Ys Memoire: The Oath in Felghana Review – An Exhausting Classic

Ys Memoire: The Oath in Felghana Review

Ys Memoire: The Oath in Felghana is a remaster of the third game in the iconic Ys series. These action JRPGs have been captivating players with inventive combat and gorgeous music since 1987. The good news is that this title is still a pleasure to play and a great entry point. The bad news is that it's incredibly difficult and, aside from the updated portraits, pretty ugly.

In this game, adventure junkie Adol Christin and his best friend Dogi visit Dogi's homeland, Felghana. Unfortunately, Felghana is overrun with monsters, the ruling lord is up to something, and Dogi's old friend Elena needs his help.

Both Adol and Lord McGuire seek the legacy of the hero Genos, who defeated a terrible threat. McGuire wants to harness the power of that long-sealed entity, while Adol wants to kill another demon king.

However, what begins as a simple story of good adventurers and evil nobles soon becomes more complicated. Elena's brother Chester has embarked on a self-destructive quest for revenge. Adol must face the forces of darkness once again if he wants to get everyone out alive.

Do you know the name Adol Christin?

Ys Memoire: The Oath in Felghana is, in many ways, the quintessential action JRPG. His story is as archetypal as they come. However, it's also really charming. Adol and Dogi's friendship is endearing, whether it's your first Ys game or your tenth. Chester is an attractive rival, Elena is a pretty fun heroine, and the rest of the cast is decent. I predicted every major plot point beforehand, but that didn't stop me from getting excited about them.

The main draw of this game is the combat, and the combat is excellent. Each encounter can be a cunningly planned splash fest or can quickly get out of control as enemies assault you. The controls are incredibly slick, which is a good thing, because I spent most of the time wildly shaking everything that moved.

This game almost feels like a survival horror at times. Enemies refresh between screens and are brutally difficult. Going back to a previous area and having to fight all the enemies again was really scary. And the game hides enemies with excessive levels with some of their secrets. The second half of the game also becomes exponentially more difficult, so leveling up became a requirement.

Each boss has a puzzle. Some of them seem pretty reasonable, but others are a complete nightmare even on the easiest difficulties. You can generally brute force them in Very Easy and Easy. However, even on Normal, you'll have to understand exactly what the game is asking of you. And some boss moves are just cheap.

Ys Memoire: The Oath in Felghana Feels Like a Soul

Ys Memoire: The Oath in Felghana is a difficult game. Not in the infuriating way that Ys X: Nordics is nearly impossible if you can't master the parrying mechanic. For the most part, this game is difficult in a way that is delightfully challenging. The world is full of dangers, but as you learn the attack patterns of each enemy, they become less intimidating.

I backed away so much that I felt like I was playing a Metroidvania. There are many quests, items, and secrets that are unlocked by revisiting previous areas. Most of them are not required, but some, like the Augite Brooch, are really useful. Others are key to the game's themes. Hearing Chester swear to kill everyone in Valestein Castle hits harder when you meet the children who live there.

That said, this is the closest Ys gets to being a Soulslike, so if you hate the die-die-again game, you're in trouble. Even Normal mode feels really unfair at times. And the new dungeons may herald a big jump in difficulty. However, there are many quality of life improvements in this remaster, including Turbo mode.

If you like this type of game, this title is incredibly replayable. Which is good, as there's a ton of additional content unlocked by completing the game and its Time Attack mode on each difficulty.

Unfair bosses and bad platforms

Ys Memoire: The Oath in Felghana is not an attractive game. The graphics have barely been updated in twenty years, and while the portraits have modern updates, they are optional. The game does some clever tricks with its 3D perspective to hide collectibles and secrets. But it makes up for its retro graphics in other areas.

It's a Ys game, so of course the soundtrack is amazing. All three versions of the game's music have been remastered and they are all impressive. I wish I could say the same for the voice acting. While the main cast is pretty good, including Adol, the side characters can be really irritating.

Speaking of which, Adol, famous for being a silent protagonist, now has a voice. However, his voice lines are not subtitled or reflected in the dialogue, which is annoying. But it's not as annoying as the platforming sections at the end of the game. There are few things more discouraging than finally crossing a danger zone and realizing that you have to cross it again.

The second of the game takes a huge jump in difficulty. Even if you collect all the power-ups and find the most powerful equipment. The platforming is especially unforgiving – I ended up leveling up by accident due to all the unintentional backtracking. But the music is so good and the combat so polished that I could never stop getting angry.

All in all, Ys Memoire: The Oath in Felghana is as fun as it is difficult. If you can put up with the dated graphics and endure the grueling boss fights, you'll have a good time. Even if you can't, go listen to the soundtrack.

***Exchange code provided by publisher***