View source for Ys VI: The Ark of Napishtim

{{Short description|2003 video game}}
{{Multiple issues|
{{more citations needed|date=June 2012}}
{{Unreliable sources|date=April 2015}}
}}
{{Infobox video game
| title = Ys VI: The Ark of Napishtim
| image = Ys VI - Ark of Napishtim Steam artwork.jpg
| caption =
| developer = [[Nihon Falcom]]{{efn|[[Konami]] developed the PlayStation 2 and PSP versions.}}
| publisher = {{ubl|Nihon Falcom|[[Konami]] {{small|(PS2 & PSP)}}|[[Taito]] {{small|(Mobile)}}|[[Xseed Games]] {{small|(PC)}}}}
| director =
| producer =
| designer =
| programmer =
| artist =
| writer =
| composer = {{ubl|Hayato Sonoda|Wataru Ishibashi}}
| series = ''[[Ys (series)|Ys]]''
| platforms = {{ubl|[[Windows]]|[[Mobile game|Mobile]]|[[PlayStation 2]]|[[PlayStation Portable]]}}
|released={{collapsible list|title={{nobold|September 27, 2003}}|''' Windows'''{{vgrelease|JP|September 27, 2003|WW|April 28, 2015}}'''Mobile'''{{vgrelease|JP|July 2, 2004 (SoftBank)|JP|March 22, 2005 (i-mode)|JP|January 19, 2006 (EZweb)}}'''PlayStation 2'''{{vgrelease|NA|February 22, 2005|JP|March 10, 2005|EU|September 16, 2005}}'''PlayStation Portable'''{{vgrelease|JP|January 19, 2006|NA|February 28, 2006|EU|September 29, 2006|AUS|October 6, 2006}}}}
| genre = [[Action role-playing]]
| modes = [[Single-player]]
}}
'''''Ys VI: The Ark of Napishtim'''''{{efn|{{nihongo|'''''Ys VI: The Ark of Napishtim'''''|イース6 -ナピシュテムの匣-|Īsu Shikkusu -Napishutemu no Hako-}}}} is a 2003 [[action role-playing game]] developed by [[Nihon Falcom]]. It was first released for [[Windows]] before being ported by [[Konami]] to the [[PlayStation 2]] in 2005 and the [[PlayStation Portable]] in 2006.
''The Ark of Napishtim'' was the first English release of the series since ''[[Ys III: Wanderers from Ys]]'' in the early 1990s and the first to be released in Europe since ''[[Ys I: Ancient Ys Vanished]]''. A Windows version was released by [[Xseed Games]] in 2015. ''Ys VI'' was used as a base for ''Ys Online: The Ark of Napishtim'', a [[free-to-play]] [[MMORPG]] that was released in the early 2020s.
==Gameplay==
''Ys VI'' expands on the mechanics introduced in ''Ys III'' and ''V'' in that players are given much more control over Adol including the ability to jump and control his attacks and various magics.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.eurogamer.net/articles/2014-02-09-inside-ys |title=Inside Ys |last=Massey |first=Tom |work=[[Eurogamer]] |publisher=Gamer Network |date=February 9, 2014 |access-date=2015-12-10 |archive-date=2019-02-24 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190224031922/https://www.eurogamer.net/articles/2014-02-09-inside-ys |url-status=live}}</ref> Areas are presented in 3D graphics. Character, monster and minor bosses are presented using pre-rendered 3D [[Sprite (computer graphics)|sprites]]. Larger bosses are presented using full [[3D model]]s.
==Plot==
The story begins after Adol's ship is attacked by a fleet of Romun ships. Forced to sail into an unknown area, they encounter a large storm. Adol is swept off the vessel while trying to rescue a fellow sailor and washed ashore by the vortex that surrounds the Canaan Islands. He is found, unconscious, by the nieces of the chieftain of the nearby Rehda village, Olha and Isha, who are the daughters of his brother that died when battling with fellow Redha against the Wandering Calamity. The girls take him to their village and lay him to rest in their Uncle Ord's house. Adol hears them talking about him and wakes up briefly, afterwards going back to sleep because of his exhaustion. His adventure then begins.
