DS version is considered subpar because it wasn't rebalanced to take the altered combat mechanics into account. All the enemies still act as if you're going to try and run into them, rather than stand back and swing a sword.
It's not terrible, but it's not how the first two games were meant to be played. Later games in the series do use push-to-swing combat, but they were designed that way from the start.
Also, start saving for a PSP or PSV. Ys Seven is a PSP exclusive, there's a better version of 1&2, you can get Oath in Felghana (the definitive version of III) without having to worry about whether the psychotic Nightwolve has snuck a virus into the translation patch he thought was going to make him a millionaire, and there's an Ys IV remake coming to Vita. If you like Falcom, PSP is the way to go. And that's not even getting into Gurumin and Legend of Heroes.
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"I'm Commander Shepard, and you're standing in the biggest library in Citadel Space. Look me up."