Ancient Land Of Ys
 

Feel free to comment and discuss this game here. Also, if you have any useful tips or tricks don't hesitate to share them with the others! Thanks!

Review and Download (if available)

Hmm. Could You please tell why You gave the game the highest possible score? I mean, the review sounds like a fair but not all-to-astonishing game.

That was a mistake on my part. The reviewer actually gave it a 4. I misclicked. In the future just PM the updater for little corrections like this. Especally if it's only been 18 minutes since the game was posted.

Sorry, I thought the reviewer really "meant" it.

So the question is: Why the second best score? ;)

No, really. I did not catch the point in the review that explains what makes the game so good. To me, it looks like a Zelda-like game that was slightly ahead of its time, back then. But maybe I'm mistaken??

Well, I think this reviewer isn't allowed to post on this board, (politics, don't ask) so they can't defend their position. My suggestion would be download and play it and if you have a differing opinion to write a review, post it in the community review's section and let people know what you think.

I would prefer if Abandonia let us rate games on a scale of 1 to 10 as it would give us a better range to score games with, but the powers that be decided long ago that the scale would be 1 to 5, and open disagreement is frowned upon here. If I could, I would have given this game an eight, but not because it "looks like" Zelda. In fact, the pre-N64 Zelda games (Zelda II and Wand of Gamelon notwithstanding) have very little in common with this game; this is an Action/RPG, and those Zelda games were Action/Adventures, to name the biggest difference.

8/10 = 4/5

It's really not rocket science, ein.

If you've read any of my reviews, I make sure to include any problems with the game that may detrimentally affect the game's score, such as boring gameplay, bad controls, and annoying music and/or sound. Because of the rating system, I start games at 4 and reduce their scores as I see fit. A 1 to 10 rating system would allow me to give more accurate scores.

So what if I wanted to give a game a 9 out of 10?

If you enjoy this game, it's worth buying the update, Ys 1 and 2 Complete, for the PC and download the translation patch. The music and graphics are much better. You won't regret it. You can get the info here: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ys_(video_game)

Huh? Gamebringer actually gave 4 out 5 to a computer game??? I'm shocked! :D

... Are you joking? Do you not realize that this is not GameBringer. News page says "take(ing) a quick break from GameBringer's week ...", the review is credited to Einherjar.

Now does anyone have anything to say about the game itself.

I think this is a fine RPG game. The gameplay may not be fresh and the graphics look tired, but it is fun. What else do you expect? This game was made in 1989, but still has a catching feel about it. :titan:

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Einherjar @ Jul 19 2006, 04:56 PM) [snapback]243989[/snapback]</div>I agree that this game is not Zelda but it's still one that roots from JRPG style.

I'm one of hardcore RPG players. I think, not personally, that most of JRPG games don't have atmosphere of Role Playing which is the main concept of this genre. Most of them just depend on level scaling system that player have nothing to do more than get enough levels and good equipments to go further.

The gameplay system is far more terrible to gain entitled with "RPG" nor an "Action" game, you just chase and hit(using word "bump" will be more accuracy) monster for attacking.... WOW! :blink:

I don't criticize the reviewer about the game's score but I do criticize the game directly. :not_ok:

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(guesst @ Jul 20 2006, 02:52 PM) [snapback]244170[/snapback]</div>Uhh... Sorry, my bad :unsure:

This is one of my favorite games. I played it to death around the time it came out. I had the Apple IIgs version so I imagine the sound and music are a lot better for that time. I thought the graphics were beautiful and the music was probably the best I'd heard in a game. It has amazing style and the gameplay was so simple and different. It was something anyone could play and enjoy. The only thing that sucked was that, it took me about 3 years to figure out how to actually save a game. I knew how it should be done, but it never seemed to work and then I finally tried again later on and I don't know what I did different, but it finally worked. Before that, I'd just play over and over and over and when I'd die, I'd start from the beginning. But then I ran into trouble during a part in the final tower. So I kept dying and would have to play hours just to get to that part again and die once again. But I still enjoyed the game, so it never bothered me that much. I think it definitely deserves a 4 out of 5. I'd probably even give it a 5. My only complaint is that it's kind of short. Which isn't a bad thing if like me, you play it over and over without saving. All in all a good, satisfying game.

I never heard of Ys Complete and can't find any info on it. Is Ys Eternal the same as Ys Complete? I'll have to check it out. I have the Turbo-CD version of Ys I & II but haven't played it yet.

It's better than any Zelda game I've ever played. Most of the music from the Zelda games aren't that great, and the stories are stupid.

That first part made no sense, but Zelda games involve chasing and hitting monsters as well. The difference is that Ys is an Action/RPG, and Zelda are Action/Adventure.

Surely you jest. The game had a great story, great graphics, great gameplay, and great music.

Hey guy... Look. I don't want to burn this topic up, so please listen carefully.

Firstly, I think that I have stated clearly enough what were my points and my opinions.

I have said that THIS GAME WAS ROOTED FROM JRPG not from Zelda, I know that what is the different between this two genres. My topic was about JRPG only, not about Zelda.