==Releases==
===Windows===
The initial release of the game was the "Limited Edition". After this sold out, Falcom released a standard edition of the game with some new features. Two new difficulties and a Time Attack mini-game where the player fights through all the game's bosses were added. No patch or upgrade was released to initial buyers however, so players wanting these new features had to buy the game again. Years later, Falcom would similarly add features to ''[[Ys Origin]]''; this time, initial buyers were offered an upgrade disc for the cost of shipping. The game was later released by [[Xseed Games]] via [[Steam (service)|Steam]] on April 28, 2015.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.destructoid.com/ys-vi-the-ark-of-napishtim-arrives-on-pc-april-28-290624.phtml |title=YS VI: The Ark of Napishtim arrives on PC April 28 |author=Kyle MacGregor |work=[[Destructoid]] |date=April 17, 2015 |access-date=April 18, 2015 |archive-date=April 18, 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150418095214/http://www.destructoid.com/ys-vi-the-ark-of-napishtim-arrives-on-pc-april-28-290624.phtml |url-status=live}}</ref>
===PlayStation 2===
Konami made several additions and changes when porting the game to the PlayStation 2. The most notable were the inclusion of both English and Japanese voice acting to all characters (including NPCs) and several new optional areas referred to as "Alma's Trials". While the Japanese voice acting could be selected in the NTSC-U version, the PAL version had all Japanese voice acting removed.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://xseedgames.com/forums/showthread.php?483-What-s-the-best-version-of-Ark-of-Napishtim |title=What's the best version of Ark of Napishtim? |author=fedaykin |publisher=XSeed Games Forum |date=May 12, 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111119231350/http://xseedgames.com/forums/showthread.php?483-What-s-the-best-version-of-Ark-of-Napishtim |archive-date=November 19, 2011 |url-status=dead |access-date=February 16, 2016}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.eurogamer.net/articles/2014-02-09-chronicles-of-ys-a-series-retrospective |title=Chronicles of Ys: A Series Retrospective |last=Massey |first=Tom |work=Eurogamer |publisher=Gamer Network |date=February 9, 2014 |access-date=2015-12-10 |archive-date=2014-03-02 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140302014649/http://www.eurogamer.net/articles/2014-02-09-chronicles-of-ys-a-series-retrospective |url-status=live}}</ref> Konami also added new FMV sequences, though the original animated sequences could still be selected through a code. Blood and gore effects were removed due to console games requiring a rating. Lastly, they changed the character and monster graphics from pre-rendered 3D sprites to fully polygonal 3D models. While this allowed for much better animation, it also changed Adol's appearance based on his equipment.
===PlayStation Portable===
{{unsourced section|date=November 2022}}
The PlayStation Portable port does not include any of the changes of the PS2 port except for the removal of blood and gore effects. The European and North American versions came with a new set of bonuses including some extra fetch-quests that unlock a few mini-games and an image/media gallery. These were later included in a "Special Edition" re-release in Japan, although the game is noted for having particularly long and frequent load times. Voice-acting was never included in this version. It is not available digitally on the PlayStation Store, only through a physical UMD copy, which has no PlayStation trophies attached.
