Ys IX: Monstrum Nox

Last updated

Ys IX: Monstrum Nox
Ys IX cover.png
Developer(s) Nihon Falcom [lower-alpha 1]
Publisher(s) NIS America
Director(s)
  • Takayuki Kusano
  • Hisayoshi Takeiri
Producer(s) Toshihiro Kondo
Programmer(s)
  • Hideyuki Yamashita
  • Noriyuki Chiyoda
Writer(s)
  • Toshihiro Kondo
  • Yoshihiro Konda
  • Syunsei Shikata
Composer(s)
  • Hayato Sonoda
  • Takahiro Unisuga
  • Yukihiro Jindo
  • Mitsuo Singa
Series Ys
Platform(s)
Release
September 26, 2019
  • PlayStation 4
    • JP: September 26, 2019
    • NA: February 2, 2021
    • EU: February 5, 2021
    • AU: February 12, 2021
    Stadia, Windows
    • WW: July 6, 2021
    Nintendo Switch
    • NA: July 6, 2021
    • EU: July 9, 2021
    • AU: July 16, 2021
    • JP: September 9, 2021
    PlayStation 5
    • NA: May 9, 2023
    • EU: May 12, 2023
    • AU: May 19, 2023
Genre(s) Action role-playing
Mode(s) Single-player

Ys IX: Monstrum Nox [lower-alpha 3] is a 2019 action role-playing game developed by Nihon Falcom. A part of the Ys series, it was released for the PlayStation 4 in Japan in September 2019 and worldwide by NIS America in February 2021. The game received additional releases for Windows, Nintendo Switch and Stadia in July 2021, and PlayStation 5 in May 2023. Ys IX received generally positive reviews from critics.

Contents

Gameplay

Ys IX: Monstrum Nox is an action role-playing game played from a third-person perspective. It further builds on the gameplay foundation of Ys VIII: Lacrimosa of Dana , where players control multiple main characters that can be switched between on-the-fly, each with their own play styles and unique skills. Players collect a variety of weapons and items by defeating enemies and opening chests.

Players can consume SP to unleash a character's unique skill attack, and SP can be restored by landing hits on enemies or it can regenerate faster when the player is not attacking. Boost mode, a returning game mechanic from Ys: The Oath in Felghana and Ys Origin , temporarily increases damage dealt, decreases damage received, and increases attack and movement speeds. [1]

New to Ys IX, each party member has traversal abilities, called Monstrum Gifts, such as gliding and running up walls. Players can reach various places and locate hidden secrets in the city of Balduq and dungeons by utilizing these actions. [2]

Development

Ys IX: Monstrum Nox was initially teased as Project N.O.X before being revealed in December 2018. [3] Nihon Falcom president Toshihiro Kondo said that he wanted the next Ys game to lean more towards the adventure genre, with Dana's arc in Ys VIII: Lacrimosa of Dana as a hint. [4] In another interview, Kondo said that he wanted to take the new axis of direction and movement introduced in Ys VIII: Lacrimosa of Dana to the next level, citing examples such as an air dash or a hook shot. [5]

The game was developed by Nihon Falcom and released for the PlayStation 4 in Japan on September 26, 2019. [3] [6] It was released by NIS America for the PlayStation 4 in North America, Europe and Australasia in February 2021, with additional releases for Windows, Nintendo Switch, and Stadia in July. The first three versions have English and French localizations. [7] [8] Nippon Ichi Software released the Switch version in Japan on September 9, 2021. [9] The Windows version was ported by Engine Software and PH3 Games. [10] The Switch version was ported by Engine Software. A PlayStation 5 version was released in May 2023 for North America, Europe, and Australasia. [11] [12] Traditional Chinese and Korean localizations were published by Clouded Leopard Entertainment in February 2020. [13]

Reception

Ys IX: Monstrum Nox received "generally favorable" reviews, according to review aggregator Metacritic. [14] Japanese magazine Famitsu scored the PlayStation 4 version a 35 out of 40. [16] 4gamer.net recommended the game for players who enjoy exploration, while remarking upon the game's difficulty as being well-balanced. [20] The game sold 45,378 copies during its launch week in Japan. [21]

Notes

  1. Nintendo Switch version ported by Engine Software. Windows version ported by Engine Software and PH3 Games.
  2. Nintendo Switch version published by Nippon Ichi Software in Japan.
  3. Japanese: イースIX -Monstrum NOX-

Related Research Articles

Ys is a series of action role-playing games developed by Nihon Falcom. The series chronicles the life of the adventurer, Adol Christin.

