Ys: Memories of Celceta

 PlayStation Vita
User Score
8.7

Generally favorable reviews- based on 287 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 249 out of 287
  2. Mixed: 15 out of 287
  3. Negative: 23 out of 287
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  1. DeadP47
    Nov 26, 2013
    10
    Best game for Vita, I bought PS VIta just to play this game and it was worth my money! It's a high speed non-stop action RPG with the hugest world ever seen in portable RPG. And music... I just love it.
  2. JiveAfro
    Nov 26, 2013
    10
    Probably one of the best action RPGs to come to the Vita, it has excitement at every turn and the game-play is memorizing. The music is amazing, fits the game really well. The world for this game is huge! I love this game!!!
  3. Zeag
    Nov 29, 2013
    9
    Each new Ys game is a guilty pleasure. Every other games in progress are set aside for long sessions of incredibly satisfying hack and slash adventures with Adol.

    Very few changes have been made to the great party and skills systems of Ys Seven for the PSP and that's quite alright since Seven had already brought along changes like crafting and sidequests board that made the game feel    Each new Ys game is a guilty pleasure. Every other games in progress are set aside for long sessions of incredibly satisfying hack and slash adventures with Adol.

    Very few changes have been made to the great party and skills systems of Ys Seven for the PSP and that's quite alright since Seven had already brought along changes like crafting and sidequests board that made the game feel much more substantial than previous games of the series.

    If you're a fan of the series or looking for a Diablo-like with an anime flair, Ys: Memories of Celceta's is another great production from Falcom and a solid buy for any Vita owner.    … Expand
  4. Vsin
    Dec 3, 2013
    9
    It's the bread and the butter. With bacon, lettuce and tomatoes. And special sauce on bread of your choice. With a side soup or salad. Hot, gratuitous coffee too. In other words, Ys: Memories of Celceta manages to cover all the basics you need, all the extras you want, even going one step further with details that really help polish off the experience.

    I could probably write an    It's the bread and the butter. With bacon, lettuce and tomatoes. And special sauce on bread of your choice. With a side soup or salad. Hot, gratuitous coffee too. In other words, Ys: Memories of Celceta manages to cover all the basics you need, all the extras you want, even going one step further with details that really help polish off the experience.

    I could probably write an essay on this, but who goes to Metacritic for essays? Here's the short version.

    Pros:
    Legit exploration, flexibility with encounters
    Varied difficulty with harder difficulties actually being difficult
    One of the fastest combat systems in any ARPG on the market
    Varied boss encounters
    Dungeons that use the "exploration gimmicks" for movement, not combat (yes, I care about that!)
    Surprising level of character customization, with varied playstyles and bonuses
    Full crafting and enhancement system
    A good story

    Cons:
    Graphical fidelity is barely better than PSP
    Occasional framerate drops
    Rear touch AI switching is somewhat unresponsive (but rarely necessary). Thankfully, you are unlikely to switch the AI by accident.    … Expand
  5. Tielur
    Nov 26, 2013
    9
    Honestly I just picked up the special edition version of this game, and my vita died before i could play very much. But this game sticks out. It's art style is amazing. Being my first game in the Ys series this seems like a good starting point to anyone looking to try the games out! also it's so very good to see another good rpg after P4G.
  6. MGdawg
    Nov 28, 2013
    10
    This is one of the best games for Vita. I was skeptical when purchasing this game because I am not a big JRPG fan Ys: Memories of Celceta is really fun. I have about 10 hours into it and I am really enjoying it.
  7. Blly
    Dec 1, 2013
    10
    Absolutely beautiful game. Truly amazing. another excellen game for the Vita A true classic. 9/10 must own for any JRPG fan The last boss was very hard to beat though lol.
  8. OverSoul2012
    Nov 30, 2013
    10
    This is the perfect type of game for Vita. It has really fun gameplay and well thought out rpg mechanics. The graphics aren't the best on the platform, but they make up for it with all around great design. Anyone who's into RPGs will love it.
  9. maqhusson
    Dec 3, 2013
    9
    I was hesitant to buy this game shortly after it released because I only found one review and was worried about how good it was, but I am damn happy I bought it. The game's amazingly fun. I've spent 16 hours on the game so far, and I haven't gotten tired of it, been playing it pretty much non-stop, the combat's just that much fun for me.On top of that, exploring is fun, boss battles areI was hesitant to buy this game shortly after it released because I only found one review and was worried about how good it was, but I am damn happy I bought it. The game's amazingly fun. I've spent 16 hours on the game so far, and I haven't gotten tired of it, been playing it pretty much non-stop, the combat's just that much fun for me.On top of that, exploring is fun, boss battles are varied, and there's incentive to explore the whole map. All in all, this game's an absolute gem, only thing holding it back from being a 10 for me is that the graphics are a little weak. The Vita is a beast, and the beauty it can achieve is shown in Killzone Mercenary, and this game's graphics don't reach that level. However, the fun factor and the amazing combat and game system are still amazing enough to net it a 9 from me, and it could quite possibly be my best Vita game of 2013.… Expand
  10. mgrandchamp
    Dec 2, 2013
    9
    One of the best games for vita. In agreement that only persona 4 golden is in front of it. Has a tight fast paced battle system and vast open world. Falcom made an absolute gem in this title.
  11. WelshTom
    Jul 25, 2014
    6
    It has its good points, such as the frantic-but-fun battle system and interesting music style, but the bland characters and increasingly dull story make the game something of a chore to complete. The forest of Celceta may start as an interesting and mysterious setting, but the novelty wears off after a few hours of tedious pathways and lakes.
  12. seaban
    Nov 27, 2013
    10
    Awesome game, just all around fun. Story is a little light, but everything else is just great. Aside from P4G this is my favorite so far. I hope xseed can bring more over.
  13. Kaprawiec
    Apr 13, 2015
    6
    This DEFINITELY IS NOT THE BEST GAME FOR VITA like some say. Lets see:
    Cons:
    1) Story - well...its just bad. I finished it and i think it was the worst aspect of the game. Main character was ... wait a minute - who was he? Mr nobody. 2) Graphics - this doesnt look like PSV game. I've seen better looking games on PSP...hell Final Fantasy IX on Playstation looked better and still looks    This DEFINITELY IS NOT THE BEST GAME FOR VITA like some say. Lets see:
    Cons:
    1) Story - well...its just bad. I finished it and i think it was the worst aspect of the game. Main character was ... wait a minute - who was he? Mr nobody.
    2) Graphics - this doesnt look like PSV game. I've seen better looking games on PSP...hell Final Fantasy IX on Playstation looked better and still looks better on PSV...
    3) Slow start - I had to force myself to play this (I wanted to see what people see in this game, but first impression of this game is... 1/10, but it really gets better in time)
    Mixed:
    1) Gameplay - idiotic wait-5minutes-to-heal mechanic makes me feel like Im just wasting time... But the fight system with lots of skills is actually engaging.
    2) Humor - Corny jokes, but it was once or twice quite funny.
    Pros:
    1) Feeling - it has a bit of this sense of big adventure.
    2) Loot and map - i like the loot system in this game and upgrading gear.
    Verdict:
    Video: 4/10
    Audio: 8/10
    Gameplay: 8/10
    Story: 5/10
    Overall: 7/10    … Expand
  14. AbelTensor
    Dec 19, 2013
    10
    Ive been a Ys fan for as long as i can remember. A while back i got my hands on Ys 1 and 2 when falcon had released them as a double pack and i just fell in love with the story, lore and characters. Having never been into other big Jrpg titles, Final fantasy for example, I was pretty surprised, Now here we are years later talking about a remake of the 4th Ys game. It wouldn't beIve been a Ys fan for as long as i can remember. A while back i got my hands on Ys 1 and 2 when falcon had released them as a double pack and i just fell in love with the story, lore and characters. Having never been into other big Jrpg titles, Final fantasy for example, I was pretty surprised, Now here we are years later talking about a remake of the 4th Ys game. It wouldn't be correct to call it a remake more of a re-imagining/redubbed game, just keep that in mind.

