck]

Next time you play it, just stop for a second and think of Dragon Warrior. Minus the hours of grinding of course and annoying slimes. Then again, the Dragon Quest series is another breed of JRPG crack which I shall not go into details in this thread.

playing a glorified version of Hydlide (albeit an awesome one) and they get frickin' pissed off.

Hey Hydlide rules, especially when you crank up the Indiana Jonish soundtrack to the original! ^^
But yeah, YS books 1 and 2 is one of those games you must own for the Duo. I just wish we saw a arcade card remake, instead we got Ys 1&2 Chronicles for the PSP and other platforms.
*sigh*

[kazekirifx]

Why play a circa 1989-90 game in the first place if you're not prepared to enjoy it on a 1989-90 level? The music still holds up pretty well, and the graphics look great if you're true classic gamer like me who loves 80's and 90's pixel art more than modern 3D graphics, and can appreciate each platform and time period for its own distinct character within its historical context. It's like a fine wine! 

I respect someone who dislikes it because they're not into this sort of action RPG, but don't go comparing it to games that came out later and say, "I don't see what's so great about Ys I and II." When I play it, I am magically transported back to 1989, while simultaneously being magically transported to the land of Ys.

[nat]

Why play a circa 1989-90 game in the first place if you're not prepared to enjoy it on a 1989-90 level?

Seriously?

I play 16-bit games because for me, they are the pinnacle of 2D gaming. This stretched into the 32-bit era a little bit, but by then the focus had mostly shifted to 3D. For me, 2D > 3D. I find (most) 8-bit games really hard to stomach anymore. They are really surprisingly primitive compared to what came later. Much more so than 2D 16-bit games are compared to 2D 32-bit games. 16-bit & 32-bit 2D games have aged incredibly well since there really is not a lot more you can do with 2D gaming that wasn't done during that era.

On the other hand, I don't play 16-bit games because I pretend in my mind it's 1990 again and I'm magically transporting myself back into the past. I play them because they represent the pinnacle of 2D gaming and I have tons of fun with them.

The music still holds up pretty well, and the graphics look great if you're true classic gamer like me who loves 80's and 90's pixel art more than modern 3D graphics, and can appreciate each platform and time period for its own distinct character within its historical context. It's like a fine wine!  

If we're talking about 2D 16-bit games in general, I agree with this for the most part. If we're talking about Ys I & II specifically, yeah the music is great, but the graphics? The overhead stuff is passable, but I'd be delusional to try to suggest they're even in the ballpark of "excellent" (not counting the cinemas). This isn't REALLY consequential though as long as the game is good, and Ys I/II would certainly fall into this category.

I respect someone who dislikes it because they're not into this sort of action RPG, but don't go comparing it to games that came out later and say, "I don't see what's so great about Ys I and II." When I play it, I am magically transported back to 1989, while simultaneously being magically transported to the land of Ys.

Personally, I don't believe in magic, so when I played these games it was 2006 not 1989/90. When one of the newcomers plays these games for the first time, it'll be 2012, not 1989. They'll compare it to other games they've played (or not) and make their own decision. My impression was the games are good, with some flaws, and the music is excellent. My experience with them wasn't epic, but I'm sure they made a hell of a bang back in 1990.

[Keranu]

I first played Ys in 2002 and my initial impressions were that it seemed intriguing, but not particularly groundbreaking. By the time I finished Book II, all I wanted to do was experience the adventure over and over again . And I still do every Thanksgiving to this day!

[DesmondThe3rd]

Ohya, it's still my favourite Turbo CD game and it even gives other RPG's like Chrono Trigger and Earthbound a run for their money.

[kazekirifx]

nat, I think that our opinions are almost identical. It's mostly just our wording that differs. We both prefer 16-bit style pixel graphics over modern 3D graphics, that's the important thing. Both of us can enjoy a circa 1989-90 game even more than a game made in 2012.

Maybe I was going a bit too far when I said I have to return to a 1989-90 mindset to enjoy it. I think if I were to articulate it a bit better, I would say that I can still remember the late 80's and early 90's pretty well, and what I liked about games at the time, and can still appreciate the graphics in these games as much as I did at the original time of their release. However, unfortunately, this is not true for all gamers. Some prefer 32-bit 2D graphics or even 3D graphics.

The one part I still can't agree with is that it's fair to compare Ys I and II graphically to games that were released years later. Can you find any overhead view games from 1989 that look much better than Ys I and II? I can't think of any. The graphics were the best available at the time, and we can't blame them for not having the best graphic technology of 1992 in 1989. That just wouldn't be fair.

