Ys Memoire: The Oath in Felghana is a remastered version of the classic action RPG, enhanced with numerous upgrades that breathe new life into Adol's epic adventure. Read our review to learn what it did well, what it didn't do well, and whether it's worth buying.

Ys Memoire: The Oath in Felghana Review Overview

What is Ys: The Oath in Felghana?

The story follows Adol and his blue-haired companion, Dogi, as they arrive unannounced in Dogi’s homeland of Felghana after an eight-year absence. They find the region in turmoil: violent monsters roam the outskirts, a dormant volcano has erupted, and a tyrannical new lord has begun extorting the suffering citizens.

While Dogi searches for his former combat master to uncover the truth, Adol aids the townsfolk and becomes entangled in all sorts of mishaps. Together, Adol and Dogi must unravel the mysteries behind these events, uncover ancient legacies, and confront political conspiracies to bring peace back to Felghana.

Ys Memoire: The Oath in Felghana, like other games in the Ys series, offers fast-paced hack-and-slash gameplay with elements of platforming and light puzzle-solving. However, unlike some other entries in the series, this game focuses solely on Adol as the playable character.

Ys: The Oath in Felghana features:
　⚫︎　Remaster of a Nearly 15 Years Old Game
　⚫︎　All New “Refined” Character Portraits
　⚫︎　Remastered Soundtrack
　⚫︎　Quality of Life Features
　⚫︎　Action RPG
　⚫︎　Pixel Graphics

For more gameplay details, read everything we know about Ys: The Oath in Felghana's gameplay and story.

Digital Storefronts
Steam 2012 Version		Switch		PlayStation
$15.00		$30		$30

Ys Memoire: The Oath in Felghana Pros & Cons

Pros	Cons
Voice-Acting Improves the Already Stellar Story Hack and Slash is Still Addicting and Fun Great Quality of Life Additions	Graphics and Visuals Can Sometimes Feel Outdated No Mini-Map and Lackluster Menu

Ys Memoire: The Oath in Felghana Overall Score - 80/100

Ys Memoire: The Oath in Felghana is a great remaster of a beloved classic, proving that even nearly 15 years later, this action RPG still shines. While some aspects feel quite dated, the game’s core experience remains timeless, bolstered by thoughtful quality-of-life improvements that breathe fresh energy into Adol’s journey. Whether you’re a longtime fan or a newcomer eager to explore the Ys series, this remaster offers a thrilling, difficult, but rewarding adventure that’s absolutely worth diving into.

Ys Memoire: The Oath in Felghana Story - 9/10

The story stands out as one of the best in the series, weaving an intricate mystery filled with political conspiracies and ancient legacies. It keeps you hooked from start to finish as the plot unfolds, constantly leaving you questioning who to trust. This gripping narrative truly makes it one of Adol’s most compelling adventures yet, keeping you on the edge of your seat throughout.

Ys Memoire: The Oath in Felghana Gameplay - 8/10

Just as the story is one of the best in the series, Ys Memoire: The Oath in Felghana also stands out as one of the most challenging Ys games. The difficulty comes not only from its tough boss battles but also from navigating the world, which can be frustrating due to the lack of a mini-map and a clunky menu system. That said, the fast-paced hack-and-slash gameplay remains incredibly fun and has aged remarkably well. Turbo mode takes the action to another level, making the experience even more exhilarating. While I wish they had added more quality-of-life features, the improvements that were made still make it quite an enjoyable, albeit challenging, adventure.

Ys Memoire: The Oath in Felghana Visuals - 7/10

The visuals carry a nostalgic charm that will appeal to fans of retro-style games, and the improvements over the original are evident. The refined sprites are a standout, giving characters and environments a cleaner, more polished look. However, the game’s age does show at times, especially with its muddy color palette and occasional outdated textures. While the enhancements are appreciated, they aren't quite enough to fully mask the game's older elements, which can sometimes feel distracting during gameplay.

Ys Memoire: The Oath in Felghana Audio - 9/10

One of the standout features of this remaster is the incredible voice acting, which breathes new life into many parts of the game’s story and its characters. Additionally, the option to switch between three different iterations of the soundtrack—Original, PC-8801, and X68000—adds a layer of really fun personalization for players. Each version has been beautifully remastered in high-quality audio, and all three soundtracks are exceptional in their own right.

Ys Memoire: The Oath in Felghana Value for Money - 7/10

The game comes with a $30 price tag, and while the remaster has some great new features, I feel a price range of $20–$25 would’ve been more reasonable. There just aren’t enough new features or upgrades to fully justify the cost, especially for a remaster of a 15-year-old game. Most of the standout elements—like the timeless hack-and-slash gameplay and incredible story—are things the remaster didn’t really enhance. That being said, if you decide to pick it up, it’s still a fantastic game at its core and worth playing.

