On July 5, NIS America announced that the action RPG “Ys X: Nordics” will be released globally on October 25. Originally released in Japan on September 28, 2023, for the Nintendo Switch and Sony PlayStation consoles, this latest installment in the Ys franchise is now set to make its way to the West, including a PC release.
“Ys X: Nordics,” developed by Nihon Falcom to commemorate the series’ 35th anniversary, is the latest numbered entry in the Ys series. The development team behind “Ys VIII” and “Ys IX” worked on this game.
It follows the young adventurer Adol Christin as he explores the northern sea of Obelia Bay, a region filled with countless islands. There, he encounters the seafaring Normans and investigates the mystery of the immortal undead called Griegers that threaten the people.
Nihon Falcom has a tremendous track record, continually upholding quality and enjoyment in both the Ys and Trails series of RPGs. The release of “Ys X: Nordics” significantly boosted their financial results, exceeding their expectations. However, one major shortcoming of Nihon Falcom is the extended duration it takes for Western fans to experience their games in translation.
For example, “Ys IX: Monstrum Nox” was released in Japan on September 26, 2019, for the Sony PlayStation 4. It held exclusivity rights until early 2021, when the game was eventually ported to the Nintendo Switch and PC in July with a worldwide release. Devoted fans have created full English translation patches for games such as “The Legend of Heroes: Kuro no Kiseki I & II.”
The first of those games only just received a worldwide translated release on July 5, nearly three years after its original Japanese release, while its sequel will not be available in translation until early 2025.
Despite a significant drop in sales for Nihon Falcom’s licensing department, the company is clearly prioritizing Western releases, fueled by the continued successful sales of the Ys and Trails series. Ys X: Nordics, which was released almost ten months ago in Japan, is set for a global release alongside a PC version in October, just thirteen months after its exclusive Japanese launch, an unusually short timeframe for Nihon Falcom.
While some Japanese companies are compromising by adhering to Western ESG policies and DEI initiatives, often leading to financial losses and creative compromises, Nihon Falcom remains dedicated to delivering pure RPG experiences with exceptional narratives, free from Western influence.
Unlike competitors such as Square Enix, which has seen rising developmental costs combined with commercial failures of games rife with self-censorship, Nihon Falcom continues to cater to its niche audience without bowing to external pressures, as evidenced by their inclusion of swimsuit outfits and other fan-favorite elements.
Nihon Falcom regularly innovates and introduces new ideas in their games. In Ys X: Nordics, the battle system has been significantly revamped with the introduction of the Cross Action system. Players can switch between two modes: “Solo Mode,” featuring fast-paced combat where the player controls Adol while his partner provides automatic attacks and support, and “Duo Mode,” where players control both Adol and Karja simultaneously for coordinated attacks while filling the “Revenge Gauge” at a lower rate.
For the first time in the series, players can operate a sailing ship. By obtaining the Sandras, players can explore the vast Obelia Bay, guided by information gathered in towns and nautical charts. Sailing can be controlled manually or set to auto-navigate.
Nihon Falcom’s steadfast commitment to their vision and their audience has allowed them to thrive amidst a challenging industry landscape, consistently delivering high-quality RPGs that resonate with their dedicated fanbase.
However, the involvement of NIS America in handling the release raises some concerns, given their inconsistent track record over the years.
If this game ends up with deliberately poor localization, mistranslated items, or other questionable additions, issues that have plagued other games published by NIS America PC players can at least rely on fan-made patches to fix these problems.
However, it’s important to note that the potential need for fan-made patches to correct poor translations shouldn’t be a reason to purchase the game in the West. For those unaware, NIS America is headquartered in California, America’s hotbed of degeneracy and progressive ideology which explains the localization issues.
As for the quality of the official translated release, we’ll have to wait until October 25th to find out. Fans of the Ys series are a dedicated group, and if any inconsistencies or malicious translations are found upon release, you can be sure the fanbase will voice their concerns directly to Falcom.
In the past, Falcom has compelled NISA (NIS America) to issue translation patches to fix such issues due to fan backlash. Hopefully, the release of Ys X: Nordics won’t require such measures this time.
