Falcom president on Ys X: Nordics' simultaneous Switch development
Switching things up
Ys X: Nordics is the latest in the Ys series, and it launched in Japan a little over a month ago. Unlike previous entries in the series, Nordics was developed for Switch, PS4, and PS5 all at the same time. In a new interview with Joshin Web, Falcom president Toshihiro Kondo commented on what this change meant for the studio:
Ys is a title that has been developed mainly on the PlayStation in recent years, so I don’t think there were any major difficulties with this (though of course there are always the normal difficulties in creating a game).
We decided to support the Switch from the beginning of the project. However, since the specifications were so different, we had to think about how to incorporate this difference during game design.
Also, the Ys development team does not have separate teams for each model, so we decided to finish them in order. First, we completed the Switch version, and then completed the PS4 and PS5 versions, so the work was longer than usual. However, during this period of preparation, the game was getting better and better each day, so that was encouraging.
Kondo also spoke on what makes Nordics stand out from previous games in the Ys series:
“Ys X” has two particularly big features.
One is a system where you operate a sailing ship and explore the ocean. Obelia Bay, where this work is set, is packed with islands of various sizes and features. You will discover the island and actually go ashore and explore it. While there are islands that require exploration, there are also many islands that players can explore on their own. It is also packed with never-before-seen elements, such as naval battles with enemy ships and battles in which you board and attack enemy ships.
Another big feature is “cross action”. Until now, Ys was an action game in which you switched between characters one by one. In this work, Adol and the heroine Kaja are connected by a mysterious chain and cannot be separated. Therefore, there is a “combine mode” where you can control Adol and Karja at the same time. Use the one-on-one solo mode where you can fight quickly against small fry. A combination mode where two people can unleash powerful skills on strong enemies that are both offensive and defensive, and defend together. Enjoy exhilarating and profound cross-action while identifying the enemy and switching between the two modes.
It’s nice to hear that the Switch version was a priority for Ys X: Nordics, as that isn’t always the case with multiplatform games. While the game is already out in Japan, we’re still waiting to hear about a Western localization. Stay tuned!
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