Ys X: Proud Nordics Review – Falcom’s Enhanced Adventure Shines on Nintendo Switch 2
Ys X: Proud Nordics marks a significant milestone for developer Falcom and the beloved action RPG franchise, making its presence felt with an upgraded re-release designed around Nintendo’s latest hardware, the Nintendo Switch 2.
Originally debuting in the west earlier in 2024, Ys X quickly earned praise for its inventive take on the Ys formula.
Now, with Proud Nordics, Falcom elevates the experience further through a suite of technical enhancements, expanded content, and gameplay balance changes.
This comprehensive review explores how Ys X: Proud Nordics builds on its predecessor, what it offers for fans and new players alike, and why the Nintendo Switch 2 is the ideal home for this refined adventure. A Bold, Next-Gen Upgrade Ys X: Proud Nordics is no simple port.
Falcom has rebuilt the game with the Nintendo Switch 2 in mind, providing players with two graphics modes—Quality (targeting high native resolution at 60 frames per second) and Performance (focusing on an uncapped 120 frames per second with dynamic resolution).
Compared to the original Switch release, which was capped at 30fps, Proud Nordics delivers a dramatically smoother, visually superior experience.
Thanks to hardware strength and thoughtful optimizations like DLSS, the new version offers anti-aliased graphics, minimized resolution dips, and reduced asset pop-in, bringing nearly all the visual fidelity of high-end platforms to the handheld realm. Distinct Editions and Expanded Platforms This re-release makes a splash not just on Nintendo Switch 2 but also brings new ports to PlayStation 5, courtesy of Falcom, and a PC version published by PH3.
Notably, Ys X: Proud Nordics launches as a full-priced product, with no upgrade path or save transfer available for owners of the original.
Players must purchase the game anew and begin their journey from scratch, but will find a branching and rebalanced adventure that delivers a notably improved moment-to-moment experience. New Content and Gameplay Improvements The headline addition in Proud Nordics is the inclusion of the expansive Öland Island area.
This fresh locale introduces two new characters from another Norman tribe, tasking heroes Adol and Karja with unveiling the island’s mysteries.
The new area leverages the capabilities of Nintendo Switch 2, featuring larger maps and a higher density of challenges and bosses.
Falcom has also responded to feedback about the original’s island visual variety and game flow, making the setting more dynamic and engaging. Progression systems have been thoughtfully enriched.
New resources—Elding Fragments and Sparkling Whitesand—allow for deeper customization and faster skill upgrades, mitigating grind and encouraging strategic play.
Adol and Karja benefit from streamlined mana abilities and performance tweaks, while traversal tools like the Gullinboard and the ship have been refined for improved handling and enjoyment.
The boat, a divisive feature in Ys X, now controls better from the outset, with players able to upgrade it more quickly thanks to new in-game systems. Audiovisual Upgrades and Global Improvements The Western release of Proud Nordics features distinct post-processing effects and improved anti-aliasing, smoothing visuals across both graphics modes.
DLSS technology helps ensure high framerates are achievable without severely compromising image quality—a notable leap over the Japanese release.
However, some UI assets exhibit slight ghosting, one of the few minor technical shortcomings observed. A Refined, Yet Familiar Adventure While Ys X: Proud Nordics doesn’t fundamentally transform the base experience, it represents an iterative leap, addressing past critiques while preserving the title’s core identity.
The story, still set across the Obelia Gulf, unfolds at a better pace with added voice acting, tweaked boss encounters, and meaningful rebalancing sprinkled throughout the campaign.
For those who enjoyed the risk-taking design of Ys X: Nordics, this enhanced edition stands out as the definitive way to revisit—or discover—the adventure. Final Thoughts Ys X: Proud Nordics exemplifies Falcom’s ongoing commitment to refining established franchises, leveraging the Nintendo Switch 2’s capabilities to deliver a polished, satisfying action RPG.
Though there’s room for broader evolution in future installments, Proud Nordics sets a strong standard for upgraded re-releases—and affirms that, even as a full-priced product, it’s the version most worth playing.
