Noted series trouble-finder Adol Christin and pal Dogi come once again to the center of conflict, this time in the city of Balduq, which is controlled by the Romun Empire and is known for its massive prison. Immediately on the run to escape from said prison, Adol runs into a mysterious figure known as Aprilis, who shoots him with a magic bullet and turns him into a Monstrum, giving him a special, superhero-esque power and allowing him to enter an otherwise-inaccessible world known as the Grimwald Nox to fight the monsters there. The catch is that Adol, along with the five other Monstrums he meets, isn’t initially allowed to leave the city. What ensues is a tale of deciphering both the Monstrums themselves and the city they’re trapped in. It’s evident from the get-go that something is amiss with the prison and the people in charge, especially from the interludes between chapters that give perpetual hints as to what is really going on in Balduq, and over the course of the 30-plus hour story, their connection starts to clear up.

The mystery isn’t the whole story, though. Instead, for the majority of the runtime, Ys IX is almost entirely character driven. Each of the five other Monstrums you meet has a chapter almost entirely dedicated to them. In gameplay, these act as your methods of inviting them to your party to help you unravel the confusion, but narratively, each chapter delves into each Monstrum’s underlying troubles. They’re not all particularly thematically unique or thoughtful, as you might roll your eyes when they talk about how someone’s courage was on the inside all along, but some of them actually touch on darker themes than other games in the series or genre might. It’s certainly more lighthearted than not, but the touch of depth in the storytelling is a surprising and interesting addition.

"Without straying from the series’ established mechanics or narrative roots, Monstrum Nox crafts an intricate, dynamic action-JRPG, one whose combat is addictive and whose characters are engaging, resulting in what is easily one of the series’ best entries and an early contender for 2021’s shining JRPG."

It helps that the story is largely well-written and the characters diverse because there can be an overwhelming amount of story and dialogue. Whether you’re focusing on the critical path or off doing side missions, you’ll be inundated with leagues of text, with characters explaining every detail of every objective. Many chapters open with you effectively being forced to complete side missions to advance the story, too. It begins to make sense structurally and narratively by the end, as completing these missions opens up a vortex to the Grimwald Nox and some side missions play a role in the main story, but it’s a major tone shift to go from fighting a major boss to being required to help a shop owner publicize their goods.

The only reason that it didn’t become a complete turn-off is that every character is engaging in their own way. Even outside of their particular story chapter, each Monstrum has a unique voice and motivation that comes across clearly, and even side characters that join you in your hub or that you come across over the course of the story are interesting, including impressive voice acting across the board that properly heightens emotional moments and brings some life when the dialogue gets slow.

Every Monstrum brings their own unique spin to gameplay, too. The bullet that Aprilis used to give Adol a special power also gave every other Monstrum a different so-called Gift, and when they join your party, every member has access to everyone else’s Gift. Most of these abilities have to do with traversal. Adol’s power is the equivalent of a grappling hook; the White Cat can climb up walls; and the Hawk can use his wings to glide. The world has been crafted around these added elements, too, with much more verticality and intricacy that makes the city genuinely interesting to explore. I wouldn’t say that the city of Balduq is remarkably large, and because it’s the main place you can explore outside of story missions, you might think that it gets boring after a while.

"The world has been crafted around these added elements, too, with much more verticality and intricacy that makes the city genuinely interesting to explore."

Instead, though, the consistent addition of new traversal elements makes it rewarding to return to places you’ve already been to see what new secrets you can find. Many environments outside of Balduq are highly complex and contain interconnected paths and multiple levels, which take further advantage of the Gifts and bring a sense of exploration to every location. Simply running around without using any Gifts is slick and smooth, and adding in the additional traversal powers makes for a hugely satisfying moment-to-moment experience.

The gameplay shines even brighter in its traditional real-time combat. It doesn’t mechanically reinvent the wheel, but it implements its own twists on modern action-JRPG mechanics and infuses them with rhythm and diversity to make it consistently enjoyable. You can have up to three Monstrums in your party at once, and switching between them happens at the press of a button. You have your standard attack and dodge, as well as up to four special skills that do more damage and use SP. There’s also a boost meter that, when filled, makes your character stronger and faster. None of this is necessarily unique to this game or series, but it somehow never seems to get old or feel repetitive.

