Ys III: Wanderers from Ys

Ys III: Wanderers from Ys brought a port of the popular Japanese Ys series to the Mega Drive, this time in a form that, unlike previous entries, abandoned the “bump” combat system and replaced it with a classic side-on view featuring active sword combat and jumping. Playing as the hero Adol Christin, the player travels through the kingdom of Felghana, explores villages, mines, and caves, and gradually uncovers a conspiracy threatening the entire region. Compared to earlier entries in the series, this represents a significant shift in gameplay style, bringing the game closer to action platformers with RPG elements than to a traditional Japanese RPG.

The Mega Drive version differs in some respects from the original computer and console releases in its graphics and sound, yet it retains the characteristic melodic music the Ys series is famous for, along with the pleasantly fluid, action-oriented pace of combat. Colorful environments and clear level design are among this version's strengths, though technical limitations stemming from the port from other platforms occasionally show through.

Ys III was never as influential on the Mega Drive as its home siblings on Japanese computers, but for console owners it represented one of the few ways to try the famous series directly on Sega hardware. Today's players approach it more as a historical curiosity and an alternative take on how an action RPG series could be adapted for a different target platform, with the atmosphere and music still holding up today as one of the game's biggest draws. The bosses in each section emphasize recognizing attack patterns, giving the game a more action-oriented, reflex-driven pace than traditional Japanese RPGs, and combined with short but intense battles, this makes it a suitable title even for players who don't have time for long, grind-heavy RPGs. Bringing the series to the Mega Drive also meant that players who would otherwise never have tried the original Japanese computer titles could get acquainted with this style of game, which is why this version remains, for many fans, their first encounter with Adol's adventures.

Why play it: Thanks to excellent music, combat built around recognizing boss attack patterns, and shorter, intense sections, Ys III is a good choice even for players who don't have time for long RPG grinding.