    Memorie's of Celceta is by far the best RPG on the PSvita. Maybe thats just my subjective opinion but i personally think it certainly is better then most in an objective way and since its one of the few true Arpg's in the vita catalog right now, it is certainly the best Arpg for the vita.

    Story: Ys 4 follows the exploits of Adol Christian, our red haired hero/adventurer and starts out like most Ys games in that he has no memories. Him and his friend decide to go explore the "great forest" at the behest of the commander general of the town they start in for a grand reward that will be claimed by the first people to fully complete a map of the forest. The story seems simple but as with all Ys games it is anything but that. As the story starts to flesh out and the characters become more and more established you really start to pull for adol. The game makes you feel a sense of being on a grand adventure. The story is very strong like all Ys games, it starts out simple and is very easy to follow but still has its twists and turns and keeps you interested the entire game. The characters as well are rich and deep as well as interesting to interact with. You want to know more and you get to know more as the game progresses.

    Graphics: One of the best looking games on the Vita, baring tearaway. At first it doesnt seem that grand but then you see all the little details involve, the day/night cycle, the different skills and sprites as well as the seamless world. The character design is what you would expect from a JRPG but its not overly moe like some other games in the genera.

    Controls: As a note here, when i first heard they were going to use the Ys 7 mechanics over the ys origin etc platforming i was a bit saddened as I felt that the Ys 7 combat was weaker then previous installments. This was all misguided. Ys 4 effectively expands upon the ys 7 combat mechanics and makes them into something far more interesting and grand. You may not be able to jump but you can dodge/block and you have 5 skills at your disposal as well as very fluid controls. You are able to seamlessly swap between party members in the heat of battle each with their own play style and strength. Weapons and Armour can be upgraded via reinforcement with different attributes such as chance to crit and regeneration allowing you to fully customize your party to meet your play style. As you progress you unlock various artifacts that allow you to do things like run up steep cliffs or swim underwater, each of which adds more and more depth to the game.

    Sound: As with any Ys game you have some of the most unbelievable music. The soundtrack for this game really gets you involved emotionally, building great tension in large boss battles and producing emotion in somber moments. Roaring guitar's mixed with violins are a trade mark of Falcom's games and this one is no exception. The voice acting is a little weak as it is an English dubbing and personally i would prefer the Japanese dub over the English one, but there is very little of it in the dialogue and cut scenes that it wasnt enough to detract from the experience. The sound effects provide impact and make the combat feel more visceral and add to the already fluid game play in a great way.

    Overall: This game is a very solid RPG for anyone who likes the genera. There isnt anything overly complicated about the system but it still has enough to keep even the most hardcore gamers involved. The difficulty levels of the game make it very challenging like all Ys titles that came before, which is a breathe of fresh air in a very "casual" game market. With my playthrough i clocked about 25-30 hours of game time on hard difficulty which is in my opinion more then enough, but they've added a new game+ mode as well as boss time trials to extend the replay-ability and while i doubt ill be playing it again so soon after completing it, i will certainly come back to play it not long from now. The last difficulty nightmare is certainly something i need to explore.    … Expand
  15. MurphyBear
    Dec 13, 2013
    9
    Now THIS is the RPG the Vita has been DYING for! If you're like me and would rather play an action RPG as opposed to spending all your time maxing out your "social links" as a four-teen year old Japanese girl buy this game now and pass on that other crap....
  16. EvoTheGamer
    Dec 5, 2013
    10
    I Have played many Ys games this one reminds me of Ys SEVEN and its even better! If you own already a PS Vita this title is MUST HAVE! Awesome quick combat system bosses locations and like in every YS Music is fantastic! I Really recommend it to everyone even if you didn't play Ys before!
  17. yktan9
    Jun 15, 2015
    10
    It's a gem for the PS Vita platform!