Part of the reason for this is how quickly everything happens. At points it begins to take some hints from the musou genre and throw as many enemies as possible on screen at once, and you almost don’t have time to think about what you’re doing before you’re doing it but are able to take on many or all enemies at once. The camera doesn’t always cooperate, though, and will sometimes get caught up when you’re trying to fight a big cohort of baddies. The game also doesn’t require you to get too in tune with any character’s move sets or combos for that character to be effective. You might benefit from combining a couple skills together, but I found that mashing the special skills and timing the boost correctly worked most of the time, which allowed for a constant refresh of characters in my party based on new weapons and higher stats, instead of having to focus on one or two whose move sets I had mastered. Combine all of this with fluid animations and an constant stream of action and it becomes exhilarating and impressively diverse.

"The gameplay shines even brighter in its traditional real-time combat. It doesn’t mechanically reinvent the wheel, but it implements its own twists on modern action-JRPG mechanics and infuses them with rhythm and diversity to make it consistently enjoyable."

That’s not to say there’s no strategy whatsoever. Each character has their own special strengths and weaknesses, and you can equip weapons and armor with different damage types, as well as other items like Sacramentals that add a twist into gameplay. You can also manage the rest of your party to fight offensively or defensively, and they, along with other non-party members, are usually important aspects of combat. The game just doesn’t want to leave anyone behind. It allows you to play aggressively without having to micromanage every detail to succeed, and even if you fail, it gives you the option to retry in combat with weakened enemies or proceed in dungeons as if you’ve completed the relevant puzzle. I respect that it doesn’t require an overwhelming grind as well, especially because I was actually inclined to do so to experience the combat again, which then felt like more of an excess bit of enjoyment than a required piece of gameplay that overstayed its welcome.

Combat usually comes either organically in the world or through the Grimwald Nox. Enemies are littered around the world, which expands the further you progress through the game. Every story chapter takes you generally to a different place around the world and lets you explore new areas, whether it’s underground or in an entirely new location. These encounters, which happen all in real-time, are enjoyable in themselves, but the highlights of these sequences are usually the boss fights. Bosses are commonly massive and difficult enough to be satisfying but not infuriating, and it always lets you dial down the difficulty if you’re stuck. They’re highly diverse and often mesmerizing in size, and it rarely feels like bosses become formulaic.

The other main source of combat comes through the Grimwald Nox, which only the Monstrums can access. You go into the Grimwald Nox about once per chapter, and these fights, even more so than boss fights, are often where your skills are tested the most. They consist of multiple waves of enemies attempting to destroy a centralized crystal, and they get increasingly long and difficult as the game progresses. I found these fights to be the most satisfying because of how much they test your skills of managing larger groups of enemies in tandem with larger, more difficult individual ones, as well as how they build on one another over time. Some of these become more frustrating than any bosses because of the fragility of the crystal, but completing them is just as satisfying as fighting a boss, and you can replay them to get higher scores and ranks after the fact.

"Technically, Ys IX doesn’t push the boundaries that recent JRPGs like Final Fantasy VII Remake or Persona 5 Royal do, but it makes up for it with enough diversity in characters and level design."

Technically, Ys IX doesn’t push the boundaries that recent JRPGs like Final Fantasy VII Remake or Persona 5 Royal do, but it makes up for it with enough diversity in characters and level design. Environments are commonly filled with dull colors, and textures are muddy, especially in some of the flatter locations outside of Balduq. Character models are more colorful and diverse, especially among the main characters, and even the dozens of enemy types bring a bit more life to gameplay. Everything is backed by a wonderful soundtrack that is mostly peaceful during gameplay but ramps up in impactful story moments.

Ys IX: Monstrum Nox makes the case for the Ys series to be put in the top tier of JRPGs. Its combination of established mechanics and storytelling with addictive combat and a wonderful cast of characters lets 30 hours feel like a breeze. It’s one of the more accessible Ys games in the franchise and is easily one of the series’ best, even when hampered by some overlong dialogue and a finnicky camera. Consistently engaging in almost every diverse moment of gameplay, Monstrum Nox delivers one of the most exciting recent entries in an already-packed, well-established genre.

This game was reviewed on the PlayStation 4.

