Tag Archives: ys: the vanished omens

Genesis, Reviews

Sword of Vermilion [Sega Genesis] – Review

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Although my playthrough of Phantasy Star II sputtered to an end well before that game’s completion, my appetite for an older JRPG hadn’t been satiated. There was no shortage of such game on the Sega Genesis Classics compilation I was playing, and with most of them still new to me, I decided to stick with it for the time being. Continuing on with the next entry in the Phantasy Star series – Phantasy Star III: Generations of Doom – was an option, but I went ahead and placed it on my backlog. Instead, having learned that Phantasy Star II was the first JRPG released on the Genesis, I thought I’d follow it up with the next chronologically released JRPG (available on this compilation). That game, which debuted half a year later, was Sword of Vermilion.

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Nintendo Switch, Reviews

Bastion [Switch] – Review

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Bastion - Box Art

Bastion is one of those games that has been near the top of my backlog for years. From all accounts, it was a hit when it debuted on the Xbox 360 on July 20, 2011, and in the years since, it has gone on to appear on damn near every platform, like an indie version of Resident Evil 4 or Skyrim. I first acquired it through a Humble Bundle in May 2012 and have checked it out a few times since, but never for more than a half-hour or so. In fact, I’ve spent more time listening to the soundtrack in the intervening years than actually playing the game! Obviously I think the soundtrack is great, but hey, it turns out the game is pretty good, too! Continue reading Bastion [Switch] – Review →

Genesis, Nintendo Switch, Reviews

Fatal Labyrinth [Sega Genesis] – Review

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Fatal Labyrinth - Sega Genesis - North American Box Art

One of more than 50 games included in the Sega Genesis Classics compilation, Fatal Labyrinth is unique among its brethren. It is the only roguelike dungeon crawler with role-playing mechanics, and clocking in at only a few hours, it was just what I needed to fill the gaps between other games. Its narrow focus left me wanting, however. Continue reading Fatal Labyrinth [Sega Genesis] – Review →

Uncategorized

The Top 10 Games I Played in 2016

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top-games-2016

Damn, what a year! In a lot of ways, it seemed to be one long downer, a year devoid of hope for many. I’m very fortunate in many ways and as this year winds down I’m going to look forward to 2017 and aim to devote more of my time to outlets that benefit others. As it stands now, much of my spare time in 2016 was devoted to video games and related interests. As I’ve done yearly, I’ll compile the ten favorite games I played this year, in alphabetical order. Per routine, this list is not limited to brand new releases but instead is based off what I actually played. When applicable, I’ll link to any articles I wrote during the year.

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Sega Master System, Walkthroughs

Ys: The Vanished Omens [Sega Master System] – Walkthrough

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ys-the-vanished-omens-title-screen

While recording my playthrough of Ys: The Vanished Omens, I consulted the sole walkthrough available on GameFAQs every now and then. Seeing as there was just a handful of resources available for this game online, and upon realizing it was fairly straightforward, I took a shot at writing a walkthrough. Although it was a linear experience, it was still challenging composing the guide. Especially when it came time to format it to GameFAQs’ liking. Well, after many attempts, I’ve finally got the formatting as GameFAQs likes it and am now confident enough to share it here. So, if you ever need help while playing the game, give my guide a shot!

Walkthrough on GameFAQs

Reviews, Sega Master System

Ys: The Vanished Omens [Sega Master System] – Review

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Ys The Vanished Omens

Nihon Falcom’s Ys: The Vanished Omens was originally released on a variety of Japanese home computers in 1987, and is the first entry in the long-running and still active, action-RPG series. The Sega Master System version served as the North American debut, and it came courtesy of Sega, in 1988. Although I’ve been interested in the games since discovering them many years ago, completing this version marked the first time I’ve actually played an entry, and I enjoyed the heck out of it! Narrative was light, and it proved to be a succinct and straightforward adventure, despite copious amounts of backtracking. Similarly, grinding was prevalent but it didn’t bog down the simplistic action-RPG combat. The combat was buoyed by light strategic elements and a series of fun boss fights. Now having firsthand experience with an entry, it’s easy to see why the series has stuck around.

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Let's Play, Sega Master System

Ys: The Vanished Omens [Sega Master System] – Let’s Play

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Ys The Vanished Omens - Japanese Box Art

After spending some time with After Burner and Ghost House on the Sega Master System I finally found a title to sink my teeth into. Ys: The Vanished Omens is the first game in Nihon Falcom’s long-running action-RPG series. Released for the system in 1988, I really enjoyed it and intend to publish a walkthrough and a review in due time.