Anime Apocalypse

Anime game lovin' publisher XSEED will be showi??ng off its wares at PAX East in Boston this weekend, giving attendees the chance to check out some of the gorgeous-looking new releases.

Rune Factory 4 Special is the Nintendo Switch remake of 2012 3DS title, and features all of the farming, crop-growing, animal-rearing and marital strife of the original. New features in dual audio support for English and Japanese language, an all-new "Newlywed" mode, and a higher difficulty option for anime farming pros. The western localisation of Rune Factory 4 Special is available right now??,? having launched just this week.

Also at PAX is RPG Ys: Memories of Celceta. This 2012 PS Vita remake tells the story of a young man, Adol Christin, who is tasked with mapping the dangerous and mystical Forests of Celceta. Obviously, this job leads to dramatic adventures, friendly and not-so-friendly encounters, and a helluva lot of fighting. Ys: Memories of Celcta will launch on PS4 sometime in 2020.

Sakuna: Of Rice and Ruin is a cute-looking adventure title that blends farming simulation with platforming action. Players take on the role of the titular Sakuna, a troubled harvest goddess who must help the inhabitants of Hinoe Island fend off armies of demons while simultaneously facilitating the growth of a struggling rice crop. Destructoid's CJ Andriessen checked the game out at E3 last summer, and you can find his thoughts right here.

Finally, XSEED will also be demoing its awesome fighting title Granblue Fantasy: Versus. Already available in Japan, (where it had a very impressive debut), this one-on-one fighter has turned heads due to its charismatic cast of characters and absolutely stunning art design. Granblue Fantasy: Versus launches in North America on March 3 and in Europe on March 27.

PAX ?East takes place at the Boston Convention Center between February 27 and March 1.

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PS Vita remaster crossing the ocean

Publisher Xseed Games has announced that the remastered edition of PS Vita classic Ys: Memories of Celceta is headed west on PS4 in the spring of 2020, following on from its PC release in t?he summer of last year.

The PS4 edition of the 2012 title will feature full high-definition visuals, running at 60 FPS, and features an overhauled control system, replicating the touch-screen controls of the PS Vita release. Memories of Celceta for PS4 will also have dual-audio, giving players the choice between English dialogue or t?he original Japanese voice track (This latter feature will also be patched into the PC port.)

For physical media fans, the Ys: Memories of Celceta - Timeless Adventure Edition will be made available for pre-order soon over at the official XSeed store and selected online retailers. This edition includes a copy of the game, a series commemorative soundtrack CD, and 12 art postcards. The Timeless Adventure Edition will retail for around $40.

Ys: Memories of Celceta is ??available now on PC, and arrives on PS4 in the west spring 2020.

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YS!

While the PC port of Ys VIII might still be in shambles, at least we'll be getting a quality PC release for the Ys series soon. XSEED Games has announced that the port of Ys: Memories of Celceta (aka Ys IV) will be launching on Steam, GOG and Humble Bundle on July 25 for $24.99/€24.99/£19.99. To make up for the lack of a physical edition, the PC version w??ill come with a PDF of "A?dol's Travel Journal." This was included with the limited edition version of the game for the Vita and contains tips on adventuring through the game.

XSEED is also happy to announce that Memories of Celceta ??will include a wide range of HD options (probably implying ultrawide support), completely rebindable? controls, mouse support and uncapped framerates (240 Hz, here I come!). You can check out a trailer, below, that shows off the ultra smooth framerate in action. I'm definitely excited to get my hands on this.

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XSEED and Falcom make a great combo

Ever since XSEED released Ys SEVEN on PC, my gut feeling was telling me that Ys: Memories of Celceta would appear on it one day. As the company unleashed its mystery stream, we can now rejoice about 2018 being the year where people get to own every English Ys game on one system.

A few great things about this release is that you'll have the option to set it at resolutions above 1080p, along with having unlocked framerate. Just like Ys SEVEN, this port is being done by HYDE, Inc., which means that it'll run well. Of course, XSEED deserves props for improving the localization of this new version of Celceta. This shows how they want to give people a taste of their current skills with thei?r enh?anced rereleases.

In terms of the series' timeline, Celceta takes place after Ys II, and it shows us how Adol's reputation as an adventurer grew. It's also Nihon Falcom's take on the fourth game, with Ys IV: Mask of the Sun for SNES and Ys IV: Dawn of Ys for PC Engine being made by two different develope?rs.

