Ys is a long running JRPG series that I’ve wanted to check out for quite some time, and with Memories of Celceta, I finally got a chance to. There’s a very clear reason why these games have a cult following: Memories of Celceta is a ton of fun. It may not be the best RPG I’ve ever played, Vita or otherwise, but it is a great game and another shining example of an excellent Vita exclusive.
The core gameplay in Memories of Celceta is what immediately hooked me. You control Adol and his friend, Duren, as they are tasked with exploring and mapping the large and dangerous Great Forest. The forest itself is a joy to explore; I spent many hours just wondering around trying to map out every corner of it. Naturally the forest is filled with monsters and you must use Adol’s sword fighting skills to get through.
It’s a pretty simple system at first glance: attack with square, dodge with X and block with triangle. Four face button activated special movies can be used by holding down R. Special moves require SP that is recovered by attacking monsters, so you’re never out of it for very long. To add a bit more into the mix, there’s an extra skill that can be triggered with L after filling up a separate gauge. This move is particularly powerful but has to be tactfully used because you won’t be able to do it again for several minutes.
This system is pretty similar to other RPGs but coupled with the open world and the speed of combat, it is addictive. There are monsters everywhere and stringing together combos with specials moves while watching items spray out of the monsters like they were piñatas, is a delight. I can’t think of any other way to describe it. It is just pure fun. Plus, you can play as any of the other characters that you get in your party. In fact, switching to the other characters is required to solve some light puzzles. For example, Duren can pick the lock on certain chests whereas Karna can use her ability to throw knives to cut down far away objects.
Of course, enemies are out to get you and they attack in groups and even have different behaviors. It is almost like an actual ecosystem where the large boar ruthlessly attacks you while smaller guys watch and get little hits in when they can. Because of the amount of enemies, things can get pretty tricky when several status effects are being thrown around. Luckily, there is usually a way to just run away, lick your wounds, and come up with a better plan. It helps that the AI for the two companions you can bring with you is very helpful. However, I have seen them running in circles a few times.
Throughout the adventure there are also several dungeons that offer more structured challenges. Some require you to explore all the nooks and crannies for stone tablets needed to unlock the final door while others are more straightforward. Located in some of these dungeons are special items that enhance your abilities. The first of these lets you shrink down to fit into small places. These items, combined with the abilities unique to each character, make certain parts of Memories of Celceta scratch a very Metroidvania-like itch.
In addition, each of these dungeons culminates in some tough boss fights. Dodging and blocking will be required. Thankfully there is a button you can touch on the screen to use potions and the like very quickly.
There is also a deep crafting system that utilizes all the piñata candy monster spoils you gain throughout the adventure. Some items are simply for refining into other materials but others can be used to grant weapons and armor other attributes. Effects vary from additional damage to adding status effects. It’s a fun little side project if you want to make a sword that can freeze, burn, poison, and paralyze at the same time.
Beyond that, each town you visit will have a quest board that offers other things to do out in the forest. Most are either item gathering or monster slaying quests but I enjoyed them nonetheless.
The story in Ys: Memories of Celceta is interesting and some parts are extremely good but it slows the dungeons, exploration, and combat to such a halt that I couldn’t help but find myself hurrying it along to get to the next open section. This is especially a problem during the first 5-8 hours of the game when there’s this whole world to explore that is very enticing but the game insists on showing cut scenes that are not very interesting. The story does pick up and there’s a revelation 12 or so hours in that is fantastic but until that point, it’s pretty bland. Also, even though the story becomes very interesting, some cut scenes are far too long. Perhaps the core gameplay is just so much fun that it gets in the way. However, since this is a portable game, having scenes that go on for a long time could be a real issue. At least Memories of Celceta lets you save anywhere.
Pacing issues aside, the whole plot is based upon main character Adol having amnesia. It’s a cliché but this does lead to a fun ‘memory collection’ mechanic where you gain permanent stat increases by recovering lost memories. And, unlike a lot of games with an amnesiac protagonist, this fact is actually very meaningful to the plot.
On a completely different topic, Ys: Memories of Celceta isn’t a very pretty game. It looks good but a lot of textures feel blurry and the art direction is somewhat drab. It also has some intermittent frame rate issues. Bosses are impressive but some ground/rock textures are downright bad. Honestly though, the stale graphics don’t bother me and the frame rate isn’t much of an issue either. It’s just, in a post Persona 4 Golden world, I’m left wanting a little more.
My thoughts about this game can be summed up rather easily: I played Ys: Memories of Celceta while also playing The Legend of Zelda: A Link Between Worlds and Super Mario 3D World. And despite playing two of the best games Nintendo has put out in a long time, I was enjoying Memories of Celceta almost as much. It’s rough around the edges but behind those edges is a very fun and satisfying core. It truly cannot be overstated how much fun the combat is.
It’s also a perfect portable game. If you have a daily bus ride be warned: you may miss your stop.
