Ys: The Oath in Felghana (PC) review "Don't break the oath"

Ys III: Wanderers from Ys was the third entry to its franchise, originally released on NEC PC-8801 and PC-9801. For some of us, this was our introduction to the series, particularly the iterations on SNES, Genesis, Sega CD, and Turbografx. Unfortunately, its side-scrolling action and RPG elements didn't mix well with its stiff combat and needlessly difficult damage mitigation, giving some folks a bad first impression of the brand. At its core, though, stirred a solid adventure with terrific concepts that weren't fully explored, just wishing it had received the top-down or 3D treatment the rest of the series received.

In 2005, Falcom pulled the trigger. Ys: The Oath in Felghana returned familiar faces Adol and Dogi to the titular region, beginning the experience in much the same fashion as before: with the two of them approaching Dogi's hometown following numerous successful travels together and hundreds of walls punched. Of course, things turned out to be amiss because you wouldn't have a conflict otherwise. Monsters began sprouting up everywhere, a local baron initiated his bid for power, and something just wasn't right about Dogi's childhood friends, Chester and Elena, with the former going missing. Oh, and something about a dark god or ancient demon, because those were always a problem in old-school RPGs...

Obviously, the town of Redmont needed a selfless warrior to take on a dangerous mission, and they lucked out when Adol showed up because that's exactly how he rolls. The instant he heard “quarry full of creatures and the mayor is trapped inside,” his hard-on for adventure returned full force. Equipped with a short sword-

Okay, hold a second. How does Adol start every game with a piddly short sword? Didn't he spend multiple quests acquiring badass weapons and wicked armor? Where did they go? Did he just say, “Oh, haha, I won't need these again,” and donate them to Goodwill?



Anyway, Adol took his stupid short sword and laughable leather armor, and not whatever sweet blade and mail he had previously, to battle the forces of evil once again. He set out and immediate commenced slashing up wolf-like beasts and triffids killer plants that sting anyone who gets too close to them. Of course, anyone controlling him could have just mashed buttons until everything died, but that left you susceptible to blows from other targets on the screen. Adol, after all, is skilled in unleashing a combination of successive slashes in short order, albeit sometimes to his detriment. Thankfully, Oath gave him some of the smooth moves we see in other entries: a handy downward thrust, spells, a “boost mode” that improves damage output and defense temporarily, and just all-around swift, fluid animation and movement.

That's part of what made Oath so great. We went from Wanderers, where combat proved to be a chore, to this one's exhilarating battles. Hell, even grinding wasn't a big deal because you were having fun while killing stuff. These notions became all the more apparent when you bumped into the occasional boss, learned its patterns, carefully maneuver, and take choice shots while avoid harm with improved ease. Granted, you still got your skull shattered if you were under-level or careless, but at least you could more easily avoid just before taking a fireball from a dragon-bat hybrid or laser from a Lovecraftian horror covered in crystals.

Thankfully, beefing up stats mattered. During my playthrough, I had trouble fighting one really fast, blade-wielding boss. I decided to grind for a bit, gained a mere two levels, and the tables clearly turned. I was sustaining much less damage and dishing out slightly improved punishment, eventually giving him the thrashing he deserved.



Combat wasn't the only stark departure Oath boasted. Previously, you moved around Felghana using a map, selecting the location you wanted to visit rather than traveling to it. This time, you actually traversed terrain to get from one place to another. For instance, both campaigns utilized a mine as their initial dungeons. However, Oath saw you physically exiting Redmont and searching roads until you found the place. The developers crafted a whole world with which to interact rather than placing a cursor on a chart to get around.

Okay, I'll admit that while this feature was better here than in Wanderers, it still managed to disappoint. The real estate outside of dungeons consisted of little more than an upside down T with a few small branches. Really, there wasn't much to check out. You moseyed to the east and found the mines, and the pathway leading north featured ruins, an icy mountain, a castle, and a boat to the final dungeon. These routes came off as tacked on and simplistic, leaving something to be desired.

Then again, the only answer would have been to pad the overworld out, and that's not a desirable option, really. Still, there was plenty of room for worthwhile content, perhaps even additional side quests and material not found in Wanderers.



That's the “not really all that bad”news, but there's good news to go with it: dungeons were fantastic. Yeah, walking to them left the experience feeling brief and a tad shallow, but the actual stages connected to those roads stood out. The initial one alone worked wonderfully, sending you deeper into the earth until you hit a point where beasts practically immune to your sword dwelt. That discovery sent you back upward to check out a storage room containing a boss. Yes, it's the same mysterious robed figure you fought in Wanderers, but this one took him a step further and involved him more in the storyline, so this one encounter didn't leave you scratching your head and saying, “Who the hell was that?” in quite the same way.

Every area had its own distinct ambiance. Lava pits featured branching corridors, burning pools, and some tricky platforming. The castle offered two different wings with plenty of goodies to locate, including multiple event items, piles of ore used to upgrade your arsenal, multiple boss brawls, and some destructible pots loaded with cash. All of that eventually took you to a clock tower with a wild ascent up moving gears and platforms, all while fighting off super-powered demons and possessed knights.

And thankfully, no Medusa heads...

Ys: The Oath in Felghana is a massive step up from Wanderers from Ys. I know this might hurt some feelings because there are folks out there nostalgic for the latter game—and that's fine. Go play it and ignore the remake all you want. However, my memories of the original involve frustration, more persistence than anyone should ever have, and avoiding most of the Ys franchise because III left a bitter taste. For folks who always wished Adol's third outing was more approachable without sacrificing its challenge factor, Oath is the ultimate alternative.

Staff review by Joseph Shaffer (March 22, 2025) Rumor has it that Joe is not actually a man, but a machine that likes video games, horror movies, and long walks on the beach. His/Its first contribution to HonestGamers was a review of Breath of Fire III.