The latest instalment in Nihon Falcom’s long-running RPG franchise (one of them), Ys 9: Monstrum Nox, has been out in Japan for almost a year and a half at this point. Though the series isn’t wildly popular in western market, there’s no shortage of dedicated Ys fans outside of Japan nonetheless who have been waiting for the game’s localization. That wait is now over.

Ys 9: Monstrum Nox has released in the west, currently exclusively for the PS4 (though PS5 owners can, of course, play the game via backward compatibility as well). If you’re a series fan, you pretty much know what you’re signing up for here – another solid role-playing adventure – but if you’re on the fence about this one, you can also download a demo of the game via PSN.

Meanwhile, Ys 9 will also be coming to Nintendo Switch and PC later on this year, though publisher NIS America hasn’t given a precise date for when that’ll happen. Stay tuned for more updates.

Ys IX: Monstrum Nox came out in Japan over a year ago, but series fans in the West will also soon be able to get their hands on the game. And ahead of its imminent worldwide launch, NIS America have released a demo for it on the PS4 in the west. It is available now on the PlayStation Store.

The demo will let players spend some time in the mysterious prison city of Balduq, where players will be able to explore “one of two key locations”. You can also “experiment with the brand-new Gifts and Monstrums”. There’s no mention of whether progress from the demo will carry over into the full game, or if those who play the demo will get any in-game bonuses when the full game launches. That said, this is a good chance for those interested in the game to get a taste of what it will have in store.

Ys IX: Monstrum Nox has been available on PS4 in Japan since September 2019, and will be coming to the west on February 2, 2021. Western audiences will also be able to play the game on Switch and PC some time this year, though those versions don’t yet have specific launch dates.

Falcom’s Ys IX: Monstrum Nox is out next year and features the continuation of Adol Christin’s journey across the land. Arriving in the prison city of Balduq, Adol and Dogi find themselves imprisoned and are quickly caught up with the Monstrum. A new trailer outlines the various Monstrum that Adol will team with – check it out below.

Each Monstrum has a different designation corresponding to their appearances. However, also possesses a different gift – The White Cat, for instance, can scale up walls while The Doll’s Third Eye can reveal hidden objects. Adol joins their ranks as The Crimson King who can grapple across objects to traverse the environment quickly.

The Monstrum work together to fend off the Grimwald Nox and perhaps even discover what’s going on in Balduq. Ys IX: Monstrum Nox is out on February 2nd 2021 for North America on the PS4. It’s out in Summer 2021 for PC and Nintendo Switch. Stay tuned for more details in the coming months.

Ys IX: Monstrum Nox launched in Japan for the PS4 in September last year, and given the dedicated fan following the series has in Western markets, questions about when it would launch outside of Japan have been asked frequently. Until not that long ago, Nihon Falcom didn’t have any concrete plans for the same, but recently at the New Game + Expo, they announced that with NIS America, they will indeed be bringing the game to western markets.

Ys IX: Monstrum Nox will release in North America and Europe in 2021. While in Japan it only released for the PS4, in the west it will also release for the Nintendo Switch and PC. Given the fact that it’s releasing in 2021, you’d think a release on next-gen consoles (at least the PS5) would also be on the docket, but no such plans were announced.

Meanwhile, a limited edition for the game has also been unveiled, and is up for pre-orders now on NIS America’s site. The Limited Edition – which will cost $99.99, will include a copy of the game, a mini art booklet, a 1-disc OST sampler, a reserve coversheet, the Chains and Chansons 1-disc OST, a hardcover art book, the short novel Ys IX Prequel: The Lost Sword, a Crimson King chibi figure, the Monstrums of Balduq art card collection, a keychain set, and a Monstrum box.

Take a look at the contents of the limited edition and the western release announcement trailer below.

At the New Game + Expo, NIS America also announced that The Legend of Heroes: Trails of Cold Steel 4 will be releasing in the west for PS4 in October. PC and Switch versions are coming in 2021.

Granblue Fantasy: Relink

Based on Cygames’ popular mobile franchise, Granblue Fantasy: Relink is an action RPG for PS4. Featuring music by Final Fantasy series composer Nobuo Uematsu, it includes familiar characters like Gran and Katalina but takes place in a different location. For now, all we know is that PlatinumGames handled the combat part of the game and four player co-op is supported (though you can also play solo with three AI squad-mates). Granblue Fantasy: Relink releases sometime in 2020.

