Ys Memoire: The Oath in Felghana Review – Days of Future Past

As a big fan of the Ys series, my connection with it has been rather…complicated lately. Ys 10: Nordics, the next mainline title (which served more as an interquel than a true blue sequel) was acceptable. Not quite at the level of Ys 8: Lacrimosa of Dana or Ys 9: Monstrum Nox. They say you can never really go back and the announcement of Proud Nordics at least ensures that won’t happen anytime soon. But there are always the classics, like Ys Memoire: The Oath in Felghana.

Speaking of complicated: This is essentially a current-gen port of 2005’s Ys: The Oath in Felghana, which is itself a remake of 1989’s Ys 3: Wanderers from Ys. Long story short, if you’ve played The Oath in Felghana on PlayStation Portable or PC back in the day, Memoire is essentially that but with some extras thrown in. It’s not a major overhaul, serving as a means for PS4, PS5, and Nintendo Switch players to experience a venerable classic, and that’s perfectly fine. Things would be awkward if it didn’t quite hold up to current-day standards, but thankfully, that’s not the case.

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“The opening is also voiced and lends an epic air to the proceedings, though Adol’s character development and role are pretty much the same in the grand scheme.”

When considering the old-school and new wave of Ys games, The Oath in Felghana falls somewhere in the middle. There’s no bump mechanic or overhead view – instead, it opts for a side-scrolling perspective and fast-paced combat. Don’t expect any teammates to have Adol’s back, which would change in Ys Seven and serve as the formula for Ys 8 and 9. However, it represents some incredible action RPG design and pacing, further added by features like Turbo Mode for even more speed (and cutting down on tedious backtracking).

As for the narrative, you probably know the drill: Adol and his best friend Dogi arrive at a location and find themselves embroiled in incidents. This time, it’s Redmont, Dogi’s hometown in the Felghana Providence, and the hunt for some important statues. The plot quickly thickens, as Adol runs afoul of Chester (the brother of Elena, Dogi’s childhood friend) and eventually learns the truth behind said statues. It isn’t overly complicated, but the interpersonal relationships add some welcome depth, backed all the more by solid voice acting which still holds up.

The opening is also voiced and lends an epic air to the proceedings, though Adol’s character development and role are pretty much the same in the grand scheme. At least the new character illustrations showcased during cutscenes look nice, though if your mileage varies, you can always revert to the classic designs.

Of course, the action constitutes the main appeal of a Ys title and Ys Memoire is no slouch. Like many other aspects, it seems simple on the surface, as Adol can execute multi-hit slashing combos on the ground or leap into the air for attacks. However, the latter is also useful for plunging strikes which can stun enemies. You also have Boost, which enhances Adol’s damage and speed for a period, and elemental attacks, unlocked by acquiring different bracelets throughout. Some also aid exploration and open up new paths.

“There’s a Zelda-esque aspect to some fights as they’ll necessitate using a recently obtained ability to defeat the boss.”

Again, it all sounds so simple, especially compared to all the mechanics of contemporary games. However, that’s the joy of Memoire’s combat alongside the fluidity and responsiveness that defines the Ys series. Decimating enemies feels satisfying but you won’t immediately bulldoze through all of them – certain types are weak to specific attacks.

Once you’re in the flow, all this starts to feel like second nature. Foes will drop pickups like health and bonus stats, further fueling you for the next fight and keeping the action rolling. Environmental layouts are similarly streamlined, keeping the focus on the action but still offering plenty of exploration and light puzzle-solving. While not extensively nuanced, they serve the purpose.

Then you have the boss fights, a hallmark of many Ys titles. The first won’t exactly stress your skills, but from then on, every battle can be a frantic exercise in jumping, dodging, and fighting for your life to survive. There’s a Zelda-esque aspect to some fights as they’ll necessitate using a recently obtained ability to defeat the boss. Granted, the sheer number of unlockable skills isn’t that high, but each boss still stands out in unique ways, offering up different challenges and pushing you to adapt.

“It quickly draws you in with its excellent combat and boss fights while the plot and characterization ensure you’re hooked throughout.”

The final key to the experience is the music and suffice it to say that The Oath in Felghana represents some of Falcom’s best work. Between the emotional violin of “The Boy Who Had Wings”, the fast-paced rock of “Be Careful” or the intermixing of techno and guitar play in “Illburns Ruins,” there is much to like. All of it adds to the atmosphere and Memoire allows for swapping between the multiple versions released throughout the title’s history. Your mileage may vary at some renditions but it’s still a great option to have.

Perhaps the only real downside to the experience is its visuals. Though it’s running at high resolutions, the environmental textures, details, and effects are starting to show their age. Yes, there’s a charm to them that feels timeless but don’t expect any significant differences from the PC version. The sprite work and animations are still very fluid, though, and the boss designs hold up exceptionally well.

Overall, Ys Memoire: The Oath in Felghana is an essential action RPG, both for fans of the genre and the series as a whole. It quickly draws you in with its excellent combat and boss fights while the plot and characterization ensure you’re hooked throughout. The gameplay loop may feel overtly rudimentary in this day and age, but that throwback feels essential given the series’ direction as of late. Sometimes, it’s nice to hop into a straightforward yet elegantly crafted hack-and-slash experience such as this.

“It’s not overly long but also doesn’t feel bloated or needlessly extended for the sake of it. And even if the visuals aren’t super amazing on a technical level, I still like the old-school aesthetic and character designs.”

Revisiting The Oath in Felghana in this fashion, especially after experiencing so many other action RPGs and dungeon crawlers through the years, it’s impressive just how much the experience (and the fantastic music) holds up. It’s not overly long but also doesn’t feel bloated or needlessly extended for the sake of it. And even if the visuals aren’t super amazing on a technical level, I still like the old-school aesthetic and character designs.

Then again, time marches on, and Falcom will undoubtedly focus on revamping the series once more with its next mainline entry. And that’s all well and good, but making its older experiences available for a new generation is great, extra bells and whistles notwithstanding. If Ys Memoire: The Oath in Felghana accomplishes anything beyond serving as an enjoyable action RPG, it’s providing that further “Memoires” are necessary, if only to preserve the experience for future generations.

This game was reviewed on the PlayStation 5.