Ys: Oath in Felghana Review for PlayStation Portable (PSP)

System: PSP
Dev: Falcom
Pub: XSEED Games
Release: November 02, 2010
Players: 1
Screen Resolution: N/A	Blood, Fantasy Violence, Mild Language, Suggestive Themes

However, like many handheld games, Ys: The Oath in Felghana is not infallible, and its biggest fault lies in its visuals. Though some of the environments are nicely rendered on the PSP, there was way too much repetition in the imagery, and seeing the same old character silhouettes during plot scenes got old really fast. The game also suffers from a stoic three-quarters camera view, which (to its credit) does get the job done, but also makes the world of the game feel claustrophobic. While the rest of Ys: The Oath in Felghana feels modern, this feels outdated, which is a shame as it is an instant turn-off to what is otherwise a very enjoyable game.

Ys: Oath in Felghana Screenshot

But there is a silver lining as far as technical components go: Ys: The Oath in Felghana has a beautiful score. Though the game never reaches an epic scope in terms of orchestration, the title tune as well as some of the other background music certainly enhance the drama in the game, and there are certainly some memorable tunes in the mix. The music also changes frequently, so you won't have to worry about one particular song getting stuck in your head while you are in for long, grinding sessions.

Ys: The Oath in Felghana is a superb RPG for the PSP platform, and is certainly one of the best that doesn't have the words "Final" and/or "Fantasy" in the title. Though it can be hard to wade through the plethora of choices for RPG enthusiasts in the handheld sphere, Ys is definitely a standout title. It will please both longtime fans of the series as well as provide an entry point for those who have never played (or even heard of) an Ys game. Though Ys probably one of the most under-publicized franchises in history, Ys: The Oath in Felghana delivers quite the memorable experience, and is definitely deserving of your time.

By Amanda L. Kondolojy
CCC Senior Contributing Writer

RATING OUT OF 5

RATING DESCRIPTION

2.6

Graphics
Repetitive backgrounds and stoic character silhouettes make for bland visual design

4.2

Control
Combat is intuitive and moving around is no problem.

4.0

Music / Sound FX / Voice Acting
There is certainly some great music here. Ys: The Oath in Felghana is definitely a pleasure to listen to.

4.2

Play Value
The game itself is quite lengthy (as any good RPG should be), and once you beat the last boss you can unlock a special game plus mode with additional challenges.

4.0

Overall Rating - Great
Not an average. See Rating legend below for a final score breakdown.

Review Rating Legend
0.1 - 1.9 = Avoid	2.5 - 2.9 = Average	3.5 - 3.9 = Good	4.5 - 4.9 = Must Buy
2.0 - 2.4 = Poor	3.0 - 3.4 = Fair	4.0 - 4.4 = Great	5.0 = The Best

Game Features:

A Classic RPG gets a facelift for the PSP. New 3D graphics, new story elements, and fully voiced cutscenes bring the classic to a new generation of fans.

New and Improved Action Battle System. All battles now take place in 3D instead of 2D, and the magic and inventory systems have been completely overhauled to streamline play for fast-paced action.

Lots of Added Customization Options. Multiple difficulty levels can be adjusted in-game, a new prologue, an artwork gallery, and a movie gallery give players additional options previously not available.

Rearranged Soundtrack. Critically-acclaimed soundtrack also gets a full makeover as new songs have been added while original songs have been newly rearranged.