
As the years have gone on, the YS games have just been getting better and better. With Monstrum Nox being an excellent addition, I was very eager to dive into Nordics! That was certainly well warranted with a solid storyline and more fast and furious action RPG gameplay. The world is rich with lore, which makes it very easy to settle into. I found myself enjoying the time wandering around and leveling up, just as much as I did diving into the main storyline.
The game begins with Adol and Dogi, two of the series long running stars, travelling to a new region to help their friend with some research. They’re quickly set upon by pirates who learn that Adol isn’t just some average adventurer. They seem to be the vikings of this world who go by Normans. Before long Adol is bound to their leader through some mysterious magical handcuffs and keep them within a certain distance of each other.
The game doles out the content well, keeping the mystery coming and the actual intrigue flowing. You begin by wandering around a port town which has a lot of locals to chat with. I’m pretty sure that this option is new to Nordics, but it actually marks off who has something new to say on your mini map. So it was quite enjoyable to just wander about and see what was going on.
Before long you’re back to exploring dungeons again as the story delves into these seemingly unkillable monsters. The local military does their best to keep them down, while being currently under funded. But they soon learn that these beasts just pop right back to life again. It seems only Adol and the pirate leader Karja can keep them at bay.
Nordics is one of the few RPGs I’ve played where I didn’t mind just staying in the starter area. The main tavern holds enough intrigue and the locals are fun. But eventually adventure calls and you end up setting off on the high seas for other islands. Having just come from playing the D&D 5e campaign Odyssey of the Dragonlords this actually felt quite at home. Though obviously this is a more Norse focused lore set.
Getting to sail around as a wonderful bonus after having been cooped up in town for most of Monstrum Nox. Which, I don’t get me wrong, the previous games massive town was a blast to wander around in. But Nordics definitely takes the right path to being quite diverse from the last adventure.
Adventure is definitely the name of the game here, and the areas feel enjoyable. After you get into the first dungeon beneath the starter areas lighthouse, it really takes on that classical RPG feel. With so much mystery and fun, it’s worthwhile to dive in and just enjoy this one. Finding crafting materials, powering up, and making sure you check every nook and cranny.
Visually, Nordics does seem a bit better than the last iteration. While Monstrum Nox is a blast, the visuals did feel a bit dated at times. Despite that, it was never a detriment to the game however. The soundtrack of course like many of these titles is quite awesome! Not to mention the occasional set piece like getting to escape from a huge monster while running through town.
If you enjoy anime and JRPGs, you’re going to have a good time here. There’s tons to just enjoy. Anyone familiar with Norse myth will start drawing connections as the story goes on, but it also takes some fun liberties too. It’s saying a lot, but for me, Nordics is the best Ys to date. The setting really feels solid and the story doesn’t have that “Adol was going somewhere cool, but he’s stuck here now,” that the last two games had even though that is basically what is going on. Somehow it just feels more like this is the grand adventure you’re meant to take.