Where to Buy the Ys rpg series (adol christin)

ArmoredCore · Post by **ArmoredCore** » Wed Oct 15, 2008 10:57 pm

so i just found out the beauty of ys ark of napishtim for a fairly cheap price, now that the PC Ys's games (oath of felghana, origins, I & II complete) most have english patches im thinking bout picking these games up, anyone know a place that has them cheaper than himeyashop? if its too expensive i think ill pass. the rpg is so good tho in short chunks.

GaijinPunch · Post by **GaijinPunch** » Wed Oct 15, 2008 11:16 pm

ark of napishtim

Really good? This is on the PS2, right?

Strider77 · Post by **Strider77** » Wed Oct 15, 2008 11:21 pm

PS2 one is kinda weak... PC version is MUCH better looking. If you haven't all ready take a look at the newer PC ones. Oath is one of my favorite ones.

lgb · Post by **lgb** » Wed Oct 15, 2008 11:23 pm

GaijinPunch wrote:
ark of napishtim
Really good? This is on the PS2, right?

And PSP. That's a terrible port though. PS2 version has voice acting, if I recall.

edit: raiding wikipedia for aon info produces the following:

PC
The initial release of the game was the "Limited Edition". After this sold out, Falcom released a standard edition of the game with some new features. Two new difficulties and a Time Attack mini-game where you fight through all the game's bosses were added. However, there was never a patch or upgrade released to initial buyers, so players wanting these new features had to buy the game again. Years later, Falcom would similarly add features to Ys Origin, this time, however, initial buyers were offered an upgrade disc for the cost of shipping. The "PC Vista version" is the same as the Standard Edition with support for Windows Vista.

PlayStation 2
Konami made several additions and changes when porting the game to the PlayStation 2. The most notable were the inclusion of both English and Japanese voice acting to all characters (including NPCs) and several new optional areas referred to as "Alma's Trials." Konami also added new FMV sequences, though the original animated sequences could still be selected through a code. Blood and gore effects were removed due to console games requiring a rating. Lastly, they changed the character and monster graphics from pre-rendered 3D sprites to fully-polygonal 3D models. While this allowed for much better animation and changes to Adol's appearance based on his equipment, some fans were not happy that the character's proportions were changed from anime-style (and somewhat cartoon-like) to realistic.

PlayStation Portable
The PlayStation Portable port does not include any of the changes of the PS2 port except for the removal of blood and gore effects. However, the US and European versions came with their own set of bonuses including some extra fetch-quests that unlock a few mini-games and an image/media gallery. These were later included in a "Special Edition" rerelease in Japan. However, the game is noted for having particularly long and frequent load times. All voice-acting has also been removed from this version.

But yeah, it's great. Big improvement over Ys V, if anything.

danmaku no arashi · Post by **danmaku no arashi** » Wed Oct 15, 2008 11:27 pm

Really good? This is on the PS2,right?

Dunno about the ps2 version, but I quite enjoyed the pc version. If you like action-rpgs that are more action and less story driven, you should definately give it a go.
Oath of Felghana is where it's really at, though. More of the same, basically, but much more refined.

Origins for PC is really great too. Plus, if you choose the magician guy as a character it's almost a shmup

ArmoredCore · Post by **ArmoredCore** » Wed Oct 15, 2008 11:35 pm

well i even liked the ps2 version, from what u guys are saying id enjoy the shit out of the pc ones, now to find a place that doesnt charge 50-60+....

GaijinPunch · Post by **GaijinPunch** » Thu Oct 16, 2008 12:14 am

Does the PC version run in Window mode? Might pick it up, although I've never played the series seriously.

On a similar note, I saw Zwei 2 on display the other day. Looked good, in a sorta cheap 3D way.

ArmoredCore · Post by **ArmoredCore** » Thu Oct 16, 2008 12:29 am

is zwei 2 one of their action rpgs as well? the music is so dam good in these ys games lol. ima start youtubing their other games. all i know is Ys from falcom lol.

Ganelon · Post by **Ganelon** » Thu Oct 16, 2008 6:59 am

Yeah, Zwei is a dungeon crawling ARPG.

