Fans of classic JRPGs rejoice. Ys Memoire: The Oath in Felghana is an incredible remaster of a beloved game, launching on January 7, 2025. Gamers who played the original and gamers who have barely heard of the Ys series have much to enjoy here: from a fast-paced combat system and beautiful music to a retro-style world to explore. We got to check out the Play Station 5 version of the game ahead of its release.
Ys Memoire: The Oath in Felghana: A Legendary Tale Retold
To be clear, this is a remaster of a remake. The original Oath in Felghana was published in 2005 as a remake of 1990s Ys III: Wanderers from Ys. The game opens with an epic narration that tells the legend of Adol. This scarlet-haired warrior spent his life at the whims of fate, traveling from one land to another and risking his life for the people there.
Adol and his friend Dogi have returned to Dogi’s homeland of Felghana. His hometown of Redmont has recently hit hard times. The new lord, Count McGuire levied horrendous taxes, forced people into labor, and closed the local quarry. With no travelers or merchants, the people are soon to starve. In the depths of despair, monsters have begun to appear near town.
Adol meets the warm and loving people of Redmont including Dogi’s adoptive mother and his childhood friend Elena. He’s swiftly asked to rescue the mayor and a miner from the quarry. It’s there that he stumbles into the Count’s scheme and meets Elena’s brother. His journey has just begun.
If Adol ever gets lost, a diary records his fateful encounters.
Cross Swords and Conjure Sorcery
Before even starting the game, players have a few decisions to make. The difficulty levels range from very easy, easy, normal, hard, and nightmare. To keep with the retro feel, players can limit their movement to the normal eight directions.
Adol moves around like a man on a mission. The movement speed is fluid and precise, giving players a great deal of control when they take on whole groups of monsters. Players need only hit one button to unleash a flurry of sword strikes on unsuspecting monsters.
A second button lets Adol jump in the air. From here, a sword strike can lead to a rising slash, a forward lunge, or a downward strike. There’s some platforming here, so it’s best to get used to jumping.
Not all monsters can just be cut down to size. Adol is given a gauntlet to use magic against such foes. Strike at a distance and hold the button for a charged attack.
No matter how gamers get the job done, monsters drop money, temporary stat boosts, and grant EXP. The longer the combo goes, the more damage Adol does and the more EXP he earns.
The Creeping Shadow and the Azure Queen of Death
The standard enemies can just be plowed through but the bosses are another matter entirely. The first boss Dularn can conjure a shield while throwing swords that slice through Adol. When he gets tired of that, he drops the shield and unleashes a magic wave.
Ellefale the Azure Queen of Death spams powerful magic attacks that need to be dodged. She’s also the epitome of “if evil, why hot?” That aside, bosses are no joke in Ys: The Oath in Felghana.
Gamers should make certain to save their game at the magic statues before fights. There’s one right outside Redmont. They heal HP as an added bonus.
A Classic Legend Remastered
Ys Memoire: The Oath in Felghana gives players a choice in how they visit — or revisit — this classic JRPG. Players can choose the classic or remastered art style as seen above. The soundtrack can also be changed from the Original, PC-8801, and X68000 versions.
Regardless of choice, the audio work was lovingly crafted by the developers. The BGMs really brought the different areas to life. The opening cinematic sets the tone with masterful animation and terrific music. There are no lyrics, it’s just one long epic sound that prepares gamers for a grand adventure.
The voice acting is likewise incredibly well done. Adol is still something of a silent protagonist, but gamers can hear him speak here and there, especially in the opening narration.
The towns and open areas maintain that retro feel but everything is really detailed. Redmont is a living place that can be explored on a whim. There are no loading times when going into houses or moving between rooms. The people are always a joy to talk to, especially the important characters with their anime cutouts that change depending on mood and physical state. It’s clear to see that the mayor had a rough go of it in the quarry.
Conclusion
JRPG fans will absolutely love this game. It’s a classic that’s getting a second (third?) lease on life. The Ys series has stood the test of time for a reason, and any new release is well worth the wait. Ys The Oath in Felghana is fun to play whether gamers are exploring or fighting. The music and characters are a joy to listen to and the art is certainly eye-catching. We highly recommend this game to any fan of the genre.
Ys Memoire: The Oath in Felghana publishes on January 7, 2025, for the Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4, and PlayStation 5.
©Nihon Falcom
Anime Corner was provided a review copy of the PlayStation version of Ys Memoire: The Oath in Felghana.
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