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.
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.
A perfect introduction in the series! It's considered to be the best JRPG and as soon as you start the game you'll get to know why, straightforward and engaging story & characters, fluid controls designed for both easy-going or speerun gameplay, great atmospheric music at all times and non-stop action. It brings to mind a mix of of classic games such as Secret Of Mana, Zelda: A Link To The Past and even Metroid & Castlevania. Ys Origin is a great and very enjoyable game with high replayability, a must play for all rpg/action fans.
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.
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.
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.