[nat]

The one part I still can't agree with is that it's fair to compare Ys I and II graphically to games that were released years later. Can you find any overhead view games from 1989 that look much better than Ys I and II? I can't think of any. The graphics were the best available at the time, and we can't blame them for not having the best graphic technology of 1992 in 1989. That just wouldn't be fair.

I disagree that the visuals in Ys were the best available at the time (except for maybe the cinemas). I personally think Dungeon Explorer looks downright fantastic, and it was made around the same time, if not earlier. Actually, I've always thought DE is a perfect example of some of the best 16-bit graphics. The graphics are very dark, especially compared to Ys, but this is by design. DE lacks the nice cinemas that Ys sports, so I'm just comparing overhead vs. overhead. The shading and detail is much better in my eyes in DE than it is in Ys. That's the only game that really comes to mind as I tend to associate games with eras vs. specific years, generally speaking. If we were to expand the comparison to include non-overhead non-RPGs, I could think of quite a few more that look substantially better. (I'm only talking in 16-bit terms here, since Ys is obviously going to easily defeat any NES 8-bit stuff.)

Don't get me wrong, the graphical quality in Ys doesn't affect my enjoyment of the game at all (save for the sloppy Solomon Shrine section), I only pointed it out since the visuals are decidedly middle of the road generally speaking, save for the cinemas, 1989 release or not. I should also point out that I don't sit and compare games to other games in my head as I play them and think, "Wow, this certainly looks like shit compared to Sonic the Hedgehog!" It's more along the lines of "Wow, this game looks REALLY dated." (in the case of FEOE: Ziria) or "Wow, this game looks really nice. It's certainly held up well!" (in the case of something like DE). When I played Ys I and II back in '06, it had neither effect on me.

My real point in all this is that for people coming in to the game fresh in this day and age, for all the hype that has been built up over the years, they're likely not to be wowed. It has nothing to do with the visuals specifically, or the story, or any one aspect. It's the overall package.

[kazekirifx]

All right nat, we'll just have to disagree on that point then. We can both agree it's an excellent title overall, and yes, I agree that newcomers of the game are not unlikely to be a bit disappointed after all the hype they've likely heard.

[esteban]

This has been one of the better discussions of the merits/flaws of Ys I & II. To build on the points Kaze and Nat were focusing on: although I can see both sides, my own position is closer to kaze's.

That said, even when I played Ys I & II back in the day (within a year of its release), I felt that the overhead graphics could have been more impressive. That is is not to say I can't appreciate them (I most certainly do), but I was not particularly "wowwwed" the way I was with other games of the time. Does Ys I & II exhibit some nice graphical flourishes in some of the overhead segments? Sure, it does. But, as folks have already stated, Ys I & II is filled with wonderful concepts that can't help but charm you: I have always loved, after spending far too much time in the sewers, how you continue your quest by draining the sewer canals and wandering through the familiar , yet unfamiliar, maze of canals. Even better is when Adol transforms into a monster to gain valuable information (now he can speak Monster!) and avoid battling would-be enemies. Think about it: you are roleplaying as Adol, who, in turn, is role-playing as a monster!). Ingenious! Plus, I haven't even mentioned how powerful some moment's in the game truly are (I adore how somber the bell tower is, when you finally reach the top, and the bleak, red-stained clouds howl past in fury as the bell chimes one final, fatal time).

And, sorry, but this garbage about the music from Ys III as superior to Ys I & II's soundtrack is ludicrous . Ys III has a wonderful assembly of memorable tunes, but Ys I & II still outclasses it.  

  Cook finds the lack of respect for Ys I & II to be motherfuckingly ludicrous.  

[nat]

And, sorry, but this garbage about the music from Ys III as superior to Ys I & II's soundtrack is ludicrous . Ys III has a wonderful assembly of memorable tunes, but Ys I & II still outclasses it. 

This coming from the same guy that worships Dragon Spirit, so....

[NightWolve]

I think I slightly like the Ys III soundtrack best, but I don't wanna have to choose one way or another. I love the music from all of 'em. I would say though that Ys IV isn't as awesome as the first three, but there are some greats on there that I used to listen to frequently! Maybe I haven't played enough games in my time, but I never again encountered a game or game series that offered such fantastic, memorable music than Ys! Never encountered anything as comparable or memorable...

esteban: You write rather well for your quick drive-by posts. Stuff like this: "(I adore how somber the bell tower is, when you finally reach the top, and the bleak, red-stained clouds howl past in fury as the bell chimes one final, fatal time)". Hahah! Having a lot of fun there!