===''Ys Online: The Ark of Napishtim''===
''Ys Online: The Ark of Napishtim'', a [[free-to-play]] [[MMORPG]], was first released as ''Ys VI Online'' on [[Android (operating system)|Android]] and [[iOS]] in Japan by Restar Games on July 20, 2021.<ref>{{cite web |last=Romano |first=Sal |date=January 29, 2021 |title=Ys VI Online: The Ark of Napishtim for iOS, Android launches this spring in Japan |url=https://www.gematsu.com/2021/01/ys-vi-online-the-ark-of-napishtim-for-ios-android-launches-this-spring-in-japan |access-date=January 29, 2021 |website=Gematsu |archive-date=January 29, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210129082746/https://www.gematsu.com/2021/01/ys-vi-online-the-ark-of-napishtim-for-ios-android-launches-this-spring-in-japan |url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |author1=Mr. Qoo |title=[Qoo News] Ys VI Online: The Ark of Napishtim Online RPG Launches Today |url=https://news.qoo-app.com/en/post/70869/qoo-news-ys-vi-online-ark-napishtim-launch-date-confirmed-july-20 |access-date=31 January 2022 |website=news.qoo-app.com |date=20 July 2021 |archive-date=31 January 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220131144151/https://news.qoo-app.com/en/post/70869/qoo-news-ys-vi-online-ark-napishtim-launch-date-confirmed-july-20 |url-status=live}}</ref> An English version was released by [[VNG Games]] on June 5, 2022.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Joshua |first1=Orpheus |title=Ys VI Mobile – The Ark of Napishtim Receiving English Localization |url=https://noisypixel.net/ys-vi-mobile-the-ark-of-napishtim-english-release/ |website=Noisy Pixel |date=13 April 2022 |access-date=2 May 2022 |archive-date=18 May 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220518122041/https://noisypixel.net/ys-vi-mobile-the-ark-of-napishtim-english-release/ |url-status=live}}</ref>
==Reception==
{{Video game reviews
| PC = true
| PS2 = true
| PSP = true
| na = true
| EGM_PS2 = 7.33/10<ref>{{cite magazine |title=Ys: The Ark of Napishtim (PS2) |author=EGM staff |magazine=[[Electronic Gaming Monthly]] |issue=189 |date=March 2005 |page=126}}</ref>
| EuroG_PS2 = 6/10<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.eurogamer.net/articles/r_ysnapishtim_ps2 |title=Ys: The Ark of Napishtim (PS2) |last=Fahey |first=Rob |work=Eurogamer |publisher=Gamer Network |date=August 5, 2005 |access-date=February 17, 2016 |archive-date=October 8, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121008121249/http://www.eurogamer.net/articles/r_ysnapishtim_ps2 |url-status=live}}</ref>
| Fam_PS2 = 24/40<ref name=Fam>{{cite magazine |title=イースVI -ナピシュテムの匣- (PS2) |magazine=[[Famitsu]] |volume=848 |date=March 18, 2005}}</ref>
| GI_PS2 = 7.5/10<ref>{{cite magazine |title=Ys: The Ark of Napishtim (PS2) |magazine=[[Game Informer]] |issue=143 |date=March 2005 |page=128}}</ref>
| GI_PSP = 6.75/10<ref>{{cite magazine |title=Ys: The Ark of Napishtim (PSP) |magazine=Game Informer |issue=156 |date=April 2006 |page=133}}</ref>
| GamePro_PS2 = {{Rating|4|5}}<ref>{{cite magazine |url=http://www.gamepro.com/sony/ps2/games/reviews/42251.shtml |title=Ys: The Ark of Napishtim Review for PS2 on GamePro.com |author=Star Dingo |magazine=[[GamePro]] |date=February 22, 2005 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20050223151127/http://www.gamepro.com/sony/ps2/games/reviews/42251.shtml |archive-date=February 23, 2005 |url-status=dead |access-date=February 17, 2016}}</ref>
| GameRev_PS2 = C<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.gamerevolution.com/review/ys-the-ark-of-napishtim |title=Ys: The Ark of Napishtim Review (PS2) |last=Hurh |first=JP |publisher=[[Game Revolution]] |date=March 3, 2005 |access-date=February 17, 2016 |archive-date=October 1, 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151001135650/http://www.gamerevolution.com/review/ys-the-ark-of-napishtim |url-status=live}}</ref>
