Proud Nordics brings the best out of Ys X

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We’ve written about Ys X: Nordics quite a bit here on RPG Site. James reviewed the initial Japanese release back in October 2023, and I followed up with a full review when the English version came out in October 2024. Then, James shared his thoughts on Proud Nordics after it launched on Switch 2 in Japan in August 2025. Because of all this coverage, there’s not much new we can add at this point.

In my review, I found Ys X to be a bit uneven, but overall enjoyable. The combat is fantastic – a real standout, and a refreshing change from previous Ys games, particularly those starting with Ys Seven. The main character, Karja, is captivating and likable. The strong connection she develops with Adol, as ‘Shield Siblings,’ is a key part of what makes the game special.

While I enjoyed some aspects of the game, I wasn’t very impressed with the characters or the story. The graphics were inconsistent, and I found the sailing either frustrating or incredibly boring. It didn’t add to the fun, and actually made the on-foot exploration feel limited, as many areas were small and repetitive, easily explored in just a few minutes.

That’s my Ys X: Nordics review, in a nutshell.

Proud Nordics doesn’t reinvent Ys X, and that was never the goal. Instead, it makes smart tweaks and adds a few things that really let the game shine. Here’s what I mean…

Two Normans, Canute and Astrid, arrive on Öland Island, offering to step in and restore order in Obelia Bay if the local Seaforce loses control. Canute then proposes a challenge: he asks Adol and Karja to search Öland Island for ancient runestones. These stones hold clues about the Normans’ past and the reasons their ancestors were driven from their home long ago.

All the new story content for Proud Nordics takes place on Öland Island. The main story, dialogue, and cutscenes of the game remain the same. Throughout Ys X, you’ll return to Öland Island multiple times through sidequests. Think of it as a separate storyline that runs alongside the main plot – the two stories don’t connect. These new sidequests will show up in your quest log as “EX” quests.

Öland Island has quickly become my favorite part of the game, and it feels like the developers listened to player feedback. It’s more visually interesting than other areas, and the music is fantastic. What I really appreciate is that it feels genuinely explorable, with new paths opening up as you play – it’s like a smaller version of the Isle of Seiren. I found myself excited to return to Öland after completing each couple of chapters, and honestly, the game would have benefited from having this location introduced earlier as a central hub.

The story in Proud Nordics isn’t particularly captivating, but it’s not bad either. The conflict on Öland Island is a solid side story that expands on the Obelia Bay region and Norman history. However, dedicated fans of the Ys series will find some intriguing, though deliberately mysterious, details about the game’s world. I won’t spoil anything, but it makes me wonder where Falcom might take the series’ overall story in the future.

Besides the addition of Öland Island, Proud Nordics introduces several changes and new features to Ys X. One of these is a new item called Shimmering Sand, which can be used to boost the power of your Mana Actions – including Mana String, Mana Burst, Mana Ride, Mana Sense, and a brand new action called Mana Hold.

Honestly, most of the improvements to Mana Actions don’t make a big difference in how the game plays – with one major exception: Mana Ride. If you thought the Gullinboard felt slow in the original Ys X, you’ll be happy to know it’s significantly faster in this version, especially after a few upgrades. In fact, the speed boost to Mana Ride is probably the most noticeable change between the two versions of the game. Not only does the Gullinboard reach a higher top speed, but you can now press a button while riding to get a quick burst of acceleration, just like skateboarding. This makes getting around the larger areas of the game much faster and more enjoyable.

Proud Nordics introduces Elding Fragments, new items that let you enhance your skills even after they’ve reached their normal limits. These fragments effectively raise the maximum power level for Adol and Karja. You can find these fragments by defeating new, stronger monsters that appear throughout Ys X.

Ys X offers a few extra challenges for dedicated players. You can test your skills in a new Arena with tough sub-bosses and special event battles to earn rewards. There’s also Muspelheim, a fun mode where you try to achieve the highest score possible. If you’re up for it, Ceaseless Sea offers endless naval battles scored on performance, though it’s not particularly enjoyable.

Falcom’s choice to re-release Ys X: Nordics is understandable, but it means you can’t upgrade from the original to the new version, and your old save data won’t transfer over directly. If you’ve already finished the original game, you can start Proud Nordics in “New Game+” mode by loading a completed save file.

Proud Nordics doesn’t reinvent Ys X, and the circumstances surrounding its re-release will likely always feel a bit strange. While the changes and additions improve the game, it would be best to have just one definitive version for future Ys titles.

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2026-02-16 17:31