SEGA-MASTER-SYSTEM Action Jrpg 1988

Ys: The Vanished Omens

Reviewed by Marcus Webb & Elena Castillo · Updated June 2025

Sega's Master System port of Falcom's classic action-RPG — Ys: The Vanished Omens brings the story of Adol Christin and the lost land of Ys to home console with the series' distinctive bump combat system, six Books of Ys to collect, and the iconic orchestral soundtrack. An excellent SMS version of one of Japan's most beloved RPG franchises.

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💡 Ys: The Vanished Omens — Key Facts

→ Ys: The Vanished Omens was developed by Sega and published by Sega
→ Released in 1988 on SEGA-MASTER-SYSTEM
→ Genre: Action, Jrpg
→ We rate it 8.6/10 — highly recommended
→ Part of the Ys franchise
→ Sega's Master System port of Falcom's classic action-RPG — Ys: The Vanished Omens brings the story of Adol Christin and the lost land of Ys to home console with the series' distinctive bump combat system, six Books of Ys to collect, and the iconic orchestral soundtrack. An excellent SMS version of one of Japan's most beloved RPG franchises.

Overview

Adol Christin has red hair, a sword, and no attack button. In Ys, movement is combat. Running into an enemy from the side damages them; running into them head-on damages Adol.

The bump system sounds simple. In practice, it creates one of the most fluid action-RPG combat systems of its era.

The Bump System

No attack button. Movement is the weapon. The direction of contact with an enemy determines who takes damage — side contact hurts the enemy; frontal contact hurts Adol.

In practice, Adol moves in constant curves and arcs, grazing enemies from their sides in continuous flowing passes. Fast enemies require faster movement adjustments. Bosses require reading attack patterns and finding the moment to bump from a safe angle.

The system rewards rhythm and spatial awareness rather than button timing. It creates a different relationship with enemies than attack-button games — more physical, more continuous, less stop-and-start.

The Six Books

Esteria contains six ancient Books of Ys, each holding knowledge of the civilization that vanished. Collecting all six reveals the complete history and unlocks the path to the game’s conclusion.

The quest for the books structures Adol’s investigation of Esteria — each book held by a character or hidden in a dungeon leads toward the next. The narrative unfolds through their content.

The Soundtrack

Falcom’s music team created compositions that players remember decades after playing: Dragon Slayer, To Make the End of Battle, Palace of Destruction. The Ys soundtrack established a reputation that the franchise has maintained across every entry — each Ys game’s music is cited by players as a primary reason for continued engagement with the series.

The SMS version reproduces these compositions with hardware constraints that don’t diminish the melodies. The music survives the conversion intact.

Our Review

8.6

Excellent / 10

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Gameplay

★★★★★

🎨

Graphics

★★★★★

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Audio

★★★★★

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Replay

★★★★★

Gameplay

Ys: The Vanished Omens is an action-RPG featuring Adol Christin, a red-haired adventurer who arrives in the town of Esteria and becomes involved in the mystery of the vanished land of Ys. Combat uses the 'bump system' — Adol attacks enemies by running into them from the side or front, dealing damage based on the attack direction (side hits deal full damage; direct frontal hits deal minimal damage or hurt Adol). There is no dedicated attack button — movement IS combat. This creates a flowing, fast-paced combat style distinct from button-mashing action games. Six Books of Ys must be collected to unlock the game's secrets. Equipment upgrades through weapon and armor purchases.

Graphics

The SMS version of Ys delivers colorful overhead environments — Esteria's fields, dungeons, and the castle at Darm Tower are represented with SMS hardware's capabilities. Character and enemy sprites communicate the fantasy setting clearly.

Audio

Ys's soundtrack is one of the most celebrated in RPG history — the original Falcom Sound Team compositions (Dragon Slayer, Palace of Destruction, First Step Towards Wars, To Make the End of Battle) are faithfully reproduced on SMS hardware. The music quality is remarkable for the platform.

Replayability

The main quest provides 8-10 hours of content. Secret items and complete exploration extend the first playthrough. The game rewards revisiting for mastery of the bump combat system.

Historical Significance

Ys (1987, PC-88/PC-98) was one of Nihon Falcom's defining franchises — an action-RPG that distinguished itself from Dragon Quest's turn-based formula through real-time bump combat. The SMS version (1988) was Sega's adaptation of the game using their own art and some story modifications. The franchise continued through Ys II (direct sequel), Ys III: Wanderers from Ys, Ys: The Oath in Felghana, Ys Origin, and modern entries. Ys VIII (2016) brought the franchise to international mainstream attention. The original Ys remains significant as an early Japanese action-RPG that influenced the genre's development.

✅ Pros

+ Bump combat system creates fluid, distinctive action-RPG feel
+ Iconic Ys soundtrack faithfully represented on SMS
+ Compelling mystery narrative about the lost land of Ys
+ Six Books collection creates clear progression goals
+ SMS version of a historically important franchise

❌ Cons

- Bump combat takes adjustment — different from button-attack games
- Directional attack nuance creates initial frustration
- SMS version has some differences from PC original
- Relatively short main quest

Also Known As

Ys Iイース消え去りし古代王国Ys The Vanished Omens SMS

Ys: The Vanished Omens FAQ

What is the bump combat system in Ys?

Ys's bump combat system is the game's defining mechanical identity: there is no attack button. Adol damages enemies by running into them — the direction of contact determines the outcome. Hitting an enemy from the side or at a slight angle deals full damage to the enemy and none to Adol. Hitting an enemy directly head-on deals minimal damage to the enemy and significant damage to Adol. The system rewards circling enemies and attacking from angles rather than charging directly. This creates a fluid combat rhythm where Adol constantly moves in curves and arcs around enemies, dealing damage through continuous bumping from the sides. The system is faster than turn-based combat and more tactile than button-press attacks.

What are the six Books of Ys?

The six Books of Ys are ancient texts scattered across the land of Esteria that contain the history and secrets of the vanished civilization of Ys. Collecting all six books is required to complete the game and access the true ending. Each book is found in specific locations — some are held by characters who give them after completing conditions; others are hidden in dungeons. The books serve as both collectibles and narrative devices, revealing the backstory of Ys's civilization and the events that led to its disappearance. The quest to recover them provides the overarching narrative structure of the first Ys game.

How does the SMS Ys differ from the PC-88 original?

Nihon Falcom developed the original Ys for PC-88 and PC-98 computers in 1987. Sega's 1988 Master System version adapted the game with new artwork (different character and enemy designs), a modified dungeon layout in some areas, and the same core story. The SMS version uses Sega's visual aesthetic rather than the PC original's art style — Adol's appearance, NPCs, and some environments differ between versions. The bump combat system and six Books quest structure are preserved. The SMS version is the most widely played Ys I variant in Western markets given the SMS's distribution, though the PC-Engine CD version (with voice acting and arranged music) is considered the definitive classic version.

Is Ys available on modern platforms?

Ys: The Oath in Felghana (PSP, PC) is an action-RPG remake of Ys III available on Steam. Ys I & II Chronicles (PC) is a definitive PC remake of the original two Ys games, available on Steam with updated art and arranged music. Ys VIII: Lacrimosa of Dana (PS4, Switch, PC) is the most recent internationally released entry and the franchise's modern mainstream breakthrough. The Ys I original in SMS form is not available digitally, but Ys I & II Chronicles on Steam provides the definitive version of the first game's story with both original and arranged music options. Falcom's complete Ys catalog is available through Steam.