Ys Memoire: The Oath in Felghana review

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It’s not always feasible to start a video game series from its very beginning, given that many popular series span several decades. For instance, it would be hard to imagine most current Final Fantasy players starting their journey with the original game on NES. More often than not, I find myself diving into sequels first to keep up with the latest releases in a series. While ideally, we’d all like to play every game in a series chronologically, the reality is that time travel isn’t an option. The Ys series serves as a great example of this, as I was happy to review the ninth mainline game and enjoyed my experience despite not having any prior history with the beloved RPG. However, Ys has more to offer than just its newer releases, as I have now found with Ys Memoire: The Oath in Felghana.

Ys Memoire: The Oath in Felghana commences as anticipated, featuring our beloved red-haired protagonist Adol embarking on an adventure alongside his long-time companion Dogi. Their travels lead them to Dogi’s ancestral land, which has undergone significant transformations since his last visit. The townsfolk grapple daily with monstrous threats, a neighboring Count aspires to seize an ancient power, and for months, Dogi’s dearest friend has been unaccounted for. Unwavering in his determination to address the troubles of Redmont Town, Adol plunges headfirst into the issues affecting its people, eager to save the day. Though The Oath in Felghana’s narrative might not be Oscar-worthy, it maintains an engaging quality that drives you forward into the action.

In my experience with Ys games, they’ve consistently delivered intense action-packed battles, and The Oath in Felghana is no exception to this rule. On the contrary, it seems to be the least role-playing game (RPG) oriented of the series, leaning more towards the genre of hack-and-slash with lightning-fast sword attacks. As you embark on your journey, you’ll find yourself relentlessly attacking wolves and demons that stand in your path using a basic attack combo. To mix things up, you can also use a jump slash or downward stab when the situation requires it. Despite the simplicity of the combat system, don’t be fooled – enemies are powerful and strike swiftly. To survive, you must rely on your quick reflexes to dodge their attacks, learn bosses’ attack patterns, and avoid taking damage.

Adol swiftly acquires magical bracelets that aid in combat during his journey, each with unique abilities. One enables fireball launching, while another provides a massive, wind-based spinning attack through the skies. To maximize their potential, you can enhance them by charging before deployment, and selecting the appropriate one for each task will greatly simplify your experience.

Not only is your bracelet magic beneficial for combat, it also aids in the discovery of fresh territories. In many ways, Ys Memoire: The Oath in Felghana resembles a platformer as much as it does an RPG, offering various areas to explore that feature challenging platforms, traps, and obstacles to dodge. With the acquisition of the ability to soar through the air, reaching chests becomes routine, and due to the game having only a few distinct regions, you’ll often return to familiar locations to uncover new routes. Additionally, The Oath in Felghana includes elements of Metroidvania, which makes backtracking more gratifying because of the rewards it offers.

Neglecting to seek out new treasures using your fresh skills might leave you feeling remorseful, as this game is quite demanding. To conquer the formidable bosses that lie ahead, acquiring and enhancing new gear is indispensable. However, even with top-tier weapons and armor, you’ll probably have to face most bosses multiple times before eventually emerging victorious. If the level of difficulty doesn’t appeal to you, there are varying options available. For me, the challenge in Ys Memoire: The Oath in Felghana was just right, and I felt a surge of satisfaction each time I managed to defeat one of the numerous powerful enemies that had previously defeated me several times over.

As for the enhancements Ys Memoire: The Oath in Felghana offers as a remaster, it’s fairly minimal. It has a fresher look with enhanced graphics, and the soundtrack has been updated slightly. New voice acting has been added for the previously silent protagonist Adol, which is a subtle yet welcome change. For the most part, this is more about revisiting an old game rather than experiencing something significantly new or greatly improved.

Ys Memoire: The Oath in Felghana is an exceptional addition to this cherished series, yet it does come with certain shortcomings that many contemporary games avoid. The most glaring of these flaws is the absence of navigation assistance, as there are no objective markers or quest log to guide you towards your goal. At times, the game can be quite cryptic as well. I encountered a specific late-game area where I was stuck because I didn’t possess a crucial item, and it turned out that if I had conversed with an apparently insignificant character not just once but _twice_, she would have provided me with what I needed to progress. Spending an hour trying to pinpoint my mistake was frustrating, and such a scenario is unlikely in the vast majority of 2025 games. The difficulty level of the boss battles might not appeal to everyone’s preferences either, but at least the ability to reduce difficulty upon repeated failures is available.

Ys Memoire: The Oath in Felghana offers a fantastic journey through an action RPG that shouldn’t have been overlooked. Its rapid-fire battles, colossal boss encounters, and rewarding exploration make every moment enjoyable. Despite the lack of guidance, I found it hard to stop playing once I started this adventure. This timeless gem underscores why the Ys series holds a special place in gamers’ hearts, so don’t let it pass you by like I nearly did!

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2025-01-07 03:16