YS X Proud Nordics is an enhanced version of the game with new side content. It is being sold as a separate release instead of an upgrade or DLC for players who own the original. This approach is similar to what Atlus has done in the past with the Persona series, including Persona 5 Royal. The Switch 2 version stands out because of its technical improvements over the Switch 1 release, so the price of a new game feels more justified there. However, it is harder to say the same for other platforms.
We have already reviewed the base game, so you can refer to that for full details. This is a brand new adventure featuring Adol Christin and takes place after the events of YS II. The story begins on the high seas, where Adol and his companions are traveling to Celceta when their ship is captured by the Balta Sea Force, known as the Normans. During the conflict, Adol and his group are forced to land on an unknown island called Carnac, which is under Norman control.
After reaching Carnac, a mysterious force attacks the island. These enemies are undead creatures called Grieger, and they cannot be defeated by normal means. Adol gains a new power known as Mana, which allows him to fight them, even though this ability is supposed to belong only to the Balta family. For reasons that are not fully clear at first, Adol can use it as well. With this power, he helps push back the invasion, but in the middle of the battle, he becomes bound to Karja Balta, the Norman warrior princess. This unlikely partnership sets the stage for their journey to protect the island and find a way to break the bond that ties them together.
The new content comes in the form of a new area called Öland Island. This addition expands the story by exploring the family history of the Balta tribe in more detail. It introduces new rivals, including Canute, who is Karja’s cousin, and his sister Astrid. The expansion features several strong boss fights and gives more depth to Karja’s backstory. Since the focus is mainly on side characters, the main mission does not move forward in a meaningful way. As a result, it feels more like side content than a true continuation of the core narrative. Because of this, it is difficult to justify buying the game again just for this addition. However, for Switch 2 players, there is a solid reason to pick it up, as it remains a strong JRPG overall.
YS X Proud Nordics is one of the few titles that supports 120 FPS on the Switch 2. It offers two display modes. One is a performance mode with an unlocked frame rate targeting 120 FPS, while the other focuses on visuals and runs at 60 FPS. Unless you specifically want the higher frame rate on a compatible display, the graphics mode is the better choice, as it delivers a stable 60 FPS. Visually, the game looks impressive and appears to use DLSS upscaling, which results in clean edges and sharp image quality. I did not spend much time with the performance mode and mostly played in graphics mode.
The combat system is fully real-time and centers on attacking and dodging enemy strikes. Players can control both Karja and Adol, allowing for a duo system that enables powerful combo attacks. Characters can be switched easily during battle, but there is no traditional party system, which may disappoint some players. Alongside regular attacks, the gameplay includes unique skills and abilities that depend on both offensive and defensive traits.
Traversal is enjoyable, especially with the ability to swing using the tethered link. The game also introduces a surfboard that allows for faster travel across flooded areas. There are Mana abilities that can be used for both combat and movement. Proud Nordics adds a few new mechanics, including a Mana Hold ability, but this one feels like an afterthought and often does not work as intended.
YS X Proud Nordics also includes a full system built around sea exploration. Players can recruit crew members and upgrade their ship’s stats. There is some ship combat, but it is not as engaging as it may sound. The sailing sections are easily the weakest part of the game. One major issue is the presence of invisible barriers during exploration, which makes the experience feel more linear and guided rather than open and free. Visually, these sections are also underwhelming, with the sea effects resembling something from a previous generation of consoles.
Overall, this is a solid version of the game if you have never played YS X before. However, replaying it after already finishing the original is hard to justify, given the price. It is technically impressive in some areas, though visually uneven. Even so, as part of the Switch 2 library, it is good to have a strong JRPG that makes good use of the system’s hardware.
Ys X: Proud Nordics Game Information
- Price: $69.99
- Publisher: NIS America
- Developer: Nihon Falcom
- Platform: Switch 2 (Reviewed)
- Disclaimer: A review code was given by the publisher