| GSpot_PS2 = 7.5/10<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.gamespot.com/reviews/ys-the-ark-of-napishtim-review/1900-6119001/ |title=Ys: The Ark of Napishtim Review (PS2) |last=Massimilla |first=Bethany |website=[[GameSpot]] |date=February 22, 2005 |access-date=February 17, 2016 |archive-date=September 16, 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150916084555/http://www.gamespot.com/reviews/ys-the-ark-of-napishtim-review/1900-6119001/ |url-status=live}}</ref>
| GSpot_PSP = 6.7/10<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.gamespot.com/reviews/ys-the-ark-of-napishtim-review/1900-6145331/ |title=Ys: The Ark of Napishtim Review (PSP) |last=Massimilla |first=Bethany |website=GameSpot |date=March 2, 2006 |access-date=February 17, 2016 |archive-date=November 13, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221113004059/https://www.gamespot.com/reviews/ys-the-ark-of-napishtim-review/1900-6145331/ |url-status=live}}</ref>
| GSpy_PS2 = {{Rating|4|5}}<ref>{{cite web |url=http://ps2.gamespy.com/playstation-2/ys-vi-the-arc-of-napishtim/589703p1.html |title=GameSpy: Ys: The Ark of Napishtim (PS2) |last=Nutt |first=Christian |publisher=[[GameSpy]] |date=February 22, 2005 |access-date=February 17, 2016 |archive-date=September 8, 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150908010101/http://ps2.gamespy.com/playstation-2/ys-vi-the-arc-of-napishtim/589703p1.html |url-status=live}}</ref>
| GSpy_PSP = {{Rating|2.5|5}}<ref>{{cite web |url=http://psp.gamespy.com/playstation-portable/ys-the-ark-of-napishtim-psp/693170p1.html |title=GameSpy: Ys: The Ark of Napishtim (PSP) |last=Theobald |first=Phil |publisher=GameSpy |date=March 2, 2006 |access-date=February 17, 2016 |archive-date=September 9, 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150909203945/http://psp.gamespy.com/playstation-portable/ys-the-ark-of-napishtim-psp/693170p1.html |url-status=live}}</ref>
| GameZone_PS2 = 7.9/10<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.gamezone.com/reviews/ys_the_ark_of_napishtim_ps2_review |title=YS: The Ark of Napishtim - PS2 - Review |last=Hobbs |first=Ronnie |publisher=GameZone |date=March 13, 2005 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080317093539/http://ps2.gamezone.com/gzreviews/r23255.htm |archive-date=March 17, 2008 |url-status=live |access-date=February 17, 2016}}</ref>
| GameZone_PSP = 6.8/10<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.gamezone.com/reviews/ys_the_ark_of_napishtim_psp_review |title=Ys: The Ark of Napishtim - PSP - Review |author=Aceinet |publisher=GameZone |date=March 13, 2006 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080321085356/http://psp.gamezone.com/gzreviews/r23255.htm |archive-date=March 21, 2008 |url-status=live |access-date=February 17, 2016}}</ref>
| IGN_PS2 = 7.8/10<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.ign.com/articles/2005/02/22/ys-the-ark-of-napishtim-2 |title=Ys: The Ark of Napishtim (PS2) |last=Dunham |first=Jeremy |website=[[IGN]] |date=February 21, 2005 |access-date=February 16, 2016 |archive-date=September 25, 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150925235820/http://www.ign.com/articles/2005/02/22/ys-the-ark-of-napishtim-2 |url-status=live}}</ref>
| IGN_PSP = 5.6/10<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.ign.com/articles/2006/03/07/ys-the-ark-of-napishtim |title=Ys: The Ark of Napishtim (PSP) |last=Dunham |first=Jeremy |website=IGN |date=March 6, 2006 |access-date=February 16, 2016 |archive-date=July 11, 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150711170415/http://www.ign.com/articles/2006/03/07/ys-the-ark-of-napishtim |url-status=live}}</ref>
