- Game-Breaker: Duo Mode - for being one of the core mechanics of the game, it is completely and utterly busted. By simply holding down a button to control both Adol and Karja at the same time, while in this mode and not attacking, any and all regular attacks directed towards them will be automatically blocked, negating all damage. If players choose to attack, damage dealt will occur twice as fast compared to Solo Mode since both characters fight simultaneously, as well as gaining access to Duo Skills this way, far more powerful than regular attack skills in Solo Mode. The Duo Mode button can also be quickly released and pressed again to trigger the game's "Just Frame" Bonus - if timed correctly, the skill gauge will refill and give players an opportunity for an extra strong Counter-Attack. On top of that, guarding attacks in Duo Mode will build up the "Revenge Gauge" that displays a multiplier - the next Duo Skill to be used will have its damage multiplied by the amount displayed, which can go up to x5.0 normally and a whopping x23.6 by timing the guards perfectly. The Duo Mode button will quickly become the most used during boss fights due to its sheer versatility.
- Older Than They Think: Fans were rather surprised when Falcom announced that they will be making a full Updated Re-release of the game through Proud NORDICS rather than making it a DLC. However, this is not the first time Falcom has done this. The PlayStation 4 and Nintendo Switch release of Tokyo Xanadu (titled eX+) was also an Updated Re-release that included more content into the game, and all versions of Ys VIII: Lacrimosa of Dana released after its original PlayStation Vita release also included additional content over that version, despite having the same title.
- Polished Port: The PC port done by NIS America and PH3 GmbH was well received for its optimized performance even on modest hardware (the minimum requirement of the CLE port indicates an Nvidia GTX 1060; the PH3/NIS port indicates the minimum requirement to be the far-weaker GTX 1050), very flexible options for graphics and frame rate, and fully customizable options for keyboard and game pad bindings.
- Porting Disaster: The original PC port by CLE was poorly received for a variety of reasons. These include the game often crashing, a lack of keyboard options and having a poor frame rate.
- Scrappy Mechanic:
- Players can find Mana Seeds and slot them into a Tech Tree of sorts, a first for the series. Each slotted seed offers a minor passive trait or stat boost, with certain combinations of seeds offering slightly better effects. The slotting system is quite convoluted for an Ys game however, and with the game not offering enough "free" seeds to fill every single slot, you'll have to craft additional ones, meaning it can take a large amount of time to optimize your loadout. Because of this and the relatively small benefits it provides it's not uncommon for some players to not engage with the system at all, choosing to go entire chapters without even looking at the Release Lines screen, then coming back at some point, unlocking some slots and slotting some random Mana Seeds they found rather than trying to create the "ultimate" build. Release Lines do unlock some exclusive skills, including ones for Duo Mode, but these can be acquired without actually going to the trouble of slotting Mana Seeds.
- Muddy terrain is the worst of all of the other platforming hazards, including bottomless pits. Once the player falls in, they are forced to move like molasses, and jumping and even Mana Ride is disabled until they get to stable ground.
- Tainted by the Preview: Fans were rather shocked when it was announced that Proud Nordics will be an entirely separate game rather than being an DLC. This was not helped by the game releasing internationally in October 2024, with Proud Nordics being announced two months later in December, causing some to feel that they had wasted their money.
- That One Boss: Magna Diga, fought late in chapter 3, is a giant worm that will spend the entire fight at the bottom of a sand pit much like a traditional Antlion Monster and attempt to suck you towards the center, also sucking in piles of debris that need to be avoided. The player will likely try to run away until it stops, after which they'll only be able to land a few hits before it resumes. Halfway through the fight it'll gain some additional attacks with questionable hitboxes that it'll mix in together with continued use of the prior suction attack. It's not a particularly difficult fight, but it certainly is a frustrating one, and unlike any fight that comes before or after. Perhaps it's no surprise that the game's demo ends right before this fight.
http://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/Ymmv/YsXNordics
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