I reviewed Ys X: Nordics on Nintendo Change again in 2024. I gave it an 8.5 on the time and I stand by that rating. It was an ideal sport that mixed the enjoyable lighthearted journey of Ys VIII with the enhancements to traversal and exploration present in Ys IX together with loads of its personal concepts. Now, Ys X makes its approach to Change 2 as Ys X: Proud Nordics. This launch combines a touched up model of the unique sport with some model new content material that’s out there right here for the primary time. I gained’t totally re-review your complete sport and if you need my ideas on the core expertise please take a look at my unique evaluation. Relatively I’ll be taking a look at this launch from the attitude of my very own main query once I first noticed it revealed. Is it value choosing up if I have already got the Change model?
One key element to get out of the best way proper in the beginning, is that Proud Nordics doesn’t have cross-progression with the unique launch. So even in the event you’re half approach by means of the Change model, you’ll have to begin over on Change 2. It is slightly disappointing however I assume that is because of the approach the brand new content material is applied. The brand new aspect story is constructed immediately into the primary sport and is performed alongside the first story. It feels very pure inside the context of the remainder of the sport, however it means you possibly can’t go on to the brand new stuff even in the event you’ve already performed the sport earlier than. I gained’t go into the precise plot of the brand new content material however it’s pretty substantial with new areas and characters.
Exterior of that new content material the large factor you’ll discover instantly in the event you’re coming from the Change model is the substantial efficiency enhance on Change 2. The Change was a lead platform for the unique launch so it was at all times technically strong, however the Change 2 provides substantial enhancements. You get modes for each 60 frames-per-second and 120 frames-per-second as in comparison with the unique’s 30 frames-per-second. On the unique Change Ys X’s dynamic decision usually landed round 720p. Out of curiosity I made a decision to seize my comparability footage of the unique Change model on a Change 2 simply to see how totally different it might truly be from the Change 2 model. Backwards compatibility is ready to brute pressure that 720p as much as a full 1080p which was a nice shock. It is truly the identical underlying decision as the complete Change 2 model. The distinction right here is that the Change 2 model advantages from correct anti-aliasing enhancing the picture high quality considerably. In case you’re coming from having solely performed this model on an precise unique Change then the distinction shall be much more stark than these comparisons.
The updates aren’t purely in picture high quality and body charge, nevertheless. One of many first issues I seen was enhancements to attract distances. The unique Change model suffers from some aggressive LODs and secondary element and character culling. Parts of the setting always seem immediately subsequent to you as buildings pop between ranges of element. On Change 2 the LOD points are roughly solely resolved. Pop in is pushed out considerably. Element like foliage is denser and attracts out farther from the digicam; in some cases, it seems in areas it was utterly absent from on Change, equivalent to on islands when crusing.
Numerous components of lighting have been improved as properly. Shadows are of a considerably increased decision, although the cascade remains to be very apparent. Ambient occlusion has been added to fill in pockets of shade within the environments making them look considerably much less flat. It additionally helps to present characters correct grounding shadows in dimly lit inside areas. The stylized rim lighting used on characters now additionally applies to environments, which I felt was extra cohesive general. The Ys collection has lengthy been a decrease funds title that hasn’t pushed the boundaries of graphics by any means, however I believe Ys X specifically actually manages these limitations properly, and this model presents these funds acutely aware selections in a constructive gentle.
Because it at all times has been, Ys X stays a superb sport. This new model is undeniably the definitive approach to play. Whereas it ran properly on the unique Change and truly advantages fairly properly from backwards compatibility on Change 2, the technical enhancements that include a correct Change 2 model are onerous to disregard. The fight specifically actually advantages from these increased body charge choices. The brand new content material means there are recent experiences right here for returning gamers. It additionally consists of all of the costume DLC launched for the unique sport. Nevertheless, the dearth of cross-progression does imply that you simply’ll haven’t any selection however to begin over. Alternatively, in the event you’ve but to play Ys X, I can wholeheartedly suggest this model. Whereas returning gamers do must wrestle with whether or not the improve is value it, new gamers ought to completely dive in with out hesitation.
