Ys Origin

COGConnectedStephanie Sung

85/100

Ys Origin is an action role-playing game geared towards not only fans of the Ys series, but to newcomers of the franchise as well. Even if you’ve never played any of the Ys games before, thanks to Origin’s fantastic world, this is still a great place to start your journey. Not only is the gameplay and storytelling excellent, but the experience was smooth and terrifically gratifying. This is easily one of the top ARPGs I’ve played for quite a while.

Gaming NexusKevin O'Connell

8/10

Ys is a well-made side-scrolling hack-n-slash game with minor character development and zero loot system, but a well written story-line and easy-as-pie gameplay. There are hours of fun to be had and twists in the story you won't see coming... just make sure to bring along some other music.

KeenGamerMichael Keener

8/10

In 2006 Ys Origin first released for PC. Now, 10 years later, it sees the light of day on PlayStation 4 with updated graphics, visuals, UI, and menus, as well as optimization for widescreen. Take on the Epic bosses and their minions who flood the Devil's Tower in an effort to destroy symbols of hope and safety and all those being protected. Choose your hero and battle the demons before and within you.

Video ChumsA.J. Maciejewski

8/10

Nihon Falcom are masters at creating addictive RPG experiences. Their Ys series has quite an impressive history so let's go back to a time before Adol's adventures and see if Yunica and Hugo have what it takes to ascend the Devil's Tower.

Nintendo World ReportJordan Rudek

8/10

It would seem that the primary (and lone) setting of Ys Origin isn’t the only aspect that emphasizes repetition. Unlockables are earned by completing the game with the two characters available, and then the third that becomes playable after that. Bonuses include a time attack, arena mode, new character forms, and more. Fortunately, there are unique story beats for each one, some new bosses as well, and they each play quite differently. While a single playthrough can take 6-10 hours, the additional content makes replays worthwhile, so Ys Origin is a fairly Ys-sy recommendation. The one-note s…

GameSpewJamie Parry-Bruce

7/10

All in all, despite its age, Ys Origin is a solid dungeon-crawling RPG adventure to rival the best of current gen games. A compelling storyline and engaging and challenging gameplay combined with cute graphics that have transitioned remarkably well (apart from the pre-rendered 3D cutscenes… eurgh!) and a catchy, if slightly repetitive, soundtrack, make this a cracking time for newcomers and veterans of the Ys series alike. Well, them and anyone else who just wants to have fun playing a good game.

Playstation LifestyleKeri Honea

7/10

The Ys games have a rich history in action-JRPGs, starring the silent protagonist Adol Christin as he travels across various regions across the world, including Ys. Ys Origin has none of that. Instead, the origin story explains many of the mysteries of the Ys titles, such as the demon influx, how the Darm Tower came to be, as well as the history behind the twin goddesses, the Black Pearl, and the Six Priests. It’s meant to fill in any blanks for Ys fans who want to know more about the history of the people of Ys and round out Adol’s adventures in the first two Ys games.

Push SquareJade Sayers

7/10

Some eleven years after its original Japanese release, Ys Origin has been brought to PlayStation 4 by publisher DotEmu (via a PC localisation by XSEED back in 2006). Set 700 years before the events of the main Ys series, Origin steers away from the series' familiar protagonist Adol Christin in order to focus on the background of the series' story by exploring the world through the eyes of new characters.

RPGamerRyan Radcliff

The Nintendo Switch is only the latest of numerous consoles that Ys Origin has graced. Despite the game's age, it's worth a visit to ancient Ys history.

DestructoidSalvador G-Rodiles

7/10

If you don’t mind the game’s port-related problems and weird changes, there’s a chance that you could still have a good time with hacking your way through its enemies and bosses – especially if you’re down with turning your Sony systems into your Ys machines. If anything, it’s important for one to see if they can put up with DotEmu’s work before they accept their mission to find the twin Goddesses.

Game RantCurt Hutson

7/10

Ys Origin is hard to recommended rushing out to play, but for a six-year-old game -- and for the price -- it fares better than a lot of console role-playing games. Its decent, but predictable, storyline might not feel like an epic RPG experience, but the gameplay is so strong that it balances everything out. An excellent addition to the acclaimed franchise, Ys Origin gets an emphatic Yes.

MonsterVineSpencer Legacy

Ys Origin has a good, if not great, soundtrack. A lot of the themes are quite relaxing, providing the majority of the game with a certain ambience that makes Origin more relaxing to play, even if they aren’t overly memorable. The boss themes are exceptional, adding an incredibly catchy sense of hyperactive tension to each battle, whether it’s with a regular human, or an enormous centipede.