Ys VIII: Lacrimosa of DANA Reviews
In addition to an interesting story, setting, and a truly wonderful score, I can't help but walk away singing its praises. That's not to say it isn't without fault, as a slow start will be enough to scare some off and the map can cause some confusion, but these are things worth toughing out to see all the good.
If you've never played a previous Ys game, like me, this is a great game to experience despite the long history and number in its title. Lasting just over 40 hours for me, this is a relatively easy recommendation for even none JRPG fans who prefer more mechanically driven games.
Ys 8 is a polishment on the format debuted in Ys 7 which was also further refined in Ys Memories of Celceta and it is one of Falcom most ambitious titles to date. This ambition payed off because Ys 8 is one of the best games in the series, one of the best ARPGs of the year and an absolute must for PS4 and Vita owners.
Review in Portuguese | Read full review
Final Thoughts Ys VIII: Lacrimosa of DANA is one of our favorite releases this year, along with The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild (Nintendo Switch), and Persona 5. We highly recommend this game for players looking for a good-sized 50+ hours of adventure. You'll also dig the soundtrack as Falcom outdid themselves with this release.
While Ys VIII: Lacrimosa of DANA doesn't reinvent the wheel, it most certainly improves absolutely everything it can over its already excellent predecessors. It hits the nail on the head with just about everything it does, from the stellar combat to the almost Metroidvania world structure to the actual feeling of exploring a mysterious island inhabited by feral creatures. This is one of the few rare cases where the game's narrative is closely tied to its gameplay, making for something truly refreshing. If you have never played a Ys game before this is the perfect place to start, while longtime fans are sure to be more than thrilled with this latest adventure.
Ys VIII not only stands up to its contemporary competitors, but also beats many of them. I'd rather play this than Final Fantasy XV's gorgeous, dragging combat and half-hearted open world design any day of the week. And in my book, that is no small feat.
Ys VIII: Lacrimosa of DANA is a massive game for PlayStation 4 and Vita with so much to do. It's a very fun and gorgeous game with a solid story, making this a game that you have to play on PlayStation 4 today. It's definitely now in the running for Game of the Year (at least in my book), and hopefully you will feel the same once you get started with your adventure!
Ys VIII marks the return of Adol Christin back to the big screen. The story might be lackluster in the game but the actual writing effort is solid with some great character moments in the main campaign. The combat is easily the best the series has to offer so far.
Ys VIII: Lacrimosa of Dana is everything an action RPG could and should be. Genre conventions and traditions are still in play, but they're handled with a delicacy that elevates what would otherwise be tired clichés into imaginative story beats. The narrative is as rich in thematic substance as it is in genuine human interaction, as every NPC is given ample time to grow, while solidarity is emphasized as humanity's best bet at surviving. Lacrimosa of Dana plays like an ideal marriage between Seven and Memories of Celceta, with an equal balance of character building, fast-paced combat, and exploration. NIS America's localization could have used another draft, but it's offset by the franchise's single best story and a host of content to uncover in the base game, along with New Game Plus. Innovative with just enough familiarity, Ys has never been better.
Ys VIII: Lacrimosa of Dana provides more than enough thrilling action RPG gameplay to satisfy fans' appetites.
Ys VIII is a great action RPG with a really fun narrative premise. It’s welcoming to newcomers so don’t worry if you haven’t played the prior games in the series. While it does have some performance issues and does take a few hours to really get going I found it hard to put down once it’s core gameplay loop digs it’s claws in. It’s a very welcome addition to my Nintendo Switch and has made the Ys series something I’ll be keeping an eye on in future.
Ys VII: Lacrimosa of Dana was an already excellent game at it's core. With minor tweaks, its enough to experience the magic again.
Ys VIII: Lacrimosa of DANA comes to PlayStation 5 and its users will be able to enjoy Adol's adventure on the island of Seiren in one of the best installments of the veteran Nihon Falcom franchise. A remarkable adventure awaits us that visually shows the passage of time -the original game is from 2016 for PlayStation Vita- but that keeps its fun gameplay fresh.
Review in Spanish | Read full review
Ys VIII remains a fundamentally great action JRPG that looks its best on PS5, but its underwhelming DualSense feedback is a huge missed opportunity.
Ys VIII: Lacrimosa of DANA is a title to consider for several reasons. The fact that it incorporates the different mechanics in a balanced and non-excessive way makes it a very solid experience, the only sin being that this new version for PS5 does not add practically anything new compared to versions of previous generations. However, the humorous aspect present is really great and it gives a lot of pleasure, always with a smile on your face!
Review in Portuguese | Read full review
The PS5 port of YS VIII: Lacrimosa of Dana is a joyous romp that profits immensely from 60fps. No one can dispute how much the silky transitions and animations leave a person salivating in awe.
Ys VIII: Lacrimosa of Dana is a fantastic action role-playing game that features an endearing narrative, an addictive yet sleek combat system, and a colorful cast of characters. Just because it doesn’t look as visually advanced as some games might nowadays doesn’t mean you should overlook this gem of a title. There’s little incentive for fans that already have a copy of another version to purchase the PlayStation 5 port again. But this is an absolute must-play for anyone seeking an adventure. It’s wonderful to see so many players across different platforms being able to enjoy Nihon Falcom’s magnum opus.
I loved playing through Ys VIII: Lacrimosa of Dana, clocking in almost 200 hours over the last few weeks. The PS5 allows the game to run super smooth and without any performance issues at a solid 4K and 60fps (or 1080p and 120fps if you adjust the system settings), delivering the definitive console edition. The combat is satisfying, the story is intriguing, there’s always something to do, and mapping out the entire island is very addictive and fun. If you’ve not played the game before or you loved it on last-gen machines, this enhanced version is for you; if you’ve recently played it on the PS4, this is essentially the same game but at a higher resolution and with no option to import your saves.
It’s a must play title as an ARPG fan. Other than some of the visual expressions, there isn’t much to nitpick about. The story progression is very solid and the ending will leave you with some emotional lingering if you were concentrating on the plot throughout the whole game. Explosive action, fun and appealing characters are some of the highlights of this game. We welcome you to join Adol and Dana in their adventures towards Eresia.
Review in Korean | Read full review
In general, I will say that Ys Lacrimosa of Dana, despite sinning from a slow narrative is a very fun game at a playable level, yes, if you expect graphics, forget it, since it is an old school JRPG with very fair graphics.
Review in Spanish | Read full review