Keeping in line with Falcom JRPGs be it turn-based or real-time action-heavy, their soundtracks are usually top tier. That’s still the case with the latest installment of the Ys series.

The next game in the series is Ys X: Nordics, and the preview of its track “To Be Free” retains the hallmark J-Rock synth RPG flair we know and love about the series. Check it out below, along with new gameplay from the upcoming sequel, right after the 0:52 mark.

In addition, Falcom has introduced a bunch of new characters.

Phylleia: A leader of the third fleet in the Balta Navy, she is a female warrior with excellent wit known for being one half of the “twin jewels” alongside warlord Gunnel. Aside from being the right-hand woman for chief Grimson, she also keeps an eye out for his only daughter, Karja. She originally was not a Norman, but due to various circumstances, she decided to join the Balta Navy by choice.

Ezer: A boy who works as a chamberlain for Karja’s home, the Balta household. Despite his young age, he has a polite and thoughtful personality. He is always thinking of his master Karja first and foremost, and acts accordingly. Like Phylleia, he was not born a Norman either. Apparently, he had been living somewhere else.

Yolds: A highly-intelligent humanoid Grieger. A vulgar sadist who attacks the people of Obelia Bay and abuses them as though they were slaves. She holds an intense rage against Karja, who wounded her by the power of Mana. Like a devil, she follows and targets Adol and the group.

Larg: A highly-intelligent humanoid Grieger. He takes interest in the culture and customs made by humans, and he appears in front of Adol and the group to ask peculiar questions. He does not show as aggressive a behavior compared to Yors and Ors, and his constant careless attitude makes it hard to read his true intentions.

Odr: A highly-intelligent humanoid Grieger. He boasts outstanding combat skills, even out of the humanoid Griegers. He takes interest in Adol and Karja, who fights using the power of Mana. He even wages battles against them. There are times when it looks as if he has high hopes for their skill potential. Particularly regarding Karja, he seems to even encourage her growth as a warrior.

The last three grey elf-like characters are Griegers, the name of the immortal beings who appear around Obelia Bay. You’ll be fighting them quite a bit through the course of the story.

Ys X: Nordics also has a new special skill tree system called the Release Line. You unlock the power of Mana, which you then use to strengthen individual battle skills for Adol and Karja.

How To Use Release Line System

1. Level up through combat, and obtain Mana points.
2. Using Mana points, unlock various “Spots” placed on the Release Line.
   • Unlocking “Spots” will allow you to obtain Adol and Karja-specific skills for solo mode, as well as spars.
3. Place a “Mana Seed” into the unlocked “Spot.”
   • The “Mana ability” for combat according to the Mana seed branch will activate.
4. By continuing the process of leveling up to unlocking spots, you will go further down the Release Line.
   • By delving deeper, you will be able to obtain special skills for the Combination Mode.

The Four Structures of Mana Ability

By setting items called Mana Seeds, a Mana Ability will activate. There are four branches it can split into. And because the same types can be combined, there are many possibilities for customization. You can set multiple abilities from the “Valor” branch and create a character that specializes in attacks, or you can set an equal number from each branch to make an all-rounder.

• Valor – Attack-focused ability. Effects such as increased damage given, and increased knockdown blow.
• Strength – Defense-focused ability. Effects such as decreased damage received, and increased status ailment healing speed.
• Optimism – Ability that raises all skills aside from attack and defense. Effects such as increased dash speed, and increased skill chain time.
• Darkness – Ability that has both merits and demerits. Special effects such as increased damage given during abnormal status, and increasing the rate of critical hits when HP is low.

Multiple Abilities Will Activate When the Mana Seeds That Have Three Branch Properties Are Set

Mana Abilities are activated when a specific Mana seed is set in a branch of the Release Line. However, some Mana Seeds belong to a special branch, called “Dream”.

Mana Seeds of the Dream branch have properties of Valor, Strength, and Optimism, and therefore are able to be combined with other Mana Seeds. You’ll be able to activate each branch’s abilities at a much more efficient rate.

Ys X Nordics will be out on 28 September in Japan for PlayStation 5, PlayStation 4, and Nintendo Switch.