Wattam

Funomena’s Wattam is directed by the creator of Katamari, which means a fair bit of weirdness is explore. You explore a world of colorful characters, making friends with rocks, flowers and gaping mouths to solve puzzles and do other joyful things. The key element is that everyone has a melody which can be combined together, no doubt creating a song to herald the apocalypse. All jokes aside, if you’re looking for something truly unique, Wattam is out in December 2019 for PS4 and PC.

Falcom is working hard on the latest title in the Ys franchise, namely Ys IX: Monstrum Nox. While it’s currently set to release in September for Japan, a Western release has yet to be confirmed. We may have to wait a bit longer for that to happen though.

Speaking to DualShockers at Anime Expo 2019, Falcom president Toshihiro Kondo said that, “For now, a western release for Ys IX isn’t planned, as we’re focusing on completing its development and releasing it in Japan.” While it’s a given that Ys IX could be localized somewhere down the line, it likely won’t be anytime soon.

Ys VIII: Lacrimosa of Dana first released on the PlayStation Vita in July 2016. It took a year before the game eventually released in the West on PS4 and even then, there were huge delays for the PC version which released in April 2018. Hopefully the localization process for Ys IX: Monstrum Nox will be a lot smoother.

More details will be revealed about the action RPG later this week as per Falcom’s official Twitter so stay tuned. Ys IX: Monstrum Nox releases on September 26^th for PS4 in Japan.

アクションRPG「イース」最新作
PS4「イースⅨ -Monstrum NOX-（モンストルム・ノクス）」9/26発売予定！

キャラクター、システム、製品情報など、公式サイトで最新情報公開中
次回更新は来週を予定していますhttps://t.co/5cBoGduF41 pic.twitter.com/fYuIQWl4rq

— 日本ファルコム (@nihonfalcom) July 18, 2019

Falcom’s Ys IX: Monstrum Nox is looking pretty good en route to its release in Japan this year (no word yet on a Western release date). A new trailer from the developer showcases the more vertically heavy approach to exploration and combat that’s being taken. Check it out below.

Along with his signature appearance, we briefly see Adol with dark hair, which fits into his story of being in disguise through Balduq the prison city. Other interesting facets include his ability to quickly grapple throughout environments. This extends the movement possibilities in ways we haven’t seen before – hopefully it opens the door to more unique exploration as a whole.

If that weren’t enough, we also get a look at the various fighting styles of each Monstrum. Doll effortlessly glides into combat and executes combos, while Raging Bull uses her war hammer to lay down tons of damage slowly. Each Monstrum also has unique exploration abilities, like Doll spotting objects invisible to humans.

Ys IX: Monstrum Nox is out on September 26th for PS4 in Japan. Stay tuned for more information on a Western release.

Falcom’s next addition to the Ys series, Ys IX: Monstrum Nox, arrives on September 26th in Japan for PS4. Promising to be a significant departure from previous games, the newest issue of Weekly Famitsu has finally provided a look at protagonist Adol Christin and his companion Dogi. Remember that dark blue-haired character teased over the past few months? That’s Adol (see the image in question below).

Adol finds himself a prisoner in Baldeux before getting involved in an “incident.” As for Dogi, he has a bigger role throughout the story and looks older. New gameplay details were also revealed, such as the “Way of the King: Crimson Line” ability, which lets players teleport quickly.

This ability can be used to either phase through walls (most likely in specific locations while exploring), or to pounce at an enemy. The battle and guild systems from previous titles are coming back, but we’re yet to see gameplay footage of the same. Ys IX: Monstrum Nox doesn’t have a release window in the West, but stay tuned for more updates on that front.

シリーズの完全新作となるPS4用タイトル開発中！
国内外で高い評価を受ける「イースⅧ」開発スタッフが手掛ける、
新たな「イース」の物語にぜひご期待ください！

『イースⅨ -Monstrum NOX-』
イースナイン　モンストルム・ノクスhttps://t.co/XqVesS9qu6#イースIX #イースVIII #ys8 #PS4#JRPG pic.twitter.com/Twvs7laCgX

— 日本ファルコム (@nihonfalcom) March 12, 2019