The Ys series wouldn’t be what it is without its recurring protagonist, the red-haired Adol Christin. A swordsman of great renown who loves the thrill of adventure and is always willing to lend a helping hand to those in need, Adol’s journeys took him far and wide until he returned to his childhood home to catalog his travels. The extensive logs he penned left behind a vast library of tales to recount in Ys.
As noted in our previous article on the legacy of Ys, each game in the series corresponds to one of Adol’s journals. Rather than being presented in chronological order, the games relay the contents of these journals in the order they were discovered, with Ys X: Nordics representing the latest journal recovered, The Normans' Paradise Lost.
Adol as a Burgeoning Adventurer
Because each game focuses on a specific period of Adol’s life, players can experience Adol’s grand adventures at many different stages of his growth, from when he just set out at the young age of 16 to when he is a seasoned traveler in his 20s.
Ys X: Nordics features one of Adol’s earlier adventures when he is just 17 years old. At this point, he is only a year into his travels, and while his adventurer’s spirit and skills with a sword are strong, he still has many things to learn.
At the start of Ys X: Nordics, Adol is on his way to Celceta with his companion Dogi. Taking place after the events of Ys II: Ancient Ys Vanished - The Final Chapter, he has experience but is still in a period of growth and exploration. Mirroring this, he looks very youthful and sports a curious, playful expression in the game's cover art.
His clothes also enhance his youthful appearance, from the short-sleeved hoodie to his shorts, instead of the pants, which he wears in almost every other title (some of which we’ll cover shortly!).
Through his meeting with Karja Balta and their unexpected bond with the power of Mana, Adol grows as a character in numerous ways.
Adol as a Wanted Man
Going back one title in the Ys release order, Ys IX: Monstrum Nox features Adol at a much different age - 24, the oldest he appears in any Ys game to date. In this entry, Adol is a key suspect in the disappearance of the Romun Fleet on the Atlas Ocean and is apprehended by Romun soldiers at the Prison City of Balduq.
While attempting to escape incarceration, he comes across a mysterious woman with a gun, setting into motion his involvement in the strange happenings of the Prison City and its Monstrums, enigmatic individuals with supernatural abilities.
In Ys IX: Monstrum Nox, Adol’s appearance takes on a much darker tone, with his classic red accentuated by blacks and grays. After becoming the Crimson King through the Monstrums’ curse, he sports a cape and claw-like coverings on his gloves befitting his wanted status.
Adol’s curse and resulting powers make it so that he is unable to leave the Prison City of Balduq. While there, he must uncover the conspiracy of the city’s massive prison, and he teams up with a number of other individuals afflicted by the Monstrum curse. With years of adventuring under his belt, Adol is more than well-equipped to tackle the formidable task.
Adol as a Shipwrecked Survivor
Jumping back in time a few years to when Adol is 21 in Ys VIII: Lacrimosa of DANA, we have another example of Adol as an established traveler. By this time, he is already well known as an expert adventurer and skilled swordsman. Don’t let his short sleeves and colorful clothing fool you - check out that strong, determined expression on his face!
In Ys VII: Lacrimosa of DANA, Adol is stranded on Seiren Island with other shipwrecked survivors, where he serves as a unifying force and symbol of hope for the others. His years of adventuring have given him the experience and insights he needs to help lead his companions and also help change the course of destiny for Dana, the mysterious girl he encounters in his dreams and later meets on Seiren Island.
While Adol is a man of few words throughout this and the other Ys games, it is through his actions that players see his compassion for others, which contributes to his growth throughout his journeys. Which version of Adol is your favorite?
