The appeal and evaluation of "Ys": A thorough analysis of the legendary action RPG

A comprehensive review and recommendation of the "Ys" OVA

1. Overview of the Work

Ys is a seven-episode OVA series released between November 21, 1989 and September 5, 1991. It is based on the game of the same name developed by Nihon Falcom, and was co-produced and published by King Records and Nihon Falcom. It was directed by Jun Kamiya and Takashi Watanabe, and produced by Urban Product and King. Each episode is approximately 25 minutes long, and the story is told from the perspective of adventurer Adol Christin.

2. Story

The story of Ys depicts the adventurer Adol Christin's journey to discover the legacy of an ancient civilization and its secrets after landing on the mysterious island of Esteria. There are six books left by the ancient gods on the island of Esteria, and Adol's goal is to solve the island's mystery by collecting them. Each chapter of the story introduces different regions and characters, and Adol will eventually come face to face with the truth of the island.

3. Characters

The characters of Ys have retained the charm of the original game in the OVA. The protagonist, Adol Christin, is voiced by Takeshi Kusao and portrayed as a brave and righteous adventurer. The voice actors of each character, including Minami Takayama as Feena, Mika Doi as Sarah, and Nobuo Tanaka as Govan, also add to the appeal of the OVA. In particular, the roles of Dogi and the narrator, played by Tesshō Genda, add depth to the progression of the story.

4. Production and Staff

Ys was produced by Urban Product and directed by Jun Kamiya and Takashi Watanabe. The screenplay was written by Tadashi Hayakawa, and character design and animation direction was handled by Tetsuya Ishikawa. The OVA production faithfully reproduced the worldview of the original game while bringing out new appeal through visual expression. The quality of the character design and animation in particular was highly praised, setting it apart from other OVAs of the time.

5. Subtitles and Episodes

"Ys" consists of 7 episodes, each of which is a different chapter. Below are the subtitles and release dates for each chapter.

• Chapter 1/Prologue (November 21, 1989)
• Chapter 2/Hadal Chapter (February 21, 1990)
• Chapter 3/Toba's Chapter (November 21, 1990)
• Chapter 4/Dabi's Chapter (January 20, 1991)
• Chapter 5/Mesa Chapter (May 21, 1991)
• Chapter 6/Gemma's Chapter (July 5, 1991)
• Chapter 7/Facts (September 5, 1991)

6. Ratings and Recommendations

"Ys" has been highly praised not only by fans of the original game, but also as an OVA. It has been praised for its story development, the appeal of its characters, and the quality of its visual expression, and can be said to be one of the works that led the OVA boom at the time. In particular, the story, which emphasizes the elements of adventure and solving puzzles, has the power to draw viewers in. In addition, the beauty of the character design and animation brings out the visual appeal of the OVA to the fullest.

The first reason I would recommend this film is that it is a must-see for fans of the original game. It faithfully recreates the world of the game while adding new perspectives and expressions that are unique to OVAs. Also, even viewers who are experiencing Ys for the first time as an OVA can enjoy the world of adventure and fantasy. The action scenes and the depictions of the characters' facial expressions are particularly impressive and provide visual enjoyment.

7. Further information and related works

The Ys OVA is part of the original game series. The original game was developed by Nihon Falcom, and the first Ys was released in 1987. The series has continued since then and has been developed on various platforms. The production of the OVA was made in response to the popularity of the game, and played a role in further expanding the fanbase of the original work.

As for related works, many games in the "Ys" series have been released after the OVA, especially "Ys II" and "Ys III: Wanderers from Ys" which are related to the story of the OVA. In addition, following the success of the OVA, a remake called "Ys: The Oath in Felghana" was released in 2005, and "Ys: Memories of Celceta" was released in 2012. These works provide new enjoyment for OVA fans as well.

8. Summary

The "Ys" OVA brings out the best of the original game while also having its own unique appeal as an OVA. It was praised for its adventure and mystery-solving story, its charming characters, and its high-quality visual expression, and can be said to be one of the works that led the OVA boom at the time. It is a work that can be highly recommended not only to fans of the original game, but also to viewers who are experiencing "Ys" for the first time as an OVA. There are many related works, so you can enjoy the world of "Ys" even more deeply. Please give it a watch.