Fans of the Ys series and action RPG aficionados will find much to enjoy, while newcomers will experience the franchise at its technical and mechanical finest.
Originally debuting in the west earlier in 2024, Ys X quickly earned praise for its inventive take on the Ys formula.
Now, with Proud Nordics, Falcom elevates the experience further through a suite of technical enhancements, expanded content, and gameplay balance changes.
This comprehensive review explores how Ys X: Proud Nordics builds on its predecessor, what it offers for fans and new players alike, and why the Nintendo Switch 2 is the ideal home for this refined adventure. A Bold, Next-Gen Upgrade Ys X: Proud Nordics is no simple port.
Falcom has rebuilt the game with the Nintendo Switch 2 in mind, providing players with two graphics modes—Quality (targeting high native resolution at 60 frames per second) and Performance (focusing on an uncapped 120 frames per second with dynamic resolution).
Compared to the original Switch release, which was capped at 30fps, Proud Nordics delivers a dramatically smoother, visually superior experience.
Thanks to hardware strength and thoughtful optimizations like DLSS, the new version offers anti-aliased graphics, minimized resolution dips, and reduced asset pop-in, bringing nearly all the visual fidelity of high-end platforms to the handheld realm. Distinct Editions and Expanded Platforms This re-release makes a splash not just on Nintendo Switch 2 but also brings new ports to PlayStation 5, courtesy of Falcom, and a PC version published by PH3.
Notably, Ys X: Proud Nordics launches as a full-priced product, with no upgrade path or save transfer available for owners of the original.
Players must purchase the game anew and begin their journey from scratch, but will find a branching and rebalanced adventure that delivers a notably improved moment-to-moment experience. New Content and Gameplay Improvements The headline addition in Proud Nordics is the inclusion of the expansive Öland Island area.
This fresh locale introduces two new characters from another Norman tribe, tasking heroes Adol and Karja with unveiling the island’s mysteries.
The new area leverages the capabilities of Nintendo Switch 2, featuring larger maps and a higher density of challenges and bosses.
Falcom has also responded to feedback about the original’s island visual variety and game flow, making the setting more dynamic and engaging. Progression systems have been thoughtfully enriched.
New resources—Elding Fragments and Sparkling Whitesand—allow for deeper customization and faster skill upgrades, mitigating grind and encouraging strategic play.
Adol and Karja benefit from streamlined mana abilities and performance tweaks, while traversal tools like the Gullinboard and the ship have been refined for improved handling and enjoyment.
The boat, a divisive feature in Ys X, now controls better from the outset, with players able to upgrade it more quickly thanks to new in-game systems. Audiovisual Upgrades and Global Improvements The Western release of Proud Nordics features distinct post-processing effects and improved anti-aliasing, smoothing visuals across both graphics modes.
DLSS technology helps ensure high framerates are achievable without severely compromising image quality—a notable leap over the Japanese release.
However, some UI assets exhibit slight ghosting, one of the few minor technical shortcomings observed. A Refined, Yet Familiar Adventure While Ys X: Proud Nordics doesn’t fundamentally transform the base experience, it represents an iterative leap, addressing past critiques while preserving the title’s core identity.
The story, still set across the Obelia Gulf, unfolds at a better pace with added voice acting, tweaked boss encounters, and meaningful rebalancing sprinkled throughout the campaign.
For those who enjoyed the risk-taking design of Ys X: Nordics, this enhanced edition stands out as the definitive way to revisit—or discover—the adventure. Final Thoughts Ys X: Proud Nordics exemplifies Falcom’s ongoing commitment to refining established franchises, leveraging the Nintendo Switch 2’s capabilities to deliver a polished, satisfying action RPG.
Though there’s room for broader evolution in future installments, Proud Nordics sets a strong standard for upgraded re-releases—and affirms that, even as a full-priced product, it’s the version most worth playing.
Fans of the Ys series and action RPG aficionados will find much to enjoy, while newcomers will experience the franchise at its technical and mechanical finest.
