Ys: The Ark of Napishtim

"It's not that The Ark of Napishtim lacks charm or quality; it's got really quite nice graphics, lovely artwork in parts and fantastic music. However, for those who aren't familiar with the series, it'll be tough to see how this game series could possibly have stood with Dragon Quest and Final Fantasy as the RPGs that defined what Japanese RPGs are today. Ys simply falters in the face of the better games now on the market, and in that context, it's hard to recommend it as much more than a curio for the hardcore RPG fan."

"This installment of Ys still provides a bunch of challenging, old-school hack-and-slash action for devoted thumb-warriors."

"Ys: The Ark of Napishtim is far from a perfect game. The plot is banal, the control sometimes annoying, the upgrade path can seem simplistic -- but at its core it's a very appealing, addictive game that exudes care and attention. The developers have put forth a lot of effort to make this game fun and appealing, and that's what really will suck you in."

"It's personable, has a distinct artistic style, and gives me a great sense of nostalgia without feeling too dated. Sure it doesn't have the technical tools to compete with the more epic RPGs that have multi-million dollar budgets -- nor does it have the intense replay value that'll keep you coming back for more over the next couple of years. But what it does have is fun. And in an age when buzz words, technical achievements, and complicated combat engines take precedence over everything else, it's a bit refreshing to get back to basics."

"Ys: The Ark of Napishtim is the sort of RPG that makes an excellent introduction into the genre for those beginning, as well as a breath of fresh air for veterans."