The other reason I posted was cause I saw Dragon Spirit mentioned! I forgot all about that little gem! It was one of my favorites, played it on my Express for a time! I remember it had great music for a chip game, too! I wouldn't blame esteban for worshiping it. ;)

[Keranu]

No kidding, Dragon Spirit has some of the best chip tunes around!

[Colossus1574]

This has been one of the better discussions of the merits/flaws of Ys I & II. To build on the points Kaze and Nat were focusing on: although I can see both sides, my own position is closer to kaze's.

That said, even when I played Ys I & II back in the day (within a year of its release), I felt that the overhead graphics could have been more impressive.

You lucky duck, WITHIN A YEAR???!  I think I played the Japanese version which i borrowed off a friend about 2-3 years after release, then when after i got stuck a little into part2, i thought it was worthy enough to pick up the T16 version with english voice/text. It's still incredible how the voice acting put so many other games' voices to shame. And Y's also avoided one of my BIGGEST T16 pet peeves...BAD BOX ART! Instead of some potentially crappy looking Adol, we get beautiful imagery of the land of Y's! (NEC really had trouble localizing their games here...anime was just growing here and it seems like they couldn't decide how their artwork would look for the North American market/audience)

[kazekirifx]

And Ys also avoided one of my BIGGEST T16 pet peeves...BAD BOX ART! Instead of some potentially crappy looking Adol, we get beautiful imagery of the land of Ys! (NEC really had trouble localizing their games here...anime was just growing here and it seems like they couldn't decide how their artwork would look for the North American market/audience)

Yeah. I have to agree, this cover art was a perfect fit. One of those rare cases where the Turbo cover is better than the PCE one. I think the primary reason the artwork is high quality is because they used one of Falcom's original illustrations rather than making a new one. The same illustration was used in Japan on a soundtrack cover, among other places. It was lucky that Falcom had beautiful artwork that didn't feature their 'cute' illustrations of Adol, because obviously NEC wouldn't have used that outside Japan.

You lucky duck, WITHIN A YEAR???!

Yeah. I'm so jealous. I didn't play it till I got it with my Duo, and it was still quite impressive to me then. In 1989 I had still barely been introduced to NES classics like Mega Man and Contra... Actually, I probably would have still been a bit young for Ys in 1989, but it would have blown me away nonetheless.

[esteban]

I think I slightly like the Ys III soundtrack best, but I don't wanna have to choose one way or another. I love the music from all of 'em. I would say though that Ys IV isn't as awesome as the first three, but there are some greats on there that I used to listen to frequently! Maybe I haven't played enough games in my time, but I never again encountered a game or game series that offered such fantastic, memorable music than Ys! Never encountered anything as comparable or memorable...

I have to admit I haven't listened to the Ys IV soundtrack as much as the others. I'll have to re-visit Ys IV because I can't even recall what my favorite tracks would be.

esteban: You write rather well for your quick drive-by posts. Stuff like this: "(I adore how somber the bell tower is, when you finally reach the top, and the bleak, red-stained clouds howl past in fury as the bell chimes one final, fatal time)". Hahah! Having a lot of fun there!

The funny thing is that I was literally stepping off the train (I commute NYC-NJ) when I hit "submit" for that post... and as I walked to my car that afternoon, the crisp breeze reminded me of the bell tower scene from Ys. On that note, this is what the very same parking lot sky looked like earlier this year (on a similarly gusty day):



I am very predictable, I guess, when it comes to my preferences .
 

 

The other reason I posted was cause I saw Dragon Spirit mentioned! I forgot all about that little gem! It was one of my favorites, played it on my Express for a time! I remember it had great music for a chip game, too! I wouldn't blame esteban for worshiping it. ;)

I will acknowledge that not all the tracks are godly, but Dragon Spirit certainly has a bunch of divine songs. The naysayers, I'm convinced, are the sort of folks who kick puppies and litter for sport.

No kidding, Dragon Spirit has some of the best chip tunes around!

Hany says, "You betcha!"

You lucky duck, WITHIN A YEAR???!

Yeah. I'm so jealous. I didn't play it till I got it with my Duo, and it was still quite impressive to me then. In 1989 I had still barely been introduced to NES classics like Mega Man and Contra... Actually, I probably would have still been a bit young for Ys in 1989, but it would have blown me away nonetheless.

