Bump System

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The Bump System (半 (はん) キャラずらし, literally "Half-Character Shift"^?), or Bump Combat, is a combat system where the player attacks enemies by repeatedly running into them. It is the first ever combat system of the Ys series, and one of its most recognizable and defining features.

Appearances in Games

Ys I & II

Although Adol learns magic in Ys II, the majority of combat in Ys I and Ys II is fought using the Bump System. Adol attacks enemies by running into them without pressing any buttons. The success of his attack is determined by his trajectory and/or the angle of impact; a head-on strike will likely cause Adol to take damage, but if the enemy is struck off-center or from an odd angle, attacks against it will prove successful.

Enemies can also be struck from behind or from the side with little risk — though this technique can backfire if Adol is pitted against an enemy with a large amount of health, since it will quickly turn to face its attacker. In Ys II, Adol is able to strike enemies successfully almost 100% of the time by approaching from a diagonal direction.

Appearances in other media

Minna Atsumare! Falcom Gakuen

In the comedy manga Minna Atsumare! Falcom Gakuen and its animated adaptation, the Bump System is referenced when Adol attacks Dark Fact as a gag.

Legacy

The Bump system was superseded in Ys V: Lost Kefin, Kingdom of Sand, with an active battle system that allows players to attack using a dedicated button. The system further developed into the Three weapons system used in Ys VI: The Ark of Napishtim, and eventually become the party system introduced in Ys SEVEN and later evolved into the cross action system featured in Ys X: Nordics.
The Gale Shoes, Gale Feather, and Gale Boots Gear from Ys: Memories of Celceta, Ys VIII: Lacrimosa of Dana, and Ys IX: Monstrum Nox respectively, not only increase the player's running speed, but also let the player damage enemies by bumping into them, mimicking the Bump System.