Xseed Games is an American video game company founded by former members of Square Enix USA. It later became a subsidiary of the Japanese game company Marvelous, providing the localization and publishing services for video games and related materials.

<i>Ys: The Oath in Felghana</i> 2005 video game

Ys: The Oath in Felghana is a 2005 action role-playing game developed by Nihon Falcom. It is a remake of the third game in the Ys series, Ys III: Wanderers from Ys. It was first released for Windows in Japan in June 2005, with an English localization by Xseed Games in March 2012. A PlayStation Portable version was also released in Japan in April 2010 and later in North America and Europe. A high-definition remaster for the Nintendo Switch was released in Japan in April 2023, followed by a port of the remaster to PlayStation 4 and PlayStation 5 in Japan in May 2024.

<i>Ys I: Ancient Ys Vanished</i> 1987 video game

Ys I: Ancient Ys Vanished, also known as Ys: The Vanished Omens or The Ancient Land of Ys, is a 1987 action role-playing game developed by Nihon Falcom. It is the first installment in the Ys series. Initially developed for the PC-8800 series by Masaya Hashimoto and Tomoyoshi Miyazaki, the game was soon ported to the Sharp X1, PC-98, FM-7, and MSX2 Japanese computer systems.

<i>Ys IV: Mask of the Sun</i> 1993 video game

Ys IV: Mask of the Sun is a 1993 action role-playing game developed by Tonkin House for the Super Famicom. It is the fourth game in the Ys video game series.

<i>Ys IV: The Dawn of Ys</i> 1993 video game

Ys IV: The Dawn of Ys is a 1993 action role-playing game by Hudson Soft for the PC Engine CD-ROM². It is the fourth game in the Ys video game series. The Dawn of Ys was one of two games released under the title of Ys IV, the other being Tonkin House's Ys IV: Mask of the Sun for the Super Famicom. The two games share the same setting, but Hudson took more liberties with its presentation in The Dawn of Ys, and two unique games resulted.

<i>Ys Origin</i> 2006 video game

Ys Origin is a 2006 action role-playing game by Nihon Falcom. It was first released for Windows in Japan with an English release by Xseed Games in 2012. Dotemu later released the game for PlayStation 4 and PlayStation Vita in 2017, for Xbox One in 2018, and for Nintendo Switch in 2020.

Minako Iwasaki is a Japanese game character designer and manga artist. She joined the game company Nihon Falcom in 1993. After she turned freelance, she took on illustrations of light novels and character designs for the Rune Factory series.

Engine Software is a Dutch video game developer, located in Doetinchem, Netherlands, which specialized in handheld video games and digital platforms until 2011. In the period after (2011-present) they have become more active and known for high-end ports and adaptations of games to modern consoles, mobile, PC and streaming services like Stadia and Luna. Some of the best known games they have worked on include Puzzle Quest for the Nintendo DS, Terraria for PlayStation 3, PlayStation 4, PlayStation Vita, Xbox 360, Xbox One and Wii U, Killer7 Remastered for PC, Ni No Kuni: Wrath of the White Witch for Nintendo Switch and No More Heroes / No More Heroes 2 for Nintendo Switch.

<i>The Legend of Heroes: Trails of Cold Steel</i> 2013 video game

The Legend of Heroes: Trails of Cold Steel is a 2013 role-playing video game developed by Nihon Falcom. The game is a part of the Trails series, itself a part of the larger The Legend of Heroes series. It was initially released in Japan for the PlayStation 3 and PlayStation Vita before being localized in English by Xseed Games in 2015.

<i>The Legend of Nayuta: Boundless Trails</i> 2012 video game

The Legend of Nayuta: Boundless Trails, known as Nayuta no Kiseki in Japan, is a 2012 action role-playing game developed by Nihon Falcom. The game is a part of the Trails series, itself a part of the larger The Legend of Heroes series. It was first released in Japan for PlayStation Portable. A high-definition remaster was released in Japan for PlayStation 4 and Windows in 2021 and for Nintendo Switch in 2022. This version was localized in English by NIS America and released in September 2023.