    The gameplay is simple and effective: - Player can switch among the characters in the party real-time, based on the their skills, both in combat as well as exploration. - The levelling up mechanism is not too repetitive. Boss fights requires different strategies. - It's open world but at the same time there is a strong storyline to lead the    It's a gem for the PS Vita platform!

    The gameplay is simple and effective:
    - Player can switch among the characters in the party real-time, based on the their skills, both in combat as well as exploration.
    - The levelling up mechanism is not too repetitive. Boss fights requires different strategies.
    - It's open world but at the same time there is a strong storyline to lead the player.
    - The teleport stones help to reduce the labour of travelling within the areas players have visited.
    - Special moves are easily executed.

    Excellent artwork, character/beast designs, soundtrack.
    Good story-line that blends well with the exploration and leveling up nature of the game.
    The appropriate voice in during text conversations adds on to the characters' personalities.

    Improvement
    - As with all games personal preference comes into play. I would prefer a little bit more depth to the combat (perhaps, possible to turn it on in hard mode?). Some more combo moves to make the combats a bit more engaging. Being an option, it can still be kept simple for a portable pick it up game, and at the same time satisfy hardcore gamers.    … Expand
  18. juliofb
    Nov 28, 2013
    8
    This game is great. Go get it!

    I played a couple of hours. It reminded me a lot of Ys 7 (and that is a great thing). Fast paced, great music, heartwarming story so far (I've put about 15 hours). You feel right at home with the game if you're into Ys or action jRPGs. Graphics won't blow your mind (seems like a game that could be on PSP), but levels and characters are varied, colorful    This game is great. Go get it!

    I played a couple of hours. It reminded me a lot of Ys 7 (and that is a great thing). Fast paced, great music, heartwarming story so far (I've put about 15 hours). You feel right at home with the game if you're into Ys or action jRPGs.

    Graphics won't blow your mind (seems like a game that could be on PSP), but levels and characters are varied, colorful and interesting. The universe itself is quite cool it manages to be a familiar jRPG without ever feeling generic. I really dig the style.

    Besides, its all about gameplay. Controls are tight, levels and enemies are varied, and the combat has some depth to it. I'm playing on normal difficulty here, so I can go by most situations mashing square, dodging enemy attacks and switching characters to deal with monsters weaknesses.

    Heck, if you read it this far you probably is just looking for a reason to buy the game. In my opinion, its worth the buy.

    One last piece of information: I'm not the biggest jRPG fan out there, so it could mean something that I'm that interested in this game.    … Expand
  19. commodorewheele
    Nov 28, 2013
    10
    This is the second-best JRPG released in the past few years, behind only Persona 4 Golden IMO. The bread and butter here is the fast, smooth gameplay, which keeps the action really intense, and the rock-based music and art style are fantastic as well. Only weaknesses are that the graphics aren't quite up to the standards of the best that the Vita has seen so far, and the sound effects seemThis is the second-best JRPG released in the past few years, behind only Persona 4 Golden IMO. The bread and butter here is the fast, smooth gameplay, which keeps the action really intense, and the rock-based music and art style are fantastic as well. Only weaknesses are that the graphics aren't quite up to the standards of the best that the Vita has seen so far, and the sound effects seem to be sampled at a lower-than-average rate for a Vita game, but I'd say that those flaws still didn't really detract from my overall enjoyment of the game. I definitely recommend this one!… Expand
  20. Mando44646
    Dec 8, 2013
    9
    Fantastic handheld RPG. My second favorite Vita game behind Persona 4 Golden it is a must-have for every Vita owner. I cannot recommend it enough. My score is a 9.5 only because I do not tend to give perfect 10s.
  21. C3realkillah
    Dec 19, 2013
    9
    This game is one of the reasons im glad i have a vita. well this and the phenomenal persona 4 golden. With that being said, i'm a sucker for jrpgs. this is the first ys game i've played in the series and though i dont know how any other ys games play, this one is fantastic. First off its fun as hell. I love the hack and slash style real time combat. The open world is big and vast withThis game is one of the reasons im glad i have a vita. well this and the phenomenal persona 4 golden. With that being said, i'm a sucker for jrpgs. this is the first ys game i've played in the series and though i dont know how any other ys games play, this one is fantastic. First off its fun as hell. I love the hack and slash style real time combat. The open world is big and vast with chests and memories among other things to find and collect. The characters all use different weapons and have their strengths and weaknesses. Its nothing really new to jrpgs there are still side quests, leveling up, crafting, weapon upgrades, etc. that are in most jrpgs but it still is rewarding and great to have. Most of the sidequests, unlike most jrpgs, have some unique and very fund side objectives beyond the boring fetch quests. without spoiling any they are fun and not at all boring. they are pretty varied too. their are 6 playable characters each with their own skills and their character developement is great. The story, though not stellar, is still pretty well told and the dialouge is smart and funny at times. I really enjoyed this game and im still playing it. Yes it is addictive but also rewarding. If you like jrpgs you need to pick this up and also try persona 4 golden these two games are definitely worth purchasing a vita for.… Expand
  22. thedeadcat01
    Dec 2, 2013
    10
    This game is another showcase that really shows why the Vita is so special. The graphics are stunning, the gameplay is amazing, the story is memorable and it just keeps you coming back for more. Highly recommend it to anyone own a Vita.
  23. xDaudex
    May 25, 2015
    4
    Pros:
    Your characters level up
    You can equip different gear to your characters
    There are abilities
    (it was hard to find anything good to say about this game as you can tell)