Secondly, I have criticized the CONCEPT of the game and GAMEPLAY which I will describe it again but briefly. The concept what I mentioned is the very basic element of all RPG, the role playing concept. I'm the one who need MORE FLEXIBLE role playing, I mean, I love to alter the story line and the character that I control. I don't like any RPG that don't allow me to take my own role at all even on my character.

And the gameplay, I have a very high degree of acceptance, to be an ACTION game for me that game have to apply the player's very high tactic and maneuverability.

Finally, this one could be considered as off topic but I still have to say, I believe that everyone here have right to express opinion about the game and criticize it. And I always do even my beloved games too whenever I found some either good or bad points and want to acknowledge or discuss others. And I never offend anyone except the matter about the game only.

Please, keep these in mind, and if my opinion on this game offend anyone, I apologize for that.

I have two questions:
1. What is, in hours, the average estimated time to finish the game?
2. Is there a walkthrough for this game, or whether it is necessary to have walkthrough to play this game?

I am just interested in this game because of "Al Qadim - The Genie's Curse" in the "If you liked this game, you should try:" reference. I played Al Qadim before and liked it, so if this game is similar to it, I am sure I will like it too.

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Guest @ Jul 27 2006, 12:58 AM) [snapback]245348[/snapback]</div>This post is mine (I forgot to login that day). Nobody knows the answer?

There is a walkthru but it is on a Commadore site. Use google to find it

I found one here: http://www.textfiles.com/apple/WALKTHROUGHS/ys.solve
It's on Apple website, though.

Anyway, I'm having a problem with a boss on The Tower level 7, the one which throws 3 green boomerang-like objects at me. It is too fast for me, Arick died before even hurt half of this boss' HP. I have tried reducing the cycles in DOSBox setting, and/or used Turbo (a slow-down utility), but to no avail. Any suggestions?

Never mind, through sheer of luck I defeated this boss. I'm on Tower level 11 now. I assume from the walkthrough that the final boss will be quite difficult. Not sure if I can finish this game or not :unsure:



EDIT: Well, here's from the walkthrough in the link posted above:
I did not meet Ogien there, instead I met Ota. and so...
...he did not read Book of Malaks for me, nor did he give me a Blue Amulet. I don't know what to do, so I try to continue playing up to level 16.
Again, I am facing problem with the boss. Any suggestion to defeat these Twin Heads? Also, since I did not have Ogien reading the Book of Malaks as well as giving me the Blue Amulet, is it still possible to finish the game?

I don't want to stop right now, being quite close to the end, but this arcade-like battle is getting really annoying <_<

Finished the game... phew... Well, it turned out that the Blue Amulet is needed. I had to reload earlier saved game file to finish the game. Seriously, a manual should be included, or at least certain keys should be mentioned in the review. For example, I didn't know pressing R on keyboard will alow Arick to read the books (after he got a special item necessary first) until I googled for the info on the net. Anyway, here are some of those important keys:
F1: load a save game file
F4: save current game
I: open the inventory screen
S: see Arick's status
R: read books of Ys

The ending of the game is, well, okay. I guess it was quite good at that time (1987 or 1989?). The final boss' battle was frustrating, though. I'm not much of an arcade fan, so yeah imagine my frustration. So I was glad when I finally defeated him. However, I needed to reduce my DOSBox cycle before I even had a chance to win. At first I had to reduce it from my usual setting (8000) to normal DOSBox default (3000). No apparent change. So I reduced again to 1000, then to 500, then to 300, then to 250, and finally to 200 before I managed to get the game slow enough for me in that frustrating arcade scene.

I don't quite like the HP cap, and the fact that my gold was rolled back to 0 if I accumulated too much (not that there are many items to buy, but anyway...). Still, for a game this old, it may have been amazing back then.

Considering the frustration, this is not a game I would want to replay again. Still, I guess this is okay to play if you want to kill time a day or two.

Heres where you can Get the Remakes of Ys1 and 2. Also Check out Ys Oath in Felghana. Game friggen rocks!. :titan:

http://www.himeyashop.com/advanced_search_...fdf54c7a3151385


Heres where you can get the translation Packs

http://nick.serveblog.net/

Thiers also tons of Vids on Ys games over on Youtube. Heres a good one thought the vid Quaility isnt the greatest.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AO8oqzA7n8k

The worse version of Ys 1, but it still a very good action RPG. The PC-Engine version is much better, especially for the music quality. Ys music rocks !!!

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'Ancient Land of Ys' was my first RPG game.

This was one of my favorite games in the early 90s. I played it a ton. I had the IIgs version, which had excellent sound and I played it over and over. For some reason, I couldn't figure out how to save the game for the longest time. I remember trying blank disks and they wouldn't work so I gave up and tried playing it straight through but would always eventually die so I didn't win for the longest time. Then one day, I finally figured out how to save a game and managed to win. It's simple but fun, with great catchy tunes and I really liked the Japanese influence and graphic style.

How dO i save LOL

Try here. :3:

I'm a big fan of the Ys series, and it's one of my favorite games too.

There are other games in the series including the recently released Ys VIII: Lacrimosa of Dana.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ys_(series)
Ys Origin is the prequel to this game and it is set 1000 years before the events of Ys I (Ancient Ys Vanished) and some of the bosses from Ys I appear first in Origin. The sequel is Ancient Ys Vanished - The Final Chapter.