My Played Video Games Review: Ys III: Wanderers from Ys for the Super Nintendo

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Ys III: Wanderers from Ys is a classic action role-playing game created by Nihon Falcom of Japan and is the third installment in the Ys action-RPGs franchise. The game was first released in 1989 for PC-8801 and PC-9801 computers and later became available on other platforms such as TurboGrafx-CD, Famicom, Super Nintendo/Super Famicom, and Sega Genesis in 1991.

This Ys series' USA debut is an action-packed adventure game that combines elements of hack-and-slash and role-playing games. The game allows players to level up, but it is primarily considered an adventure game, providing an adventure experience on the Super NES.

Super Famicom box cover art for Japan. (Image source)

The Story

Adol, the hero of Ys Book I & II, is about to embark on a perilous journey. A curse has fallen upon Dogi's homeland, where bloodthirsty creatures are wreaking havoc and putting innocent lives at risk. With your bravery and strength, you are the only one who can defeat these fearsome monsters. Get ready to wield your weapons and deadliest amulet, as you engage in an electrifying new action-packed experience. Navigate through the scorching depths of Alcaino and emerge victorious over the dread Nekevil. But beware, Adol, the wrath of Demanicus lies in wait, ready to challenge you in a final, epic showdown.

Box, manual and cartridge of the game. (Image source)

The Graphics and Sound

The graphics in the game are decent, not exceptional, but they serve their purpose. The characters, like other early SNES games such as Mario, Link, and Final Fantasy, are small and simple, but the backgrounds are breathtaking. From volcanoes to historic castles and lush forests, the environments are beautifully rendered. Additionally, the anime-style opening and closing sequences add a lot of appeal to the game, making it a true adventure experience.

The music in the game can become repetitive, but it is also infectiously catchy. The various themes, from the lively music in the bustling town to the frighteningly eerie music in the dungeons, are great. However, the sound effects leave something to be desired and detract from the overall quality of the music. They are not terrible, but they are not fantastic either.

Gameplay video sample of Ys III: Wanderers from Ys. Watch in 360p for near TV resolution of that time.

The Gameplay

The game is a classic platformer where you can move left and right, jump, and swing your sword, similar to Zelda II. As you progress, you'll encounter monsters that will grant you experience points (EXP) and gold. Despite having RPG elements, the game is quite linear, with each area culminating in a boss fight and after which, you rarely return to the same place again.

Unlike previous YS games, you cannot travel between different locations, instead, you simply leave the main town and select your destination from a map.

A drawback of the game is that you can only carry one healing herb at a time, which fully restores your health, but considering the amount of damage you take and the ease at which you can get hit, having just one herb can be a major hindrance.

Finally, the hit detection in the SNES version is reportedly the worst among the console versions of the game.

The game itself is not challenging, with straightforward boss battles and minimal platforming dangers such as holes or spikes (apart from the final stage). The difficulty of the monsters and bosses is determined by your level, but in this SNES version, things are set to be excessively difficult unless you have a high level.

Reaching a high level requires tedious grinding, but there is a trick that allows you to level up quickly by simply placing an object on the A button, causing monsters to respawn off-screen and run into your sword. Even at the maximum level, however, the final two levels can be harsh and the last boss is extremely difficult.

Replayability is mediocre. The game does not offer much replay value.

My Verdict

Ys III fails to live up to expectations due to its overly difficult early levels. While the RPG elements and rings are enjoyable, Wanderers of Ys is now mostly seen as a nostalgic journey into a lesser-known series. There are many other SNES titles that are more worth playing before considering Ys.

Play it on the Super Nintendo/Super Famicom or play it on a reliable emulator.

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