    Cons:
    Gameplay is boring
    Game does not properly show you where to go
    Story is uninteresting
  24. godef
    Feb 8, 2014
    10
    One of the best games for psvita.It's an action RPG wonderful,perfect to play it in a handheld.The soundtrack is brilliant,one of the best I heard.Every psvita user would have to own this game because is awesome.C'mon buy it!
  25. tattoosteve
    Dec 9, 2013
    10
    For a vita game the map is pretty expansive and you can explore a ton. It's also pretty hard and that's a plus if you want it to last longer (like me). Great combat. Great game overall.
  26. Compozer
    Nov 27, 2013
    9
    One of the best ARPG's of all time, just a great game.
    +Amazing soundtrack
    +Tight Challenging gameplay
    +Great game world and atmosphere, really makes you feel like you're on an adventure

    Just a great game. Stories a little weak though.
  27. simpletaste
    Jul 4, 2014
    9
    This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. Falcom brings Ys:MoC to the PSV with a very well done adventure that I could recommend to anyone with the handheld system.

    The story is well paced and told nicely with story beats that tie into one another which keeps things interesting.

    Battle system is fun, where individuals can create their own play styles. You can button mash if you wish, or you can slow it down for a more methodical approach to situations. Either way the action is fast and can get intense at times.

    In game character portraits are great. The world is colorful and varied and doesn't fall into lava dungeon here, ice dungeon there cliches.

    Voiced dialogue is usually used in introducing main characters in the plot and in certain scenes here and there. The voices are okay. The voices themselves match the characters quite well, but the delivery of some of the actors lines can be hit or miss. Their is very little of it through the adventure so It shouldn't bother even the most snobby of critics too much.

    The pay off at the end is so so(pre-credits) but it didn't upset me, just a little underwhelming. The true payoff of the story was in the journey itself which I had a great time.    … Expand
  28. Gwyndolin
    Sep 22, 2016
    9
    Definitely one of the best titles on the PS Vita.
    If you like Action RPGs you should definitely check this one out. Fast paced hack and slash gameplay that is fun from beginning to the end. The soundtrack is great, it made exploring the maps more fun than it already is.
    Story is decent. I'm a story-oriented player so I must say its strengths does not lie in the storytelling. It's not    Definitely one of the best titles on the PS Vita.
    If you like Action RPGs you should definitely check this one out. Fast paced hack and slash gameplay that is fun from beginning to the end. The soundtrack is great, it made exploring the maps more fun than it already is.

    Story is decent. I'm a story-oriented player so I must say its strengths does not lie in the storytelling. It's not really bad or anything, it just isn't the main selling point.

    As for graphics, it's fine and there was not any frame rate drops that I can remember. If there was it was probably minor and rare.    … Expand
  29. StaticSpine
    Apr 1, 2015
    9
    A very fun Action RPG with simplistic but catchy gameplay, decent story, several playable characters, lots of side quests and crafting. A must-have for all Vita owners!
  30. BramStark
    Nov 28, 2013
    9
    The series made a sequel that will completely blew the mind of its fans and those people who are new to the world of Ys. One thing that Celceta can offer was its non-stop high-speed hack and slash action. If you're a fan of Vita's RPG library(Persona, Soul Sacrifice, Ragnarok), then you'll definitely like this. The story didn't sucked at all and even if you're not familiar with theThe series made a sequel that will completely blew the mind of its fans and those people who are new to the world of Ys. One thing that Celceta can offer was its non-stop high-speed hack and slash action. If you're a fan of Vita's RPG library(Persona, Soul Sacrifice, Ragnarok), then you'll definitely like this. The story didn't sucked at all and even if you're not familiar with the previous games, you'll still enjoy this great game. The game's music is awesomely made and perfectly fits the non-stop action. The only thing that made me give Celceta a 9/10 was it looks like an enhanced PSP game that was made for Vita. The PSP-like graphics was good but I was expecting for it to be better.… Expand
  31. SteveGonzola
    Mar 23, 2014
    10
    The game is colourfull , fast paced, long and it has a good story.

    The story is that Adol (you) went into the Great Forest of Celceta and was the only one so far to come back alive. But he has forgotten who he is or what he did.

    The gameplay is great and fast, and the game is overflowing with color.