<i>Trails</i> (series) Video game franchise

Trails, known as Kiseki (軌跡) in Japan, is a series of science fantasy role-playing video games by Nihon Falcom. It is a part of their larger The Legend of Heroes franchise and began with the release of Trails in the Sky in 2004. Trails features a large cast of characters and consists of interconnected story arcs set in different nations on the continent of Zemuria: Liberl, Crossbell, Erebonia, and Calvard. The series primarily features turn-based combat, with a few spin-offs and more recent entries featuring other styles of gameplay.

<i>Tokyo Xanadu</i> 2015 video game

Tokyo Xanadu is a 2015 action role-playing game developed by Nihon Falcom. The game was developed out of Nihon Falcom's desire to create a game of a different type and setting than their other role-playing game franchises, The Legend of Heroes and Ys. The game was first released in Japan for the PlayStation Vita in September 2015, and worldwide in June 2017.

<i>Ys VIII: Lacrimosa of Dana</i> 2016 video game

Ys VIII: Lacrimosa of Dana is a 2016 action role-playing game developed by Nihon Falcom and published by NIS America. A part of the Ys series, it was first released in Japan by Falcom for the PlayStation Vita in July 2016, with later worldwide releases for PlayStation 4, Windows, Nintendo Switch, Amazon Luna, Stadia and PlayStation 5. An abridged version for Android and iOS, Ys VIII Mobile, is also scheduled for release. Ys VIII had sold over 500,000 copies by the end of 2018. The game was followed up by Ys IX: Monstrum Nox in 2019.

<i>The Legend of Heroes: Trails at Sunrise</i> 2016 video game

The Legend of Heroes: Trails at Sunrise, known in Japanese as Akatsuki no Kiseki, is a 2016 role-playing gacha game developed by UserJoy Technology and published by Nihon Falcom. It is a spin-off of the Trails series, itself a part of The Legend of Heroes franchise, and was first released in Japan for browsers. Trails at Sunrise was later ported to Windows, PlayStation Vita, PlayStation 4, Android, iOS, and Nintendo Switch. The PlayStation and Switch versions of the game were discontinued in 2022.

<i>The Legend of Heroes: Trails of Cold Steel III</i> 2017 video game

The Legend of Heroes: Trails of Cold Steel III is a 2017 role-playing video game developed by Nihon Falcom. The game is a part of the Trails series, itself a part of the larger The Legend of Heroes series, and serves as a direct sequel to The Legend of Heroes: Trails of Cold Steel II.

<i>The Legend of Heroes: Trails of Cold Steel IV</i> 2018 video game

The Legend of Heroes: Trails of Cold Steel IV is a 2018 role-playing video game developed by Nihon Falcom. The game is a part of the Trails series, itself a part of the larger The Legend of Heroes series, and is the sequel to Trails of Cold Steel III and the final entry of the Trails of Cold Steel arc.

<i>The Legend of Heroes: Trails Through Daybreak</i> 2021 video game

The Legend of Heroes: Trails Through Daybreak is a 2021 action role-playing, role-playing video game developed by Nihon Falcom. The game is a part of the Trails series, itself a part of the larger The Legend of Heroes franchise, and is the first game in the Trails Through Daybreak story arc. It marks the second half of the Trails series and is the first to be set in the Calvard Republic. The game follows Van Arkride, a young man working at Arkride Solutions Office as a Spriggan, a bounty hunting detective.

<i>Ys X: Nordics</i> 2023 video game

Ys X: Nordics is a 2023 action role-playing game developed by Nihon Falcom. A part of the Ys series, it was released in Japan for the PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, and Nintendo Switch in September 2023 and is planned to be released worldwide by NIS America, including a Windows port, in late 2024.

