I have played the Ys series for quite some time now. I’ve played some of the original releases, some remakes, some ports, and everything in between. As a result of this experience, I can tell you that by far, Ys IX: Monstrum Nox is not only the most ambitious game in the franchise to date, but I would say that it is arguably the best one yet.

I’m not going to go into too many details on the story, because it is a complex, fascinating, enthralling tale. However, the story begins with Dogi and Adol visiting the city of Balduq, which houses an impressively labyrinthine prison known as Balduq Prison. Upon arrival, Adol is arrested under suspicion because of events of previous games, and in his ensuing attempt at escape, he is cursed.

He becomes something known as a Monstrum, a part of a group of warriors who fight against the Grimwald Nox, a parallel sort of world that generates monsters from the darkness in people’s souls. It is up to Adol to break this curse, figure out the mysteries of Balduq Prison, and unravel the secrets within the city.

Now, in terms of combat, the game plays similarly to previous Ys titles. Each character has a designated damage type between three types. Enemies can be weak or resistant to one of the three, so having a balanced party is important. Each character also has a specific “Monstrum Gift” which gives them some sort of navigational or exploration ability.

Ys IX: Monstrum Nox sets itself apart from other Ys games by having a much more vertical, exploration-focused vibe. As Adol recruits and befriends the Monstrums, he can get abilities such as gliding, seeing hidden buttons or passages, breaking brittle walls, and more. There are also tons of things to find and do in the city of Balduq and surrounding areas.

There are landmarks to find, Azure Petals, recipes, treasure chests, and more. Most of these things are tied to side quests, which are vitally important to unlock new areas for one specific reason. The gameplay flow goes into three main phases. The first phase is exploring a section of town, doing side quests or main quest things, and filling the “Nox” Gauge. Once the Nox gauge has filled, a Miasma Vortex appears, which leads you to the Grimwald Nox.

Now, the Grimwald Nox sounds really annoying on paper. You and your Monstrum allies must protect a singular pillar from waves of enemies. It is a pseudo-tower-defense situation that normally I would despise. However, it actually isn’t that bad. There are ways to improve your chances of survival, and if you’re taking the time to outfit your party members properly, it is hardly an issue.

It also helps that there are varying difficulty levels that tailor your experience to whatever your skill level is. On top of that in most cases, if you fail something whether it is a quest, battle section, etc., the game offers you a skip. So, if you have a problem with hand fatigue for example, and that boss fight is getting you down, you have the option to skip it.

This is exactly what I’ve talked about for years. Accessibility is so important, even down to the level of making things adjustable for people who may not have the same physical capability. Sure, people can play on Lunatic or Nightmare if they want. Alternately, they can play on Very Easy and if a side quest or something is too difficult, they can skip it.

Ys IX: Monstrum Nox is as close to perfect as I could ask for from a Ys game. The storyline is interesting, the gameplay is fun, combat is smooth with lots of progression options and playstyles, it is just so good. The music is also really enjoyable, and the visual design is gorgeous. Granted, for the Grimwald Nox sections, certain maps get reused, but I think that is more for ease of navigation during the defense section than anything.

The characters in Ys IX are also very well done. I wasn’t really all that attached to characters in Memories of Celceta or Ys Origin (both of which I reviewed recently) but the characters in Monstrum Nox really feel like fleshed-out people. They have lives, they have motivations, and even the more annoying characters serve a purpose.

The city of Balduq is almost a character in itself. There is a history in it that the Ys games (and Nihon Falcom games) are known for, along with NPC’s that build interesting side quest chains. There are even references to Adol’s other adventures, so the attention to detail is clearly there.

If you are someone that is new to the franchise and just wants to try it to see if you might like it, I wholeheartedly recommend Ys IX: Monstrum Nox. If you are a veteran of the series and are looking for the next adventure of Adol Christin, I encourage you to give Monstrum Nox a try. I’m sure on higher difficulties the Grimwald Nox sections might be annoying, but it is still a unique, intriguing mechanic that breaks up the other sections.

I made a similar comment about Crash Bandicoot 4: It’s About Time, but the adage fits here too. Ys IX: Monstrum Nox is a very clear evolution of the Ys series. It has pieces of things that I love about the series, all while adding progression systems and new ideas that keep things fresh. I love the emphasis on exploration and navigation, the verticality of levels, and the sheer thought put into every facet of the game.

Ys IX: Monstrum Nox is the perfect Ys adventure for newcomers and veterans alike. No, it isn’t a perfect game all around, nothing is. However, it strikes the balance of being the best of itself and succeeds in the goal it sets. I’d even go so far as to say that currently (this may change) it is a frontrunner for the best action-RPG of 2021.

A PS4 copy of Ys IX: Monstrum Nox was provided by NIS America for this review.

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Ys IX: Monstrum Nox

$59.99 USD

10

Score

10.0/10

Pros

• Great Storyline
• Fun Characters
• Enjoyable Combat
• Multiple Difficulty Options and Accessibility Features
• Tons of Content and Side Quests

Cons

• Grimwald Nox Sections May be Annoying on Higher Difficulties