    Stop reading this review and buy it!
  32. TimmytheGamer
    Dec 8, 2013
    10
    Definitely in my top three favorite vita games that I owned. The music soundtrack is great and game play is very addicting. Hope to see more RPG's on the Vita in the future.
  33. chrisse989
    Oct 9, 2019
    6
    Bought this game based on all the positive feedback I read on Metacritic. Initially I liked it: enjoyable combat, great visuals, technically sound. But it quickly grew old, the combat does outstay its welcome and I found myself rushing past enemies after a few hours in. Story is also rather meh. Main problem for me is the by the numbers approach which repeats itself continuously: collectBought this game based on all the positive feedback I read on Metacritic. Initially I liked it: enjoyable combat, great visuals, technically sound. But it quickly grew old, the combat does outstay its welcome and I found myself rushing past enemies after a few hours in. Story is also rather meh. Main problem for me is the by the numbers approach which repeats itself continuously: collect three items, beat a boss, collect again three items, than beat three bosses to advance etc. If combat in between gets stale and the story isn't interesting, you only continue pushing to finish the game because you invested already a lot of time in it. But I still gave up after a new repeated announcement of "go beat three bosses" after I collected again three gems...… Expand
  34. Volken
    Dec 11, 2013
    9
    About 20 hours in this game and I have to admit I love it To be honest, I bought this game just because it's been a long time since I played a JRPG in this kind of atmosphere (mix between medieval, magic and I was surprised very good soundtrack, fights are great, history is classic but good. Maybe my best experience on VITA in 2013. So for me, it is a 9
  35. Inryoku
    Jul 9, 2014
    9
    This game is a must-buy for every PS Vita owner who likes RPGs. The graphics are meh and the story fulfills its purpose but can be easily ignored. The things that made me play it for 30 hours (and not being even remotely close to put it down) is the vast amount of content and the gameplay which are stellar; the world is humongous and the combat system very tight and rewards utilizingThis game is a must-buy for every PS Vita owner who likes RPGs. The graphics are meh and the story fulfills its purpose but can be easily ignored. The things that made me play it for 30 hours (and not being even remotely close to put it down) is the vast amount of content and the gameplay which are stellar; the world is humongous and the combat system very tight and rewards utilizing effective blocking and evading. So if you have a Vita and like RPGs then it's a easy choice you won't forget.… Expand
  36. Trobott
    Dec 5, 2013
    9
    In a dry spell of vita games YSMoC changes my perception of how games should be on the platform. Challenging, approachable, and most of all Fun. This is the most fun I have had in a game since I have played Persona 4 Golden. If you like Zelda, Action, Jrpgs, or exploration this is for you!
  37. MarcinOS
    Dec 20, 2013
    10
    My first YS game was YS: The Ark of Napishtim. Later I played YS Seven, but this one is amazing. Nice story, combat system and music confirmed me in my opinion that this is the best action RPG ever. I recommend a special edition of the game.
  38. xpaultheman
    Aug 25, 2014
    10
    I love the fast paced combat, the story, the special moves, the map progression system, the crafting system and the RPG elements. One of my favorite JRPG! Best $30 well spent in a long time.
  39. FlipYa4Real
    Apr 4, 2014
    10
    This is an arcadey action RPG. You basically mow down hordes of enemies while upgrading your gear to 'Godly' levels if wanted, or forgo to save your money for later - which I should have done more of.

    In any case, the music is top notch. I'm not sure who created the soundtrack (that's probably elsewhere in these reviews) but rock fans will be pleased. In any case if it is not your    This is an arcadey action RPG. You basically mow down hordes of enemies while upgrading your gear to 'Godly' levels if wanted, or forgo to save your money for later - which I should have done more of.

    In any case, the music is top notch. I'm not sure who created the soundtrack (that's probably elsewhere in these reviews) but rock fans will be pleased. In any case if it is not your cup o' tea you can play your own music over the top of it.

    The gameplay is superb, for what it is. You won't find better on the Vita in the Hack n' Slash sense.

    Kill mobs
    Return quests
    Upgrade
    Fight a boss
    Proceed to next town while mowing down mobs
    Listen to some story
    Get quests
    Repeat

    In general the above will be the formula. There is some extra content if you return to towns, find an interesting spot on the map that maybe wasn't accessible until you got item 'XYZ', or just out of exploration. The world itself is fairly vibrant. Mobs spawn for the most part in 'what is that on the horizon?' mode. You mostly get first attack, however there is dodge and block - both of which can trigger a slow motion mode where all of your attacks are critical. It seems I mostly just mashed buttons while throwing in the occasional Special or Ultra Special combo. This probably can't be done so much at higher difficulties. For what it is - with enemies exploding like pinatas with loot - I loved it. I wished that the game had some level of gore or blood to accompany the violence. It would make combat that much more satisfying.

    Graphics. Graphics. Graphics. Wow! These sure do disappoint. The characters seem to be worthlessly upscaled to the Vita resolution. The same for all of the textures in general, although the characters will be the most annoyingly noticeable. The game world has it's share the same issue but seems to have fared better. In any case this is only just enough of an annoyance to merit a slight knock to the score. If you're playing this game you've come for the gameplay after all, amirite?

    Story is alright. It has some interesting concepts that are enough to keep you reading. The characters are not deep at all. Most of them have quests related to them where you learn about them, then you're back to the main story. I think this game could do with some more mature themes, but I see the direction is more light-hearted so I wouldn't count on being pleased or displeased in this aspect. If you're a fan of the series I'm sure it will be quite a bit more interesting.

    All in all a very quality title. I will rate up slightly due to it slaying any similar competition (or lack thereof) on the Vita. There really is not another game that delivers hack n slash, loot fest, quality action gameplay with a neatly-riffed soundtrack, and a decent story in one package. I really enjoyed the time I spent with it, enough that I purchased YS:Seven to play afterwards. I play this more than Soul Sacrifice which is slightly similar, but with a more mature story and graphics only because I prefer the details I outlined above.

    I will rate down slightly due to poor graphics and what I thought was a mediocre story - but this is my FIRST Ys game, so I think my appreciate of the story can only increase as I believe they all follow the main character Adol in his monster slayings.

    A '8.5' with the nerf from graphics + story. A '10' because there is nothing else on the Vita that compares to it and I'll round up from '9.5' because it's mathematically correct (lol) and because I'd love to see more Ys or similar titles on the Vita.

