Ys III: Wanderers from Ys

[Melf]

When Wanderers from Ys was first released on the Turbo Grafx-16 CD-ROM, fans were taken aback by the change in gameplay style. Why had Falcom messed with the formula? Why make it a side-scroller? Needless to say, many gamers turned their back on the game, and it remains something of the black sheep of the franchise to this day. Even with later ports to both the Genesis and SNES (as well as the MSX and even the NES), it still gets no respect. The irony is that Ys III is actually a competent little action/RPG that deserves to be played. Check out our review (http://www.sega-16.com/2006/04/ys-iii-wanderers-from-ys/) of the Genesis version for all the info.

[Joe Redifer]

I don't think Ys III is considered the bastard version of the series. That title belongs to Ys V which was only released in Japan and only on the Nintendo Super Famicom. Even Ys 3 has remakes and lots of arrange albums. Ys V has not yet had a remake and I think only has one or two soundtracks at the most, which is an extremely small amount for an Ys game. But then again the music for that one wasn't that great.

My first experience with Ys 3 was on my friend's Super Nintendo. This was well before the TurboGrafx-16 CD-ROM version was released. We rented the Japanese Super Famicom version for $1 (which was the price to rent any game) and played well in to the first mine. Since I was a teenager, I said things like "Yo dat be pimpin homie tru dat phiggidy phat LOL OMG this is a gud game 4 me and u 2 play it iz teh awsum!!!" Those are pretty much the only words that teenagers know, and I was no exception. I was already a huge fan of Ys 1 and 2 on the TurboGrafx-16 CD-ROM. Interestingly I played Ys 3 even before that. So how was I already a fan? I don't know. Don't pick apart my story for plot holes!

Anyway Ys 3 finally came out for the TurboGrafx-16 and I went down to Electronics Boutique to pick up my copy. I played and played. I was surprised that the Turbo was doing multiple layers of scrolling and boy was it choppy. But the game grew on me and the music was phenomenal despite not being composed by Yuzo Koshiro. The voice acting was much worse this time around, but I eventually perservered and beat the game. Good times!

Then I rented the American SNES version of Ys 3. I think that came out before the Genesis version. Whichever version came out first was the one I rented first. Anyway I rented it for $1 and had it for one night, which is more than enough time for a rental. Who needs to keep a rental game for a week? I'd rather buy it. $1 per night kicks ass. Anyway I beat it that night from start to finish. I had to, I wanted to hear how all of the cartridge versions of the CD tunes I had heard sounded. Plus the smooth scrolling was new to me in this game and I had to see that as well.

Then I rented the Genesis version for $1 and one night. Beat it in one night as well. Only took a few hours, but I beat it for the same reasons I beat the SNES version. For some reason I thought the Genesis version was a bit better all around than the SNES version, even in the music department. That could have been my blind Sega bias, but that's OK.

Moral: Ys 3 is pretty darn cool. Much more enjoyable than Popful Mail.

[Zebbe]

Can't find this game on eBay :(. Is it rare?

[Demonic Weasel]

I remember this game. I didn't like it too much, the controls felt choppy to me. It seemed kind of interesting, but not enough so to go through the mind-numbing hours of frustration in which Adol would die because he wouldn't respond quickly enough.

[j_factor]

My introduction to Ys was with The Vanished Omens on SMS. Then when I got a Turbo CD, Ys Book I & II was the very first game I got for it. Good, good times.

Unlike most fans, I didn't have a problem with the change in Ys 3. I loved it. I would have to say the Genesis version is definitely better than the SNES version, but a shade below the Turbo CD version. There's quite a lot of difference between the different versions though, which is kind of nice.

[Melf]

I've been meaning to do a Side by Side article on all three versions, and now can, since I finally have a copy of Magic Engine to take screen shots. I have a Forgotten Worlds one to do first though.

[Joe Redifer]

I was pissed when TurboGrafx Forgotten Worlds didn't work with the 6-button pad. You had to use the wimpy 3 button one (or the normal 2 button with the RUN as one of your buttons).

[Melf]

It works with the NEC Avenue pad, doesn't it? Or are you referring to another controller? I hope it does work, because I really want to get that pad. Street Fighter II does not work well at all with the stock Duo controller. :(

[Joe Redifer]

I have the 6-button "NEC Avenue" pad and Forgotten Worlds won't work with it switched to 6 button mode. NEC Avenue also makes a 3 button pad.

[David J.]

Funny, Forgotten Worlds on the Genesis and Turbografx do not like six button controllers. Even though they are two different controllers and systems. Conspiracy?

[Oi_Oi_Spanky]

I'd never even heard of this. Chucked it in the modded Xbox last night on reading. The first thing that struck me was the music. The next thing that struck me was how unfair it was. I have a sword, shield, armour & that's still not enough to brush against an enemy without pegging it.

[Gary_Oak]

After playing the other Ys games, I can say that Ys III leaves it's traditions in terms of gameplay and goes to a Zelda 2 like one, however I can't see why people call it the "Black Sheep" or the series "Bastard", the game may be hard (at least to me it is) but it's certainly a good one.

[GameUser-16-32-128]

I love how the music is catchy and upbeat. The side scrolling action is very much like Zelda 2. The control is just fine, without any problems. I find the enemies a little easy to beat but hard to defend against since they take a lot of life from your character. This game is a tough find in complete form on ebay. I can't wait till I play this game and the other 2 on the Turbo someday.

[acdc]

damn with my balls to the wall

it s not normal to defeat the bosses

it s fun but hard rpg for me phantasy star looks like a walk in the park compared to this one

[Zebbe]

So when is the Side by Side feature coming?

[tomaitheous]

My introduction to Ys was with The Vanished Omens on SMS. Then when I got a Turbo CD, Ys Book I & II was the very first game I got for it. Good, good times.

Unlike most fans, I didn't have a problem with the change in Ys 3. I loved it. I would have to say the Genesis version is definitely better than the SNES version, but a shade below the Turbo CD version. There's quite a lot of difference between the different versions though, which is kind of nice.

I've yet to beat the Genesis version (want to beat on a real machine instead emulation - just because it's Ys). I've beaten the TGCD and SNES versions. The SNES musics were ok, looking forward to the Genesis-fied versions of the musics. The choppy scrolls on the TGCD version weren't a problem for me and I didn't really notice it at the time. Probably 'cause the music kicked ass and the game was tons of fun.

I heard the Genesis version is easier than the TGCD and SNES. Is that true? Not that the TGCD or SNES versions were hard, though the TGCD was harder than the SNES version.

But about the change in style, it was a welcome change. I loved it. And it felt fine going back to Ys IV (for PCE CD - play the english translation if you get a chance).

[Joe Redifer]

I heard the Genesis version is easier than the TGCD and SNES. Is that true?
Up until the final boss...

[Curryman123]

This is a very good game by itself, But a disappointment when taken in the context of the series.

The music is obviously on par, But the uniqueness of Ys is gone. Now it feels like any other action platform game.

Also, you never feel like your on a real adventure, It seems like your doing local runs (which you kinda are).

Still, it's not bad.

7.5/10