I have two younger brothers, so we always pooled our money together buy stuff (my parents never bought us big-ticket items). A local mom-n-pop store was selling their TG-CD demo unit for $50 or $100 off the retail price...the TG-CD had generated a lot of curiosity in visitors to the store, but I don't think it increased sales of TG-CD hardware/software. They had Final Zone II demo-ing most of the time and my brothers and I thought the corpses (with blood!) floating in space must be the hallmark of an exceptional game. Little did we know (until later) how sub-par Final Zone II would be (the core game itself stinks; I actually like the music; cinema/story is OK).

Thankfully, Ys I & II did not disappoint.

[grahf]

I'd like to chime in on Ys IV, since I'm currently playing through it for the first time. I played through 1, 2 and 3 again over the last two years, and just moved on to the final chapter.  While I think Ys I and II have some of the best tracks in the PCE library, and Ys III is pretty great overall, I think Ys IV has the best soundtrack in the series. The tracks from IV aren't as good as I and II if listened to individually, but in the context of the game they are amazing. I think they match the pace and atmosphere much better than the previous games.

[Keranu]

I LOVE Ys IV's soundtrack, not quite as much as I & II, but it's a very worthy sequel. It's packed with ambiance, variety, and the classic rockin' Falcolm tunes, not to mention some really odd tracks (remember that trippy dungeon?). Ys III rules too, but it's my least liked of the bunch.

[esteban]

OK, I've been re-listening to Ys III and it certainly is a splendid collection of tunes. But Ys I & II still edges it out.

I haven't listened to Ys IV in a long time, so I'll have to reserve judgement.

[shubibiman]

Ys I&II is far from being the most beautifull A-RPG around, that's for sure. But it's never been what made the series so popular. Ys is a very straightforward game, even for an A-RPG. The fighting system, whether you like it or not, allows the game to play at a fast pace.
The story also has climaxes that one can not forget and the characters are not of the kind that you forget has soon as you turn off your system. And of course the musics. They sure aren't as good as the tunes in Ys III, which has by far the best soundtrack in the series, but those in Ys I&II perfectly fit the action.

And To Make The End Of Battle. Just to think of it I....I....I came ^^;

[CrackTiger]

In recent years, I've been listening to the Ys IV PCE & MD soundtracks much more than Ys I & II PCE. I don't think that you should have to rank them over one another, but Ys IV is definitely the strongest overall with quantity and quality. I was worn out to a certain extent from listening to the Ys I - III PCE soundtracks for a few years more than Ys IV, but as more time passes, the stronger Ys IV's music holds up to the other games.

I agree with most of nat's points about Ys I & II, except the graphics are actually above average by 16-bit RPG standards. Ys like many PCE games has a deceptive art style that many people see as being like Bomberman (which also is much more impressive than most seem to think). I think that people focus on the human sprites or something, even though they look better than those in most RPGs. If you look at screenshots from most areas in the game, it's actually pretty amazing, especially for the time. There are a few areas as nat mentioned that are bland and maybe getting stuck there for too long draws more attention to them than the nicer looking areas.

Even though I see most of the same faults in Ys I & II as nat does, it's still one of my favorite games and still wows me every time I play it. I loved Y's for SMS before I ever saw anything about the PCE version, but once I did, I became determined to get a Turbo-CD and play it (only cost me $1500+). I also was used to CD games and voice acting before I finally got a copy of Ys I & II. So none of the novelties had any impact on my experience.

[rag-time4]

If it sounds like I'm trying to rag on these games, I'm really not. I had plenty of fun playing through them, with a few minor exceptions, although it's true I found part I to be the more enjoyable of the first two. If we're looking at all four entries, I'd say I had the best time with III, for all the slack that people give it. Zeta once pointed out that I/II get hyped so much it'd be almost impossible NOT to be disappointed on some level. The opposite could be said of III, and maybe he's right, although I do have a tendency to like when developers take a series and do something a bit different with it (Super Mario Bros. 2, Zelda II, Ys III, etc). I do remember liking the music in III better than any of the others, also.

Either way, Ys I and II is something you probably should own if you have a TG-CD (or PCE). Shit, it's been six years, I should probably go back and play these things again and see if my initial impressions still hold up.

I totally and completely agree with Nat here. I thought the Solomon Shrine finale was a total chore. I also loved the various late 80s sequels that tried to do different things...

Ys III was over a bit too fast, but was more fun from start to finish than Ys I + II.