    Buy it. Support the devs, they give the Vita plenty of love. At a decent file size.    … Expand
  40. Huesitos95
    May 15, 2014
    9
    Uno de los mejores juegos de Vita este año, Probablemente, es el mejor RPG que saldra en Vita hasta verano, un indispensable!
    Musica buena, jugabilidad perfecta, innovador, no tienes que estar todo el dia grindeando...
  41. Sikko
    Jun 7, 2014
    10
    Great action RPG, Adol is a little annoying, but that is easily dealt with in the early stages of the game. Fun action based combat, that is better played on the harder difficulty, otherwise the temptation is to be button mashy. Good for at least 2 play throughs.
  42. erhanz
    Sep 30, 2014
    7
    Finished playing YS : Memories of Celceta on August too.
    Actually the game is YS IV. You play as Adol Christin, a red hair traveler. One day he arrived on Celceta and lost all of his memories while exploring the forest. After that, he went back once again by the order of the Supreme Commander to map the forest, while trying to find his lost memories.
    Plus point: - A total upgrade from    Finished playing YS : Memories of Celceta on August too.
    Actually the game is YS IV. You play as Adol Christin, a red hair traveler. One day he arrived on Celceta and lost all of his memories while exploring the forest. After that, he went back once again by the order of the Supreme Commander to map the forest, while trying to find his lost memories.

    Plus point:
    - A total upgrade from the previous series. The previous game was on PSP, the YS VII. This game is on PS Vita, thus making a total upgrade in the graphic section. And of course, it totally uses every feature of Vita. Such as the touch screen, and the back pad.
    - Fast paced action RPG is the best sentence to define this game. Hack & Slash is the most part of the game. Exploring the forest while killing all of the monsters on the field. And you do that without any loading time, or entering into the battle. Found an enemy? just hack it on the spot.

    Minus point:
    - The story, compared to YS VII, is not that good. The main plot of the game is to find out why Adol went to the forest and lost his memories. Also to map the forest. And that's all. No plot twist that will get you excited.
    - The battle is pretty much easy. If you can master the timing for the Slide Evade, then you are pretty much a master of the game. Do that and you can kill every monster that has a higher level than you.

    The verdict:
    As one of the early game of PS Vita, this game is pretty fun. Although i must say, not to expect too much on the story, because YS never rely itself on the story. The gameplay is as awesome as always, totally an improvement from the previous series, making it hard to stop playing because the battle is so fun.
    In the end, i give this game a 7.5 / 10    … Expand
  43. Sploolordcam
    Feb 2, 2015
    8
    Memories of Celceta is an extremely solid Ys game, and a great ARPG which provides yet another reason to own a Vita. Despite being a remake of Ys IV, and while the story connects to the other games in the Ys series, the game is able to stand on its own without much lost for newcomers to the series. The gameplay is the same satisfying fast paced hack-and-slash which has existed since YsMemories of Celceta is an extremely solid Ys game, and a great ARPG which provides yet another reason to own a Vita. Despite being a remake of Ys IV, and while the story connects to the other games in the Ys series, the game is able to stand on its own without much lost for newcomers to the series. The gameplay is the same satisfying fast paced hack-and-slash which has existed since Ys abandoned the bump system. The skill attacks allow for mix-up in method of attack and can even be used in some circumstances as a dodge if timed correctly. I found the normal difficulty a bit easier in this game than compared to games such as Oath in Felghana or Origin, but this likely had to do with the bosses in the game straying away from the heavy bullet hell formula. While bosses do spam some attacks that require good dodges, it's nowhere near as screen-filling as previous games. The soundtrack is standard Ys fare and a great accompaniment to the action. The story of the game revolves around Adol trying to regain his memories while he believes he lost in the uncharted forest of Celceta. I found the main plot to be nothing too spectacular as it developed, but the subplots for each character and sense of exploration in the forest keep my attention throughout. Like many Ys games, achieving story completion can be done in around 15-20 hours, and as such Memories of Celceta is a great pick up if you're looking to play an RPG which doesn't require a 60-80 hour investment. Overall Ys: Memories of Celceta is a great Vita exclusive which should be tried by any RPG fans who own the system.… Expand
  44. Key_Notes88
    Dec 3, 2014
    8
    Great action RPG. If you're a fan of the Ys series, you won't be dissapointed.

    -Gameplay is one of the stronger reasons to play any Ys game, even moreso Memories. The combat here is engaging in that everything is realtime battle, no turnbased strategizing here, which makes for a more intense and exciting experience. More specifically speaking, you have your standard block, dodge, and    Great action RPG. If you're a fan of the Ys series, you won't be dissapointed.

    -Gameplay is one of the stronger reasons to play any Ys game, even moreso Memories. The combat here is engaging in that everything is realtime battle, no turnbased strategizing here, which makes for a more intense and exciting experience. More specifically speaking, you have your standard block, dodge, and attack, but enhancements are made with each option as you have special moves, super attacks, flash dodges (which slow time if timed just right), and blocks that can knock your enemy off-balance.

    -The Story is your standard save the world with teens running around with oversized weapons. You do meet a cast of memorable characters, all with their own origin and backstory. There's nothing really new here if you're already an avid fan of the JRPG genre. However, there are some legitimate funny parts in the game and some surprising moments.

    -Content is plentiful. If you're looking to get every chest, max out every special move, and complete every side quest, you could easily invest over 40 hours into this game. But even without doing all that, completing the main quest, some sidequest, and maxing only your favorite specials will take you around 25 hours to complete.

    -Areas for improvement include rewards for completing many of the sidequests. Very few sidequest would yield useful rewards. Also the graphics aren't very appealing, the scenery can help make up for it at times however, but for a Vita game, it could use much improvements.

