Ys: Memories of Celceta

Not a system seller, but it’s a game worthy of buying if you own a Vita and easily one of the best RPGs of the year.

Action-JRGs don't get any better than this. [January 2014, p81]

Ys: Memories of Celceta is a joy to play. It isn't a technical marvel and doesn't get an award for originality with its story, but the practically perfect combat system reconfirms developer Nihon Falcoms thirty years of experience creating action RPGS's. Memories of Celceta is incredibly fun, addictive and a must have for any RPG-loving Vita owner.

I truly believe that Ys: Memories Of Celceta could be one of the strongest Vita titles introduced since the console’s launch.

A fantastic adventure from beginning to end, and one that everyone should play.

If you own a PS Vita, you owe it to yourself to get this game, especially if you like action RPGs.

A fantastic action-adventure role-playing game, Ys Memories of Celceta is a great game to use to introduce yourself to the Ys franchise. It's not your typical AAA title, but it definitely plays like one.

It doesn’t need extensive side missions, a sprawling mind-bending plot, or the full graphic capability of the Vita, because it’s just so much fun, which is why it’s garnering the reputation as a must-have for Vita owners.

All in all, I'd say that Y's: Memories of Celceta enters the "Must Have" area for RPG fans. It shows it's age in some places and isn't the prettiest game ever, but the depth of game to be explored here is well worth the price of admission.

Clocking in at around twenty hours and with time attack/new game + unlocking after the completion of the game, there’s a lot to see and explore. While I was a bit surprised to find that the normal difficulty was a bit too easy for Ys standards and wished that I had started off on hard mode, I had a great time with Adol and company exploring the land of Celceta.

It's a genuinely fun-to-play, feel-good experience that joins Tearaway as one of this year's best Vita games. I suspect that few gamers can resist being addicted to the excellent combat, or fail to crack a smile at the party's banter during conversations.

It’s truly impressive just how solid a game Ys: Memories of Celceta is. It has a lot of moving parts, and yet never once does it get lost in all its trying to do. Instead, all of its aspects feel polished, well-conceived and executed in tandem with a remarkable sense of precision. This is one of the Vita’s most prized RPGs, and realistically, one of its best titles.

This episode of the Ys series is a great example of what a RPG game is supposed to be. It offers the depth some users look for, and also the accessibility some others do. A great addition to the PS Vita's catalogue.

The story is a little blasé and the game is a little slow to start but once you get drawn in, it's very hard to put this game down.

Adol's new adventure shines thanks to an impressive combat system that delivers fun and joy, and a fast-paced game system that amuses until the end of the main story.

An above-average action RPG, but not the best the Ys series has to offer.

When it comes to presentation this remake of Ys fourth chapter could be definitely improved. But if you love your JRPG old school, it doesn’t get much better than this.

Ys: Memories of Celceta is a solid action RPG which will appeal fans of the franchise and newcomers thanks to some enjoyable characters and plenty of action. It is visually pretty too.

One of the best entries yet in the cult RPG saga Ys... and, besides, one of the most recommended titles for PS Vita too.

Ys: Memories of Celceta calls on the series' long history, but it builds out from there, transforming into something familiar but fresh.

Ys: Memories of Celceta is one of the best games on the Vita. It is frustratingly flawed in ways that would be easily fixed, but the strengths more than outweigh the weaknesses.

In an industry that has seen the drastic shifting and even outright dissolving of beloved gameplay styles, a game like this reminds us that some developers understand that in fact, the fans were fans for a reason.

Adol Christin is one of the oldest heroes in Japanese RPGs—and he may have aged more gracefully than any of them. Ys: Memories of Celceta reimagines his previously Japan-only PC Engine/Super Famicom quest from 20 years ago and delivers one of the Vita’s best role-playing experiences, infusing the classic concept with modern sensibilities and respecting the player’s ability to chart their own course of adventure.

This is some of the most fun I’ve had playing an RPG this year, proving that Ys has what it takes to keep afloat.

Proves itself a sturdy Vita game in its own right, with appeal that extends beyond just its genre. [May 2014, p.79]

Utterly generic but brilliant fun nevertheless. Shame about the perfunctory ending, though. [May 2014, p.74]

Nice characters, a simple but deep combat system and a well written story makes difficult to stop playing while this adventure lasts.

For a game whose hero is only one letter short from being named after the greatest monster of the past century, Ys: Memories of Celceta doesn’t do too badly at all. Sure, the lack of vocal tracks and the balance issues conspire to stop the game from reaching its full potential, but it’s still a game that can stand proud both on the Vita and within the Ys catalogue.

