Maroc - 3RD-STRIKE.COM - A La Une - 12/May 02:15

Ys Memoire: Revelations in Celceta – Review

We feel like it hasn’t been all that long since we last checked in with our pal Adol Christin, but he’s back with a new… well, old adventure. Hot on the heels of Ys X: Proud Nordics comes Revelations in Celceta, the second Ys Memoire entry after last year’s The Oath in Felghana. We’ve grown quite fond of the series, so we don’t mind this steady stream of Ys titles, but we’re also the first to admit that not every entry is created equal. Where does Ys Memoire: Revelations in Celceta sit in the series? Story The Ys timeline has always been a bit fuzzy, but that is deliberate. Where the games from Falcom’s Trails series form a continuous story, each Ys entry can be played as a standalone adventure, with protagonist Adol Christin being the only returning element in every game. That said, the timing of Revelations in Celceta’s release is probably not entirely coîncidental, as within Ys’ timeline, the game takes place directly after Ys X. Not that that makes a huge difference, as Adol is suffering from amnesia when Revelations in Celceta begins. After reuniting with his old friend Duren and helping the local authorities deal with a monster outbreak in a nearby mine, Adol is tasked with mapping the dangerous forest nearby. As he does so, he gradually recovers fragments of his memories and uncovers mysteries involving ancient civilizations, gods, artifacts, fallen kingdoms, and even the hidden history of Celceta itself. Graphics The visuals of Revelations in Celceta’s original PS Vita release haven’t seen a massive overhaul for this version. The game definitely looks dated, something that is highlighted all the more when you’re playing on a TV instead of the Vita’s pocket-sized screen. That said, there is a timeless charm to the colorful environments, anime-inspired character art, and energetic presentation. The unruly camera is a source of frustration though. The game makes use of a fixed perspective, and moving the right stick simply zooms in or out. It took us a while to get used to that: early on, we were in the habit of trying to rotate the camera with the stick. Now, if the right stick only controlled zoom, that would be okay, but moving it up and down also issues party commands. In the heat of battle, this led to us accidentally changing our party members’ approach from defensive to aggressive, and the camera zooming as we tried to reverse that. In terms of visual performance, Revelations in Celceta adequately does what it needs to, although we do recommend using the Switch 2’s boost mode if you can, as it does make a noticeable difference. Sound The main highlight of Revelations in Celceta’s soundscape is that fantastic soundtrack. It’(s energetic, memorable, and full of Falcom’s signature blend of rock guitars, fast percussion and dramatic melodies, amplifying both combat and exploration. The Memoire release’s biggest addition is soundtrack-related, as the original soundtrack can be swapped with a newly arranged version at any time. While we definitely appreciate the crispness of the newer tracks, there is a timeless charm to the original version, and we ended up sticking with that one. Revelations in Celceta also features voice acting, both in English and Japanese, although for the most part it is limited to important scenes and central characters, with many lines remaining text-only. Outside of music and voice work, Revelations in Celceta’s sound design is impactful and fitting for its fast-paced action, with flashy attacks, special moves, and defensive mechanics being accompanied by sound effects that contribute to the game’s energetic feel. Gameplay Within the Ys series, the original Revelations in Celceta serves as something of a transitional entry. Mechanically, it’s a bridge between Ys Seven and “modern” Ys games like Lacrimosa of Dana. Revelations in Celceta expands and refines the party-based combat system introduced in Ys Seven, while laying the groundwork for systems and design ideas that later ideas would build upon fully. That translates to a fast-paced RPG with exploration-driven progression and real-time combat. You take control of Adol and a party of up to three companions at a time, switching freely between them during battle. Each character specializes in a different attack type, and enemies have different weaknesses and resistances, encouraging you to rotate between party members instead of relying on a single fighter. Combat is as flashy and chaotic as it is accessible, with characters able to chain together basic attacks, special skills mapped to face buttons, dodges, guards, and powerful super attacks. The game’s signature Flash Guard and Flash Move systems are especially important here, rewarding precise timing by slowing down enemies and creating openings to deal massive damage. Exploration is another major focus. A significant chunk of the game involves charting the Great Forest of Celceta, which is as simple as exploring your surroundings. The game automatically logs what percentage of the map you’ve visited, and there are plenty of secret routes and hidden treasures to be found, including memory events that help jog Adol’s memories. Perhaps somewhat unexpected for a JRPG, Revelations in Celceta takes somewhat of a Metroidvania approach in that certain parts of the map are inaccessible until you obtain the right character abilities or artifacts to open them up. Backtracking becomes essential then, but the game has a fast-travel system, ensuring a streamlined experience. What’s very noticeable about Revelations in Celceta is how much smaller it is in scope and scale compared to other games in the Ys series. This is likely owing to the fact that this was originally a PS Vita title, and most of the core game has remained fundamentally unchanged from that. The inevitable comparison to The Oath in Felghana highlights how Revelations in Celceta feels more like a port rather than a substantial modernisation. The turbo mode is missing here, and with no dialogue log, a lack of autosave, and an outdated UI, there are very few meaningful QoL improvements overall. There is something to be said about wanting to preserve the experience of the original, but the game’s age is definitely showing in places. Like the other Ys Memoire title, Revelations in Celceta’s price point is significantly lower than ‘modern’ Ys games, although this is also reflected in the game’s 20-ish hour runtime. Conclusion Although Revelations in Celceta hasn’t completely stood the test of time, it’s still both a notable entry in the Ys series and an above-average ARPG in its own right. It may not be the best Ys game out there, but that’s like saying a simple burger isn’t as good as a fancy steak. There’s plenty of good about Revelations in Celceta; just keep your expectations in check.