Ys X: Proud Nordics Reviews
The original Nordics is a great game, and the new stuff is amazing. The complete Proud package is phenomenal and if you haven’t played the original, the $70 complete package is a must buy. But if you already played Nordics, I would avoid this one. That’s a tough ask because fans of the series would have already played Nordics when it first released, but you must trust me on this one. If you played the original, wait for this one to go on sale or for a standalone DLC pack.
Ys X: Proud Nordics is an excellent remaster that enhances an already solid game, polishing up a few rough edges and offering high-quality additional content.
Review in Italian | Read full review
Ys X: Proud Nordics turns one of the saga’s best adventures into its definitive version, with more content, agile combat, free sailing, and a world filled with mythology.
Review in Spanish | Read full review
For us, Proud Nordics is one of the best JRPGs of recent years, and we can finally enjoy it
Review in Spanish | Read full review
In any case, back to the review at hand, Ys X Proud Nordics is the true definitive edition of the game from 2024. The additional content expands upon the game quite a lot and while the co-op mode has vanished, if you’re a single player JRPG player, you wouldn’t really mind losing out on this anyway. If you never played the original Ys X Nordics, Ys X Proud Nordics is certainly the best way to play the game.
Ys X: Proud Nordics is a technically impressive and enjoyable entry that finally brings stable gameplay to a portable platform. While the new combat system simplifies the strategy, the sense of adventure remains top-tier. It is a must-play for fans who value fluidity and exploration.
Ys X: Proud Nordics doesn’t revolutionize the original version, but it still manages to enhance the experience. The new narrative content, additional abilities, and various gameplay refinements make this edition more complete and better balanced. For those who have never played Ys X, this is undoubtedly the best version to start with. Adol and Karja’s adventure remains fun, dynamic, and full of spectacular moments, thanks above all to a combat system that continues to be one of the game’s strongest points. Those who have already completed the original might find the new features less essential, but the collection of additions still makes Proud Nordics a successful re-release.
Review in Italian | Read full review
Ys X: Proud Nordics is an action RPG that shines with its frenetic dual-damage combat, captivating narrative, and gorgeous art style. Now available for the first time entirely in Spanish, it's the perfect entry point for new players and an unforgettable gift for veterans.
Review in Spanish | Read full review
If you didn’t play the original game the first time around, Ys X: Proud Nordics is an absolute must–buy for fans of action-focused RPGs. For returning players? I’d still recommend it, though the lack of an upgrade path is a massive frustration. But having all the old DLC thrown in for free, along with the quality-of-life updates, the smoothed–out ship travel, the refined combat, and the sheer scale of the new content makes it a vastly superior experience to its original form, with this the definitive way to experience Adol’s journey.
This is a solid ARPG with a simple yet engaging story. Thanks to the chemistry between its protagonists, its revamped combat system, an outstanding soundtrack, new quests, and quality-of-life improvements, this is the definitive version of Ys X. All of this compensates for the shortcomings in environment design and the simplicity of sea navigation. This is a title that prioritizes fluid gameplay and character development over a complex story or visual innovation. Fortunately, it doesn't lose the essence and DNA that sets Falcom games apart from more traditional franchises on the market.
Review in Spanish | Read full review
Ys X: Proud Nordics is an enhanced version of a good JRPG that could have elevated it to greatness, but it left me wanting more on some of the promises made. The story remains the game’s highlight, with intriguing plot development, great new characters and locations, and a dungeon as icing on the cake. However, the combat feels repetitive and button-mashy at times, so some new mechanics would have been welcome alongside the further skill mastery and mana hold. The graphics are also a mixed bag: the character design and cutscenes are great, but the muddy textures sometimes made me wonder if this was a current-gen game. This may be limited to the Switch 2 version that I played, but I think Ys X: Proud Nordics would have benefited from more development time and a longer break after the first game, which is still fresh in the minds of most fans.
It may not be up the alley of those looking for deeply engrossing gameplay, but for players with a passing interest in the franchise who have not yet committed to this installment, now’s the perfect time to dive in and get their feet wet.
Ys X – Proud Nordics comes with the premise of being a definitive version, but the improvements and extra content it offers don’t justify the high price. If it’s on sale, it’s a title worth considering; otherwise, Ys X – Proud Nordics ceases to be an option for everyone and becomes an exclusive game for hardcore fans of the series.
Review in Portuguese | Read full review
Ys X: Proud Nordics is the definitive version of the 2024 action RPG with new story and side content, improved gameplay and features, and amazing performance on Nintendo Switch 2. The lack of an upgrade path from Ys X: Nordics and the need to replay story content limits some of the game's potential, but Ys and action RPG fans are in for a treat nonetheless.
Ys X: Proud Nordics is definitely recommended. The game is a must-have for fans of Adol the Red, and will certainly please fans of the franchise.
Review in Portuguese | Read full review
I didn’t expect the Ys series to pull a Persona 5 Royal and drop a definitive edition so soon after the 2023 release, but here we are. Ys X: Proud Nordics is the best way to play this chapter of Adol’s life, thanks to a solid side story and great additions to its gameplay. Does it justify a second purchase for returning players? Not really. But it is still a great action RPG regardless, especially for those who have yet to play the game.
If you skipped Ys X the first time, buy Proud Nordics and enjoy one of the more distinct modern entries in the franchise. If you already own Ys X, the decision is tougher. The added content is meaningful but not transformative. The quality of life updates are welcome but arguably overdue.
Ys X: Proud Nordics offers the definitive outing of a game I already know I loved, but it’s precisely because of this that I’m left a little bit disappointed that they didn’t go bigger with potential changes. If this was DLC, I’d have called it great and left it at that, but this is a full game purchase that still stands alongside the original version of Ys X. Knowing that, it’s hard not to say “that’s it?” when seeing how it aims to improve that original version. While I already loved that game on both a mechanical and narrative level, this new iteration presented opportunities that just weren’t taken. The game still looks underwhelming a lot of the time, which is less forgivable given its made the full jump to current gen hardware. There also wasn’t much thoughtful reconsideration given to certain balance quirks. For players who are new to Ys X or simply decided to wait on this version, you’ll have a great experience to look forward to. The original game was already decently generous in terms of content and length, and here it’s even better thanks to the new additions and improvements. Not only that, but the new content made specifically for Proud is far and away the best it has to offer. This is an excellent game packed with lots to enjoy, despite the cynical handling of its release overall. Some years from now, that won’t matter much, but I think this kind of thing shouldn’t happen again. It really could have just been DLC.
Ys X: ProudYs X: Proud Nordics is still a great action RPG at the end of the day. The fighting system works well and is fun, the world is cute, and the game moves quickly. Nordics is still a great action RPG at the end of the day. The fighting system works well and is fun, the world is cute, and the game moves quickly.