Ys Origin Reviews

Ys Origin is ranked in the 83rd percentile of games scored on OpenCritic.
4 / 5.0
Feb 27, 2017

Ys Origin is over a decade old and holds up well despite showing its age.

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Nintendo Life
Stuart Gipp
Top Critic
8 / 10
Sep 29, 2020

The story here takes a back seat to the brilliant and compulsive dungeon crawling gameplay, which should appeal even to those who don't tend to enjoy action RPGs. No puzzle, no battle and no single room ever outstays its welcome in Ys Origin, resulting in one of the briskest, easy-going games we've played in a long time. Sure, the visuals could be better, the overall length might be too short for hardcore RPG fans and there's a lot of grinding afoot, but this remains a solid choice if you're a fan of this sort of thing. An easy recommendation to pretty much anyone who has an interest in RPGs, Ys Origin is perfect even if you've never touched a game in the series before. Now, can we get Ys: The Oath in Felghana on Switch, too?

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8 / 10.0
Feb 27, 2017

Ys Origin on PlayStation 4 is a very good port of a classic game that is the prequel to one of the best action RPG franchises of all time.

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8.5 / 10.0
Oct 18, 2020

Set 700 years before the first title, Ys Origin expands on the franchise's lore with a combat system that blends both style and substance.

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8.5 / 10.0
Feb 21, 2017

I appreciate what DotEmu has done with the console port of Ys Origin. A story localized this good deserves to be easily accessed by gamers on as many ports as possible. Besides the strange rending issues on screen in the beginning of the game, I would say this is a great port of ten year old PC game that serves a preface to the beloved Ys series.

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8 / 10
Sep 29, 2020

Despite abandoning the series' all-too-iconic red-haired hero, Ys Origin is one of the most memorable and enjoyable entries in the franchise. With multiple characters, incredibly tight controls, and rewarding unlockables and bonus modes, it's a perfect entry into the series for newcomers as well as an absolute treat for veteran Ys players. The lack of a map and the simple combat can sometimes be a bit of a frustration, but they're ultimately minor annoyances in an otherwise incredible old-school action RPG.

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76 / 100
Mar 8, 2017

Ys Origin is a simple but very enjoyable and replayable Action RPG. If you like this genre and the series, don't miss it.

Review in Spanish | Read full review

7 / 10.0
Mar 8, 2017

If you don't mind the game's port-related problems and weird changes, there's a chance that you could still have a good time with hacking your way through its enemies and bosses – especially if you're down with turning your Sony systems into your Ys machines. If anything, it's important for one to see if they can put up with DotEmu's work before they accept their mission to find the twin Goddesses.

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6.5 / 10.0
Feb 21, 2017

Hopefully a patch will come down that will add at least an instruction on switching skills and fix the sound issues. Ys Origin isn't a great game, even with the various modes, difficulty settings, and characters that unlock for replayability, simply because it's straight dungeon crawl with little variety. However, these issues prevent Ys Origin from being as good as it could be, and they certainly make it difficult to recommend the title to newcomers of Ys.

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Apr 21, 2018

Despite an average story, Ys Origin solidifies itself as an excellent classic thanks to the fantastic gameplay and superb visuals and music.

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85 / 100
Oct 7, 2020

Being an ARPG on the shorter side, the different perspectives in Ys Origin offer excellent replayability and gives players a pleasant, rounded experience without bogging them down with too many details. Even though the repetitive grinding can be a mind-numbing task to gain experience points, at least the controls are fluid, making this an easy game to enjoy. As the prequel to an already successful franchise, Ys Origin is a highly recommended addition to the series that gamers new and old to the story should not ignore.

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80 / 100
Apr 11, 2018

Feeling like a combination of the classic Zelda titles for the SNES, and the new age Final Fantasy titles, this classic hack and slash combat just feels so right.

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7 / 10
Mar 8, 2017

While things can feel monotonous in places, Ys Origin is a fun ride, and a great introduction to the series for newcomers. Existing fans are sure to enjoy the additional story, though - it's one that only adds to an already rich mythology. Feeling like a fresh escape from the hand-holding that's found in many RPGs these days, Ys Origin is also a welcome challenge that's sure to please those looking to test their skills.

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Wccftech
Top Critic
8.2 / 10.0
Feb 21, 2017

While Ys Origin feels like a relic of the mid-2000's, its fast paced combat still stands the test of time and should satisfy fans waiting for Ys VIII's global release.

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8 / 10.0
Apr 26, 2018

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.

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8.5 / 10.0
Oct 6, 2020

It's not often that I review a game in which I want to dive right back in after I finish with it, but Ys Origin is one of those rare exceptions. With the exceptional boss fights, the copious amount of unlockables, and the short runtime, I can already hear the game calling to me to return. However, if there's one thing that really stands out to me about how good this game is, it's that it makes me want to check out the rest of the series.

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Generación Xbox
Javatuno
Top Critic
8.3 / 10.0
Apr 10, 2018

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.

Review in Spanish | Read full review

Feb 23, 2017

Ys Origin is a wonderful action-RPG that is a handy reminder to us all that timeless, scrupulous game design often ages graciously, gracefully and beautifully.

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Alana Hagues
Top Critic
82%
Apr 2, 2017

Ys Origin is a fantastic place to start if you've never experienced the wonders of the Ys series.

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RPG Site
Top Critic
9 / 10
Apr 10, 2018

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.

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