Ys Origin Reviews

Ys Origin is ranked in the 83rd percentile of games scored on OpenCritic.
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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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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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.

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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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8 / 10.0
Feb 24, 2017

As a huge fan of Ys ever since the beginning of the franchise, I'm thrilled to be able to enjoy Ys Origin on the big screen.

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Drew Hurley
Top Critic
8 / 10
Apr 11, 2021

Despite its age and the backdrop of the tower remaining the same, Ys Origin still manages to shine. All three play-throughs are enjoyable and engaging, each with its own story, and each character feeling so very different thanks to their drastically different play styles. Better yet, even after finishing all three play-throughs, there's much more to enjoy including brand new modes like Speed Run, Time Attack, and even an Arena mode; tight, fast, controls and combat; wonderful big boss encounters. It's easy to see why it garnered its cult status, and this latest re-release is going to introduce it to even more players; players who will be eager to experience more, and there's plenty waiting in the long-running story of Adol.

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8 / 10.0
Nov 25, 2020

Ys Origin is a solid port of a solid game. The somewhat dated visuals and basic gameplay don't hide the generally strong game design. It never reaches far beyond the level of "pretty good," but it's still a blast to play. If you've never played any of the Ys titles, then Origin is an excellent place to start. If you have, Origin might seem too basic compared to some of the more recent offerings, but it's still well worth a look.

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8 / 10.0
Sep 29, 2020

Fortunately, there are unique story beats for each one, some new bosses as well, and they each play quite differently. While a single playthrough can take 6-10 hours, the additional content makes replays worthwhile, so Ys Origin is a fairly Ys-sy recommendation. The one-note setting aside, this is a great action-RPG to add to your Switch library.

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8 / 10.0
Apr 25, 2017

Ys Origin is a gate to the world of Ys and can turn its audience into fans. Though it looks quite old but thanks to high replayability and value Ys Origin still shines after a decade

Review in Persian | Read full review

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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8 / 10.0
Sep 29, 2019

Ys Origins is more than just a simple hack n' slash action role-playing game! Solving puzzles as you climb the Demon Tower and its unique boss battles make the game a truly magical experience and a great way to jump into the Ys series. Ys Origins may suffer from information overload and feels a little outdated it is still a game that you should consider trying out, especially if you've ever been curious about the Ys series.

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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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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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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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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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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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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 / 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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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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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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