Ys IX: Monstrum Nox
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
SeriesYs
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.

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-

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. Retrieved February 26, 2021.
  3. 1 2 Romano, Sal (December 19, 2018). "Ys IX: Monstrum Nox announced for PS4". Gematsu. 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. Retrieved January 28, 2021.
  5. ↑ "NISA Europe Interviews Toshihiro Kondo (Part 1/2)". NISA Europe Online Store. September 8, 2017. Retrieved January 28, 2021.
  6. ↑ "Ys IX: Monstrum Nox details cooperators, extra contents". Gematsu. September 5, 2019. 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. 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. Retrieved April 22, 2021.
  9. ↑ Nintendo Switch™「イースIX」9/9発売 (in Japanese). Nihon Falcom. May 13, 2021. Retrieved May 13, 2021.
  10. ↑ "Game Details - Engine Software BV". Engine Software. Retrieved August 14, 2020.
  11. ↑ Romano, Sal (January 10, 2023). "Ys IX: Monstrum Nox Launches on PS5 in May 2023". Siliconera. Retrieved June 4, 2023.
  12. ↑ "Site Officiel de Ys IX: Monstrum Nox". nisamerica.com. 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. Retrieved November 19, 2023.
  14. 1 2 "Ys IX: Monstrum Nox for PlayStation 4 Reviews". Metacritic. Retrieved February 26, 2021.
  15. ↑ "Ys IX: Monstrum Nox for Switch Reviews". Metacritic. 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. Retrieved July 2, 2020.
  17. ↑ Oxford, Nadia (February 11, 2021). "Ys IX: Monstrum Nox Review". IGN. Retrieved February 26, 2021.
  18. ↑ Carpenter, Joshua (February 24, 2021). "Ys IX: Monstrum Nox Review". RPGamer. Retrieved February 26, 2021.
  19. ↑ Sollosi, Michael (January 29, 2021). "Ys IX: Monstrum Nox". RPGFan. 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. Retrieved July 1, 2020.
  21. ↑ "Famitsu Sales: 9/23/19 – 9/29/19 [Update]". Gematsu. October 2, 2019. Retrieved January 28, 2021.
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