75
A fine way to get your feet wet with Falcom's long-running series. [Issue #50 – January/February 2021, p. 23]
80
Despite its age and the backdrop of the tower remaining the same, Ys Origin still manages to shine. All three play-throughs are enjoyable and engaging, each with its own story, and each character feeling so very different thanks to their drastically different play styles. Better yet, even after finishing all three play-throughs, there's much more to enjoy including brand new modes like Speed Run, Time Attack, and even an Arena mode; tight, fast, controls and combat; wonderful big boss encounters. It's easy to see why it garnered its cult status, and this latest re-release is going to introduce it to even more players; players who will be eager to experience more, and there's plenty waiting in the long-running story of Adol.
80
Ys Origin is a solid port of a solid game. The somewhat dated visuals and basic gameplay don't hide the generally strong game design. It never reaches far beyond the level of "pretty good," but it's still a blast to play. If you've never played any of the Ys titles, then Origin is an excellent place to start. If you have, Origin might seem too basic compared to some of the more recent offerings, but it's still well worth a look.
8
Origin is a really enjoyable breezy simple but effective action RPG. the spitework and design still holds well and the areas of the tower and more still are great. the combat is solid for the character i choose (yunaka) and just fun. The elements and puzzle parts with the areas plus what you can do is solid and bosses are very good overall. The story is simple but its in that approach that makes it charming especially yunakas simple determination and tribulations. Shes definetely the buffest meanest mouse ever and i love her. Really cool introduction and tower climbing runs with music design and enemies super good!
9
Increíble, impresionante, maravilloso. En la línea de Falcom. Pequeño, cortito, pero un gran acción RPG, ideal si te gustan los juegos frenéticos. No soy objetivo, Ys es de mis franquicias fetiche, pero esta precuela ha sabido ganarse mi corazón con su tierna historia. Te lo tienes que pasar 3 veces para ver el final bueno, pero se hace nuy ameno. La tercera historia, la del personaje oculto (para no hacer spoiler) es un giro de guión constante que te hace querer saber más.
Que gran aventura y eso que no tenemos a nuestro pelirrojo favorito. Encantado como siempre con la saga y con esa banda sonora tan bonita, y tan rockera, que favorece la inmersión. Un juego muy recomendado y que se ha ganado un hueco en mi lista de imprescindibles.
9
I rarely find myself enjoying an RPG game and to my delight, this is one of those few exceptions to the rule. Pros 1. Simple and concise story. 2. Combat ramps up as the game progresses. 3. Very action-focused. 4. Power-ups feel very meaningful and rewarding. 5. Doesn't feel grindy (Normal Mode) 6. Story is character-focused. 7. Challenging bosses requiring careful tactics to beat. Cons 1. Combat lacks variance and can eventually feel repetitive. 2. Leveling up doesn't feel meaningful (Normal mode) 3. Lacking complexity. What else can I say? For an RPG it feels more intense than the norm and the story does not take excessive precedence in the game. Also, the game doesn't stuff you with morality but focuses on the relationship between the characters and their Goddesses. This was a definite plus for me and I thoroughly enjoyed playing this. I've put about 8-11 hours in and although I have not completed it yet, (with Yunica Tovah) I can definitely see myself coming back for a replay, probably with another character. I look forward to trying out the other two Ys games available on Nintendo Switch.
Ys Origin
Released On:
Oct 1, 2020
Metascore
Generally Favorable
82
User score
Generally Favorable
7.8
My Score
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Where to Buy
All Platforms
Metascore
Generally Favorable
82
93% Positive
25 Reviews
25 Reviews
7% Mixed
2 Reviews
2 Reviews
0% Negative
0 Reviews
0 Reviews
Oct 16, 2020
90
Ys Origin is a fantastic game and definitely a good way to get into the series itself. The controls feel pretty fluid for the most part. You have several different difficulty options to choose from, so anyone from newcomers to experts can enjoy the game. The visuals still look pretty good today, and the soundtrack is nice to just sit back and listen to. If you're looking for a way to get into the series, Ys Origin is a great place to start.
Sep 29, 2020
90
Ys Origin is a title I hold near and dear to my heart. It’s not only my own personal favorite Ys title, but it is also one of my favorite games of all time. So it’s nice to see that some care went into this Switch port. While the repetition of exploring the same environments can undoubtedly dull the affair for some players, the stellar combat design, jaw-dropping soundtrack, incredible writing, varying level design, and the multitude of gameplay modes make this a one of a kind action RPG experience that any fan of the genre should pick up. This truly is the definitive version of this title, and I highly recommend it.