| OPM_PS2 = {{Rating|3.5|5}}<ref>{{cite magazine |url=http://www.1up.com/reviews/ark-napishtim_2 |title=Ys: The Ark of Napishtim (PS2) |last=Kohler |first=Chris |magazine=[[Official U.S. PlayStation Magazine]] |date=March 2005 |page=101 |access-date=February 17, 2016 |archive-date=June 3, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160603165059/http://www.1up.com/reviews/ark-napishtim_2 |url-status=live}}</ref>
| OPM_PSP = {{Rating|3|5}}<ref>{{cite magazine |title=Ys: The Ark of Napishtim (PSP) |magazine=Official U.S. PlayStation Magazine |date=May 2006 |page=96}}</ref>
| rev1 = ''[[Detroit Free Press]]''
| rev1_PS2 = {{Rating|3|4}}<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.freep.com/entertainment/videogames/gmini1e_20050501.htm |title='Ys: The Ark of Napishtim' (PS2) |last=Gardner |first=Omari |newspaper=[[Detroit Free Press]] |date=May 1, 2005 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20050503074223/http://www.freep.com/entertainment/videogames/gmini1e_20050501.htm |archive-date=May 3, 2005 |url-status=dead |access-date=February 16, 2016}}</ref>
| MC_PC = 76/100<ref name=MCPC>{{cite web |url=https://www.metacritic.com/game/ys-the-ark-of-napishtim/critic-reviews/?platform=pc |title=Ys VI: The Ark of Napishtim for PC Reviews |website=[[Metacritic]] |access-date=February 16, 2016 |archive-date=January 25, 2024 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20240125030407/https://www.metacritic.com/game/ys-the-ark-of-napishtim/critic-reviews/?platform=pc |url-status=live}}</ref>
| MC_PS2 = 72/100<ref name=MCPS2>{{cite web |url=https://www.metacritic.com/game/ys-the-ark-of-napishtim/critic-reviews/?platform=playstation-2 |title=Ys: The Ark of Napishtim for PlayStation 2 Reviews |website=Metacritic |access-date=May 2, 2015 |archive-date=January 25, 2024 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20240125030409/https://www.metacritic.com/game/ys-the-ark-of-napishtim/critic-reviews/?platform=playstation-2 |url-status=live}}</ref>
| MC_PSP = 64/100<ref name=MCPSP>{{cite web |url=https://www.metacritic.com/game/ys-the-ark-of-napishtim/critic-reviews/?platform=psp |title=Ys: The Ark of Napishtim for PSP Reviews |website=Metacritic |access-date=February 16, 2016 |archive-date=January 25, 2024 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20240125030421/https://www.metacritic.com/game/ys-the-ark-of-napishtim/critic-reviews/?platform=psp |url-status=live}}</ref>
}}
The PlayStation 2 and PSP versions received "mixed or average reviews", while the PC version later received "generally favorable reviews", all according to video game [[review aggregator]] [[Metacritic]].<ref name=MCPC/><ref name=MCPS2/><ref name=MCPSP/> In Japan, ''[[Famitsu]]'' gave the PS2 version a score of one six, one seven, one six, and one five, for a total of 24 out of 40.<ref name=Fam/>
==Notes==
{{notelist}}
==References==
{{reflist}}
==External links==
* {{Official website | http://www.worldofys.com/napishtim.php}}
* {{Official website | https://ysol.zlongame.net/|''Ys Online''}}
* {{moby game|id=/ys-vi-the-ark-of-napishtim}}
{{Ys series}}
[[Category:2003 video games]]
[[Category:Action role-playing video games]]
[[Category:Konami games]]
[[Category:Mobile games]]
[[Category:Nihon Falcom games]]
[[Category:PlayStation 2 games]]
[[Category:PlayStation Portable games]]
[[Category:Single-player video games]]
[[Category:Taito games]]
[[Category:Video games developed in Japan]]
[[Category:Video games set on fictional islands]]
[[Category:Windows games]]
[[Category:Xseed Games games]]
[[Category:Ys (series)]]