Ys Origin
Oct 01, 2020 6 years ago
700 years before the events of Ys I & II, the land of Ys was on the brink of destruction. Demons came in droves and forced the twin Goddesses who ruled the land to whisk their subjects away from the surface, into the safe embrace of the clouds. The demons were persistent, however, erecting a massive tower in pursuit. The battle that raged upon the ground had begun ascending for a second round up above. One day, amidst this turmoil, the Goddesses stole away into the night, vanishing from Ys altogether. And there's only one place they could have gone: the Devil's Tower. A search party of knights and sorcerers was hastily formed and dispatched to the surface in hopes of retrieving these runaway deities. Among its members were apprentice knight Yunica Tovah and troubled sorcerer Hugo Fact. This is their story. Or at least, it's how each of them remembers it. Expanding upon the gameplay elements introduced in Ys: The Ark of Napishtim and further developed in Ys: The Oath in Felghana, Ys Origin perfects the formula by adding different styles of play and new features never before seen in the Ys universe. Best described as an arcade-like platformer RPG with Metroidvania elements and a complex, multi-faceted narrative, Ys Origin is the perfect mix of action, exploration and story. Screen-filling bosses with complex AI, unique platforming elements, innovative puzzles and a deeply involving mystery await within the wildly varied confines of this classic Ys dungeon. Come see how long you can last in the Devil's Tower...
What it’s like
Ys Origin delivers a high-octane, top-down action RPG experience centered on ascending the Devil's Tower. The narrative is uniquely structured around three playable characters—Yunica, Hugo, and Adol—each recounting the same events from distinct perspectives, creating a fragmented but cohesive mystery regarding the Goddesses' disappearance. This dual-narrative approach adds significant replay value, as players uncover new plot details and character motivations with each run. The gameplay is defined by fluid, responsive combat that emphasizes speed, positioning, and mastering unique weapon types for each hero. Level design resembles an elongated Metroidvania dungeon, offering tight control and satisfying environmental puzzles. While the story provides a compelling framework, the core appeal lies in the visceral satisfaction of clearing floors against increasingly complex boss encounters. The atmosphere is enhanced by a dynamic soundtrack that shifts between ambient tones and heavy metal intensity, perfectly matching the escalating chaos of the tower's ascent.
Strong in Audio / MusicCombatGameplay / MechanicsProgression / ReplayabilityAtmosphere / MoodCharactersDifficulty / ChallengeExploration / WorldPacingPolish / PerformanceStory / NarrativeVisuals / Art
Keep in mind The narrative relies heavily on repetition; players must complete multiple playthroughs to understand the full story, which may feel tedious to those seeking a linear, single-pass experience. Additionally, the difficulty curve can be steep for newcomers due to aggressive enemy AI and boss patterns that demand precise timing rather than brute force.
AI-generated from catalog data, informed by reviews from metacritic.com, remygallen.substack.com, rpgamer.com, reddit.com, nintendolife.com.
Screenshots
Releases
| Platform | Region | Type | Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| PC (Microsoft Windows) | Worldwide | Full release | Dec 21, 200620 years ago |
| PlayStation 4 | Worldwide | Full release | Feb 21, 20179 years ago |
| PlayStation Vita | Worldwide | Full release | Feb 21, 20179 years ago |
| Xbox One | Worldwide | Full release | Apr 11, 20188 years ago |
| Nintendo Switch | Worldwide | Full release | Oct 01, 20206 years ago |
