There is something fishy going on in the sinister stone town of Balduq, and experienced adventurer Adol Christin finds this out the hard way when he is arrested abruptly on arrival. Our red-haired hero escapes his captors with the help of a mysterious woman, but his help comes at a cost. Now overwhelmed by a curse that prevents him from leaving the city, Adol has no choice but to obey his savior and attack the corruption that spreads through Balduq.
Right away, Ys IX: Monstrum Nox offers an interesting basis for your story. The Falcom series has always put the recurring protagonist Adol in creative situations, and this last episode is no different. This time, Adol is not just a brave swordsman in search of adventure – he is a sought after fugitive, and the early hours of the game set the tone for a totally darker story.
Fans will find the overall structure of Monstrum Nox familiar, however – especially if you’ve played Ys VIII: Lacrimosa of Dana. The 2016 launch saw Adol shipwrecked on a long-forgotten island, where he had to join other survivors to escape. The configuration of Monstrum Nox can be completely different, but you will still find yourself gathering allies, regularly returning to a base of operations and continuously unlocking new areas of exploration.
Unfortunately, Monstrum Nox just doesn’t seem as cohesive as its predecessor, and this is mainly due to the city of Balduq itself. The Seiren Island of Ys VIII presented a wide and varied landscape – a memorable mix of an island paradise, sinister ruins and unknown danger. Balduq, on the other hand, is disappointingly monotonous and dismal. They are all gray streets and gray buildings, against a still gray sky. It’s clearly going in a kind of oppressive and gothic tone – but the lackluster looks undo the illusion almost immediately.
It is a good job, then, that the city keeps you concerned with its many secrets. Throughout the game, you gain access to various platform skills. Before long, you will be climbing the walls and gliding from great heights. It is very different from the stunning style and satisfying cunning of Marvel Spider-Man, but Balduq becomes a much more interesting place when you are running across the rooftops like a real renegade. There are many hidden treasures to discover, and reborn monster portals ensure that you will never be far from any swordplay action.
The platform also plays a key role when it comes to tracking dungeons. Balduq is home to many underground labyrinths, all of which put your dexterity to the test as well as your combat skills. In typical Ys style, dungeons are fast-paced events, keeping you on tiptoe with crushing monster fights, some light puzzle solution, and, of course, over-the-top boss fights. Once again, the gray stone architecture makes everything look a little bit the same, but overall, invading and hacking into the dungeons in Monstrum Nox is good fun.
In fact, it is really the tried and true Ys combat system that holds everything together. Controls are as responsive as ever, with Adol and other playable group members able to perform flashy combos and special attacks, while performing evasive moves, jumps and runs at any time. It’s all so smooth and satisfying – especially after unlocking the full range of techniques for each character.
As for the storyline, things move at a slightly slower pace than longtime Ys fans might expect. Monstrum Nox has a very large cast and likes to give each new face a fair amount of time in the spotlight. As a result, we obtain entire chapters of stories dedicated to a single party member, usually exploring his personality and motivations. In that sense, Ys IX may seem more character-oriented than its predecessors, which leads to some surprisingly impactful interactions later.
However, the focus on individuals means that the overall storyline is usually in the background. The main elements of the story tend to lose strength quickly, as they are left out for the last dose of character development. We are left with a central narrative that seems fragmented and even a little artificial, since everything is said and done.
Conclusion
Ys IX: Monstrum Nox is another solid action RPG, but it lacks the general cohesion of its island-based predecessor. The city of Balduq is a disappointingly monotonous setting, and the game’s narrative often seems disjointed. But, as is usually the case with Falcom’s long-running series, it’s the fast, satisfying and addictive gameplay that elevates the experience. Adol’s last adventure is certainly not a classic, but for the most part, it is still a fun ride.