Review of Ys Memoire: The Oath in Felghana for PlayStation 5

Ys Memoire: The Oath in Felghana, crafted by the renowned Nihon Falcom and brought to audiences by XSEED Games and Marvelous, marks the latest chapter in this cherished gaming series. Essentially, it is a revamped edition of the Ys III remake that first graced the PSP back in 2010. If you’re passionate about the series, you’re in for a treat. Explore our review to see what’s fresh and thrilling!

Originally imagined as a fresh spin on the 16-bit console classic, Ys III: Wanderers From Ys, this adored title makes its comeback, newly polished for the PlayStation 5 and PlayStation 4 as Ys Memoire: The Oath in Felghana. After nearly 15 years, dedicated fans can expect an array of enhancements, including a brand-new voiceover for the legendary hero Adol Christin. Coupled with upgraded high-definition visuals and a mesmerizing soundtrack, this epic saga has never radiated more brilliance.

What sets this edition apart? It offers multiple renditions of the enchanting soundtrack, improved accessibility features, and fresh character artwork, securing its place as the ultimate version of this revered masterpiece.

From Nihon Falcom, and published by XSEED Games and Marvelous, Ys Memoire: The Oath in Felghana revives the 2010 PSP classic, presenting new voice work, enhanced HD graphics, and trophy support. Join Adol Christin along with his steadfast ally Dogi as they venture into the mysterious lands of Felghana. As an enthusiast of the Ys saga, I was thrilled to unravel one of the chapters I had yet to explore.

Older Ys games lean heavily on action and discovery, thrusting players straight into the action with little preamble. However, more recent installments like Ys VIII: Lacrimosa of Dana (which is dear to my heart), and its sequels Ys IX: Monstrum Nox and Ys X: Nordics, delve much deeper into narrative, often spending hours setting the stage before the action begins. However, Ys Memoire: The Oath in Felghana is reminiscent of Ys Origin, both in gameplay style and overall atmosphere.

Playing this game is a thrill, as it delivers fast-paced, arcade-like action that keeps you engaged. You’ll find yourself enthusiastically hitting the attack button and mixing in jumps for aerial assaults, quickly cutting through foes. The magical bracelets—Fire, Wind, and Earth—add layers to combat and exploration, doubling as puzzle solvers and tactical equipment for dealing with element-resistant enemies requiring strategic adaptation.

The controls, based on the Japanese original, can be a bit clunky. Fortunately, adjustments in the options menu can make a world of difference. For a more natural feel, I recommend setting jump to the X button, attack and talk to the Square button, and accessory to the Circle button. One hiccup I encountered was the clash between the no-fall feature and the fast-travel option, both tied to the touchpad, demanding a constant switch in settings. Given the available buttons on the DualSense controller, it would have been preferable if each had its dedicated button, sparing players unnecessary toggling.

This title embraces an old-school philosophy in terms of level design, featuring branching pathways and no in-game map to guide you. Although the world is relatively compact, consisting of a handful of locations, the sprawling dungeons will occupy most of your playtime. These areas aren’t linear, often requiring thorough exploration and revisiting areas to find missing items or uncover hidden passages needed for advancement. Expect to wander and backtrack until you pinpoint what’s required to progress. The level design stands in stark contrast to modern titles with their linear paths and mini-maps with objective markers.

Playing on normal difficulty, the dungeons are quite challenging, requiring you to battle every foe you meet to level up. Bosses present significant challenges, often necessitating some level grinding beforehand. If you find yourself stuck, a visit to town for new gear or enhancements—which will dramatically shift the tide—might be in order. Sudden victories over once-daunting bosses will leave you with most of your health still intact after winning.

Utilizing a 3D engine akin to Square Enix’s HD-2D titles, the game beautifully blends low-poly environments reminiscent of older styles with detailed 2D characters, all running smoothly at 60 frames per second. While the textures and character models seem enhanced, they retain a nostalgic low-resolution look. During conversations, character portraits appear next to text boxes, allowing players to toggle between the original PSP art and the newly drawn remaster artworks. Personally, I preferred the updated visuals; however, fans of the early 2000s anime styles might gravitate towards the original PSP artwork.

Players can choose between English and Japanese voiceovers in Ys Memoire: The Oath in Felghana. The familiar voices in the English version enhance the experience, with Patrick Seitz returning as Dogi with his dependable performance and Heather Hogan giving a standout portrayal of Elena. The soundtrack offers three options: Original, PC-8801, and X68000. While the music fits the game well, it doesn’t quite match up to Falcom’s most exceptional compositions, although tracks like the Overworld theme stand out, even as others, such as the abandoned mine track, fall short.

The game comes with an extensive trophy list featuring 59 achievements, including 52 Bronze, 6 Silver, and one Gold trophy. These cover various accomplishments from storytelling milestones to completing different runs, requiring six playthroughs (yes, six). Thankfully, after a standard run and an easier playthrough, the remaining runs can be quickly completed. Additionally, the game supports Cross-Buy, sharing saves between PS4 and PS5 versions, each with its Platinum trophy.

Ys Memoire: The Oath in Felghana is a delightful action RPG, and rediscovering it was a pleasure, given I missed its 2010 PSP debut. This remastered version faithfully retains its origins, offering three soundtracks alongside the frenetic gameplay characteristic of earlier Ys games. The level design, although initially daunting, becomes clearer upon repeated exploration. Normal difficulty is tougher compared to recent entries, requiring preparation before boss battles. However, for those aiming for the Platinum trophy or seeking the authentic experience, sticking to this difficulty level is advisable. At $29.99, this Cross-Buy game grants access to both the PS4 and PS5 editions without extra charges.

Disclaimer: A PlayStation 5 copy of Ys Memoire: The Oath in Felghana was provided by XSEED Games for this review.