Ys: Memories of Celceta is as traditional as it gets, with plenty of JRPG clichés, but it’s still a hell of a lot of fun to play.

Despite the ho-hum storyline and a few minor pacing issues in the endgame ,it still comes pretty Ys-ey to recommend overall.

It isn’t hugely original and certainly doesn’t push the envelope in terms of aesthetics or gameplay, but somehow all the small elements come together and simply click.

Though a few tweaks short of masterful, it's a pleasure to find Ys in such good standing - proof of Falcom's ability to transpose 25 years of blueprint into an up-to-date, three-dimensional trapping.

Ys: Memories of Celceta is a solid, all round, action RPG that anyone can pick up and get into. And for fans, well, you’ll be happy to know that this is up there as one of the better entries in the franchise.

Ys: Memories of Celceta doesn’t bring anything new to the action RPG table, but makes such strong use of its combat that it’s still hard to put down. It may not have the most engrossing narrative or original ideas, but it still manages to keep you hooked throughout the course of its campaign.

One of the best Ys’ games of the last decade. Memories of Celceta gives action-RPG’s fans a new reason to own a PlayStation Vita.

Through this reinterpretation of the fourth episode, Ys ventures into a more expansive world full of new discoveries without forgetting its noble values, hence making Memories of Celceta an ideal heir to extend this brilliant dynasty.

Remains an entertaining and refreshing action RPG. Not bad when you consider its venerable age. [Issue#144, p.119]

It’s a shame, since the Ys series deserves more attention than it gets. A little more polish could have really brought it out to the forefront.

Ys: Memories of Celceta is one of the best games available for the Vita and a fine action RPG in its own right. Past some dated visuals and a sparse story are enticing battles and exciting exploration that can suck you in with a ruthless efficiency. If these kinds of character progression treadmills are your thing, don’t let it pass you by.

Ys: Memories of Celceta validates an inconsistent narrative with a simple and engrossing combat scheme that works perfectly in short and long bursts. $40 may seem high, but this Ys makes PlayStation Vita owners happy they have one.

Ys: Memories of Celceta has a lot going for it. The game's battle system is fast and very engaging, the story really takes off in the latter half, and the soundtrack is engrossing and memorable.

Hearing a sweeping synth-rock melody punctuate a flurry of sword strikes, mace combos, and stalagmites exploding into a shower of loot is a delightful event that you'll experience countless times.

YS: Memories of Celceta is a great action RPG and one of the most entertaining games on the Vita. It perhaps stumbles in a few places but never enough to fully fall.

Ys fans may have played better more memorable games in the Ys timeline, but Ys: Memories of Celceta on the PS Vita certainly deserves its time in the spotlight.

With plenty of fast-paced (and frequently challenging) action, Ys: Memories of Celceta fills in a gap in the series' history with aplomb. It offers a nice balance between story and combat -- in fact, its biggest shortcoming is strictly technical. A great addition to the Vita's library and the Ys franchise alike.

A series as ritually re-imagined as Ys should have exhausted its creative energy several iterations ago, but Memories of Celceta corrects any suspicion of dilution or degradation. Falcom's commanding role in its production has lead to an aggressive and intuitive combat system and, along with an exploration-focused narrative, an adventure that simultaneously embraces and improves its namesake's legacy.

Just like Adol, you've already seen most of what there is on offer in Ys: Memories of Celceta. The immense world and fast-paced combat will easily win over fans of action-RPGs, though.

Even with the lackluster character models, lack of smooth scrolling and generic plot with its awkward moments; Ys: Memories of Celceta is still a blast to play. The combat system just blows most other concerns out of the way.

It does such an outstanding job of artfully revitalizing a somewhat dormant series that the preponderance of its faults can be written off.

A good action RPG: maybe a little too simple and with a basic growth system, it can be interesting for old time fans and newcomers.

A game with a laser focus on a select few elements, Memories of Celceta is likely to appeal to only a small audience - but that audience is going to have little to complain about.

The fact that it’s built around something as simple as completing a map makes it accessible, but there are systems within – specifically when it comes to combat -- that make it dynamic and deep.

An excellent hybrid of role-playing staples that although it lacks new ideas of its own is able to use existing ones in a variety of entertaining ways – except when it comes to the story.

Not even the savvy touchscreen controls can gloss over the real problem: the uninspired world you're forced to inhabit - and for a 20+ hour commitment, that's a bit of an issue. [May 2014, p.83]