Ys III: Wanderers from Ys -- Initial Impression.

What game does one play after completing Ys 4: Mask of the Sun, why Ys 3: Wanderers from Ys, of course. It's only logical. Okay, so not really. But in checking around for an English patch to the missing link in my Ys experience, Ys 5, I decided I wanted more Ys. I played the Genesis version of Ys 3 originally. This time I'm playing the Super Nintendo version of the game. I've already explained how Ys 3 was side scrolling with jumping and sword swinging in a previous entry, so I don't need to cover that again. I'll just comment on what grabbed my attention in the initial playing of this version. The translation differences. Different teams for different versions with different publishers resulting in different translations. Ys 3 is a great old school example of how translations can differ. The subtle choices the translator has to make are clearly on display here. The basic story is the same. Dogi and Adol have been wandering from Ys for a couple years when they hear rumors of strange times in Dogi's hometown. They head that way. In the Genesis version they happen upon a man being attacked by a wildcat. They save him. Turns out to be a friend of Dogi's from childhood. He starts them in on what's going on in Dogi's home town, which is called Selena in the Genesis version. In the SNES version, the team didn't include Dogi's friend and has Adol and Dogi being attacked directly by the wildcat. They head into Redmont as it's called in the SNES version. The same events take place in both versions. On the way to checking in to the inn, Dogi crashes into an old friend named Ellena. She says the normal pleasantries and rushes off about her business. In the Genesis version Dogi comments about how it's been so long since they've talked and how strange it is she had to rush off. No such commentary from Dogi in the SNES version. You check in to the inn, and Adol sets about exploring the town. You'll end up buying your first sword, shield, and armor. You'll get to the town square and see a crowd. You'll be told how in the SNES version, the village elder is trapped in the local mine. While in the Genesis version it's the town mayor who has been trapped in the mine.  Being Adol, you'll agree to rush off to the mines to rescue the mayor / elder. I have been to the mines, rescued who I set out to rescue, fought the first boss, returned to town, advanced the story, and have made my way to the second dungeon of Illburn Ruins. That's where I'm currently saved. I will be entering the ruins the next time I play to be searching for the missing person I'm there to find.