DigiCube didn't put their time into what mattered in Ys I & II Eternal Story, IMHO... the game was cool, and the new features were cool, but it was buggy as hell, with lots of screen-shaking, random pixelization here and there, and RIDICULOUS load times. I'd've gladly given up all the new features they introduced to play a version with all of those glitches fixed.
Which, from the sounds of it, is pretty much the PSP version.
I disagree.
As for the load times, the only bothersome load time you will ever see, and that is also only
once, is when you first save the game. It may take, dunno, about 1 MINUTE to create the slots and save the game for the first time. After that, what? 5 seconds. Eh.
(And as you said, Ys I & II Chronicles isn't load time free either.)
So, with that out of the way, let's see...
==========================================================
Ys I & II Chronicles:
- Disturbing framerate
+ New artwork added
- Once you choose artwork style... You have to stick with it to the end
+ Brand new high-quality ST arrangement, plus the option to choose COMPLETE's WAVE ST and PC-88 ST
+ "NOTES" added for Ys I (ironically, I was the only one to point that out...)
+ Extremely brief cutscene added at some point in Ys I, and a few in Ys II's ending (same as above)
- In Ys I, you can only change to the next ring by pressing R, and never to the previous one. Plus, if you try pressing "R" too fast, the game will "think" you held the button, thus changing the ring only once. As stupid as this may be, something as simple as this might get you killed, especially in higher difficulties.
(Same is true for the accessories in Ys II, using L instead.)
(Though, you can change Magic quickly with R, but you still have the problem of not being able to change it to a previous one)
Ys I·II ETERNAL STORY:
+ Aside from having Ys I-II COMPLETE ported, a new game mode was added, whose name is the same of the game's, with many new features, not only for Ys I and Ys II, but also for the whole series, which weren't yet seen anywhere else
+ It has at least
some replay value: once you finish the game, "Nightmare" difficulty setting is unlocked. Note that this game's "Hard" is the equivalent to COMPLETE and successive ports' "Nightmare". This new difficulty is even harder, which is very nice for those who want to get the most out of the expanded and new gameplay (more information about it below)
- The game would occasionally, yet VERY, VERY rarely, freeze. But "buggy as hell" my ass! xD That was just a light-hearted comment
+ To greater distinct itself from being just a port, the games' maximum levels have been changed to + - 30 and 99 in Ys I and II, respectively. People who i.e. used to have "Vagullion traumas" now can overcome them, and killing enemies in Darm Tower doesn't feel like a waste anymore, as you finally HAVE a PURPOSE in fighting them, since you don't have to get there with maximum level. As for Ys II, it's just simply amazing they gave you the option to level up so much, you could eventually even i.e. beat the guards at the entrance of Solomon Shrine at Lv99 even
unarmed. xD
- Hmm... well, I guess the not-as-smooth "look" counts something, as to be expected from any PS2 game up to an extent. But nothing like "loads of screen-shaking and pixelization", that's plain exaggeration.
+ Brand new ST arrangement
+ Two galleries have been introduced: Image Gallery and Music Gallery.
To access them, you are given an item. In the Image Gallery, there are 10 AMAZING, CREATIVE and highly amusing new artworks, all of which are unlockable, by finding items throughout the game, which is really, really fun (and you are prized so nicely).
The Music Gallery is pretty much a Sound Test, letting you listen to songs you have previously listened to in the game (Better this than... not having it at all.)
Plus, said galleries are ran by two new characters, and they do have a background story of sorts. xD Though I have no idea what it is, as I can not understand japanese. Maybe if you, reader, can, you might enjoy it more
+ Fitting voice acting was added to the game
+ In the game was added a totally new gameplay feature that could be called "the Combo System". This is what this new feature is about:
Each hit you inflict on an enemy, your "COMBO" counter will increase by 1. Once you take a hit, it returns to 0. And in Ys II, each time you use Fire Magic, the counter will decrease by 1.
The maximum you can accumulate is 9999.
Simply put, the higher it is, the more damage you inflict. I don't know exactly the damage formula yet, but it gets the original damage value and multiplies it by some very small number. (That's somewhat obvious, but when the counter is "0", it will multiply by 1.0.)
If the counter is high enough, you can elevate the damage you inflict up to 5x more or something, it's monstrous. But that's when your counter gets to "9999", something you can do with the help of Short Sword's "STUN" ability (push a stunned enemy that doesn't get damaged by the sword's weak power to a wall).
But even if your counter is "30", your strength is already raised significantly.
Something fun to do is: get your counter to "9999" and keep spamming fireballs. A small one might instantly kill most enemies (but it still depends of your level and the difficulty setting up to an extent).
The counter will decrease by each shot, but you got at least 5000 bombastic shots. xD Great for fast level grinding and quick playthrough.
Also not only it increases your power, but you also are proportionally awarded with more EXP and GOLD
+ In Ys I, you can change the Ring you are wearing by pressing either R2 or L2. Either to the previous Ring or to the next one.
(Same is true for the accessories in Ys II.)
(Though, you can only change Magic by pausing, even though changing magic isn't as much required: you extensively stick with either Fire or Transform anyway)
+ In the game was added YET another totally new gameplay feature. I have seen people, including japanese, calling it the "Weapon Change System" (WCS). Though I personally think that name isn't fitting enough (well, it CERTAINLY isn't).
To put it simply, the swords (and even Adol's bare hands) have been given special, unique properties. Each sword has been given a special skill, and Adol, after successfully hitting an enemy, will bounce in a different amount. (That opens the doors for oh-so many strategies. You guys have no idea.) Also, as to be expected, you CAN quickly change between swords, by pressing either L1 and R1.
Not only that, but HOW and WHERE you hit the enemy also can change everything: activating Talwarl's skill by hitting an enemy facing you is really unlikely, but chances are the opposite if you manage to attack it from behind.
As some of you are aware, the Short Sword originally was
COMPLETELY useless in most Ys I, as you could just hunt down the Gold Pedestal and Sapphire Ring, then buy the Long Sword instead, along with a shield and armor. Well, not anymore!
Recall how the Long Sword became utterly useless after getting the Talwarl? Well, not anymore!
Plus, I should mention that Short Sword's ability works slightly different in Ys I and Ys II, funnily enough.
Note: This system was SO heavily summarized. You can
usufruct so much from all of it.
==========================================================
And... this is it?
Falcom could have done an Ys I & II Chronicles mode of sorts. That's all I mean. I wonder how much effort that could have took?
As adoru said, it's great to have more people being introduced to the series by this game. (Though I honestly don't think Falcom made this port with such a nice intuit.) However, giving it more "UMPH" couldn't have scared the newcomers away. xD
Also, you can be sure as hell they had to beta-test all the things they added in the PS2 version very carefully. I can explain why, but... I shall either save that for another post or... not mention it at all, as I wonder if there would even be anyone curious enough.
The verdict we get to is: lazy Falcom! xD