Review: Ys X: Proud Nordics

Developer – Nihon Falcom, PH3 GmbH

Publisher – NIS America, Inc.

Platforms –   Nintendo Switch 2 , Playstation 5, PC (Reviewed)

Review copy given by Developer

When Ys X: Nordics first launched, it felt like a confident pivot point for a franchise that has been slicing through action RPG history since the late eighties. Nihon Falcom’s red haired adventurer Adol Christin had already survived the bump combat era, the party based reinventions, and the explosive modern action systems that defined recent entries. Ys X was supposed to be the next evolutionary leap. Instead, what we have now with Ys X: Proud Nordics feels less like a bold new chapter and more like a business experiment that asks how much loyalty is worth.

To understand why Proud Nordics stings a little, you have to look at the path that brought us here. The original Ys released back in 1987 on Japanese PCs, introducing the world to Adol and the fast, friction heavy bump system that defined early entries like Ys I: Ancient Ys Vanished and Ys II: Ancient Ys Vanished – The Final Chapter. Over time the series experimented and evolved, culminating in the party based, hyper fluid action of modern classics like Ys VIII: Lacrimosa of Dana and Ys IX: Monstrum Nox. Each generation refined systems, expanded storytelling, and often re released older entries with meaningful upgrades that felt justified.

Ys X: Nordics was already a reinvention. It stripped the party down to a duo system centered on Adol and Karja, introduced naval exploration, and emphasized weightier, more deliberate combat. It felt fresh. Not perfect, but fresh. Proud Nordics builds directly on that foundation. The problem is not that the improvements are bad. The problem is that most of them feel like what the base game should have shipped with.

Let us start with the positives. Proud Nordics introduces expanded side stories that flesh out the Nordics setting. Several new character episodes deepen Karja’s arc and provide more downtime interactions that add texture to the world. These additions are welcome. They bring the character writing closer to the warmth and charm that Ys VIII mastered so effortlessly.

There are also new dungeons and optional bosses that provide legitimate combat challenges. On higher difficulties, these encounters finally push the duo system to its limits. Timing, positioning, and the unique combined mode mechanics feel more purposeful here. For players who thought the original campaign lacked endgame bite, this content helps.

Quality of life improvements are arguably the biggest upgrades. Menu navigation is smoother. Crafting and upgrading gear is less cumbersome. Fast travel options unlock earlier and function more intuitively. Certain traversal abilities feel less restrictive, reducing backtracking fatigue. None of this is flashy, but it makes replaying the adventure undeniably more comfortable.

Performance and visual tweaks are also noticeable. Frame pacing is more stable across platforms, and environmental lighting has subtle improvements that give the seas and rocky coastlines more atmosphere. Load times are trimmed. It is not a remaster level overhaul, but it is cleaner.

The issue is pricing. Proud Nordics is positioned almost like a new release. At seventy dollars standard and fifty five on discount, it asks existing players to effectively rebuy the entire game for what amounts to expanded content and a refinement patch. In an era where many studios provide enhanced editions as upgrades or reasonably priced expansions, this feels tone deaf.

It is hard not to compare this move to other Falcom updates. Historically, the company has re released Ys titles with additional content, sometimes years later, often on new hardware. But those were usually tied to platform transitions or substantial reworks. Proud Nordics arrives too soon and too similar to justify the premium.

Calling it greedy might sound harsh, but the optics are difficult to ignore. The base game clearly laid groundwork that could have been expanded through DLC. Instead, that DLC is bundled into a near full price repurchase. For dedicated fans who supported the original release, it feels like a penalty for early adoption.

That said, if you are brand new to Ys X, Proud Nordics is objectively the best way to experience it. The pacing is tighter. The added scenes enrich the narrative. Combat feels more balanced, particularly in the latter half. It is the definitive version, just not a generous one.

There is also the broader question of series fatigue. Ys has always been iterative. Each entry refines mechanics introduced before it. Ys VIII perfected party combat and exploration flow. Ys IX experimented with verticality and urban traversal. Ys X pivoted to naval adventure and dual protagonists. Proud Nordics does not reinvent again. It polishes.

In isolation, Proud Nordics is a strong action RPG. The combat still delivers that signature Ys speed and responsiveness. Boss battles remain highlight spectacles filled with telegraphed chaos and triumphant music. The Nordic inspired setting stands out among the series’ more traditional fantasy locales. There is genuine craftsmanship here.

But context matters. When enhancements resemble what many players would expect from a large patch and story DLC, charging near full price shifts the conversation away from quality and toward value. That is unfortunate, because the improvements do make a difference.

I kept thinking about how Ys VIII handled its re release content. Additional story segments and refined mechanics felt like extensions of an already complete package. Proud Nordics, by contrast, makes the original Nordics feel slightly incomplete in hindsight. That perception hurts.

There is also the risk of setting precedent. If every major Ys entry receives a quick enhanced edition that asks fans to double dip, goodwill erodes. Falcom has long thrived on a loyal audience that appreciates consistency and heart over blockbuster spectacle. Decisions like this test that loyalty.

None of this erases the joy of slicing through enemies on a windswept deck or coordinating perfectly timed duo strikes against towering sea beasts. Proud Nordics remains mechanically satisfying and narratively charming. It simply arrives wrapped in a pricing model that invites skepticism.

If you skipped Ys X the first time, buy Proud Nordics and enjoy one of the more distinct modern entries in the franchise. If you already own Ys X, the decision is tougher. The added content is meaningful but not transformative. The quality of life updates are welcome but arguably overdue.

Ys X: Proud Nordics is the best version of a good game. It enhances combat flow, strengthens character moments, and smooths rough edges. It also exposes an uncomfortable tension between creative refinement and commercial strategy.

Falcom has spent decades building Ys into a dependable action RPG staple. Proud Nordics shows that the studio still knows how to polish its work. It also shows a willingness to monetize that polish aggressively. Whether that is savvy business or short sighted greed depends on how much you value those enhancements. What is clear is that the seas of Ys X have never sailed smoother. You just have to decide if the ticket price feels fair.