Adol Christin
A young red-haired adventurer who journeys to Esteria and becomes involved in the mystery of Ys.
How it plays
The game uses a top-down perspective. Adol travels through towns, outdoor areas, caves, and towers, speaking with residents, collecting equipment, finding key items, and uncovering the history of the lost Ys civilization.
Combat occurs directly on the field. Adol attacks by colliding with enemies at an angle, and careful positioning reduces damage. Experience levels, weapons, armor, and shields improve his effectiveness. Progress is driven by story events, dungeon exploration, boss battles, and the recovery of the six Books of Ys.
Plan your run
Upgrade Adol's equipment whenever new gear becomes available, and do not rely on levels alone. In particular, keep armor and shield improvements current before entering a new dungeon.
During combat, attack enemies from a diagonal angle rather than charging straight into them. Save healing items for difficult areas and bosses, and revisit towns after major discoveries because new dialogue can reveal the next objective.
Meet the cast
A young red-haired adventurer who journeys to Esteria and becomes involved in the mystery of Ys.
A mysterious young woman connected to the ancient civilization of Ys.
A wandering musician whose lost flute becomes important to the story.
Adol's close companion, known for his strength and ability to break through walls.
A fortune-teller in Minea who guides Adol toward the central quest.
The powerful final enemy who threatens Esteria from the Darm Tower.
Before you begin
Use diagonal attacks to defeat enemies while taking less damage.
Check residents' dialogue again after major story events.
Explore every dungeon passage; key items are often off the main route.
Ys is an action role-playing game developed by Nihon Falcom and released for DOS by Kyodai Software. It follows the red-haired adventurer Adol Christin after he arrives in Esteria, a land threatened by monsters and a mysterious disaster. Combat is real-time and emphasizes positioning rather than a separate attack button, while exploration, equipment upgrades, and experience levels provide the main progression. The game combines compact towns, dangerous fields, and maze-like dungeons with a strong emphasis on discovery. Its smooth combat and approachable structure helped establish Ys as one of Falcom's best-known series, although the DOS edition is a localized computer port with presentation differences from the Japanese originals.
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