I originally wrote this article more than fifteen years ago during my first journey through the Ys series. After recently completing Ys V and resuming my long-running exploration of Falcom's legendary action RPG franchise, I decided it was finally time to revisit and rewrite this piece.
Looking back, I am both amused and surprised by the quality of the article my younger-self managed to produce. Perhaps that is simply the result of growing as a writer and developing a deeper appreciation for JRPGs over the years. Regardless, because the Ys series remains one of my favorite franchises, I felt that The Oath in Felghana deserved a proper revisit. With Falcom having released a modern remaster in recent years, this also seems like the perfect opportunity to revisit one of Adol's finest adventures.
Ys: The Oath in Felghana is a remake of Ys III: Wanderers from Ys. Coincidentally, it was also the third Ys title I played on PSP during my series marathon in 2011, following Ys Chronicles and Ys VI: The Ark of Napishtim.
Built upon the Napishtim Engine and further optimized for the PSP, The Oath in Felghana remains one of the strongest contenders for the best Ys title available on the platform. Falcom refined nearly every aspect of the gameplay foundation introduced in Ys VI, creating a faster, smoother, and more polished experience. Players can expect the intense, adrenaline-fueled action that defines the series, accompanied by an outstanding soundtrack that ranks among the franchise's best.
However, The Oath in Felghana is also one of the more challenging Ys games ever released. Even on Normal difficulty, the game is more than capable of overwhelming unprepared players. Despite its unforgiving nature, it delivers one of the most finely tuned and rewarding fast-paced action RPG experiences the series has ever offered.
The story begins with Adol Christin accompanying his best friend, Dogi, back to Dogi's homeland of Felghana. Their destination is the small town of Redmont, a seemingly peaceful settlement governed by the negligent Lord Valestein.
At first glance, the journey appears to be little more than a friendly visit. However, shortly after their arrival, monsters begin appearing throughout the region in alarming numbers. What should have been a quiet trip quickly turns into another adventure for the legendary red-haired swordsman.
As Adol investigates the disturbances, he uncovers an ancient evil hidden beneath the land. To aid him in his quest, the spirit of Genos, a hero who once sealed the ancient menace centuries ago, grants Adol his power.
As the second game built on the Napishtim Engine, The Oath in Felghana significantly improves upon the combat system introduced in Ys VI.
The core mechanics remain familiar, but the gameplay feels faster, smoother, and more responsive. Enemy encounters are more engaging, platforming sections are more refined, and boss battles demand greater precision from the player.
Visually, the game remains impressive despite its age, while its soundtrack is widely regarded as one of the finest in the franchise.
One notable gameplay change is the removal of consumable healing items. Instead, Adol recovers health primarily by defeating enemies. To compensate, he gains access to three offensive magical abilities similar to Emelas swords magic system from Ys VI.
As the second game built on the Napishtim Engine, The Oath in Felghana significantly improves upon the combat system introduced in Ys VI.
The core mechanics remain familiar, but the gameplay feels faster, smoother, and more responsive. Enemy encounters are more engaging, platforming sections are more refined, and boss battles demand greater precision from the player.
Visually, the game remains impressive despite its age, while its soundtrack is widely regarded as one of the finest in the franchise.
One notable gameplay change is the removal of consumable healing items. Instead, Adol recovers health primarily by defeating enemies. To compensate, he gains access to three offensive magical abilities similar to Emelas swords magic system from Ys VI.
One of the new mechanics introduced in The Oath in Felghana is the Overdrive system.
When activated, Overdrive temporarily boosts Adol's combat abilities, allowing him to deal greater damage and gain a significant advantage during difficult encounters while also serve as the sole mean to recover hit points.
Given the game's demanding boss fights, Overdrive often becomes a crucial resource that can determine victory or defeat. Proper timing and resource management are essential for maximizing its effectiveness.
As with most Ys games, equipment progression plays an important role in The Oath in Felghana.
Adol can upgrade his weapons, armor, and accessories using Raval Ore, a valuable resource typically found in treasure chests, though enemies occasionally drop it as well.
Accessories remain highly useful throughout the adventure, often providing important combat advantages against specific enemies and bosses.
A particularly enjoyable feature carried over from the PlayStation 2 version of Ys VI is the visual equipment system. As Adol acquires stronger gear, his appearance changes accordingly, providing a satisfying visual representation of character progression.
The primary heroine of The Oath in Felghana is Elena Stoddart, Dogi's childhood friend and a descendant of Genos.
Although Elena largely fills the traditional "damsel in distress" role common in older JRPGs, she remains an important figure in the narrative. Her lineage and connection to Genos place her at the center of the conspiracy surrounding the resurrection of Felghana's ancient evil.
While her role is relatively passive compared to modern heroines, she serves as a crucial piece of the story's central conflict.
Elena's older brother, Chester Stoddart, plays one of the most significant roles in the game.
A knight serving directly under Lord Valestein, Chester initially appears as one of Adol's primary rivals and antagonists. His smug attitude and hostile behavior make him easy to dislike during the early stages of the story.
However, beneath his arrogance lies a deeper motivation. Chester seeks revenge for the massacre of his clan, believing Lord Valestein to be responsible for the tragedy. His obsession with vengeance ultimately blinds him, allowing the true mastermind behind Felghana's troubles to manipulate him for their own purposes.
This personal tragedy gives Chester considerably more depth than he initially appears to possess.
The ancient terror lurking beneath Felghana is none other than Galbalan, the Wandering Calamity.
Galbalan is a living weapon created from Ash Emelas, itself the result of humanity's attempt to control the divine power of Black Emelas through artificial means without the White Emelas which belong to Eldeen Race. The experiment ended in catastrophe, unleashing widespread devastation centuries before Adol's adventure in Ys series.
What makes this version of Galbalan particularly interesting is how much more dangerous and developed it is compared to its appearance elsewhere in the series. Possessing intelligence and an intense hatred toward all living beings, Galbalan seeks nothing less than spreading mass destruction.
Its destructive plans are also linked to Napishtim, the legendary Black Ark from Ys VI, which is its primary target once broke free, creating an important connection between the two games.
For players who experienced Ys VI before The Oath in Felghana, this serves as an interesting piece of series lore. The reason Adol is able to defeat the particular incarnation of Galbalan relatively easily in Ys VI is because he had already overcome a far more powerful incarnation of the creature years earlier in Felghana.
Back in 2011, I considered The Oath in Felghana one of the best games in the entire Ys series. Fifteen years later, that opinion remains largely unchanged.
The game combines exceptional combat, outstanding music, memorable boss encounters, and a surprisingly compelling story into a package that still holds up remarkably well today. However, despite its quality, I would not recommend it as a newcomer's first Ys game. Its challenging difficulty curve can be intimidating for players unfamiliar with the series.
For those looking for an entry point, Ys Chronicles, Ys VI: The Ark of Napishtim, or Ys Seven remain more accessible starting options depending on individual preferences.
A few years ago, Falcom released Ys Memoire: The Oath in Felghana, a modern remaster that adds quality-of-life improvements and presentation upgrades. Nevertheless, the PSP version remains highly playable and retains all of the strengths that made the original release so beloved.
As my journey through the Ys series continues, I will undoubtedly return to Felghana once more. When that time comes, this retrospective may receive another update, just as this classic adventure continues to earn new appreciation with each revisit.
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