Ys Memoire: The Oath in Felghana Review

Timeless at its Core

Ys Memoire: The Oath in Felghana is a solid remaster that breathes new life into a classic. While I wish it had included a few more updates to better justify its price and modernize the experience, the improvements it does bring are handled beautifully. At its core, this remains a tightly crafted action RPG that’s just as engaging now as it was years ago. As a long-time fan of the Ys series, I can confidently recommend this as one of the best entry points for newcomers—though it’s not without its flaws.

Gameplay Overview

If you’re new to the Ys series, The Oath in Felghana is a great introduction, showcasing the franchise’s signature fast-paced hack-and-slash combat paired with platforming and light puzzle-solving elements.
Presented in an isometric view, the game utilizes the Napishtim engine, which focuses on a single playable character—Adol Christin. Adol wields a combination of sword combat and elemental magic (Fire, Wind, and Earth), which are crucial for both battles and puzzle-solving.

Magic abilities can be used for ranged attacks or to exploit enemy weaknesses, adding versatility to combat. Boss battles are particularly challenging, requiring players to carefully read attack patterns and react strategically to succeed.

The combat system is straightforward, lacking dodge or parry mechanics, emphasizing precision and timing. The game world is interconnected, featuring dungeons, towns, and fields to explore, maintaining the engaging action-adventure style fans of the series have come to expect.

Voice-Acting is Definitely the Remaster’s Highlight

Revisiting Ys Memoire: The Oath in Felghana felt like opening a time capsule to one of the most cherished classic RPGs, but with a fresh coat of paint. Booting up the game instantly filled me with nostalgia, and the first thing I did was dive into the settings menu. To my delight, there are so many new features to tinker with, including the ability to switch between three versions of the game’s soundtrack: Original, PC-8801, and X68000. Each has been remastered in high-quality audio, and while all are fantastic, my personal favorite remains the original. It just hits all the right notes for me.

The real standout feature, though, is the stellar voice acting. I highly recommend enabling the narrator’s voice (it’s off by default), as it adds so much depth to the storytelling. From the moment Dogi and Adol land in Felghana, Dogi’s hometown, the voice work draws you in. Even minor characters are voiced, adding layers of personality to the world. Elena, Dogi’s childhood best friend, stole the show for me with her heartfelt and nuanced performance. I could tell that there was always something she was hiding and the voice actress did a fantastic job of keeping her mysterious.

The original version of the game didn’t have voice acting, and honestly, this addition elevates the entire story to new heights. The emotional beats hit harder, the tension is palpable, and the mystery surrounding the events in Felghana feels more gripping. And yes, it’s refreshing to finally hear Adol’s voice, a rare treat in the series.

While I love reading in, the incredible voice cast makes listening to this story an absolute joy.

Great Quality of Life Additions

Beyond the stellar voice acting, Ys Memoire: The Oath in Felghana introduces a host of quality-of-life improvements. One of the standout changes is how much smoother and faster the movement feels. Enemies also feel better balanced, making combat more engaging without being frustrating or easier. But the real game-changer? Turbo Mode.

Turbo Mode lets you increase the game’s speed to 1.5x or even 2.0x the original pace, and it’s an absolute blast to use. With just a click of the L3 button, you can toggle the speed to suit your preference. This feature is a godsend for moments of backtracking or those dungeon segments that can feel a bit sluggish. It makes navigating the world much more fluid and significantly cuts down on the grindy feeling some areas might have.

Surprisingly, Turbo Mode also meshes beautifully with combat. The faster pace adds a new layer of intensity and makes battles feel even more dynamic. It’s especially satisfying when you’re zipping around enemies, chaining attacks, and dodging their moves in rapid succession.

Combat Holds Up Surprisingly Well

I’ll admit, I was a little worried that the combat in Ys Memoire: The Oath in Felghana might feel dated or not live up to my memories of it. But those fears vanished the moment I faced my first pack of monster wolves. The combat is just as fun and exhilarating as I remembered. What I love most about this game—and the Ys series in general—is how fast and responsive the combat feels. It’s classic hack-and-slash goodness, and this entry leans into a more streamlined, almost arcade-like approach.

For instance, instead of managing healing items in your inventory, they drop directly from enemies and are used the moment you pick them up. It keeps the pace brisk and prevents any menu-diving mid-fight. Unlike some other Ys games, there are no party members here—just you, Adol, and your sword. You’ll chain together basic attacks, specials, and aerial moves, and while there’s no dedicated dodge button, the combat remains engaging and challenging.