User score
Generally Favorable
7.8
72% Positive
44 Ratings
44 Ratings
18% Mixed
11 Ratings
11 Ratings
10% Negative
6 Ratings
6 Ratings
Jan 1, 2021
10
This is a great game for hand held play. Great Ys game , not with Adol as the main character. New attacks feel like a twin stick shooter.
Dec 30, 2020
10
Edit: So before I get on to Ys Origin, I came back to update this as a word for any of you that (like me) don't like Ys 8, or 9. Don't let them put you off this and other games on the old Ys engine. I got half way through 8 after several attempts and boredom quitting and 9 lasted even less. Anyone in to Zelda's such as Link to the Past, Minish Cap, Link Between World's etc will love Y's Origin. In short Ys 8 and 9 have a terrible amount of loading times and a dysfunctional map that brings you out of the load screen nowhere near where you entered it on the map, meaning re-entering the load screen you just came through. The dialogue and voice acting are abysmal, characters cheesy and annoying and the action can be very stop start. They're really quite generic JRPG's and it seems bizarre that SAO games get slammed for crap dialogue yet Ys 8 and 9 don't. The 3D game engine they switched to for 8 and 9 is just simply not as much of a joy to play. And there's other issues such as having to faff on trading at one shop to get items to upgrade at another. No respect for the players time. So Ys Origin. I can't believe how far down the list of best Switch games this comes. This is one of my favourite games ever and no nostalgia, I only played it in the last couple of years This is an action, adventure, puzzle RPG, with end to end dungeons, with great bosses at the end of them. It's challenging but fair, with multiple difficulty settings. If you're not a finger wizard, even normal is tricky at times. I generally hate menu's but the menu's in this are easy to navigate and two simple pages. Graphics - great, looks really nice. I prefer games with a lighter colour scheme but I like everything on this. I think the look is really fitting with other elements of the game. Sound - I really enjoyed the sound track, absolutely superb music, again it suits the game and keeps the vibe of the game flowing. Enemy variety - loads of bosses, with new types of baddies on each level. Boss battles - brilliant, can seem incredibly hard at first but once you do a few attempts and learn the attack patterns, they get easier until you win. Depending on difficulty setting, you may need to level up. Levelling up is fun and if too much levelling is required, then it is because you have chosen the wrong difficulty. If you do need to grind a level do it near your highest accessible area as it will bump up way quicker. Gameplay - Just loads of fun. 2.5D platforming, hack and slash, puzzles, story. A bit of everything but lots of mashing up baddies. Story - I don't care for game stories because they're usually rubbish, or have terrible voice acting. This is written dialogue and great stories. Different depending on who you play through as. This whole game just gels so well, with all elements of it being fun. The graphics, sound, story, bosses everything is just balanced really nicely and all of the aspects compliment each other really well. I just can't understand the lack of attention this game gets. To sum it up, it is like a top down Zelda game on speed but without the overworld. Just a fantastic game and I mentioned the word fun a few times, it is something so many games lack and that is simple fun entertainment. I still come back to this game regularly and there are not many games I return to. I do think Origin out shines other similar entries such as, Napishtim, Celceta and Felghana, so if you enjoyed those but they don't quite make the grade, Origin is basically like a more refined version. Final note, other reviews have mentioned this as being a beat em up. It isn't, if you want a Final Fight, or Ninja Turtles game, this isn't it. It's and action/adventure RPG.
Oct 7, 2020
85
Being an ARPG on the shorter side, the different perspectives in Ys Origin offer excellent replayability and gives players a pleasant, rounded experience without bogging them down with too many details. Even though the repetitive grinding can be a mind-numbing task to gain experience points, at least the controls are fluid, making this an easy game to enjoy. As the prequel to an already successful franchise, Ys Origin is a highly recommended addition to the series that gamers new and old to the story should not ignore.
Nov 11, 2020
80
Ys Origin serves up undeniably fun hack-and-slash action, with just enough lore to keep newcomers and series veterans alike satisfied. Although there is a healthy challenge and tons of replay value, staying inside of the same tower can get dull.
