A Quest of Sorts (concerning Ys IV, Ys IV and Ys V

[Leroy]

As an Ys fan I feel a bit odd having never played through these games. Several times I've tried to commit myself to playing them.. which has usually started with either version of IV and quickly sputtering to an exploding halt with how mediocre both games are. But I'm putting it in print this time.. so that if I stop playing I can look back at my repeated failure to "complete" the series in public. Is it my fault? Is it the fault of the games? Considering my repeated completions of Ys I, II, III, VI and Origin, the answer seems obvious. Though to be fair, I don't think I've ever even attempted to start a game of Ys V, so I can't really bark on that one (yet).

So here's the plan: I've got my current run of Napishtim to complete and I needed to make one more run though Origin with Toal. So I plan to start Mask of the Sun on Monday 04/16.. and I'll give myself one week for each, meaning Dawn of Ys must be started on 04/23 and Ys V on 04/30.

Wish me luck.

[Ranzor]

They're actually good games on outdated systems. Just give 'em a chance!

[Red Hairdo]

Well, as a fan, your intentions are good. I didn't finish Ys V too (now I'm waiting for the translation).

I think at least you could beat Ys IV MotS, since it's concidered the canonical version of both. Personaly, I'd play both. I can't get enough of them.
Also I'd wait for Ys V's translation, which is suposed to be released soon, I think.

By the way, I do something similar, but with ALL Ys games out there instead. I mean, for example: SMS Ys I, NES Ys I, PC-8801 Ys I, X68000 Ys I, MSX2 Ys I, etc. Not only for Ys I, but for every episode, canonical or not. Yep, crazy thing. xD Probably I'll start with the plan in July. (The impossible Ys games to play are the ones for Mobile though =/)

[Leroy]

ranzor said:

They're actually good games on outdated systems. Just give 'em a chance!

I've played far enough into Mask of the Sun a few times to make a fairly concrete statement that it is a bad game. That is my opinion, of course. But the goal is to get myself to actually complete it, for the sake of saying that I have and for the sake of getting whatever plot I can out of it (both due to the expanded scope Napishtim gave to the series and in case they do a remake, I'll be at least *somewhat* familiar with it).

[Ranzor]

I do that too! I already played throught 8 versions of Ys I, 5 of Ys II and III, 2 of IV and V, and I'm playing now the second version of VI (I didn't have a PS2 before). Crazy, I know.

[Lumi]

I'm in the same boat with you, Leroy. My play experience of Ys V is limited to about er.. five seconds of attempting to noodle through the gameplay and deciding I wasn't in the mood. As for Ys IV, I've resigned myself to never getting to play Dawn of Ys simply due to lack of.. well, the game. And I'm not all that motivated to hunt it down, either.

I'm trying to wade through MotS, what with the shiny new patch and all... but I'm so spoiled on the current Ys games that it's very hard to go retro, y'know? :-\

[Inochi 命]

Luckily, when I found out about Ys through a Ys I and II Eternal preview on IGN, I decided to first go back and play I and II on NES, III on SNES, and then both versions of IV, all in order. I tied V for 5 seconds, but even despite wanting to play more, I decided to restrain myself until I could one day get the full experiance. I loved every second of each game and could not stop... it was the most I played a game each day since my SNES days, that's when I knew it deserved to be one of my top 5 favorite series. Then VI sealed the deal. The quality and individual qualities I found in each game hoisted the series over Mega Man in my top 5 list.

but I really think I'm immune to being put off by old graphics... after all, in college I had a blast playing frigging Space War I love retro. Actually, the best looking game I've ever played so far has to be Wind Waker. Technically, though, it's probably Zelda TP, which I didn't find too pretty. I've barely ever touched the so called "true next generation of hardcore games" yet.

And no, I don't agree that Ys IV is anywhere near being a bad game. Then again, i'd say that there are very few bad games out there... bad games are broken games. There are games I dislike, but I'd never call them bad games... although I still kind of hold on to my old, likely biased, arguments about certain story-heavy "games". It may not have been as memorable to me as other Ys games, but I have to say it's a better game than Ys III (in fact, the only reason Ys III is probably more memorable is because of its bite-sized length and having arguably the best soundtrack in the series). I liked how it was a longer game, I liked the large amount of towns and areas to explore, I liked battling, I liked the boss battles, and the great story really drove the game... and the music was top notch Ys stuff to boot. I also remember liking/enjoying the SNES version more... I'm not too sure i remember why exactly, but I did play that version first.