I totally disagree with anyone who says things like the music of Ys holds up rather well.... I look at it differently. The music of these games is mind blowing in that it presents the pinnacle of that game / anime music was back then and is incredibly nostalgic.

[Keranu]

Aww c'mon guys, Solomon Shrine was brilliant! It's not one big dungeon, it's more like three. One of my favorite dungeons of all time really, the intricate multi-layering spanning across multiple screens was very thought out and carefully designed, blows away any other RPG of the time. Plus it features some of the most memorable scenes in the game (Dalles turning the prisoners into ice cold stone, the Bell Tower scene esteban so wonderfully described, the descent of Ys). It's a real bummer when RPGs skimp out on the final dungeon (FFVII!!!)

I understand how Ys may not have the most colorful or defined graphics, but the thing that really puts it ahead of other games at the time is the variety of artwork. No two dungeons look alike, they all feature entirely new and unique tilesets with an eye for detail.

[rag-time4]

Aww c'mon guys, Solomon Shrine was brilliant! It's not one big dungeon, it's more like three. One of my favorite dungeons of all time really, the intricate multi-layering spanning across multiple screens was very thought out and carefully designed, blows away any other RPG of the time. Plus it features some of the most memorable scenes in the game (Dalles turning the prisoners into ice cold stone, the Bell Tower scene esteban so wonderfully described, the descent of Ys). It's a real bummer when RPGs skimp out on the final dungeon (FFVII!!!)

I understand how Ys may not have the most colorful or defined graphics, but the thing that really puts it ahead of other games at the time is the variety of artwork. No two dungeons look alike, they all feature entirely new and unique tilesets with an eye for detail.

I agree with the variety of environments in Ys! And pretty much all of them were awesome! I think the original Final Fantasy did a pretty good job of that as well, especially Tiamat's flying fortress.

Many RPGs have long, drawn out final dungeons... Ys I+II's final dungeon got old after a while. Maybe it was all the backtracking.

[kazekirifx]

Ys IV has always had the best soundtrack of the three, in my opinion. I've always had few who would agree with me on this.

Solomon shrine is a fitting finale to the game in my opinion. An epic game ought to have an epic dungeon at the end.

[rag-time4]

Ys IV has always had the best soundtrack of the three, in my opinion. I've always had few who would agree with me on this.

Solomon shrine is a fitting finale to the game in my opinion. An epic game ought to have an epic dungeon at the end.

It shouldn't be an epic chore, though.

[Keranu]

I also agree about the opposite that final dragged out dungeons are a real... drag.

To reiterate, Solomon Shrine is more than a final dungeon, it's half the game of Ys II and composed of multiple dungeons. Esteban made a great point earlier about the sewers, how draining the water in essence brought about a whole new dungeon. To make backtracking a whole lot more convenient, the transportation magic gives instant access to three separate locations across the shrine.

[rag-time4]

I also agree about the opposite that final dragged out dungeons are a real... drag.

To reiterate, Solomon Shrine is more than a final dungeon, it's half the game of Ys II ...

That's probably what I disliked most about it...

[kazekirifx]

To reiterate, Solomon Shrine is more than a final dungeon, it's half the game of Ys II

And Darm Tower is half the game of Ys I. At least it's true to the original.

[suikoman444]

Hi all, I'm fairly new to the Turbografx, I recently got a TurboDuo with Ys books I & II. Anyway, I have a question about the spines and contents of the two versions of the game. I have a copy of the TurboDuo version, which I'm assuming came packed in with the TurboDuo. Did this version ever come with an Outer box? Also, my copy has nothing on the spine, if that's normal. If that is normal, did the Turbografx-CD version come with something on the spine and/or have an outer box?

[NecroPhile]

Welcome aboard, suikoman!

I have a copy of the TurboDuo version, which I'm assuming came packed in with the TurboDuo.  Did this version ever come with an Outer box?

Yep, those are the Duo pack-in version, and nope, they weren't ever boxed (other than the big TurboDuo box of course).

Also, my copy has nothing on the spine, if that's normal.

That's normal.  Those bums were too cheap to print a liner, but at least they gave us a jewel case (unlike the pack-in huey and latter hueys).

If that is normal, did the Turbografx-CD version come with something on the spine and/or have an outer box?

Yes.  The normal retail version came boxed and had a complete case.

[VestCunt]

Two more points: 1) the retail version included a useless map you don't need 2) the Duo version jewel case had a white tray.