Ys: Memories of Celceta

Ys: Memories of Celceta is an action RPG from the Japanese studio Nihon Falcom and one of the few major games made directly for PlayStation Vita rather than ported from elsewhere. Adol Christin wakes up in a border town with no memories, and the only way to get them back is to set out and map Celceta — a vast, dangerous forest from which, according to the locals, no one returns. Progressing through the game therefore literally means drawing the map: each newly explored section brings back another memory while also opening new paths into previously inaccessible areas. The map thus serves as both a progress indicator and a collecting discipline in its own right.

Combat is real-time and built around a party of three characters that can be switched between instantly. Each has a different attack type effective against a different group of enemies, so battle is mainly about swapping roles on the fly. Add to that a last-moment dodge and a precisely timed block, both rewarded with a brief advantage. The series is known for its pace, and here too movement is fast, dungeons are short, and bosses are about reading movement patterns. Alongside the main story, players gather materials, upgrade gear, and complete townsfolk requests that gradually unlock further parts of the forest. The game is accompanied by a large cast of companions, from whom the player assembles a trio depending on what's coming up, and each character has their own special skills tied to an energy gauge.

Technically the game is very well made on Vita: large open forest areas, smooth performance, and a clean look without unnecessary slowdown. Its strongest point, though, is the music — Falcom has its own in-house sound team, and its rock and symphonic compositions rank among the best the genre has to offer; some of them have become a signature of the entire series. Reviews at the time received it very warmly as one of the best action RPGs on the console. Today Memories of Celceta is an excellent entry point into the world of Ys: it assumes no knowledge of previous entries and has a beautifully balanced pace. The narrative is also straightforward and doesn't drag, which is rather the exception for a Japanese RPG of that era.