Ys IX: Monstrum Nox was officially announced last week by developers Falcom. Today we got a ton of new information about the game in the latest issues of Famitsu and Dengeki Playstation.
The most interesting factoid we found out about the game is that Ys IX takes place after Ys Seven, which was previously the furthest game in the series chronologically. This results in series protagonist Adol being at his oldest yet with words of his adventures reaching different parts of the world.
As speculated before, the game’s concept is reflected in its subtitle “Monstrum Nox” or Night of the Monster.
The game will take place mainly in Baldeux, which is a three-dimensional town with different levels to explorer. Outside the city players will come across forests, grass plains and ruins. Adol’s reasons for visiting Prison City is mostly due to him getting caught in an on-going issue similar to previous games.
Development on the game is currently 50% complete with Falcom slating the game for a 2019 release on the PS4 in Japan.
The game’s concept visual that was revealed earlier features a women with artificial arms and legs. She’s said to play a major part in the game’s story and events and will serve as Adol’s guide. Characters from previous games could make an appearance but their role will be minor and not integral to this game’s story.
There’s a bit of platforming to do in the game as you’ll be able to climb and traverse across rooftops, as mentioned earlier Baldeux will have multiple levels to explore. You’ll also be able to perform aerial actions and float to move across certain areas.
Players will be able to control a Monstrum during the game, although its not clear if it will be a permanent party character or some sort of transformation.
Supernatural Actions have replaced Magic Items. Adventuring Gear from Ys VIII is also now removed for a more streamline experience.
Falcom are currently discussing including Fishing and Map-making although their inclusion will be decided at a further state depending on how development fares out.
I’m really looking forward to more Ys and by the looks of it Ys IX: Monstrum Nox seems to be a more mature and dark entry compared to previous games. Let’s see how it fares out and fingers crossed for a Western release. Let us know your thoughts on Ys IX: Monstrum Nox in the comments below.
