When Ys X: Proud Nordics arrives on PlayStation 5 as the definitive edition of Nihon Falcom’s action RPG, it brings with it ambitions that are equal parts refinement and expansion. On its own terms, this enhanced version sometimes feels like the genre-baseline the original Ys X: Nordics always hinted at – a more complete, polished odyssey across Obelia Bay’s wild frontiers – even while its existence as a full-price reissue rather than a supplement or upgrade remains one of its most contentious notes, especially among returning players.
The narrative thread here is recognizably Ys – red-haired adventurer Adol and the indomitable Karja at its heart, set against the mysterious backdrop of Öland Island and the ongoing threat of the Griegr – but with an added layer of ambition. The new storyline content introduces fresh allies like Canute and Astrid, new ruins and dungeons like the challenge-oriented Divine Realm: Muspelheim, and an expanded geography that fills in gaps left by the original release. It’s a story that feels both familiar and more expansive, giving long-time fans something fresh while preserving the core charm that has defined the series. Yet, for those who’ve already completed Nordics recently, the decision to weave new narrative beats into a full-priced standalone can feel harder to justify.
In operation, Proud Nordics is buoyed by combat and traversal systems that feel alive under your thumbs. Combat flows with the same precision and snappy responsiveness that made Nordics notable, and new Mana Actions and modifications to exploration – from Mana Hold environmental manipulation to Mana Ride races – meaningfully expand the ways players engage with both enemies and the world. These additions invigorate mid-game pacing and add variety to encounters that might have risked stagnation in a mere update patch. Still, some of these systems – especially new puzzle elements or Mana Hold’s implementation – can occasionally feel less impactful than their design implies, leaving moments that flirt with redundancy rather than evolution.
On the control front, Proud Nordics mostly preserves what worked in Nordics, for better and worse. The fundamental layout and responsiveness are intact and still generally satisfying, but impressions differ on just how accessible those inputs feel when pushed into more frantic combat or complex traversal challenges. This is not a catastrophic flaw, but one that occasionally underscores how incremental some changes feel relative to player expectations.
Visually and aurally, the jump is unmistakable. The PS5 version benefits from refinements across the board – sharper textures, more stable frame pacing, and vibrant environments that better match the series’ high-spirited tone. Performance gains and graphical fidelity improvements deepen sensory immersion, making every encounter and vista feel more intentional and breathing new life into what was already a vivid world. The soundtrack complements this with its robust, emotive themes, lending the sweeping adventure a sense of grandiosity that both longtime Ys fans and newcomers can appreciate.
Yet, there are trade-offs. While the expanded Öland content and additional bosses add meaningful hours to the experience, the narrative integration sometimes comes across as bolted-on rather than fully integral. Likewise, quality-of-life improvements, while welcome, do little to soften the blow of a pricing model that positions this version as a whole new release rather than a discounted upgrade for existing owners – a choice that has already sparked debate among the community.
Ultimately, Ys X: Proud Nordics stands as a compelling reinterpretation of one of the series’ most ambitious forays. On PlayStation 5, it marries confident action RPG fundamentals with thoughtful expansions to the world and systems, presenting a version of Adol and Karja’s latest adventure that feels richer and more complete than its ancestor. Whether these enhancements justify a second purchase depends on how deeply you entered Obelia Bay the first time, but as a standalone experience, Proud Nordics delivers the pride-filled journey the title promises – even if it sometimes feels like the definitive version arrived a beat late for those already aboard.
Score: 8.1/10
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