Ys is still Falcom's premier series. Other than that, you have your Xanadu Next, VM Japan, and other junk, but the only other big thing you'd be missing now would be the 3 chapters of The Legend of Heroes VI (where III-V was already localized for the PSP).

If you know Chinese, you can get the Chinese versions of Origins and Oath in Felghana for dirt cheap (<$10 retail for each). Not sure which sites ship to the US though.

Strider77 · Post by **Strider77** » Thu Oct 16, 2008 8:10 am

GP, try oath in felgana 1st.... I don't think you'll be let down. Yeah it runs on windows to answer your question. Easy install ect.

Music is really good and the bosses actually require skill to beat.

GaijinPunch · Post by **GaijinPunch** » Thu Oct 16, 2008 8:51 am

I actually meant "window mode". IE, does it force full screen or not? My monitors are both TATE'd to accomodate needing to read shitloads of lines of logs all fucking day.

elfhentaifan · Post by **elfhentaifan** » Thu Oct 16, 2008 10:38 am

Ys6 is propably my most favourite hack&slay rpg.
I've looped the ps2 aswell as the pc version several times and still cant get enough of it.
The PS2 port is very well done, since it has lots of extras, like enlish subs (and multiple languages), 2 more difficulties, a time attack mode, a bigger screen, Almas Trials and some more minor bonuses.

The PC version just has some better graphics of course, but is much harder to get.
While Ys Origins is still affordable, rarities like 1+2, Ys6 (PC) or especially Oath in Felghana are kinda costy.

Afaik you can just run the series in fullscreen mode, since i cant find anything to switch it on the settings.
Check this (screen of Ys6 settings): http://i36.tinypic.com/o09p8y.jpg

The atmosphere in Ys6 is awesome and i really love the music and dungeons (even the ruins of amnesia), i also like it more than Oath in Felghana, which is no doubt awesome, but the dungeons somehow are a bit boring there.
You cant do anything wrong with starting with the PS2 Port.

GaijinPunch · Post by **GaijinPunch** » Thu Oct 16, 2008 12:05 pm

Top left check box is "Full Screen".
Uncheck that and see if it works.

You cant do anything wrong with starting with the PS2 Port.

Of Ark? It's cheap as shit, that's for sure.

ArmoredCore · Post by **ArmoredCore** » Thu Oct 16, 2008 12:14 pm

zwei ii looked kind of good from the gameplay vids, but seems way more jpn text heavy than the y's game + ys game are easier to manage without even having an english patch at all. looks good though.

elfhentaifan · Post by **elfhentaifan** » Thu Oct 16, 2008 12:52 pm

GaijinPunch wrote:Top left check box is "Full Screen".
Uncheck that and see if it works.

You cant do anything wrong with starting with the PS2 Port.
Of Ark? It's cheap as shit, that's for sure.

Ah ok,so it works in window mode aswell, but definetly plays better in window mode.

And yes i meant Ys6 for PS2. I think there also was a port for the 3rd part, but never get to see it.
Dont be afraid just because its cheap, you can maybe get the limited edition if you really want to spend some more.

There is a Ltd. edition for both, the PC and the PS2 version, with all that stuff like soundtrack CD, a necklace and so on.

danmaku no arashi · Post by **danmaku no arashi** » Thu Oct 16, 2008 2:23 pm

rarities like 1+2, Ys6 (PC) or especially Oath in Felghana are kinda costy

Really? I have a mint limited editon of Ys VI for PC (cd rom version). For a good price, I might let it go...
PM me if interested. Also got a limited editon of Zwei!!.

Sorry for derailing the thread though.

elfhentaifan · Post by **elfhentaifan** » Thu Oct 16, 2008 2:58 pm

surely i'd love to get it into my hands but there is no possibility for me currently (and in the recent future)
I may talk to to you some other day

ZOM · Post by **ZOM** » Thu Oct 16, 2008 3:16 pm

I always ordered all my falcom games directly from them.
Problem is, you have to order & give them your credit card information through email if you're outside of japan.

kozo · Post by **kozo** » Thu Oct 16, 2008 7:56 pm

Advice from a Falcom nut:

- All games can play Fullscreen or Windowed.

