Adventure is a term used a lot when describing video games, ostensibly almost every video game out there is about some kind of exciting journey. But outside of The Legend of Zelda, you could argue that no other series in existence captures the spirit of “adventure” as well as Ys. The journey of the intrepid explorer Adol Christin continues to yield fascinating tales and beloved characters, and it’s all thanks to the phenomenal foundation set by the first two games. Thirty-five years ago, Falcom’s series defined itself as an RPG powerhouse with Ys I & II.
The first game in the franchise, Ys I: Ancient Ys Vanished released in 1987 was quickly followed by the second game a year later. But it was in 1989 that Falcom released an enhanced remake of both games, called Ys Book I & II — and that really set the standard for where the series would go next. Interestingly, the remake was also one of the very first games to use dubbing in its English localization. These enhanced versions added gorgeous animated cut scenes, a new graphical style, voice acting, and gameplay additions. This is where Ys really transformed into the hyper-intense action series that it’s become known for — focusing on tight gameplay that demands good reaction speed from the player.
