PlayStation 5 Review: Ys Memoire: The Oath in Felghana

Ys Memoire: The Oath in Felghana, crafted by Nihon Falcom and released by XSEED Games and Marvelous, marks the latest addition to the cherished series. This release revisits the Ys III remake from 2010, originally available on the PSP, now remastered for modern consoles. If you’re a fan of the series, let’s explore what this new iteration, Ys Memoire: The Oath in Felghana, brings to the table.

First released as a revamped version of the classic 16-bit Ys III: Wanderers From Ys, this fan-favorite returns, meticulously enhanced for the PlayStation 5 and PlayStation 4. Nearly 15 years since its debut, die-hard fans will be thrilled with the enhancements and upgrades, notably a brand-new voiceover for the iconic hero Adol Christin. Featuring revitalized high-definition visuals and an epic soundtrack, the adventure has never been more immersive.

This edition boasts various soundtrack variants, new accessibility options, and fresh character illustrations, making Ys Memoire the ultimate version of this celebrated masterpiece. Diaolgue and character illustrations have been meticulously rejuvenated to elevate the gaming experience.

Nihon Falcom’s Ys Memoire: The Oath in Felghana is a remastered version of the 2010 PSP release, featuring improved voiceovers, enhanced graphics, and trophy support. Players join Adol Christin and his trusty companion Dogi as they set forth on an expedition through Felghana. As an ardent enthusiast of the Ys saga, I was eager to explore one of the few entries hadn’t yet played.

Earlier installments of Ys focus heavily on action and exploration, thrusting you straight into the melee without much ado. In contrast, contemporary titles like Ys VIII: Lacrimosa of Dana (which happens to be my favorite), Ys IX: Monstrum Nox, and its sequel Ys X: Nordics emphasize storytelling, often devoting several hours to setting the stage. Ys Memoire: The Oath in Felghana is reminiscent of Ys Origin, in both gameplay and atmosphere.

The gameplay here is explosive, offering fast-paced, arcade-style action that keeps you engaged. You’ll find yourself frantically mashing the attack button and employing jump attacks for aerial strikes, mowing down enemies efficiently. Magical bracelets—Fire, Wind, and Earth—add complexity, offering unique abilities for puzzles and battles, especially against adversaries requiring strategic elemental switches.

Control-wise, the game holds fast to its Japanese roots, though I found them a tad clunky. Thankfully, customization options exist, and I suggest swapping the default layout for smoother play—jump set to X, attack to Square, and accessories to Circle felt more intuitive. A persistent annoyance was the overlap of the no-fall power-up and fast travel on the touchpad, necessitating frequent toggling. Considering the DualSense’s array of buttons, having dedicated controls would have been a smarter choice.

In terms of design, Ys Memoire: The Oath in Felghana draws on classic templates, offering non-linear paths without an in-game map. Despite the compact world, the vast dungeons will dominate your time, requiring exploration and re-exploration to track down essential items or paths. Prepare to get lost until that elusive key to progression is found. It’s an engaging departure from modern games’ straightforward designs with clear objective markers.

On normal settings, the dungeons present a significant challenge, demanding continuous battling to level up. Each boss feels like a formidable barrier, prompting me to grind extra levels before facing them. If they prove too difficult, return to town for equipment upgrades. Just a level or two more, can have a noticeable impact—where once you struggled, you’ll now prevail with ease.

Running on a 3D engine akin to Square Enix’s HD-2D games, the environments, with a nostalgic retro feel, achieve stable 60 FPS. While there’s visible upsclaing, texture and character models maintain a low resolution. During dialogues, updated character portraits complement the text, and you can toggle between the original and remastered artwork. I leaned towards the newer illustrations, although the classic PSP look will appeal to early anime style aficionados.

The game offers both English and Japanese voiceovers, with recognizable actors like Patrick Seitz staying on as Dogi, delivering the quality performance fans appreciate. Heather Hogan lends her voice to Elena, shining brightly throughout. As for the soundtrack, with options including Original, PC-8801, and X68000, while enjoyable, it doesn’t reach the soaring heights of some of Falcom’s best work. The Overworld theme was a highlight, though tracks like the abandoned mine could have been better.

Ys Memoire: The Oath in Felghana presents a hefty 59-trophy list, comprised of 52 Bronze, 6 Silver, and a lone Gold trophy. These encompass various milestones, from story achievements to six complete playthroughs (yes, six). Fortunately, post your first normal run (around 12 hours) and a casual Very Easy run, subsequent playthroughs can be wrapped up swiftly. This game’s Cross-Buy feature, for both PS4 and PS5 versions, includes transferable saves and a chance for dual Platinum trophies.

Ys Memoire: The Oath in Felghana is an engaging addition that I thoroughly enjoyed uncovering, especially having missed the 2010 PSP remake. This remaster channels the spirit of early Ys games, with a challenging level design and brisk combat, albeit at the expense of modern comforts like guidance and lowered difficulty. Essential for veterans, but if gunning for a Platinum trophy, prepare for an involved grind. Available as a Cross-Buy title, the $29.99 price tag covers both PS4 and PS5 versions.

Disclaimer: This review of Ys Memoire: The Oath in Felghana is based on a PlayStation 5 copy provided by XSEED Games.