Ys VI: The Ark of Napishtim

T

7.8

2005-02-22

2018-07-03 13:34:55

Ys VI: The Ark of Napishtim is an action role-playing game developed by Nihon Falcom. It was first released in 2003 for Microsoft Windows. Not counting the remakes of Ys I & II, it was the first new Ys game released by Falcom in eight years.

The game was ported to the PlayStation 2 in 2005 and to the PlayStation Portable in 2006 by Konami for worldwide release. It was the first English release of the series since Ys III: Wanderers from Ys. In 2015, an English localization of the Windows version was released by Xseed Games. The game was used as a base for Ys VI Mobile, a free-to-play MMORPG that released in Japan in 2021 and worldwide in 2022.

Gameplay:

Ys VI expands on the mechanics introduced in Ys III and V in that players are given much more control over Adol including the ability to jump and control his attacks and various magics Areas are presented in 3D graphics. Character, monster and minor bosses are presented using pre-rendered 3D sprites. Larger bosses are presented using full 3D models.

Plot:

The story begins after Adol’s ship is attacked by a fleet of Romun ships. Forced to sail into an unknown area, they encounter a large storm. Adol is swept off the vessel while trying to rescue a fellow sailor and washed ashore by the vortex that surrounds the Canaan Islands. He is found, unconscious, by the nieces of the chieftain of the nearby Rehda village, Olha and Isha, who are the daughters of his brother that died when battling with fellow Redha against the Wandering Calamity. The girls take him to their village and lay him to rest in their Uncle Ord’s house. Adol hears them talking about him and wakes up briefly, afterwards going back to sleep because of his exhaustion. His adventure then begins.

Releases:

• Windows

The initial release of the game was the ”Limited Edition”. After this sold out, Falcom released a standard edition of the game with some new features. Two new difficulties and a Time Attack mini-game where the player fights through all the game’s bosses were added. However, there was never a patch or upgrade released to initial buyers, so players wanting these new features had to buy the game again. Years later, Falcom would similarly add features to Ys Origin; this time, initial buyers were offered an upgrade disc for the cost of shipping. The game was later released by Xseed Games via Steam on April 28, 2015.

• PlayStation 2

Konami made several additions and changes when porting the game to the PlayStation 2. The most notable were the inclusion of both English and Japanese voice acting to all characters (including NPCs) and several new optional areas referred to as ”Alma’s Trials”. While the Japanese voice acting could be selected in the NTSC-U version, the PAL version had all Japanese voice acting removed. Konami also added new FMV sequences, though the original animated sequences could still be selected through a code. Blood and gore effects were removed due to console games requiring a rating. Lastly, they changed the character and monster graphics from pre-rendered 3D sprites to fully polygonal 3D models. While this allowed for much better animation, it also changed Adol’s appearance based on his equipment.

• PlayStation Portable

The PlayStation Portable port does not include any of the changes of the PS2 port except for the removal of blood and gore effects. The European and North American versions came with a new set of bonuses including some extra fetch-quests that unlock a few mini-games and an image/media gallery. These were later included in a ”Special Edition” re-release in Japan, although the game is noted for having particularly long and frequent load times. Voice-acting was never included in this version. It is not available digitally on the PlayStation Store, only through a physical UMD copy, which has no PlayStation trophies attached.

• Ys VI Mobile

Ys VI Mobile: The Ark of Napishtim, a free-to-play MMORPG, was first released as Ys VI Online on Android and iOS in Japan by Restar Games on July 20, 2021. An English version was released by VNG Games on June 5, 2022.

Description:

Washed ashore on an uncharted island, Adol Christin begins a new journey in Ys: The Ark of Napishtim. Lush environments, beautifully rendered characters and animated 3D backdrops combine to create the setting for Adol’s newest adventure. In the world of Canaan, our red-headed hero must fight deadly monsters and menacing bosses with a variety of sword combinations, special attacks and magical spells creating a uniquely deep and compelling gameplay experience. Power-up three magical swords to gain special abilities and attacks. Combines real-time, fast-paced action and strategic boss battles. Original music composed specifically for the PS2 version of the game. Hidden, unlockable secrets that showcase the timeless legacy of Ys.

Sony PlayStation 2 (PS2)

Konami

0083717201175

1

United States

128-bit

DVD

1

Colored Snap Case

~$40.00

2025-09-14

2018-07-03 13:34:55