Ys Origin

 Xbox One
Metascore
81

Generally favorable reviews - based on 14 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 11 out of 14
  2. Mixed: 3 out of 14
  3. Negative: 0 out of 14
  1. TheXboxHub
    Apr 27, 2018
    90
    If you are after a retro JRPG, this is the game for you. It is challenging, beautiful, has a compelling story and memorable boss fights. What more could you need?
  2. RPG Site
    Apr 10, 2018
    90
    Thanks to its incredible soundtrack and a wonderful dose of gameplay variety to help keep everything from becoming monotonous, Ys Origin is still and will forever remain a solid action RPG well worth your time no matter the platform it winds up on.
  3. XboxAddict
    May 29, 2018
    86
    The story and characters are interesting, the gameplay is solid, boss fights are interesting and memorable, it looks beautiful, and the gameplay is fantastic. Fans of the series will enjoy seeing some backstory while new fans, like myself, now have an entry point to start from, bringing them into the series.
  5. 4Players.de
    May 14, 2018
    86
    This is old-school action roleplaying at its finest. Beautifully designed and with the added bonus of a touching story, a clever level design and more than enough loot, this is something very special.
  6. Xbox Tavern
    Apr 10, 2018
    85
    Ys Origin is a remarkable JRPG that offers up a plethora of content for its generous price tag. There’s a great deal of variation within, from well designed environments to the wide selection of diverse enemies and interesting boss encounters. It helps that the game remains fluid throughout the entirety of play, despite some framerate issues later in. Simply put, fans of the genre shouldn’t overlook this nostalgic gem.
  7. Generación Xbox
    Apr 16, 2018
    83
    YS Origin is a Japanese ARPG that maintains the essence of the classics, with a good and addictive gameplay and a story that knows how to keep up, accompanied by charismatic characters. Despite not being a graphic wonder, it keeps its style at all times and is crowned with a fantastic soundtrack.
  8. XBLA Fans
    May 25, 2018
    80
    Whether this is your first exposure to Ys, or you are long familiar with the franchise, Ys Origin is a challenging adventure that combines an enjoyable narrative with plenty of action, even if it seems dated from time to time. So when people ask me if I recommend the game, my response is an emphatic Ys … I mean yes.
  9. DarkStation
    May 21, 2018
    80
    Despite the game's age, it still looks really nice on the Xbox One with the upscaled resolution and increased framerate, but even more impressive perhaps is the fantastic score and intricate level design. Ys: Origin isn't a long game, but the time spent is surely satisfying. Story issues aside, there's a lot of enjoyment here for JRPG fans and the game is also a great starting point for any newcomers to the series.
  10. Gaming Nexus
    Apr 26, 2018
    80
    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.
  11. Windows Central
    Apr 22, 2018
    80
    Despite an average story, Ys Origin solidifies itself as an excellent classic thanks to the fantastic gameplay and superb visuals and music.
  12. COGconnected
    Apr 11, 2018
    80
    Ys Origin is a well-balanced action RPG that brings back all those nostalgic feels, and while it isn’t perfect by any stretch of the word, it’s both satisfying and fun to play. With awesome boss battles, engaging combat and a story that stays true to itself throughout its entirety, this distant prequel is an example that old-age games can still remain enjoyable years after their original release.
  13. MondoXbox
    Apr 22, 2018
    74
    Ys Origin didn't age too well and it could have been improved with better menus and cut-scenes. But it still remains an enjoyable action-RPG that lovers of the genre should try.
  14. Official Xbox Magazine UK
    Jun 23, 2018
    70
    A great retro RPG, but a few niggles make it tough to enjoy by modern standards. [July 2018, p.76]
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  15. Cubed3
    Apr 23, 2018
    70
    When it comes to action RPGs, Ys Origin ranks among the elite. It's fair to point out, however, that the Xbox One port could have been better. Sure, the slight load time increases and lack of controller options are nitpicks, but the original game was released in 2006. Surely these minor details should have been accounted for. More egregious is the stuttering. Although it doesn't go far enough to ruin the port, its presence is unjustifiable. Still, whatever the format, this phenomenal classic can't be passed up.

Awards & Rankings

44
#44 Best Xbox One Game of 2018
88
#88 Most Discussed Xbox One Game of 2018
83
#83 Most Shared Xbox One Game of 2018

User Reviews

All reviews »
User Score
7.8

Generally favorable reviews- based on 25 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 19 out of 25
  2. Mixed: 3 out of 25
  3. Negative: 3 out of 25
  1. Xbox_Alive
    Apr 15, 2018
    8
    As this is the first time I’ve ever played a Ys game and I must admit that I don’t know much about the series. I have however heard lots ofAs this is the first time I’ve ever played a Ys game and I must admit that I don’t know much about the series. I have however heard lots of good things about it and without a doubt it has a big following and now I can understand why. Ys Origin as far as RPG’s go is absolutely brilliant and to say I enjoyed my time with the game would be a massive understatement. The most important aspect for me in an RPG is the combat and thankfully it’s been done to perfection. When you’re in combat you get a challenge that doesn’t frustrate you and most important of all it makes you want to carry on because it remains rewarding at all times. Whilst I enjoyed all combat in the game I found the boss battles to be even more enjoyable. When tackling these bosses the gameplay flows flawlessly and you realise how tight and responsive the controls really are, which is great. If you like RPG’s with lots of content then Ys Origin will no doubt satisfy in this area and the best thing is that the content that’s available never seems to get boring so there is a huge amount of replayability. You will however notice a couple of problems as you progress through the content, but thankfully these issues don’t take too much away from the game so you can easily look past them. One thing that really makes Ys Origin stand out from other game’s in the genre is the amount of variety it has. It literally has an abundance of variety in all areas and this without a doubt keeps things fresh and interesting throughout your whole playthrough, which is very rare these days. I don’t really have too many gripes with this game and in fact the only problem I really had was finding out what to do and where to go next. A map would have easily sorted this problem, but I understand why they didn’t implement one because they want you to find your own way which can be fun and annoying at the same time. Despite the game being years old I must admit that I was pretty impressed when it came to the presentation side of the game. The visuals and sound design are packed with charm throughout and this in turn makes the gameplay even more fun and enjoyable. At the end of the day if you like action RPG’s then you will thoroughly enjoy Ys Origin from start to finish. This game has stood the test of time and in my opinion it’s just as good as the more modern games in the genre which is impressive to say the least. There are very few problems in the game and they get all the important mechanics spot on and Ys Origin definitely gets a massive thumbs up from me.… Full Review »
  2. mytoothbrush
    Jul 7, 2022
    8
    It's your classic RPG: simple, pleasant and enjoyable. Very much recommended to the fans of the series, but also to players who miss the 2DIt's your classic RPG: simple, pleasant and enjoyable. Very much recommended to the fans of the series, but also to players who miss the 2D RPGs of the good old times. I don't give 9 just because, when I played it in both the original language and my own native language, I noticed the translation in my native language really had no heart even though it was correct.… Full Review »
  3. BrownKnight
    Jul 15, 2021
    9
    Nice game that stood the test of times. Music is great as always in this series; graphics albeit a little outdated are nice and give a niceNice game that stood the test of times. Music is great as always in this series; graphics albeit a little outdated are nice and give a nice atmosphere; gameplay is still very enjoyable, with simple yet effective combat and vital movement and positioning; story at times predictable but the characters have a nice background and development.
    Playing 3 walkthroughs in a row felt a bit tedious, at least there were some variations, aside from how the characters played. Another quite bad note is that it was quite unfair if you were not at the intended level. Also the menu felt unpolished.    … Full Review »
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