- Immediately grab Xanadu Next, it is a wonderful game. Story stays in the background, dungeon crawling action RPG goodness takes the lead. No need for level grinding, just go for it and have fun. Excellent mellowed out orchestral soundtrack. LE comes with Legend of Xanadu I and II plus music, but nothing you can't find elsewhere. English patch eventually slated.

- Felghana is great fun, a bit wordy for an Ys game but still pretty no-nonsense. The Limited Editions with the 8 CD music box set are still easy to find on Yahoo Japan, etc. English patch available if you donate.

- Origin (just one, not Origins) is interesting if you play as Hugo - it basically becomes Teh Ys Shmup. Hugo can run and gun, has options, can get powerups, etc. No LE of Origin, they all come with goodies, but try to get the Vista compatible version. It will still run on 98-XP, but has the bonus materials that Falcom released later included so you don't need to hunt down the extras disc for the older version. English patch in progress, but not officially started.

- Avoid Ys 6 unless you want cheap thrills. It's the worst in the series and has horrific voice acting (Japanese or English, they both suck.) Try to get the PC version, it's just as cheap as the PS2 one if you look around, and is much better. English patch on the way for PC.

- VERY MUCH avoid the Taito remakes - in fact, avoid anything that has been licensed, therefore not actually developed in-house by Falcom. I.E., the Ys DS remakes, Ys 3-5 on the PS2, Ys 3 and 4 on the SFC, Legend of Heroes 3-5 on the PSP (known as 1-3 in the US), etc. They're all pretty heinous and give Falcom a bad, bad name.

elfhentaifan · Post by **elfhentaifan** » Thu Oct 16, 2008 8:15 pm

kozo wrote:
- Avoid Ys 6 unless you want cheap thrills. It's the worst in the series and has horrific voice acting (Japanese or English, they both suck.) Try to get the PC version, it's just as cheap as the PS2 one if you look around, and is much better. English patch on the way for PC.

For a falcom nut you really speak some big shit.
Also there wont be any translation for the PC Ys6, since the project's been canceled long ago, and i dont think that one guy translating the series ever wasted a thought about it again

kozo · Post by **kozo** » Thu Oct 16, 2008 8:18 pm

elfhentaifan wrote:For a falcom nut you really speak some big shit.
Also there wont be any translation for the PC Ys6, since the project's been canceled long ago, and i dont think that one guy translating the series ever wasted a thought about it again

No, there is another English translation on it's way, by an Italian group. Trust me. It's not the previous group.

Edit: Link, screens are out of date, newer ones have been shown though.
http://www.figlidigaucci.eu/index.php?pid=19

I may be a fan of Falcom, but that doesn't mean I like everything they've done.

Ys VI makes me sick.

elfhentaifan · Post by **elfhentaifan** » Thu Oct 16, 2008 8:37 pm

sick in the way of "that fucking jump sections should be cursed to death" or what?
What makes this game so bad in your eyes (im really interested to know, right because you ARE a -falcom nut-)?

Kinda cool though, that some italian guys decided to take on the job as translators.

kozo · Post by **kozo** » Thu Oct 16, 2008 8:50 pm

elfhentaifan wrote:sick in the way of "that fucking jump sections should be cursed to death" or what?
What makes this game so bad in your eyes (im really interested to know, right because you ARE a -falcom nut-)?

Kinda cool though, that some italian guys decided to take on the job as translators.

It is cool! They are really cracking at it quickly.

As for the game itself, I dunno, the whole thing felt kind of cheap to me. The graphics engine is primitive but takes a decent (for 2003) computer to run well. The music is largely cruddy MIDI-esque, which is a shame considering Falcom's track record for the 80's and 90's. There's also a lot of dialogue (for an Ys game) and the story is pretty mindless. I don't like most of the character designs either. And after Ys V, the gameplay feels very forced. V let you customize a lot of things, but VI is basically "hit the slash key a lot". I liked the old "Adol the battering ram" more, too. And yeah, the jumping was crap.

