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I used to play a lot of jrpgs. Their engaging story, likable characters and amazing soundtrack are what kept me always yearning for more. But as i grow older, I've been losing more and more interest in the genre, mostly because of college, work and other responsibilities draining the little time i have. Now, the thought of spending 40+ hours mostly walking and fighting on random encounters seemed like a chore rather than a fun time to me. That changed when i played Ys Seven. The simple but fluid combat system, the straight to the point story and well-written characters made me remember the things that i loved the most about the genre and that got me interested in it in the first place. Because of this, I felt compelled to write this spoiler-free review of the game, for people that never played Ys Seven before and also veterans to take a trip back to Altago once again.
But enough about me. Let's dive into the world of Ys Seven.
Ys Seven is a action-rpg developed by Nihon Falcom and published by XSEED games in 2010 for the PSP. Nihon's main games Ys and the Trails series are well revered in Japan, some considering them the best franchises of all time in the rpg genre. And Ys Seven is another great entry in the series, as we'll see why this is later.
The duo land on the wealthy Altago City, home of the Kingdom of Altago. The city's fortune is made possible due to a focus on mercantile activities and giving up on rituals and customs of old traditions. Because of this, Altago City is viewed by it's locals as "modern" in comparison to the neighboring villages around them, consisting of 4 tribes, each one reveres one of the Five Dragons. You might ask "Wait. If each tribe reveres one of the Five Dragons, isn't supposed to be 5 tribes then?" You'll find out the answer later in the game ;)
Adol and Dogi are eventually taken to speak to the king, that requests their services as adventurers. Lately, strange phenomenons are happening in Altago, monsters that once reside in isolated places are now attacking local villages, a sudden disease called "Ishkan Fever" is spreading all across the five tribes, and now a shrine dedicated to one of the Five dragons has appeared in the proximities of Altago City. Now, is up to Adol and Dogi to explore Altago in order to uncover these mysteries.
The strength of the story is connecting one piece of the puzzle at a time, leaving you wondering what's going to happen next. And Ys Seven has, for me, one of the most unexpected plot twists ever.
But enough about me. Let's dive into the world of Ys Seven.
Ys Seven is a action-rpg developed by Nihon Falcom and published by XSEED games in 2010 for the PSP. Nihon's main games Ys and the Trails series are well revered in Japan, some considering them the best franchises of all time in the rpg genre. And Ys Seven is another great entry in the series, as we'll see why this is later.
Story
The story begins with the adventurers Adol and Dogi on a ship to Altago, a vast and prosperous region that is said to be watched over by deities called the Five Dragons.The duo land on the wealthy Altago City, home of the Kingdom of Altago. The city's fortune is made possible due to a focus on mercantile activities and giving up on rituals and customs of old traditions. Because of this, Altago City is viewed by it's locals as "modern" in comparison to the neighboring villages around them, consisting of 4 tribes, each one reveres one of the Five Dragons. You might ask "Wait. If each tribe reveres one of the Five Dragons, isn't supposed to be 5 tribes then?" You'll find out the answer later in the game ;)
Adol and Dogi are eventually taken to speak to the king, that requests their services as adventurers. Lately, strange phenomenons are happening in Altago, monsters that once reside in isolated places are now attacking local villages, a sudden disease called "Ishkan Fever" is spreading all across the five tribes, and now a shrine dedicated to one of the Five dragons has appeared in the proximities of Altago City. Now, is up to Adol and Dogi to explore Altago in order to uncover these mysteries.
The strength of the story is connecting one piece of the puzzle at a time, leaving you wondering what's going to happen next. And Ys Seven has, for me, one of the most unexpected plot twists ever.
Gameplay
As has been said before, Ys Seven is a action-rpg, so you'll be using less strategy in battles and more direct combat, where you can freely move your character in the area, dodge or block enemies attacks and perform skills that go from close range to long range, one enemy to multiple enemies and so on. The skills can be leveled-up, becoming stronger each new level. New skills can be acquired by equipping different weapons to the characters, making the choice of a new weapon not be solely about it's stats. The game has 3 types of attacks: Slash, Strike and Pierce. Each enemy has a weakness to a certain attack type and also a resistance to another. Because of this, the game encourages you to use different characters in different areas where he or she has an advantage over the enemies. There are more aspects of the gameplay, but I'll leave the rest to the player to find out.Music
Nihon Falcom's games are also well know for it's superb soundtrack, and they didn't disappoint in Ys Seven. The ost was made by Falcom Sound Team jdk, consisting of Hayato Sonoda, Takahiro Unisuga, Saki Momiyama, Masanori Osaki and Ryo Takeshita. There are many great compositions in Ys Seven, each one diverse enough that it turns even simple moments in the game unique and memorable. A highlight is the boss theme that is fast-paced and adrenaline-pumping, giving you the right edge to dodge, defend and strike the enemy's weak point.Verdict
Ys Seven is a great game that serves a good story that hooks you from the beginning to the end, fluid combat system that's not hard, but also not easy to master, charismatic and well written characters, emotional and memorable moments and an excellent soundtrack that fits the mood of the game like a glove. I highly recommend it.
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