Sorry, dudes, but besides the great music and good story, Ys has clumsy gameplay in comparison to Zelda.
I reckon you're referring to the battle mechanics?
I must be in the minority, but I've always enjoyed the "charge into battle recklessly" ramming system. It is so satisfying to rip through your opponents (assuming you are sufficiently leveled up) when you are running around trying to save folks and collect nuts from the Roda Tree. Sprinting in Ys I & II is swift, but you can ramp the speed up further so Adol is a veritable Whirlwind of Death.
If you AREN'T super-leveled up, then you can't help but feel vulnerable when you dash into hand-to-hand melee.
The "ramming system" is so goddamn visceral, I simply love it.
For all the generic elements in Ys, there are many, many wonderful unique moments (masquerading as a monster to "pass" as one and understand their language, draining the sewers and revisiting a familiar area from the trenches underneath, etc. etc.)
One the most poignant plot points + hybrid cinema + PURE ACTION = racing to save you-know-who from certain death, before the bell tolls, only to NEARLY succeed, Adol braving the harsh, howling winds, unforgiving golden orange clouds whipping past, ONLY TO HEAR THE FATEFUL BELL TOLL.
HOLY CRAP, that one moment, which the game masterfully builds up (increasing tension, rising action, characters YOU ACTUALLY CARE ABOUT) ... Then tragedy, heartbreak in a moment literally DRIPPING WITH ATMOSPHERE (the somber mood penetrates even the coldest heart)...sadly, for all of its awesomeness, LttP simply can't match Ys.
This is not to say LttP isn't awesome. It is a great game. I loved the rainy rain and atmosphere it was able to achieve. But LttP simply can't compare.
