Video Game Review: Ys IX: Monstrum Nox

Ys IX: Monstrum Nox

NIS America

Genre: JRPG

PlayStation 4

The Ys franchise has been running since the 80s. It’s always been an overlooked series, falling to the wayside due to the popularity of the juggernauts of the genre like Final Fantasy and even the Tales series. Despite how niche it seems, the series has been incredibly consistent, pumping out many sequels with fantastic gameplay and enjoyable characters. Ys IX: Monstrum Nox is the latest game in the franchise, and while it is still familiar, there are plenty of new additions to make the game feel fresh.

In Ys IX: Monstrum Nox, franchise protagonist Adol finds himself in Balduq, a prison city. After some unfortunate events, Adol is arrested. Soon after an escape, he is given some new powers, but he also gets a curse that binds him to the city. With his powers, Adol is expected to exorcise the monsters threatening the city. Throughout the game, he meets others with the same power and curse as they try to uncover the mysteries surrounding the city and their powers.

While this is the 9th entry in the series, this an accessible game for new players. Most of the Ys titles feature standalone stories that only touch upon what has happened previously. There is some overlap in the form of a few jokes, references, and characters, but this is otherwise a fine game introduction to the series. Longtime fans will be rewarded with some great moments that only they will understand. Overall it’s a rewarding game for anyone who is interested, so it’s worth jumping into regardless of experience.

Ys IX continues to enhance and build upon the signature action-based gameplay that the series is known for. Players can switch control of their party members to utilize their various weapons and skills. Everything looks and plays well, with flashy specials and tight controls. Ys feels great to play, and the action RPG plays as well as anyone can ask for. There is plenty of diversity as far as enemies go, so players won’t get bored of the combat as they continue to progress the story and build their characters.

Outside of combat, there is a lot to explore and discover. The new location is full of dark and almost edgy environments. Despite the lack of color, this area has tons of personality and the exploration makes it worth checking out.

While the city is neat and has a personality of its own, this isn’t the prettiest game out there. A lot of the environments and even models are muddy. This is one of the better-looking games in the series, but the graphics still aren’t up to the standard that some of the more beautiful games in the genre have set. Despite this, exploring is a treat due to all of the rewarding secret items to discover. If players are willing to lower their expectations just a bit, they will see plenty of the charm that Ys IX has to offer. This is especially so towards the end of the game when players are treated to some more vibrant environments.

It’s not a perfect experience, but Ys IX has a lot to offer for newcomers and longtime fans. Its hack and slash gameplay is just about as refined as one can ask for. The characters are a bit of a cliche but easy to fall for. The environments aren’t spectacular, but the world that they occupy is as intriguing as can be. This is one of the best games in the series, and one of the best action RPGs available on modern consoles.