Not every entry in a beloved franchise can be a masterpiece, and Falcom's Ys series is no exception. According to a review from Noisy Pixel, Ys Memoire: Revelations in Celceta - a remake of Ys IV: Memories of Celceta - lands as one of the weaker titles in the long-running action RPG lineup, carrying over some of the original's baggage despite the fresh coat of paint.
A remake working against its source material
The core issue, as noted in the Noisy Pixel review, is that the foundation being built upon was already considered a lower-tier Ys experience. Remakes can do a lot of heavy lifting, but when the underlying design has fundamental limitations, even strong production work has a ceiling to hit.
The Ys series has cultivated a devoted fanbase through its fast-paced combat, memorable music, and protagonist Adol Christin's globetrotting adventures. Celceta's forest-heavy setting and party-based mechanics have historically divided fans compared to the tighter experiences found elsewhere in the catalog.
What the remake brings to the table
Revelations in Celceta isn't without merit - Falcom's signature combat feel and the series' trademark energy are present, and the remake treatment does modernize the experience for players coming in fresh or returning after years away. For dedicated Ys fans looking to experience every chapter of Adol's journey, it remains a worthwhile playthrough despite its shortcomings.
The question is whether the improvements are substantial enough to overcome the source material's weaknesses. Based on the Noisy Pixel assessment, the answer lands somewhere in the middle - better than the original, but still trailing behind the highs of entries like Ys VIII: Lacrimosa of Dana or Ys IX: Monstrum Nox.
Who should play it
If you're a series completionist or a Falcom devotee, Ys Memoire: Revelations in Celceta is a reasonable addition to your library. Newcomers to the franchise would be better served starting with a stronger entry point before circling back to Celceta.
For a full breakdown of the gameplay mechanics and scoring, check out the complete review over at Noisy Pixel.