[SkyeWelse]

Ys IV isn't really one of my favorites in the series either.

I got in to the Ys series starting with the two NES fantranslations after a friend introduced me to Ys I&II Eternal. I remembered finishing the series in order and when I got to Ys IV, the overall experience of joy that I had with the previous Ys games felt lost to me. Fortunately Ys IV was a very short game and it is easy to finish quickly, but the original translation along with the game play left much to be desired.

After learning that the Ys IV PC-Engine, Dawn of Ys, was different and had some really beautiful cutscenes I tracked it down and tried playing it as well. Personally I like Dawn of Ys a bit better than Mask of the Sun, but for some reason Dawn of Ys took me many, many months to finish because I would put it down and come back to it, put it down, come back to it, because for whatever reason it didn't hold my interest as much as Ys I-III, VI, Felghana, Origin and it seemed like an never-ending game to me. Eventually I finished it and was extremely satisfied by the last boss encounter and the ending and replayed Deuce's Mask of the Sun translation 2.0 and enjoyed it a bit more as well. Overall I'd say that the two games complement each other very well, both offering advantages over the other, but I can relate to what you mean regarding not getting the same addictive feeling for the two IV games as much as the other games in the series.

Though you probably should finish them, or at least Mask of the Sun since it does have quite a bit to do with the Black Pearl and Esteria after the events of Ys II.

Good luck with it!

As for Ys IV, I've resigned myself to never getting to play Dawn of Ys simply due to lack of.. well, the game. And I'm not all that motivated to hunt it down, either.

Back when I had my old computer up and running I had a translated patched ISO file that I was able to use to burn a direct bootable version of Dawn of Ys English that I was sending directly to those interested in playing Dawn of Ys on cd. Though my harddrive was wiped and I lost the file. Someone recently was asking me for the same file and I tried to rip it using TurboRip, but I couldn't figure out how to make another copy of the already existing copy that I have. If I ever figure it out again, I don't mind sending it out to those who are still looking for it and interested in playing it.

-SkyeWelse

[Leroy]

Crap. I think I screwed myself here. I just remembered (or was reminded) that Super Paper Mario came out this week! I might move the start date for this "quest" up a couple of weeks.. or I could just melt my brain gaming in the next couple of weeks by dividing my attention between them.. hmm..

[Leroy]

lumineux said:

I'm trying to wade through MotS, what with the shiny new patch and all... but I'm so spoiled on the current Ys games that it's very hard to go retro, y'know? :-\

I have no problems going retro. It's just that I generally feel like both versions of IV lack the tightness and focus of the original I & II. Honestly I'm convinced Dawn of Ys has remained so popular due to its "anime" qualities. But, I'll come to a final decision on that once I've managed to get myself through it.

[Inochi 命]

leroy said:

Crap. I think I screwed myself here. I just remembered (or was reminded) that Super Paper Mario came out this week! I might move the start date for this "quest" up a couple of weeks.. or I could just melt my brain gaming in the next couple of weeks by dividing my attention between them.. hmm..

hmm, better pick it up fast... I heard its been selling out. i still have to pick it up myself. I would have gone yesterday, but I busted my foot

[Ranzor]

skyewelse said:

Back when I had my old computer up and running I had a translated patched ISO file that I was able to use to burn a direct bootable version of Dawn of Ys English that I was sending directly to those interested in playing Dawn of Ys on cd. Though my harddrive was wiped and I lost the file. Someone recently was asking me for the same file and I tried to rip it using TurboRip, but I couldn't figure out how to make another copy of the already existing copy that I have. If I ever figure it out again, I don't mind sending it out to those who are still looking for it and interested in playing it.

-SkyeWelse

I still have it on my PC, 2 versions actually, thought both seem to be unpatched. I don't remember if both work with the patch. One was made by R.I.G.G., so it should be better, thought it's much bigger than the other (because of the format used, I guess). Anyway, I can send it to anyone interested. You'll just have to get the patch at NightWolve's site.

I won't be able to send it by mail, thought, since I don't live in the US.