With the game having a segment where we try to help the red-haired swordsman recover his memories, Celceta teaches about his past and other traits. Since I heard nothing but great things about the game, it's going to be a fun ?ride going through it when it h?its PC this summer. For now, I'm loving the idea of picking dialogue options for Adol to make him sound snarky.

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A memory to cherish

It’s strange to think that Ys: Memories of Celceta is actually the fourth iteration of Ys IV. Even weirder, it’s the first time the game has been developed by Nihon Falcom, who was the developer of pretty much every other game in the series. Weirder yet is t?hat this is the first time the game is finally gracing the western world in an official capacity.

As with Falcom’s excellent Ys: The Oath in Felghana that released on PSP in 2010, Memories of Celceta is more than just an upgraded port of an over decade-old Super Nintendo game. Instead, it’s a complete artistic re-envisioning done so to create a more cohesive ?universe for the franchise.

N??ot to mention it&rsqu??o;s a damn fine reason to dust off your Vita.

Ys: Memories of Celceta (Vita)
Developer: Falcom
Publisher: Xseed
Release Date: November 26, 2013
MSRP: $39.99 ($59.99 Silver Anniversary Edition)

Awakening in the town of Casnan, series mainstay Adol Christin finds himself lost without any memory of how he got there. Alone, without even the knowledge of h??is own name, this redheaded sword-wielding adventurer quickly finds solace in a mysterious burly man, named Duren, who tells Adol he last saw him heading into the Great Forest.

As Adol is trying to get some bearing on his situation, the local mine finds itself under a monster attack. Deciding to check what all the co?mmotion is about, Adol stumbles upon a mysterious light that triggers a repressed memory that hints he may have been a swordsman before his accident. With this newfound information in hand, he ventures into the mine in an effort to save the trapped workers. And this is all? within the first 10 minutes of the game.

I love how straightforward Memories of Celceta is in its story telling. It reeks of old-school game design, yet at the same time is so refreshing. The game doesn't waste a moment with overly tedious tutorials and excessively long narrative and instead thrusts the player right into the heat of the action. It&r?squo;s just -- grab a sword and head straight into the monster slaying without the slightest care for the who, what, when, or why that tends to eat up the beginning of m?any contemporary games.

B??ut this is not to say that the world in the latest Ys is any less grand than any modern RPG. In fact, Memories of Celceta’s world is one of the richest and most alluring lands I've had the pleasure of trekking across in a long time. The world is wrapped in mystery -- not just to the amnesiac Adol, but to every citizen of Celceta -- and brimming with little tidbits of lore and beautiful v?istas to see. It just takes time to discover.

There’s also a small sense of choice presented throughout the adventure; whether it’s through simple dialog selections that steers the tone of banter or in the occasional decision to tackle a specific destination next. There’s never a wrong way to? play or adventure either, and even though the narrative takes its sweet time to become something special, every interaction is penned with an exquisite charm that makes it enjoyable from beginning to end.

When I first started playing Memories of Celceta, my girlfriend asked ab??out the story and I told her something about amnesia, but that it&n??bsp;didn't matter because of how rewarding the combat is. But by the end of the game, I was completely captivated by the “badguy wants to take over the world” scenario that I've played a dozen times before. A true testament to the localization by Xseed.

The writing is never overly funny, perverted,?? or epic, but it puts a smile on your face as it develops ??every character into a likable companion and not some played-out trope. The localization team at Xseed could have easily dialed it home, but it’s apparent that they want the Ys series to ??be as prominent today as any of Square Enix’s top franchises.

You can also tell Falcom wants the Ys franchise to be?? the premier action-RPG on the Vita since Memories of Celceta really holds nothing back. The game contains some of the best music (and one of my favo?rite Ys soundtracks) and graphics to grace Sony’s portable to date. The visuals are rich with vibrant colors, full of bloom effects, and so lush you can’t help but want to visit Celceta on your next vacation. The score to the game is easily as enchanting and pairs perf?ectly with the main attraction: the combat.

Even without a well-written story, and into?xicating soundtrack, Memories of Celceta would still be worth playing. At the core of this game lies one of the most enjoyable a??ction-RPG games I’ve ever played. The combat, for those new to the series, takes the basic Zelda formula and pumps it up tenfold. It’s fast and frantic, but at the same time it’s extremely rewarding to master. It constantly pushes the player forward in adventuring and better yet, it&rsqu?o;s far from overly complicated, even with the three-party system that the game implements, similar to that of Ys Seven.