References

  1. "System - Ys IX: Monstrum Nox - Official Website". NIS America . Retrieved January 28, 2021.
  2. "Ys IX first gameplay, new details". Gematsu. March 24, 2019. Archived from the original on January 22, 2021. Retrieved February 26, 2021.
  3. 1 2 Romano, Sal (December 19, 2018). "Ys IX: Monstrum Nox announced for PS4". Gematsu. Archived from the original on January 27, 2022. Retrieved December 19, 2018.
  4. "Toshihiro Kondo Ponders the Next Ys Game - Will it be Ys IX, a Remake, or... Ys Warriors? | RPG Site". www.rpgsite.net. Archived from the original on February 8, 2021. Retrieved January 28, 2021.
  5. "NISA Europe Interviews Toshihiro Kondo (Part 1/2)". NISA Europe Online Store. September 8, 2017. Archived from the original on January 28, 2021. Retrieved January 28, 2021.
  6. "Ys IX: Monstrum Nox details cooperators, extra contents". Gematsu. September 5, 2019. Archived from the original on February 3, 2024. Retrieved June 23, 2020.
  7. Romano, Sal (August 28, 2020). "Ys IX: Monstrum Nox launches February 2, 2021 in North America and February 5 in Europe for PS4, summer 2021 for Switch and PC". Gematsu. Archived from the original on February 8, 2021. Retrieved August 28, 2020.
  8. Romano, Sal (April 22, 2021). "Ys IX: Monstrum Nox for Switch and PC launches July 6 in North America, July 9 in Europe". Gematsu. Archived from the original on April 17, 2023. Retrieved April 22, 2021.
  9. Nintendo Switch™「イースIX」9/9発売 (in Japanese). Nihon Falcom. May 13, 2021. Archived from the original on June 22, 2021. Retrieved May 13, 2021.
  10. "Game Details - Engine Software BV". Engine Software. Archived from the original on May 12, 2021. Retrieved August 14, 2020.
  11. Romano, Sal (January 10, 2023). "Ys IX: Monstrum Nox Launches on PS5 in May 2023". Siliconera. Archived from the original on June 4, 2023. Retrieved June 4, 2023.
  12. "Site Officiel de Ys IX: Monstrum Nox". nisamerica.com (in French). Archived from the original on February 3, 2024. Retrieved November 19, 2023.
  13. "Coming to Nintendo Switch™ and Steam® Y's IX -Monstrum NOX- Traditional Chinese & Korean Versions to be released on January 20, 2022! | Clouded Leopard Entertainment(CLE) Official Site". Clouded Leopard Entertainment (CLE) Official Site. Archived from the original on January 31, 2022. Retrieved November 19, 2023.
  14. 1 2 "Ys IX: Monstrum Nox for PlayStation 4 Reviews". Metacritic . Archived from the original on February 3, 2024. Retrieved February 26, 2021.
  15. "Ys IX: Monstrum Nox for Switch Reviews". Metacritic . Archived from the original on February 3, 2024. Retrieved September 11, 2021.
  16. 1 2 Rolling Uchizawa; Woman; Gigoro Ashida; Honma Urara (September 19, 2019). イースIX -Monstrum NOX-. Famitsu (in Japanese). No. 1607. Kadokawa Game Linkage. Archived from the original on July 1, 2020. Retrieved July 2, 2020.
  17. Oxford, Nadia (February 11, 2021). "Ys IX: Monstrum Nox Review". IGN . Archived from the original on February 22, 2021. Retrieved February 26, 2021.
  18. Carpenter, Joshua (February 24, 2021). "Ys IX: Monstrum Nox Review". RPGamer. Archived from the original on February 25, 2021. Retrieved February 26, 2021.
  19. Sollosi, Michael (January 29, 2021). "Ys IX: Monstrum Nox". RPGFan. Archived from the original on February 26, 2021. Retrieved February 26, 2021.
  20. Yūsuke Takahashi (September 26, 2019). 「イースIX -Monstrum NOX-」プレイレポート。横方向だけではなく“上下”への広がりのあるフィールドの探索が楽しい. 4gamer.net (in Japanese). Aetas. Archived from the original on December 6, 2019. Retrieved July 1, 2020.
  21. "Famitsu Sales: 9/23/19 – 9/29/19 [Update]". Gematsu. October 2, 2019. Archived from the original on November 11, 2020. Retrieved January 28, 2021.