Ys Memoire: Revelations in Celceta

Ys Memoire: Revelations in Celceta is a great action RPG that has stood the test of time and this Day 1 Edition is a superb treasure trove of goodies that any Ys fan will cherish for years to come.

Revelations in Celceta feels like the turning point towards the modern Ys titles because it's exactly that, and it ended up holding my attention more than any of the other Switch re-releases. It lacks the depth of movement abilities and character interactions that have come from Ys VIII through X, but it still manages to offer a very compelling adventure almost the whole way through. For anyone who missed playing an earlier version of Celceta or who just loves a solid action-RPG with fast-paced combat and movement, Ys Memoire: Revelations in Celceta is an easy recommendation. I’m hoping it won’t be long until we see Adol’s next adventure or revisit another of his old ones.

Another winning entry in Nihon Falcom’s action-role playing franchise sees Adol mapping an expansive forest, a feat no other adventurer has accomplished. While it played great in its original Vita-based iteration, this Switch port offers dual language voice acting, smoother framerates, and higher quality output for Tenmon, Naoki Kaneda, and JDK SoundTeam’s triumphant soundtrack.

From its engrossing and entertaining plot to the detailed and multifaceted gameplay, I had fun throughout my entire playthrough of the original Ys: Memories of Celceta, and I also had fun picking up this enhanced Switch version years later. Adol’s story has always been about the excitement and sense of adventure one gets when losing themselves in a journey, and Celceta captures that feeling poignantly. Ys Memoire: Revelations in Celceta might not be the most extensive remaster, but the original was such a solid ARPG experience that it still stands strong, despite its more dated graphics. Returning players may or may not be convinced to replay the game, but Ys Memoire: Revelations of Celceta is certainly worth newcomers trying out if they haven’t yet experienced the Celcetan journey.

Memories of Celceta isn’t my favorite Ys game, but if you have a Switch 2, Ys Memoire: Revelations in Celceta is probably the best way to play it. It’s a Vita game very much of its time, with some growing pains as a Ys entry, but the extra juice you get from Nintendo’s new platform helps realize the original vision as a 3D Ys delivering a higher fidelity experience on a handheld. Playing on a TV or monitor just isn’t the same, as these handheld-oriented RPGs don’t hit as well when you’re locked in at your desk or on your couch. If you’re still using a Switch 1 this is harder to recommend, as you’ll still encounter performance snags that don’t exist on other versions. Regardless, if you’re looking to check out the whole series, it’s now easier than ever to play Ys 4. Hopefully we can say the same for Ys 5 sooner rather than later.

Ys Memoire: Revelations in Celceta is a delightful RPG with lightning fast combat, that easily stands up alongside modern Ys titles.

That the ending is a bit unsatisfying and the game is fairly one dimensional doesn’t change that Ys Memoire: Revelations in Celceta offers excellent combat and a very fun story up until the end. With excellent foes, an interesting world, and unique insight into Adol’s character, this is a chapter in his life story that any fan of the series should absolutely explore. It does a satisfying job of providing a definitive take on this part of Adol’s journey.

After over a decade, Ys Memoire: Revelations in Celceta proves itself just as good as it once was under the moniker of Memories of Celceta. Its only major caveat is that it really doesn’t bring much to the table as a new edition. On the other hand, for anyone who hasn’t given it a try, it’s pretty much a must-play.

Ys Memoire: Revelations in Celceta is a great entry point into the Ys series as it explores a lot of lore of Adol’s childhood and reinforces his inalienable drive as an adventurer. For Ys fans who somehow haven’t played Celceta yet, I certainly recommend Ys Memoire: Revelations in Celceta since it’s such an important game full of world-building and character development for Adol.

This action JRPG remains a high-quality adventure that translates well to Switch with smooth performance and addictive combat. However, the lack of new content and modern quality-of-life updates makes it feel like a missed opportunity. It stands as an excellent entry point for newcomers, yet offers almost no incentive for returning veterans to double-dip.

All in all, I had fun with Ys Memoire: Revelations in Celceta. If you can look past the dated visuals and annoying map mechanics, it’s a slick action-JRPG with something interesting to say about memory. But it’s far from flawless.

Ys Memoire: Revelations in Celceta is a solid but somewhat bland port of a classic JRPG that feels right at home on the Nintendo Switch, warts and all.