For? starters, each character’s weapon affinity holds an advantage over certain enemy types.?? Adols sword can cut through the plant-like Canolen like a hot knife through butter. But when paired up against the flying Bonpeets later in the game, his sword isn’t nearly as effective as the piercing knives or spears that Karna and Ozma wield. Overall there are three weapon types -- slash, strike, and pierce -- that are mixed evenly between the game’s six playable characters.

Mastering which character is best for the situation is only the tip of the iceberg for success. On top of the controlled chaos that combat brings, there is crafting, quest taking, and a giant map to explore. Finding items for crafting accessories or to strengthen weapons never becomes a hassle since the map marks where you can find whatever you may need as you venture forth. Traveling is also a breeze with waypoints that let you jump across the map at ease and later beco?me completely open to a fast-travel system for ?even easier backtracking for missed treasures, memories, and supplies.

There are a lot of little systems in place in Memories of Celceta, but they never detract from the overall experience. RPGs can kill their own pace with overly-convoluted mechanics and thankfully Falcom made sure to keep?? everything as streamlined and efficient throughout. This ease of use additionally carries over to the game's controls which keep every killer move just a simple button press away.

Touchscreen controls make menu navigation a breeze, but they are never truly shoehorned into the experience aside from controlling your party's AI tendencies which is done by pinching in and out on the rear touchscreen. It’s a little awkward, but it never gets in the way or becomes something? you accidentally instigate, unless? you’re prone to rubbing the back of your Vita for fun. And really this is my only nitpick for an otherwise near-flawless experience.

Falcom’s decision to take ownership of this entry, to create a more cohesive narrative amongst the series, has once again delivere??d one of the finest experiences for both the series and the p??latform it’s landed on. Ys: Memories of Celceta is not a system seller, but it’s ?a game worthy of buying if you own a Vita and easily one of the best RPGs of the year.

The post Review: Ys: Memories of Celceta appeared first on Destructoid.

Adol Christin returns in a new role-playing adventure

Ys: Memories of Celceta arrives on PlayStation Vita toda??y with no memory of how it got there. The action role-playing game offers players a new evil-plagued land to explore alongside the series' tradema??rk hero, Adol Christin, a red-haired amnesiac swordsman with a penchant for adventure.

Initially released in Japan last year, Ys: Memories of Celceta marks the 25th anniversary of Nihon Falcom's acclaimed franchise and XSEED Games is offering a swanky special edition to celebrate the milestone. For an extra twenty clams players can snap up the Silver Anniversary Edition, which includes a cloth map of Celceta, a logo-emblazoned compass, 130 page strategy and art book, and a three disc soundtrack collection feat??uring original and arranged music from the entire series.

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Sexy special edition celebrating series' 25th anniversary

Ys: Memories of Celceta will find itself on PlayStation Vita come Novem?ber 26, arriving just in time fo?r Thanksgiving travelers to sink their voracious teeth into this holiday season.

The looming role-player is the latest incarnation of Ys IV, which was initially crafted by Bomberman ?developer Hudson Soft and released twenty years ago in Japan. At long last, thanks to the work of Nihon Falcom and XSEED, the title is finally ready to make its western debut.

In celebration of the series' quartercentury of history, XSEED has announced a special Silver Anniversary Edition, which features a cloth map, logo-emblazoned compass, 130 page strategy and art book, and a three disc soundtrack collection showcasing both original and arranged music from the entire franch?ise for $59.99.

Ys: Memories of Celceta ??will also be available standalone and via the PlayStation St?ore for $39.99 on November 26.

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New Character details, too

Upcoming Vita RPG Ys: Memories of Celceta gets its first English screenshots, thanks to XSEED Games. Coming this holiday, Celceta is a reworking of Ys IV, one of the titles that never made it ?out west. 

Below, you'll find XSEED's rundown of the characters of Celceta. You know Adol is the star??, but there's also a leggy huntress named Karna, a found?? friend named Duren, a serious villager named Ozma, and a young lass named Calilica. 

In our gallery, you'll find images of these ??characters as well as new sc?reenshots.

YES. More Vita RPGs, please.

Adol Christin 

The Ys series’ stalwart protagonist, Adol Christin is perhaps the most famous adventurer ever to have lived. Adol is a young man brimming with curiosity who constantly seeks the thrill of discovery and the wonders of new lands. This time around, however, the challenge is quite different – Adol is seeking to solve the mysteries of his own past.