Speaking of challenge, this is easily one of the tougher games in the series. Enemies hit hard, especially when they swarm you, and some can only be defeated with specific strategies. And then there are the bosses—oh man, they don’t mess around. Each one demands precise knowledge of their attack patterns, so you can’t just rely on button-mashing your way to victory. It’s tough but incredibly rewarding.

Overall, the combat is an absolute blast. It’s fast, frantic, and heart-pounding in all the right ways, making every encounter feel like a test of skill. Whether you’re mowing down hordes of enemies or sweating through an intense boss fight, Oath in Felghana knows how to keep you on your toes.

Visuals Are a Hit or Miss

One of my initial concerns with Ys Memoire: The Oath in Felghana was the visuals. Watching the trailers and browsing screenshots, I couldn’t help but notice how dated the game looked. The muddy textures and odd sprite designs stood out, and I worried it might be distracting. Having played the game, though, I can say it’s not as bad as I feared. In fact, the visuals have their own retro charm, and certain areas—like the town—look vibrant and inviting.

One standout feature is the refined character portraits. These updated designs breathe new life and personality into the characters, especially Adol and Dogi, whose refined versions feel more aligned with the modern look of the series. If you’re a purist, though, you can switch back to the classic portraits, which is a nice touch. Personally, I prefer the refined portraits as they add so much more expressiveness and flair.

That said, the game’s age does show. While the team clearly did their best to improve the visuals, it’s still not what I’d call a great-looking game by today’s standards. Some issues go beyond aesthetics, like the sprites blending into the environment due to odd pixel shading and coloring. This occasionally made it difficult to spot enemies, and there were moments where I died simply because I couldn’t see them properly.

Could Have Used a Bit More Improvements

The remaster does a solid job of addressing some of the original game’s flaws, but it doesn’t go far enough in modernizing certain aspects, leaving room for improvement. For example, there’s still no mini-map, which can make navigation a hassle. It’s far too easy to get lost, and with no proper quest tracker to guide you, picking the game back up after a break can feel disorienting.

A simple “next objective” marker or refresher could have gone a long way in making the experience more accessible for newcomers and even long-time fans who are now accustomed to the convenience of newer Ys games.

The menu system also feels outdated and clunky. It’s poorly laid out, making it frustrating to navigate through abilities or items. Something as simple as checking equipment or looking up information can turn into an unnecessary chore because of how unoptimized the interface feels.

Occasionally, there’s a noticeable stutter between animations that can disrupt the flow of battle. It’s also strange that you can jump and then attack, but not attack and then jump consecutively. These small hiccups, while not dealbreakers, can be a little frustrating during intense fights or when trying to chain together moves smoothly.

Overall, while the game does a decent job of enhancing some elements, there’s still a feeling that more could have been done to bring the experience fully up to date. These lingering issues don’t ruin the game but can detract from what is otherwise an enjoyable remaster.

Is Ys Memoire: The Oath in Felghana Worth It?

A Great Game You Can Wait On

Ys Memoire: The Oath in Felghana is a solid remaster, but it is a tad bit overpriced, especially when the original game is available on Steam for just $15. The changes and improvements, while appreciated, are relatively minor, making it hard to justify the price hike.

I really wish they added a bit more improvements and additions to really justify the price. That said, if you do decide to purchase it before a sale, it’s still a worthwhile investment and a great way to support the creators. I just wish it were a bit more affordable.

Digital Storefronts
Steam 2012 Version		Switch		PlayStation
$15.00		$30		$30

Ys Memoire: The Oath in Felghana FAQ

Can I Play the Game Without Playing the Rest of the Ys Games?

Yes! The game features a stand-alone story that does a great job of introducing players to Adol and Dogi, making it easy to jump into their adventure without needing prior knowledge of the series.

Is Ys Memoire: The Oath in Felghana Coming to PC?

Unfortunately, it’s unclear if the game will be coming to PC or Steam at this time. For English-speaking players, the only version currently available on Steam is the 2012 release.

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Ys Memoire: The Oath in Felghana Product Information

Title	Ys Memoire: The Oath in Felghana
Release Date	November 2, 2010 (PSP), March 19, 2012 (PC), January 7, 2025 (Nintendo Switch, PS4, PS5)
Developer	Falcom
Publisher	Falcom
Supported Platforms	PS4, PS5, Nintendo Switch (Remaster)
Genre	Action RPG
Number of Players	1
ESRB Rating	T
Official Website	Ys: The Oath in Felghana Website

Uriel Rodriguez

Writer | Gamer | Self-Proclaimed Digimon/Sujimon/Persona/Palworld/Pokémon Master