Review - Ys Memoire: The Oath in Felghana

Developer: Nihon Falcom

Publisher: XSEED Games

Available on: PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Nintendo Switch

Review Platform: Nintendo Switch

The Ys franchise is a JRPG series that's been around since the days of the NES. The first game was released in 1987 and has been a consistent presence, competing against the likes of Final Fantasy and the Tales of series. It's a Ys renaissance at the moment with the likes of Ys Origins, Ys Memoire: The Oath in Felghana, and even Ys: Nordics making their debut on game consoles here in the United States.

Now, thirty-eight years after the release of the very first Ys, XSEED Games has released a remake of a classic entry, Ys Memoire: The Oath in Felghana. This action RPG remaster features an updated presentation, accessibility options, and new character illustrations. Not only is this the most definitive version of Ys Memoire: The Oath in Felghana, but it is also an excellent entry point for those new to the series.

The Adventure Begins

Ys Memoire: The Oath in Felghana takes place a few years after the events of the first two games. Protagonist Adol Christin and his friend Dogi arrive in the town of Redmont. After a few adventures, they are greeted by the community, including Elena Doggart, Dogi's childhood friend. After rescuing Elenda from monsters, they head to the town. The nearby Castle of Valestein is threatening the town. People are disappearing, and there seems to be a plot involving a mysterious power. Ambitious for adventure, Adol sets foot on a new journey.

Ys Memoire: The Oath in Felghana is an action RPG based on Ys III. Ys III was a side-scrolling RPG until 2005, when it was remade for Windows and subsequently ported to the PSP in 2010. The remake featured voice work, a 3D engine, and a bevy of other improvements. This new port features even more enhancements and improvements, including voicework and achieving 60 fps.

What is old is new again

As an action RPG, players directly engage with the environment through exploration, interacting with NPCs, and combat. Players interact with characters, take quests, and embark on the larger story of what is happening within and around Redmont.

The usual expectations of RPGs are here. There are items to collect and acquire. There's a merchant for upgrading armor and weapons found in the field. For every monster that is slain, players level up, gaining more health, offense, and defense power. Special items are discovered in the field. Some items help raise stats while others are needed to venture into certain areas, such as lava pits.

Bring the Action

In Ys Memoire: The Oath in Felghana, the action takes place in real-time. Players attack with their main weapon and can initiate combos as well as jump. However, there is no block button. Defense is relegated to equipment. There is the ability to dash and various customization features for controls. Weapons can be changed and enchanted. Over time, the special attack gauge builds. Once full, this increases attack power significantly and can make short work of foes.

Finally, there is magic. Magic can be used to attack and solve puzzles. In Ys, it acts as a sub-weapon. Another gauge highlights how much attack power exists for magic. The magic is varied, ranging from fire magic to wind magic. Using magic wisely is the key to survival, especially against the bigger, badder boss fights. There are many boss fights in Ys: The Oath in Felghana. They range from other warriors to ancient gods and fire-breathing beasts. They are challenging to take on, but fortunately, the game does allow for a lower difficulty for that boss fight, should a player die too many times.

Yes for Ys

Ys Memoire: The Oath in Felghana becomes a remarkable adventure and a strong entry in the various RPGS of 2025. The action gameplay is reminiscent of a classic, bygone era in games, before intricate systems and consistent menus. The highlight is the adventure and the player experience. Ys: The Oath in Felghana focuses on this tenfold, where battling monsters and larger-than-life bosses are the highlight. It's a nice change of pace in an age of rogue-likes and souls-likes.

The updates and enhancements are welcome, too. Environments and sprites shine better than ever, and the voicework does a fine job of immersing players into this tale of mystery and adventure. The modernized controls are also effective, and the same challenge is still present. Ys Memoire: The Oath in Felghana is certainly one of the better updates to older games. The team clearly did more than add a coat of paint to the title.

Sword and Magic

Compared to other RPGs, the action is the big highlight of the gameplay experience. Using different magics and slaying dozens of enemies at a time is thrilling. Putting those skills against stage-clearing boss fights is a memorable and unforgettable experience, especially as the story progresses towards its highs and inevitable conclusion. It's refreshing to play an RPG without a stamina bar or other mechanic to focus on.

Ys Memoire: The Oath in Felghana has one drawback, and it is the length. The game can be finished in between 20 to 30 hours, which puts it on the shorter side of action RPGs. The repetitive nature of the action also makes the game best played in short bursts of time. This may not be the deepest RPG for some players, but for those looking for a more simplified adventure, Ys: The Oath in Felghana certainly hits that mark.

Embark on the quest in Ys

Ys Memoire: The Oath in Felghana is a wonderful port of a classic game. The quality-of-life improvements are more than a fresh coat of paint, and the same classic gameplay is better than ever. Ys: The Oath in Felghana is a highly recommended RPG for those new to the series or who have experienced Ys before. Steel yourself and embark on the adventure of a lifetime.

YS THE OATH IN FELGHANA IS HIGHLY RECOMMENDED

A review key was provided for the purpose of review