Ys II on the NES is one of those classic action RPGs that feels way ahead of its time. You pick up right where the first game left off—Adol washes ashore in this strange, dreamy land called Esteria, and before you can even catch your breath, you're hacking away at monsters with that satisfying bump combat system (no button mashing, just clever positioning).

The pixel art has this weirdly cozy vibe, especially the towns with their flickering torches and NPCs who actually have personality. And the music? Absolute bangers—Falcom’s sound team went hard even back then. The dungeons can be brutal if you rush in, but grinding a bit or finding hidden gear makes all the difference. Just don’t expect hand-holding; this is pure old-school adventure.

It’s the kind of game where you’ll stumble into a boss fight unprepared, die hilariously fast, then come back with a better sword and a grudge.