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Ys Book I & II

From NEC Retro

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Ys Book I & II
System(s): CD-ROM², Virtual Console (Wii), PlayStation Network
Publisher: Hudson Soft
Wii Virtual Console
Nihon Falcom
Developer:
Genre: RPG































Number of players: 1
Release Date RRP Code
CD-ROM²
JP
¥84248424 HCD9009
CD-ROM²
US
TGXCD1002
Wii Virtual Console
JP
800pts800 QABJ
Wii Virtual Console
US
800pts800 QABE
Wii Virtual Console
EU
800pts800 QABP
Wii Virtual Console
AU
800pts800 QABP

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Ys I.II (イースI・II Īsu Wan Tsū) is a Japanese action role-playing game compilation consisting of enhanced remakes of the first two Ys games, released for the CD-ROM² by Nihon Falcom and Hudson Soft in 1989. It was released as Ys Book I & II for the TurboGrafx-CD in North America in 1990, and was a pack-in title for the TurboDuo in 1992.

Overview

Ys I & II consists of enhanced remakes of the first two games released in the Ys series, Ys I: Ancient Ys Vanished and Ys II: Ancient Ys Vanished – The Final Chapter. It was one of the first video games to use CD-ROM, which was utilized to provide enhanced graphics, animated cut-scenes, a Red Book CD audio soundtrack, and voice acting. The game's English localization was also one of the first to use voice dubbing.

It was the second role-playing game released on the CD-ROM format, six months after Tengai Makyou: Ziria (Far East of Eden). Ys I & II was also the first action RPG released on CD-ROM, and the first CD-ROM based RPG released in North America. The game was critically acclaimed upon release for being one of the first games to effectively demonstrate the potential of the CD-ROM format, including a lengthy adventure, animated cut scenes, Red Book music, and voiced dialogues.

Soundtrack

The game's early Red Book audio soundtrack was composed by Yuzo Koshiro and Mieko Ishikawa and arranged by Ryo Yonemitsu. As one of the first CD soundtracks in a video game, the music and audio have been critically acclaimed since its 1989 release.

The December 1990 issue of GamePro stated that the music "to this game is definitely high budget" with "43 stunning tracks."[2] Electronic Gaming Monthly said the "soundtrack is true CD quality and among the best ever made."[3] Ed Semrad praised it for having "a true CD soundtrack" and "spoken intermissions" with "perfect" voice acting, while Steve Harris praised it for having "the most amazing sound track that explodes from the CD like a major motion picture." Electronic Gaming Monthly gave the game awards for the Best BGM and Sound in a Video Game and the Best RPG Video Game. [4]

Critical Reception

The game was widely acclaimed by critics upon release. In Japan, Famitsu's panel of four reviewers gave the game scores of 9, 9, 9, and 8, out of 10, adding up to an overall score of 35 out of 40. This made it one of their two highest-rated games of 1989, along with Makai Toushi Sa·Ga (The Final Fantasy Legend). It was also one of only seven games to have received a score of at least 35/40 or more from Famitsu up until 1989. [5]

TurboPlay praised the game in its review, stating that the introduction sequence is "mind-blowing," that "everything, from the graphics to the gameplay, is incredible."[6] The November 1990 issue of VideoGames & Computer Entertainment (№22) gave it a score of 9 out of 10, with the reviewer describing it as "one of the most detailed, involved games I have ever played," concluding that it "is the first game worthy of being put on CD. No one can ever claim that CD-ROM games are just a gimmick ever again." The December 1990 issue of GamePro gave the game scores (out of 5) of 4 for graphics, 5 for sound, 5 for control, 5 for challenge, and 5 for overall fun factor. [2]

In the Electronic Gaming Monthly 1991 Video Game Buyer's Guide (October 1990 issue), a panel of four reviewers gave the game scores of 10, 9, 8, and 8. Ed Semrad gave it a rare score of 10 out of 10, stating that the "perfect game finally happened." He concluded that, combining the soundtrack with "two, not just one, full blown RPG's, each with lengthy" graphics and voiced intermissions, "you get the ultimate in this genre." Steve Harris praised it as "an outstanding game adventure" and concluded "the quality is obvious." [7]


Physical scans

CD-ROM² version

NEC Retro Average 
Publication Score Source
100 №172, p58
88 №15, p16/18/78[7]
88 №26
100 2007-03-05
100 2013-01-21
96 №17, p134[2]
92 2001-08-15
90 №22
CD-ROM²
94
Based on
8 reviews

CD-ROM², JP
YsI&II CDROM2 JP Box Back.jpgYsI&II CDROM2 JP Box Front.jpg
Cover
YsI&II CDROM2 JP Disc.jpg
Disc
CD-ROM², US

YsI&II CDROM2 US Disc.jpg
Disc
YsI&II CDROM2 US Box Back.jpgYsI&II CDROM2 US Box Front.jpg
Jewel Case
YsI&II CDROM2 US Map.jpg
Map


Virtual Console version

NEC Retro Average 
Publication Score Source
85 September 5, 2008
Wii Virtual Console
85
Based on
1 review


PlayStation Network version


Ys games for NEC systems
Ys: Ancient Ys Vanished Omen (1987) | Ys II: Ancient Ys Vanished The Final Chapter (1988) | Ys III: Wanderers from Ys (1989) | Ys IV: The Dawn of Ys (1993)
Ys Book I & II (1990)