Originally released in Japan in 2012 as Ys: Foliage Ocean in Celceta, then eventually making its way to North America the following year, Ys: Memories of Celceta might not be the most universally loved game in the acclaimed Ys series, but as far as JRPGs go, it certainly stands on its own as a formidable staple within the genre. After all, a Metacritic score of 82, along with a User Score of 8.7 is pretty darn impressive. Even more so for a game that was originally released exclusively for the PlayStation Vita. Couple that with the fact that the game’s port to PC in 2018 currently sits at an even better user rating of “Very Positive” on Steam (with 93% of reviews rating the game as positive), and you have yourself a fantastic JRPG that has clearly withstood the test of time.
Not only does the game provide an experience that even hardcore veterans of the genre can enjoy and appreciate (even though they’ve probably already played), Ys: Memories of Celceta is accessible enough for newcomers who are just beginning to cut their teeth within the genre - more specifically, within the sub-genre of action JRPGs.
I happen to personally fall into the latter category, having really only played the Kingdom Hearts series of games (admittedly, specifically for the Disney element more than the RPG factor). However, having played the newly released remastered version of Ys: Memories of Celceta on PlayStation 4, I can confirm that this game alone has done more than enough to pull my interest into the realm of JRPGs, making me want to play more titles within the genre, along with the entirety of the Ys series.
Welcome (Back) To Celceta
Ys: Memories of Celceta is, in large part, a re-imagining of Ys IV and acts as a way to tie the overarching plot of the entire series together in a more cohesive manner. Players take on the role of the world-famous adventurer (and series protagonist), Adol Christin, who has seemingly lost his memory and finds himself in the village of Casnan. After an encounter with a thief named Duren, who claims to have known Adol from prior adventures, the two help rescue some trapped miners while taking out the monsters that lurk inside. The act catches the eye of Casnan’s Governor-General, Griselda, who hires the two to explore the surrounding forests and outlying areas of Celceta to be mapped out. Along the way, Adol and Duren meet other characters who join the party, each with their own special abilities and fighting styles.
Gameplay-wise, combat is the primary thing that sticks out in Ys: Memories of Celceta, translating effortlessly to the PlayStation 4. The game is an action JRPG, which (obviously) differs greatly from other titles with turn-based combat. Combat feels fluid and fun, while not being overly complicated. Melee attacks and special abilities can be performed, while switching between characters is as easy as pushing a single button. This is important since players will be switching between party members on-the-fly in pretty much every fight to take advantage of their abilities. This is especially true when faced with a variety of enemies at once, each having its own particular weakness. Some enemies may be more vulnerable to Duren’s brute force abilities, whereas others are more vulnerable to Adol’s slashing attacks with his sword.
Although leveling and increasing stats and abilities are still a large component, the RPG element in Ys: Memories of Celceta feels like a lite version of other RPGs I’ve played. This a huge draw for me personally, as getting too bogged down into the nitty-gritty details of abilities, crafting, and stat builds has never really appealed to me. Ys: Memories of Celceta’s RPG element feels even more accessible than the Kingdom Hearts games, which always felt more welcoming for an audience who may not otherwise play that type of game. That said, veteran players still have plenty to work with in terms of building out their characters.
Say “Yes” To The Ys: Memories of Celceta
Ys: Memories of Celceta’s overall narrative is fine, if not feeling a bit rushed with a lot to take in at once. Having never played any of the other games in the Ys series, I was able to keep up well enough and care about what was happening within the lands of Celceta while interacting with the various characters that, while at times a bit cliche, still had a surprising amount of depth to them.
Overall, the whimsical and grand visuals in Ys: Memories of Celceta are good enough to immerse players in its setting. Even with the PlayStation 4 remaster though, character movements (in cut-scenes) are quite choppy, while faces look like some sort of awkward PlayStation 2/Nintendo 64-hybrid. Thankfully, the hand-drawn animation during the conversation scenes looks superb and is the highlight of the game’s visuals.
Ys: Memories of Celceta on PlayStation 4 gives players yet another chance at playing a wonderful game in the long-running beloved series. The game can appeal to both veteran JRPG players and newbies alike, offering up fun action gameplay and accessible RPG elements. At the very least, Ys: Memories of Celceta on PlayStation 4 is the reason why I’ll be checking out the rest of the Ys series, which - as I now realize - is significantly overdue.
A PlayStation 4 copy of Ys: Memories of Celceta was provided to TheGamer for this piece.