    Overall Ys Memories is a great game to add to your Vita collection. Not one of the most technically demanding games to show off to friends, but the gameplay is one to keep you engaged until the end.    … Expand
  45. Yanarchy
    Jan 7, 2015
    10
    I could write a freaking novel on how good this game is. Instead, though, I will only say that if you own a Vita, you owe it to yourself to play this one.
  46. itchipod
    Dec 25, 2017
    8
    Maybe the best Action RPG for PS Vita. Easy controls, likable protagonist and well-crafted world. The story may not be as charming as Ys Seven.
  47. southtree
    May 1, 2016
    10
    Excellent game and really underrated by reviewers for some reason. Best game for Vita I have played in the last two years. Story is great and it is really easy to get into.
  48. inuzumi
    Dec 17, 2016
    8
    If you're going to start with the Ys series I highly recommend to start whit this one, is the most balanced game in the series for long(in terms of difficulty). The gameplay it's very similar to Ys Seven, too similar I would say, it takes the best of that game gameplay and improves it. The same with the missions, in this one the side quests takes a great part in the game. The story isIf you're going to start with the Ys series I highly recommend to start whit this one, is the most balanced game in the series for long(in terms of difficulty). The gameplay it's very similar to Ys Seven, too similar I would say, it takes the best of that game gameplay and improves it. The same with the missions, in this one the side quests takes a great part in the game. The story is regular and predictable and the characters are less inspired. It has a great replay value with the trophies and with the side quests, there's always something to do in the map of Celceta. If you're looking for a challange, not so difficult but neither so easy, I highly recommend to play it in hard mode, the normal mode it's just too easy(even for me).

    Note: Lord of the jungle, please Nihon Falcom nerf that pendejo needs to be nerf!.    … Expand
  49. zidfrit
    Nov 3, 2017
    9
    Un juego bastante entretenido con una historia buena, una gran variedad de enemigos, un mapa extenso por explorar, armas, personajes, poderes, estrategias equipo que podrás manejar a tu gusto, simplemente uno de los mejores juegos de esta consola, si te gusta el genero este juego lo debes de probar aunque sea el primero de la serie que juegues.
  50. SincereGamer
    Jan 3, 2017
    9
    As someone who went and got the Platinum Trophy before writing this review, I can say Ys: Memories of Celceta is one of the best action RPG games on the vita. This being my first entry in the series, I was very impressed with how engaging the gameplay is. The game has a few areas that aren't as shiny, but the game as a whole is very enjoyable and well executed.

    The Pros: -The Battles    As someone who went and got the Platinum Trophy before writing this review, I can say Ys: Memories of Celceta is one of the best action RPG games on the vita. This being my first entry in the series, I was very impressed with how engaging the gameplay is. The game has a few areas that aren't as shiny, but the game as a whole is very enjoyable and well executed.

    The Pros:
    -The Battles rock! The fighting in this game is some of the best I've seen on the vita, and arguably among the most satisfying. Timing the perfect dodge or block feels immensely gratifying and causes time to slow down allowing a 5 second window to whale on your enemies. All the bosses are well designed and fun to fight.
    -The game is right length and is nicely condensed! Ys:MoC isn't excessive at all! The game is built in a way that your objectives are always clear and you never feel overburdened by the scope of all the things that need doing. The game is sweet and to the point. Teleporting makes travel a breeze and the side quests are reasonable. Managing your inventory and weapons is also well done.
    -Lots of variety! The landscapes and dungeons are great to explore. Your characters are constantly learning new moves. Enemies and bosses are various and distinct.

    The Cons:
    -The story is the only minor drawback, but I'll be quick to point out that the story isn't bad. It's just that more effort could have gone into making the story more effective. Even the characters, while perfectly sufficient(like the story) could have been made with more oomph. This was my only worthwhile gripe.

    SUMMARY:
    COMBAT: 10
    GRAPHICS: 8.5
    EXECUTION: 9
    STORY: 7.5

    I don't like giving games a hard 10 since there's usually room for growth, especially in sequels. But scoring this game a 9 is my way of recommending it and demonstrating that this game is worth playing. Ys: Memories of Celceta is a great game, that doesn't overthink the medium. It's simplicity and engagement are what make it a fun game.    … Expand
  51. CandyCane
    Jan 6, 2017
    5
    I was unpleasantly surprised.
    Visually ugly game.
    Boring story.
    Battles feels chaotic.
    Pointless level grinding. ( When you realize you are getting 1 exp. point per mob)
  52. dekline
    Sep 1, 2017
    6
    The only fun thing in this game is the battles, but they get repetitive fast. I did not feel that the different skills made any significant difference in the battles, or which characters you have in your party. The worst thing about this game is the story though.. and it's bad with childish conversations between characters. I did not once care for a character in the game since there is noThe only fun thing in this game is the battles, but they get repetitive fast. I did not feel that the different skills made any significant difference in the battles, or which characters you have in your party. The worst thing about this game is the story though.. and it's bad with childish conversations between characters. I did not once care for a character in the game since there is no depth there.

