Ys I & II Chronicles+

This package is two games in one, but I have no choice but rate them as one. YS I has a tight design - never giving you too much weapons nor inventory. Each empty slot *will be filled*. It is a completionist's dream - bestiary; character logs; easter eggs. Even have the same Steam achievements. YS II is even a greater work of love - prettier; details (such as messenger pigeon arriving); flowersl lighting. YS II is definitely my pick over YS I. However, both are painful to go through. YS I has pretty difficult boss fights that would make you wanna quit. YS II is much easier, as there's now an element of magic. YS I limits your light range while putting you in mazes and teleportation devices. YS II wisely smooths this irritation, but it gives you a bigger map with... ladder mazes. It was then I call it quits. 2/5 stars because I did not enjoy it. Sure, they are works of love and the production value is great. But I cannot enjoy games if I have to refer to a guide for every screen transition.

Ok, this is kind of a hack and slash RPG, except that you attack enemies by bumping into them, is horribly balancved, in the first areaevery enemy can kill you easily and you are expected to grind to get gold and buy the most basic gear, imagibne that grinding,m on the very first screen, but it doesn't end there, levels are a huge deal, as soon as I hit level 2 I went from killing enemies in 4 hits to one shotting everything, which made the grind slightly more bearable, I got my gear and set outy to explore the world, which is full of winding paths and crossrodas with no semblance of a map anywhere so have fun getting lost, after a while I was level 6 and laughing in the face of every ennemy I encountered, I went into the mines and got oneshoted, fun times. This is an old game and it shows in the most painful ways, uninteresting combat, very unbalanced, and I already can see it will be a grindfest. I say leave it in the past where it belongs.

I bought this because of all the positive reviews, but was disappointed. - I'm unable to beat the vampire, even while difficulty is easy, my level is max and I have all silver armor. I have a ring to slow down the opponents, but that doesn't work with the vampire. I have a bottle of health potion but that doesn't work with the vampire. As all other monsters are not hard, I didn't need those 2 items until now, so the only occasion where I need them, they don't work! So I can't continue the game in the most easy mode. It seems the developers don't understand what "easy" means. - There is no map functionality. - Many boring mazes, with some secrets. Wouldn't have been able to solve those without a walk-through. - Ugly graphics ( but I knew that from the screenshots ) - The RPG elements are extremely shallow. -

It's old, but that's not the problem. I sometimes like the old ones, when they are well made. But this game has a ridicolous combat system, and gaining exp is frustrating even when you start. Play it if you like spend hours and hours in grinding.

Especially the first game, odd as it may sound.