I don't know what inspired me to buy Ys 3 a number of years ago, but I'm glad I did. It took about a year to get into because I got stuck at a boss, but I had to return to it because I kept it on my hard drives until my computer went wonky. It randomly stopped connecting to the internet, so I had to play only what I had on hand. I gave it another go and fell in love. And not just with the game but with the entire franchise. I used my parents' computer to download more games from Ys, and I ended up playing the first seven games, which were all of them at the time. I even finished Ys V! I'd buy Chronicles sometime later, as well as Origins and the third remake of IV, Memories of Celceta. But it's been a while...
So I booted up Steam and launched the remake of Ys 3: Wanderers From Ys. Canonically, this is (unless MoC is retconned) actually the fourth game in the franchise. It starts as Adol the Red and his friend from the first games, Dogi, land their rowboat in Dogi's homeland of Felghana. Felghana is named after a region near China along the Silk Road but is situated in the game equivalent of the real world northwest Germany. Dogi talks of his caretaker and friends, Elena and Chester. It's been eight years since he left, and he wonders how things have changed. The rumors aren't great... Things are quickly confirmed when Dogi points out an old pagan monument to the sea god that has been destroyed. It gets worse when the two men hear a woman scream in the distance. Adol rushes ahead, while Dogi stays back to comment on his inaction before wolves show up to delay him further.
The camera cuts to a blond woman running from wolves. They have her surrounded just as our main character enters. We enter the first battle of the game. There's only one button to attack, but it can be weirdly comboed into a string of smooth actions. Adol can power himself up to allow the combo to go higher. We don't need to know this now, but there are also a few aerial moves we'll need to learn (down stab stuns) and magic later on. But basic wargs on easy mode (not sorry) die in a few sword swings.
The woman thanks us just as Dogi catches up. They remark on stuff before the woman realizes something. This is Dogi! Our well meaning lunkhead is a bit dense and doesn't realize this is his childhood friend Elena. Dogi remembers her as a preteen tomboy, but he'll say she's "filled out" later that night. It's getting late, and monsters are frequent in Felghana these days, so we return to the town of Redmont. The opening anime cutscene plays, and we get a glimpse of what's to come. Can you guess Elena is kinda important?
Night falls as we approach the gate. Elena reintroduces Dogi to Gardner, the guard, and he's shocked the pudgy Dogi turned into a hot, ripped himbo. He'll eventually open the gate, which he can go from outside, and we'll enter the town courtyard. Elena heads home to rest after she tries to play off her brother, Chester, and Dogi and Adol enter the inn. Dogi used to work here, and the innkeeper, Margo, gushes over his return. The two catch up after eight years before we hit the hey.
Dogi wants to visit his old master in the mountains, so Adol is on his own. Take your time to talk to everyone, as we'll be befriending all of them in the coming hours. The community is the reason why I like Ys 3 so much. We learn about Felghana and Redmont here. A recent count from Rumn has shown up and made everyone miserable. He's raised taxes and closed the mines. I spoke to Elena in her shack last. She tells us she was dodgy about Chester last night: because he went missing six months ago. She didn't want Dogi to worry but decides to tell him later tonight. As we go to leave, we overhear a commotion. The mine was attacked! Despite being closed by Count Mark McGuire, several minors went down, and monsters invaded. Eventually, Adol is asked to save everyone, so it's off we go!
The Tiguay Mines are due east. A guy outside reminds us of what happened, and we enter the first dungeon. We'll find our way to the bottom of a long shaft. Head right here because the left is blocked. Eventually, we'll find the foreman, and he asks us to save the mayor. Defensive monsters roam deeper in, so he gives us a key to unlock something in the left path. The key opens one of the doors, behind which is a boss!
Dularn is a masked magician who speaks with a voice modulator. They're aware of us and wants to perform a test. Dularn attacks by throwing swords at us. I could only dodge one of the three attacks, as the other two were homing barrages. Whail on them after they're done hurling stuff at us. They say they'll see Adol again, and Adol finds the first magical bracelet: fire! Use it to kill armored hedgehogs and to light pedestals. We can get deeper beyond the foreman, and the mine is much of the same until we find the mayor. He's outside a boss fight against Ellefale, an ice mermaid. She throws water at us and can only be beaten with fire magic. Time your attacks between her shots. It only took me five tries, and we'll get a statue for our troubles.
As we exit the room, we'll see a blond man attacking the mayor. We'll soon learn this is Chester after the mayor asks what's happened to the young man. The two return to Redmont after Chester tells them to stay out of Mark McGuire's way. After more townsfolk talking, we learn the head priest has gone to the Illburn Ruins. Chester has also been seen there...
After opening the path and getting deep into the ruins, we'll walk in on Chester harassing the priest. Chester is annoyed that Adol didn't listen, and a fight breaks out. Stay close to Chester and dodge when he charges. Attack him when he misses. Three tries! The room will get filled with soldiers led by McGuire. After he learns who we are, Chester puts Adol to death and throws him off a ledge. The priest s jailed. So we're in hell and need to find a way out. But we'll do that...
...tomorrow!
It's been such a long time since I wrote. But I'm done with work and not sick enough. I'm out of excuses unless I want to play Shaq-fu!
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