Ys III: Wanderers from Ys

"An average game...and below average collision detection"

Ys is a 2-D side scrolling RPG. I've heard many different opinions about this game from it's an excellent game to it's a horrible excuse for an RPG. So, I decided to try it out and form my own opinion.

Gameplay - My biggest problem with the game is that it is almost overly difficult. If you don't kill the enemies with one hit you're in deep trouble because they deal more damage then you and move much faster than you. This leads the player to have to spend most of the beginning of the game with the attack button taped down and watching as his character levels. Also, I noticed later in the game that the collision detection is horrible. If I jumped over an enemy and I was close to the enemy but still with space between us then I'd still take damage. The problems with collision detection caused me to die many times even though I was sure I dodged the enemy. Also, there are times when you could swear that you hit the enemy, but he wouldn't take any damage. I died several times because of this. Something else that brought me much frustration later in the game but was great early on was how quickly the enemies respawn. Later in the game you need to hit the enemy and run away and repeat as necessary, but you couldn't do that because as soon as you killed the enemy and walk back to where you were before the enemy would have already respawned and you'd have to repeat. Many times I went though this process before I gave up and started jumping enemies, which, as I already told you, had it's own problems. Another thing I didn't like was that you could only carry one healing herb. By allowing more, things could have been easier.

Story - It's an average cliché story about how your character must go and save the world from an evil that was released by a king/lord/baron/noble/title that is power mad and thinks he can control the evil. You're job, being the hero, is to save the day because you can. You don't need a better reason. We've all played games that are similar.

Graphics/Sound – The graphics are about average for the SNES. You know the type, all the characters are simple sprites where you can, if you want, count the pixels. Ys doesn't push the SNES to its limit like later games such as Chrono Trigger and Yoshi's Island, but doesn't throw them out and hope you won't notice that the graphics are offensive. The music was different, but it wasn't great and it wasn't memorable. The best thing I can say about the music it that it did seem to fit the theme for whatever level you were playing, which is more than I can say about other games I've played.

Playtime/Replayability - It's a rather short game, no longer than 10 hours. There is a dearth of replay value in this game. There are no sidequests, no alternate ending, and no optional bosses. When you beat it the first time you can honestly say that you've seen everything the game has to offer.

Final Recommendation and Summary - Although it seems I have nothing good to say about the game. I do. It was fun, which is probably its only saving grace from a 5 or lower. It's a fun game that might be a tad over difficult and almost complete average in every way. Fans of the Ys series and hardcore RPG fans should search it out and play it, but for the rest of us, borrow it from a friend, if you play it at all.

Reviewer's Score: 6/10, Originally Posted: 12/31/03, Updated 07/24/04