Ys Origin Reviews

Ys Origin is ranked in the 83rd percentile of games scored on OpenCritic.
3.5 / 5.0
Mar 13, 2017

Ys Origin is a great gateway into the Ys series, as well as another high-quality entry for those who are already sold on the series.

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80 / 100
Feb 21, 2017

Ys Origin does a great job at detailing the major plot points that occurred in the past that were instrumental in setting up the story of the Ys universe. A finely crafted roleplaying game, fans of the series and of the genre itself are going to find a lot to love with this one, as well they should. It was a great experience from top to bottom, even if it was a little on the shorter side. A typical playthrough on normal difficulty will take the average player anywhere from 7 to 9 hours depending on how much leveling up you do on the side. Do not sleep on this game. Ys Origin is one of the better Action RPG’s currently available on the PlayStation 4, and will provide a nice bridge between now and when Lacrimosa of Dana launches later this year.

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Evan Norris
Top Critic
Unscored
Feb 26, 2017

Apart from that small blemish, Ys Origin is a terrific console port of a solid hack 'n' slash action RPG.

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3.5 / 5.0
Mar 6, 2017

There are a lot of things to enjoy about Ys Origin, but it’s held back from reaching true greatness because of its ridiculous difficulty spikes and its story that requires three playthroughs to fully take in.

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8 / 10.0
Feb 21, 2017

The origin to the story of Ys, and a fast paced fun action rpg to play, something you should try while we wait for Ys VIII to land.

Review in Spanish | Read full review

8 / 10.0
Mar 16, 2017

With Ys Origin finally available on the Playstation and the upcoming release of Ys VIII, now is the perfect time to delve into the Ys series and Origin is the perfect entry-point.

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9.8 / 10.0
Jun 23, 2017

Ys Origin was originally released for PC in 2012, and has finally received a PS4/PSVita port this year. Created as a prequel to the other Ys games, Ys Origin takes place roughly 700 years before the events of Ys I and provides backstory of the world. With a story that will draw in new and veteran players alike, with a simple yet effective combat system and a stellar soundtrack, Ys Origin definitely demonstrates a quality product.

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7.6 / 10.0
Apr 16, 2018

Despite being more than eleven years old, Y’s Origin still provides a fast arcade-fighting system, exciting boss-fights and a huge challenge for achievement-hunter. The old graphics may not meet everyones flavour, but with it’s nostalgic charme, they still manage to win peoples hearts. In short, Y’s Origin is a typical JRPG, that successfully reminisce us about videogames like Terranigma or Zelda: A Link to the Past and the beautiful 16/32-bit era.

Review in German | Read full review

90 / 100
Apr 10, 2018

This classic holds up well on the Xbox One, so if you've managed to miss it all this time like me, it's highly recommended to play on a MS console for the first time ever.

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A or higher
Apr 15, 2018

DotEmu dominates another rebirth. Ys Origin for the Xbox One, adds some new features, most notably the speedrun option. That may not be enough to pull a gamer to purchase it again from PS4 or Steam, but new players will be in for a treat at the $19.99 price!

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7.8 / 10.0
Apr 23, 2018

Ys Origin embraces the old-school style of RPGs and mixes it up with quick-paced action-packed battling, and it makes for a surprisingly intuitive and very enjoyable experience. I had a lot of fun fighting my way through Devil’s Tower as all three characters and each adventure managed to feel unique in its own little way. The only real problem with the game is that it takes the ‘old-school’ approach too literally at times, with some features of the game a little too simplified and the saving system a little unforgiving. The game shows its age at times visually too, especially with some of the bland environments you explore. Still, none of these flaws stop Ys Origin from being a great action-RPG experience and one that fans of the genre will want to check out – regardless of whether or not it’s their first time with the Ys series.

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Yes
Dec 18, 2018
Ys Origin Review (PC / PS4 / Xbox One / Vita / Switch) video thumbnail
8 / 10.0
Mar 17, 2017

DotEmu did a great job at bringing this obscure entry to consoles, and for the most part the game made a smooth transition from PC to console. Outside of the annoyance with charged attacks and the lackluster analog movement, this game felt right at home on the PS4, and for the $20 pricetag I think it’s certainly worth a buy considering the amount of replay value that’ll come from the challenging trophy list and the multiple characters.

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Liked-a-lot
Sep 29, 2020

Ys Origin is an enjoyable romp through the Devils Tower. For fans of the series, they are sure to enjoy Ys Origin which only adds to an already rich mythology. Overall, I was very pleasantly surprised by this game, Ys Origin on the Nintendo Switch is a great action RPG with old school hack and slash elements, that will appeal to anyone looking for a decent gaming experience for less than Twenty quid on the eShop!

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4 / 5.0
Sep 29, 2020

I’ve said it already, and I’ll say it again; Ys Origin is an incredibly refreshing game. Featuring characters with incredibly diverse playstyles, simple-yet-challenging combat, and an unmistakably large amount of that tried-and-true Nihon Falcom polish, Ys Origin is not only a celebration of Ys, but of action RPGs as well.

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Noisy Pixel
Orpheus Joshua
9 / 10.0
Sep 29, 2020

Ys Origin is a title I hold near and dear to my heart. It’s not only my own personal favorite Ys title, but it is also one of my favorite games of all time. So it’s nice to see that some care went into this Switch port. While the repetition of exploring the same environments can undoubtedly dull the affair for some players, the stellar combat design, jaw-dropping soundtrack, incredible writing, varying level design, and the multitude of gameplay modes make this a one of a kind action RPG experience that any fan of the genre should pick up.

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8 / 10
Sep 29, 2020

Seriously, what downsides it does have are either due to its age or just the fact that the designers prioritized a fun dungeon crawl over character building. That’s fine. The game you have here is a fine, crisp, energetic dungeon crawl that’s good to pick up and play and rewards you with bosses that are tough enough to matter but not so hard that you’ll want to throw the game in the garbage.

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8.5 / 10.0
Oct 1, 2020

Ys Origin is a phenomenal fit for a system like the Switch. I loved its deliciously rewarding gameplay and metroidvania-esque gameplay loop. It might be the most underwhelming game in the franchise when it comes to plot and characters, but I didn’t mind that at all. For a game released in 2006, it’s amazing how well it has aged in pretty much every single aspect.

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3.5 / 5.0
Oct 1, 2020

Though the game has some flaws and is starting to show its age, the fast paced combat system and compelling trifecta of stories mean Origin remains a strong title in the Ys series.

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Unscored
Oct 1, 2020

Ys: Origins is one of the most beloved games in the Ys series due to a great plot, good character development and an exceptional soundtrack. The arrival of its remastering on Switch is something that is appreciated, although the console does not do it as much, because the game at a graphic level has not been very well-treated and its mechanics are somewhat outdate, something that takes its toll. However, if you know to leave this aside a bit, you can enjoy a classic role-playing game which is sure to amaze you

Review in Spanish | Read full review