All that said, it's still an enjoyable game. I was just let down since I loved Ys II and V so much. Falcom has some incredible games, most of which are great old-school vibe games with great production values, but they have some misses too IMHO.

For all the uninitiated, just don't judge all the Ys/Falcom games off of VI (especially the Konami PS2 port).

Sorry for the off topic-ness, my bad. Best place to buy this stuff though is YJ or Falcom themselves. Unlike most companies, Falcom still sells a large portion of their catalog (almost everything dating from '99 on.)

elfhentaifan · Post by **elfhentaifan** » Thu Oct 16, 2008 9:01 pm

well the story can be skipped, and isnt really worth mentioning in hack&slay games at all, but still its not really bad (FOR a hack&slay game)
Its too bad that you dislike the art in that game, since the whole fantasy/caribic/elf mix really hit my heart.
Together with some lovely soundtracks and nice looking dungeons this game is very playable.

I dont get bothered by all that software-lack anyway, since im more of the consolhero.
Maybe its really just because you have been hit and spoiled by earlier games of the series or Mr. Taste is short tempered that you dislike it so much.
I will consider your advice though and check Ys2, which is on my HD, but hasnt gotten real dedication, but propably yells for it.

Looking forward to the Ys6 translation

kozo · Post by **kozo** » Thu Oct 16, 2008 9:02 pm

elfhentaifan wrote:I dont get bothered by all that software-lack anyway, since im more of the consolhero.
Maybe its really just because you have been hit and spoiled by earlier games of the series or Mr. Taste is short tempered that you dislike it so much.
I will consider your advice though and check Ys2, which is on my HD, but hasnt gotten real dedication, but propably yells for it.

Looking forward to the Ys6 translation

Maybe I am spoiled.

I don't mean to keep others from enjoying it. It is a good, solid game.

ZOM · Post by **ZOM** » Thu Oct 16, 2008 9:08 pm

I'm somewhat a falcom nut too & I totally agree with kozo:

Ys VI is no good (it's a splendid game but a very bad Ys) or at least get the
PC version, it plays much better than the PS2 version.

Get Xanadu Next ASAP - it totally rocks!

If you're into dungeon crawlers, I suggest informing about the Brandish series -
my favorite dungeon RPG though I sometimes feel like I'm the only person on this planet who loves this game

GaijinPunch · Post by **GaijinPunch** » Thu Oct 16, 2008 11:56 pm

I'm running XP. Should I be worried about this list?
http://www.falcom.co.jp/newgames/windows.html

I assume the Vista games listed are XP compatible?

EDIT:
Here's Zwei II, btw:
http://lwm.jp/special/archives/000589.html

ZOM · Post by **ZOM** » Fri Oct 17, 2008 12:34 am

^^ No worries, that's falcom's way of sorting that dumb list.
Every falcom game in my possession - bar Sorcerian Forever - works great on my XP PC.

I'm more intrigued about the fact that Dinosaur Resurrection works on vista...

Did they made a reprint of it?

No_not_like_Quake · Post by **No_not_like_Quake** » Fri Oct 17, 2008 2:10 am

kozo wrote:Advice from a Falcom nut:- VERY MUCH avoid the Taito remakes - in fact, avoid anything that has been licensed, therefore not actually developed in-house by Falcom. I.E., the Ys DS remakes, Ys 3-5 on the PS2, Ys 3 and 4 on the SFC, Legend of Heroes 3-5 on the PSP (known as 1-3 in the US), etc. They're all pretty heinous and give Falcom a bad, bad name.

Duo versions of Ys book I & II, Ys III and Ys IV: Dawn of Ys where licensed to Hudson and are excellent to ok. The Tonkin House developed SFC game Ys IV: Mask of the Sun is the one of the two considered canon. Falcom didn't actually make a Ys IV in-house.

GaijinPunch · Post by **GaijinPunch** » Fri Oct 17, 2008 4:02 am

I think as a rule of thumb, Falcom has never done a console port. Am I right? I'm not talking about MSX or the other weird computers.

Anyways, looks like I'll grab Y's Origin as it's so cheap.