    I don't know about all the high reviews here, maybe they are younger than me and find shallow dialogs with battles you always win fun.    … Expand
  53. ZeroXR
    Dec 9, 2019
    8
    Great story, gameplay, music, and simple but beautiful graphics. There is no dub in Japanese, but it is not necessarily a problem. For a rpg game, it is small, would be necessary an extra game.
  54. Iskaver
    Apr 29, 2019
    9
    To be honest, I never expected to love this game as much as I do. In fact, for the most part, I hate anime. But the description of this game's story intrigued me and I decided to give it a try. I quickly found myself hooked and spent hours playing the game. It has a fantastic story, fun combat, and a beautiful, large world. This game is without a doubt one of the best handheld games I'veTo be honest, I never expected to love this game as much as I do. In fact, for the most part, I hate anime. But the description of this game's story intrigued me and I decided to give it a try. I quickly found myself hooked and spent hours playing the game. It has a fantastic story, fun combat, and a beautiful, large world. This game is without a doubt one of the best handheld games I've ever played.… Expand
  55. Aerrihn
    Mar 20, 2020
    10
    Firstly, I have sunk over 500 hours on the PS Vita version of the game in the year that it had initially been released. I have Platinum Trophy'd the game and the rest of the time was spent grinding for materials that basically make god weapons for each character.

    Ys Memories of Celceta has a special place in my heart as my favourite PS Vita game. It is a remake of Ys IV which had    Firstly, I have sunk over 500 hours on the PS Vita version of the game in the year that it had initially been released. I have Platinum Trophy'd the game and the rest of the time was spent grinding for materials that basically make god weapons for each character.

    Ys Memories of Celceta has a special place in my heart as my favourite PS Vita game. It is a remake of Ys IV which had originally had a 1993 release as two different versions by two different studios which Falcom had licenced out. So technically, this is actually the first time Falcom had made this game. Ys MoC is part of the Ys series, each game is a traveloge that was found in his home after his death. Ys MoC takes us to the Kingdom of Celceta and the Great Forest.

    The basic plot is that Adol had ventured into the Great Forest only to return with amnesia. As luck would have it Adol is then tasked by the Governor General in the town of Casnan to map the Great Forest. The rest of the story follows Adol as he maps the Forest, literally picking up pieces of his memories as he visits places he had been to before and unravelling the secrets of the forest.

    The music is always the best part of any Ys game. Each track can be found on YouTube for free as the game studio makes their music inhouse and allows anyone to use their music provided they are given credit. From calm, soothing pieces to hard rock and hints of metal, the game has it all. Each boss fight, each dungeon and each monster encounter has a heightened experience thanks to the music.

    The combat is a slightly less polished version of the Ys VIII combat system, so I'll borrow that section of the review and place it here. The game is action combat, with a button for a basic attack, a block, a dodge and a button to switch characters on the fly. On top of the fact that there is a skill point wheel where the first basic attack the player deals after a brief moment out of combat gains the player skill points. While holding down the ZR trigger (which can be mapped elsewhere, in fact everything can be remapped and should be, the defaults pretty awkward to use), it turns the face buttons into skills that can be assigned in the menu and leveled up through just using them. Blocking at the exact moment the enemy attack hits the player will grant a "flash guard" where for a short while every attack the player deals is a critical hit, and dodging at the right moment grants a "flash move" where time is slowed for all enemies for a short while and the player is immune to damage.

    There are a total of 6 different playable characters and there are three damage types. Slash, Strike and Pierce with one type for each character. The player can switch between three party members on the fly in order to "break" enemies by attacking enemies with their weakness hence stunning the enemy and removing their resistances altogether.

    The map is open, with instanced sections. The player may revisit any part of the map to look for particular monsters to gain their materials or any plants for their ingredients as well. Each character has a special interaction with the environment that allows for an excuse to stop the player from exploring further than their prepared for.

    At the start of the game, the character models feel very outdated, almost like a PS1 title, however, as soon as you start to play, you realise you never get to see the details of the character models outside of cutscenes anyway. Not to mention in combat the combat effects mask a lot of the bad grpahics that you would've otherwise been exposed to. The in combat animation work is also stellar given the models they would've had to work with.

    Sidequests appear on request boards in each of the different towns. Many of the sidequests are limited time only. Which means if the player missed one, they would have to wait until the next playthrough to be able to 100% the game.

    The endgame is a grind. Outside of some hidden bosses that are never really given an introduction or context outside of their names, the rest of the endgame comes down to grinding materials that are able to max out the player's best weapons and armour. To get all six of the best weapons 2 playthroughs are a necessity. However, since the combat is so fun, the grind is actually quite fun as well. As the last thing I ever did on my PS Vita I had maxed out all six weapons and armours for all six characters.

    Overall, it is a great game to have either on your PS Vita or even the great port for PC courtesy of XSEED games. If you enjoy a classic JRPG that is not turn based combat, this has got to be one of the games at the top of your list.    … Expand
  56. Anonime
    Jul 10, 2020
    8
    Ys is one of those games that have evolved a lot throughout their lives, and this is a clear example of how to do it well.

    The story is not its culmination, but its characters make it so, that it hooks you, that, and the maps and skills that you discover as you progress. If you like a soundtrack to take off your hat, we have a product that does not disappoint.
  57. LeonMagnusC
    Jun 6, 2021
    8
    Decent game for Vita, not the best. Good graphics, good music. must have for ARPG lover.

Awards & Rankings

10
#10 Best PS Vita Game of 2013
4
#4 Most Discussed PS Vita Game of 2013
2
#2 Most Shared PS Vita Game of 2013

Critic Reviews

All reviews »
Metascore
82

Generally favorable reviews - based on 56 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 53 out of 56
  2. Mixed: 3 out of 56
  3. Negative: 0 out of 56
  1. Playstation Official Magazine UK
    Apr 27, 2014
    60
    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]
  2. Hyper Magazine
    Apr 9, 2014
    80
    Utterly generic but brilliant fun nevertheless. Shame about the perfunctory ending, though. [May 2014, p.74]
  3. Eurogamer Spain
    Apr 8, 2014
    80
    Nice characters, a simple but deep combat system and a well written story makes difficult to stop playing while this adventure lasts.
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