Ys Memoire: The Oath in Felghana brings one of the best Ys games to modern platforms
Saying that I'm a Falcom fan would be the understatement of the year, - so, let me just state that I own a signed big box copy of Ys: The Oath in Felghana for PC, that I have proudly displayed on my shelf. I love most of the Ys games I've played, but The Oath in Felghana was my first - and inarguably, it's one of the best in the entire series. So although I'm still unsure if I'll replay it, I've been pretty happy with XSEED's recent announcement that they're bringing Ys Memoire: The Oath in Felghana to the west. We had a chance to go hands-on with the Switch version of the game during Anime Expo, courtesy of XSEED, and so far it looks to be a great conversion.
For the most part, Ys Memoire: The Oath in Felghana isn't that much different from the current PC release. It's the same content, the same gameplay, and story as that version - what's new is the platforms it's available on, some new voice acting, and some additional options for both art and the soundtrack. Especially notable is the addition of the Sharp X68000 soundtrack for players to use for their playthrough; it's a favorite of mine, and one I'd be interested in using if I end up replaying the game.
Our demo was on Switch, which as far as I can tell ran at 1080p/60 FPS. However, that was the beginning of the game - in the first real dungeon. It's possible performance struggles later on, though considering the age of the game I'd be shocked if it did. The PlayStation 5 version wasn't showcased, though I am curious what the performance metrics might look like on there. I'm sure if Falcom wanted to they could've gotten the game running at 4K/120 FPS. Whether that's actually the case, however, we'll have to investigate once it eventually releases.
Everything else are minor changes; the portraits can be swapped between the old and new versions. The additional voice acting is nice, but it's not like The Oath in Felghana is a particularly story-heavy game to begin with. There's a new opening narration for the game, which I'm sure will be welcome - though we didn't get the chance to view it during our limited demo.
No matter what, I'll always applaud a company going back to re-release their games on modern console platforms; even if those ports aren't the most exciting for anyone who already owns the game on PC. For all the times I've complained about the preservation of games, I'd be remiss to downplay the importance for a release like this for players who can't or simply don't play on PC. Prior to Anime Expo I was convinced this release was going to remain exclusive to Japan, and I'm quite happy to have been proven wrong.
No matter if you're a new player or a returning fan, Ys: The Oath in Felghana is one of Falcom's best games, and this PlayStation 5 and Switch release makes it accessible for far more players, on many more platforms. Ys Memoire: The Oath in Felghana launches early next year; if you've yet to play Falcom's classic remake of Ys III, there likely won't be a better time to give it a shot.