Ys Memoire: Revelations in Celceta has found a new home on the Nintendo Switch and Switch 2, bringing with it an impressive but dated JRPG classic for new players to discover and enjoy. Originally released in 2012 on the PlayStation Vita, and later on PC and PlayStation 4, Xseed has once again decided to port Ys: Memories of Celceta, this time to a handheld system that feels more fitting given its original release.
Ys Memoire: Revelations in Celceta is another entry in Nihon Falcom’s long-running series of action RPGs, while also serving as a strong jumping-off point for newcomers. Players once again step into the shoes of series mainstay Adol Christin, who, in classic JRPG fashion, is suffering from amnesia. After stumbling into town, players quickly reunite with their travelling partner, Duren, after a brief encounter with a monster terrorizing some trapped miners.
Soon, the pair learn of the titular Celceta region, a great forest overrun with monsters and the very place our young protagonist lost his memories. Ys Memoire: Revelations in Celceta utilizes this expansive setting, giving players a massive map to chart and conquer. Lost memories can be found strewn about the game world, with a radar system that goes off when in proximity to a memory core. Memory cores not only unlock snippets of exposition but also grant Adol a boost to his stats, making it an imperative collectible.
“Ys Memoire: Revelations in Celceta utilizes this expansive setting, giving players a massive map to chart and conquer.”
Ys Memoire: Revelations in Celceta narrative explores the concept of adventuring, with the crux of the story centring around Adol becoming a full-blown adventurer. In other words, Ys: Memories of Celceta is a good starting point for players new to the franchise. On that note, Memories of Cecelta is an older Ys game that still uses a top-down camera and features fast, responsive real-time combat, making the experience feel like a transitional game, acting as a bridge between the timeless 2D Ys titles and newer releases on current-gen hardware.
Despite being a game released all the way back in 2012, Ys: Memories of Celceta looks quite good, all things considered, thanks in part to its strong art direction. The Nintendo Switch release of Ys Memoire: Revelations in Celceta looks and feels right at home in portable play, masking some of the Vita’s lower-poly assets, making it ideal for gamers on the go. A recent firmware update on the Nintendo Switch 2 also means Ys: Memories of Celceta can be enjoyed in its docked 1080p Switch 1 profile in undocked mode, making it great on both platforms regardless of a native Switch 2 release.
One minor compromise when playing the game in the Switch 2’s boost mode is that it turns off the touch screen, since Switch 1 games are forced to use their docked profiles, which, in the case of Ys: Memories of Celceta, limits camera control to the physical buttons. Speaking of the camera, the game features a camera that follows around your character and works fairly well for the majority of the game. Still, it can sometimes get in the way during certain boss encounters, which can be frustrating.
If there is one area in which Ys Memoire: Revelations in Celceta really shows its age, it would be in its shadows, which, regardless of portable or TV play, look a bit pixilated, distracting from the otherwise pristine presentation. Regardless, as far as portable iterations go, Ys: Memories of Celceta on the Nintendo Switch 2 is the best way to experience the game. While the story and characters might not be standout or groundbreaking, playing Ys: Memories of Celceta is a satisfying experience thanks to its breakneck speed with the option to switch between party members on the fly, making it easy to discern and exploit enemy weaknesses accordingly.
“Ys: Memories of Celceta on the Nintendo Switch 2 is the best way to experience the game.”
Switching between your party members is essential, as the AI, while competent, can often overlook opportunities to take on enemies best suited to them. Unique attacks can be assigned to the face buttons to further diversify the roster, making for a simple-to-pick-up but hard-to-master experience. Outside of combat and exploration, Memories of Celceta is fairly standard, with weapon augments, crafting, in addition to an ever-growing laundry list of side quests that adds a bit of variety to the linear story.
Ultimately, Ys Memoire: Revelations in Celceta is a competent action RPG that fits snugly into the Nintendo Switch’s massive library of titles, giving players new to the series a solid jumping-off point to get lost in. For those looking for something that truly stands out amongst the already dense crowd of JRPGs on the console, Ys VIII: Lacrimosa of Dana or Ys X: Proud Nordics are better options for those on the hunt for something a little more modern-feeling.
