Developed By: Nihon Falcom
Published and localized by: XSEED
Date of release: March 19, 2012
Price: $14.99
In the year 1992 there was a very expensive game system known as the NEC TurboDuo. Retailing at an unheard of for the time $299, NEC attempted to balance the price/value ratio by including a pack-in game. That game was Falcom's Ys Books I & II, and it was the beginning of an RPG revolution. The Ys games were amazing 16-bit top-down RPGs with gameplay similar to the roguelikes of yore, but with many vast improvements on the genre. Known for lush anime-style cutscenes, fast paced action, and heavy-metal driven boss battles, Ys I and II blazed their own trail, and paved the way for an amazing 6 sequels.
Despite the incredible success brought on by the formula of Books I & II, Falcom decided to switch things up with the next title in the series, resulting in Ys III: Wanderers from Ys. Though the controversial transition to sidescrolling action had a divisive effect on the fanbase, it still proved to be a sensational hit regardless. However, in 2005 Falcom remade Ys III in the hallmark top-down style of the series, giving it a brand new 3D engine with new cinematics and an amped up soundtrack arrangement, releasing the final product under the name Ys: The Oath in Felghana. It ended up being even more wildly successful than all of the previous titles released, with many fans considering it to be the magnum opus of the series. Now 7 years later, XSEED has brought this marvelous masterpiece to Steam!
Ys: The Oath in Felghana is a very easy game to jump into storywise, even if you have not played any of the previous games in the series. It has its own epic tale to tell, and knowledge of previous events is not required. A fair warning though: if you have never played a Ys game before, start on Easy or Very Easy. I'm not trying to scare you away, but Oath is without a doubt one of the most challenging games to hit the market in recent times. If you choose normal, prepare to die a LOT during the massive boss encounters. That is not to say that the game is cheap or unbalanced, as often tempering your equipment or simply gaining another level will even the playing field. The reward lies in the challenge, and you WILL feel a great sense of accomplishment each time you finally triumph over your foe.
One way to describe the gameplay in Oath would be to imagine an amped-up Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past. Add blazing speed and the ability to jump into the mix, and toss with a heavy dash of well-executed platforming, and you have a hearty recipe for gaming success. Don't just go rushing in headfirst hacking away at your foes with reckless abandon however, the combat in Oath requires a fair bit of strategy. You will have at your disposal three elemental rings, and the powers they bestow upon you are necessary to dispatch your foes with efficiency. Always be on the lookout in hard to reach areas, as you can always find hidden chests containing upgrades and new equipment, as well as the Raval ore needed to temper your gear at the smithy in town.
Back to the topic of combat. The boss encounters in Oath are epic in scale, and they take a fair bit of thinking to overcome. Simply flailing away with reckless abandon is sure to get you killed. Don't be afraid of failure however, if you die in a boss fight you will be given the option to retry as many times as you wish (though beware, dying 10 times to the same boss and the game will mock you with an "achievement"). The key to success is to study the bosses patterns, and use the proper attack for the job. If all else fails you can grind a level or two, or temper your gear as I pointed out before.
It truly is a grand day for the Steam Community and Ys fans alike now that one of the finest games in the series has hit the platform, and with promises of Ys: Origin on the horizon. Oath will definitely fulfill the wishes of anyone who desires a solid JRPG experience on their PC. With an epic storyline, badass bosses, masterful music, gorgeous graphics, and all around gratuitous gameplay, Ys: The Oath in Felghana does NOT disappoint. With unlockables such as higher difficulties, time attack, and boss rush modes, players will be entertained long after the main story has wrapped up. What are you waiting for? Go get your Ys fix now!