Duren

Duren is an information dealer whom Adol encounters at a bar in Casnan. He claims to have met Adol before – though with no memory, Adol remains skeptical. An extremely kind-hearted man (though he'd never admit it), Duren can't bring himself to walk away from someone in need, making him a perfect travel companion.

Karna

Karna is a cheerful, honest young girl who lives in the treetop village of Comodo. An extremely skilled huntress, she puts most of the other hunters in the village to shame with her accuracy and cunning talent. Her weapon of choice is the throwing knife, though she has an unfortunate habit of throwing first and asking questions later...

Ozma

A resident of the village of Selray, and the sole remaining member of the tribe which cares for the sacred beasts known as Spardas. Though young, Ozma acts as the village’s leader and has managed to uphold its peaceful ways for as long as he's been in charge. Reliable, level-headed and dedicated, he is loved and respected by all of the village’s residents. While extremely stubborn and inflexible when it comes to the laws of his tribe, he is also extremely loyal to the people in his charge.

Calilica

Calilica is an energetic, curious young girl who is mature beyond her years in many regards. She harbors something of a complex about her age and youthful appearance, and is constantly seeking to be recognized as an adult by those around her. She looks up to Leeza as an older sister, and has been with her since they were both children. As such,?? she will hold back at nothing if she can be of assistance to her.

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Sony may have amnesia when it comes to the Vita; luckily XSEED is quite lucid

XSEED Games may have single-handedly championed the Sony Vita at this year's E3. Not one, but three offerings are slated from the niche publishing localization house. Japanese RPGs like Valhalla Knights 3 and Ragnarok Odyseey Ace looked aces and should offer up plenty of monster-slaying distractions. But the third title, Ys: Memories of Celceta -- one of the?? few games in the se?ries to have yet made a western appearance -- that has me more than glad to own Sony's portable powerhouse.

Following the adventure of series mainstay Adol Christin, the story of Memories of Celceta finds Adol in a strange new land with a bad case of amnesia. It's a pretty played-out scenario, but then again this is a quasi remake of Ys IV; a game that is 20 years old. So it should be no surprise if a fair share of classic tropes -- ones that have sculpted the genre into what it is today -- are sprinkled throughout the ad??vent?ure.

Ys: Memories of Celceta (PlayStation Vita)
Developer: Falcolm
Publisher: XSEED Games
Release: Fall 2013

My time with Memories of Celceta veered far away from any story segments though, as the game was being shown off in its Japanese form. That being said, I have faith that -- however this retelling pans out -- it will be localized with the same care recent XSEED titles have been given. Their writing is some of the best in the business and while the Ys series tends to carr?y a more serious tone, they always find a few spots fo??r some farcical banter. 

Gameplay-wise, Memories of Celceta's  battle system is very reminiscent to that of Ys VII on the PSP. Aside from Adol, two other party members are accessible during combat -- granted they've been met in the story -- and can be switched to on a moment's notice to exploit an enemy'??s weakness. Adol is your typical s??word-wielding mid-range fighter, and the other two complement the mix with brute hand-to-hand combat and agile projectile volleys. Timing is also crucial to battle as a well-placed block or perfectly-executed dodge can quickly turn a challenging fight in favor.

Typical to Ys games, the real-time combat in Memories of Celceta really shines. During my hands-on demonstration, I easily lost track of time as I was transfixed on slaughtering everything in my sight. The action is on t??he frantic side, with all three party members going at it, but I never lost track of what I was doing; even when switching party members or unle?ashing one the visually impressive super attacks each character possesses. 

The game looks sharp on the Vita screen too. The worl?d is bright and colorful, full of bloom effects, and the scenery is far from sparse. Animations are smooth and, at least from my time with the game, there isn't an ounce ??of slowdown when the screen is exploding full of ocular grandeur.

Additionally, there is some minimal touch interactivity aside from accessing and navigating the game's menus. During my exploration, I came to a section where I needed to use my range charac?ter's projectile to shoot down some boulders to make an impromptu bridge. A simple tap of the target on the screen and I was on my way. It was nothing that was truly necessary, but it sped up the game's flow and was non-intrusive.

I wish I could have spent more time with Memories of Celceta and really dug into the game's deeper systems, but just listening to the music in the trailer alone is enough to get me pumped for some hot Ys action. The series has always paired its melodic, yet intense, score well with its twitch-based action-RPG combat. If my time with Memories of Celceta is any indication, then the latest install?ment looks to keep that tradition intact ?when it arrives sometime this fall.

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