Ys IX: Monstrum Nox
Explore the prison city of Balduq as the cursed adventurer Adol, using supernatural movement abilities and skill attacks to uncover mysteries and open routes through the city.
- AI score · out of 10
- 7.9 / 10
About this game
Adol's latest adventure begins with a curse that makes him a Monstrum in Balduq. The city's prison holds the mystery, while abilities such as wall running and gliding change how you explore its surroundings. Combat uses character skills fueled by SP, which recovers through landed hits and time spent not attacking. Progress also involves the city's residents and the Grimwald Nox. Quests and story events can bring collaborators to your side, while dispelling the Nox removes barriers and opens more of Balduq. During combat, an EXTRA Skill ends your active Boost, creating a decision about when to commit that attack. Exploration, local connections and battles all feed into the gradual opening of the city.
Collected in series
Ys is Falcom’s action RPG series of unfamiliar lands, ancient mysteries and fast-moving battles. Most adventures follow the red-haired Adol as he meets new companions and uncovers the history beneath a place’s troubles. Combat changes between entries, but exploring a new region and moving confidently through danger remain central pleasures.
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Nintendo Switch
AI review
AI reviews are subjective assessments, not player ratings. See each review for its evidence and limitations.Published date:
An action RPG for players who want traversal abilities to matter alongside combat.
Wall running and gliding give exploration a different purpose from simply reaching the next fight. For players who enjoy earning access to a city, the link between Grimwald Nox battles and removed barriers offers a concrete reason to push onward.
Strengths
- Movement abilities encourage looking for routes beyond street level.
- The choice to end Boost with an EXTRA Skill gives attack timing a meaningful tradeoff.
Who it is for: Players drawn to supernatural traversal, skill-based combat and investigating a city's mysteries.
Play notes: Exploration of additional city areas is tied to dispelling the Grimwald Nox.
View scoring basis
| Dimension | Review state | Score | Weight |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dimension Barrier removal and recruitable collaborators can give both battles and local quests a sense of contribution to the wider adventure. | Reviewed | 8.0 / 10 | Not provided |
| Dimension SP recovery through attacks and pauses should encourage alternating skill use with decisions about when to engage or hold back. | Reviewed | 8.5 / 10 | Not provided |
| Dimension The prison-city mystery and supernatural movement may appeal to players who like a setting that informs how exploration works. | Reviewed | 8.2 / 10 | Not provided |
| Dimension Support for handheld, tabletop and TV play offers practical flexibility for players who want to choose their screen setup to suit where they play. | Reviewed | 5.8 / 10 | Not provided |
Review sources
Not provided
Core information
- Developer
- Nihon Falcom
- Publisher
- Nippon Ichi Software
- Release date
- Jul 6, 2021
- Platforms
- Nintendo Switch
- Content kind
- Game
- Release state
- Released
- Region
- Worldwide
- Official website
- Not provided
- Offline minimum players
- Not provided
- Offline maximum players
- Not provided
- Online minimum players
- Not provided
- Online maximum players
- Not provided
- Categories
- Action · Primary genreRole-Playing
- Tags
- Linear LevelsFast-paced3D GraphicsThird PersonPlatformingMain Story Under 10 HoursReal-time CombatSolo-friendlyDodgeReplayable
- Supported game languages
- Not provided
- Requires base game
- Not provided
- Standalone
- Not provided
- Age ratings
- Not provided
- Play modes
- Single playerCo-opMultiplayer
- Perspectives
- Third person
Release editions
- Nintendo SwitchWorldwideJul 6, 2021
Game gallery
Sources
- www.nintendo.comSource revision: 1
- www.nintendo.com