Oct 6, 2020
80
This Switch version of the game is a good way to experience it. While I greatly enjoyed the PlayStation Vita port, it suffered from a lot of framerate issues that the Switch version has a better time with. While it’s important to keep in mind that this is a relatively low-budget game from 2006, I think its presentation holds up nicely. Ys Origin isn’t my favorite Ys game, but it’s a very good one and I think its distinct flavor when compared to Ys VIII makes it a great pick-up for Switch owners who want something a little lighter to occupy their time with.
Sep 29, 2020
80
The story here takes a back seat to the brilliant and compulsive dungeon crawling gameplay, which should appeal even to those who don't tend to enjoy action RPGs. No puzzle, no battle and no single room ever outstays its welcome in Ys Origin, resulting in one of the briskest, easy-going games we've played in a long time. Sure, the visuals could be better, the overall length might be too short for hardcore RPG fans and there's a lot of grinding afoot, but this remains a solid choice if you're a fan of this sort of thing. An easy recommendation to pretty much anyone who has an interest in RPGs, Ys Origin is perfect even if you've never touched a game in the series before. Now, can we get Ys: The Oath in Felghana on Switch, too?
Sep 29, 2020
60
Ys Origin is fine on Nintendo Switch. It's a decent if curious choice for the Nintendo platform, although its simplistic nature means it should be fun to pick up to play on the go. With Ys IX coming to the rest of the world next year, this could be a good place to get an idea of what the series is about - although potential players should know about its limitations.
Oct 23, 2024
9
Increíble, impresionante, maravilloso. En la línea de Falcom. Pequeño, cortito, pero un gran acción RPG, ideal si te gustan los juegos frenéticos. No soy objetivo, Ys es de mis franquicias fetiche, pero esta precuela ha sabido ganarse mi corazón con su tierna historia. Te lo tienes que pasar 3 veces para ver el final bueno, pero se hace nuy ameno. La tercera historia, la del personaje oculto (para no hacer spoiler) es un giro de guión constante que te hace querer saber más.
Que gran aventura y eso que no tenemos a nuestro pelirrojo favorito. Encantado como siempre con la saga y con esa banda sonora tan bonita, y tan rockera, que favorece la inmersión. Un juego muy recomendado y que se ha ganado un hueco en mi lista de imprescindibles.
Apr 25, 2023
9
I rarely find myself enjoying an RPG game and to my delight, this is one of those few exceptions to the rule. Pros 1. Simple and concise story. 2. Combat ramps up as the game progresses. 3. Very action-focused. 4. Power-ups feel very meaningful and rewarding. 5. Doesn't feel grindy (Normal Mode) 6. Story is character-focused. 7. Challenging bosses requiring careful tactics to beat. Cons 1. Combat lacks variance and can eventually feel repetitive. 2. Leveling up doesn't feel meaningful (Normal mode) 3. Lacking complexity. What else can I say? For an RPG it feels more intense than the norm and the story does not take excessive precedence in the game. Also, the game doesn't stuff you with morality but focuses on the relationship between the characters and their Goddesses. This was a definite plus for me and I thoroughly enjoyed playing this. I've put about 8-11 hours in and although I have not completed it yet, (with Yunica Tovah) I can definitely see myself coming back for a replay, probably with another character. I look forward to trying out the other two Ys games available on Nintendo Switch.
Nov 13, 2021
7
This a fun little game. Its like a low carb version of an action RPG, where it takes away a lot of the complexity and the spectacle of a major release, but keeps all of the core elements in tact. This almost feels like a remastered version of an SNES era action RPG, which is not a bad thing. There isn’t much here besides the gameplay, which is pretty solid and entertaining enough to get me to play the game to end. The story is bland, the characters are not interesting, the levels are unimaginative, the graphics are alright, the music is okay, etc. You really have to be a fan of retro action RPG and hack and slash games to get into it. Not a bad game, fun little gem on the eshop.
Sep 22, 2021
7
Great action gameplay with a cutesy art style. Be warned, the story is nauseatingly cheesy and so painfully anime that you'll want to quit. The bosses and the action keep you around, but good lord the story is bad.
Mar 3, 2021
7
Really good hack and slash RPG but is gets really cryptic when trying to progress in certain areas. One example; I had to look online on how to open a certain door after hours of dying and frustration and there was NO hint or explanation of how to properly do it.
SummaryYs Origin is a game that takes place 700 years before the events of Ys I & II.
Rated Tfor Teen
