Ys VIII: Lacrimosa of DANA Reviews

Ys VIII: Lacrimosa of DANA is ranked in the 91st percentile of games scored on OpenCritic.
9 / 10.0
Sep 12, 2017

Overall Ys VIII the Lacrimosa of Dana is a compelling and entertaining JRPG. I often found myself torn between pushing the main story forward and doing all the side activities, but the real tell was I just really enjoyed spending time in the game no matter what I was doing. The graphics, music, and game mechanics all work well together to provide many hours of delightful and fun entertainment.

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Fextralife
DeadPixel
Top Critic
9 / 10
Oct 11, 2017

Ys VIII: Lacrimosa of Dana is by far, the best entry in the series.

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4 / 5.0
Oct 11, 2017

As a newcomer to the Ys series, I couldn't recommend Ys VIII: Lacrimosa of Dana enough. Touted as being twice as long as previous instalments, the fast pace of the combat system and bountiful questlines available makes for a consistently entertaining experience with little in the way of grinding.

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9 / 10.0
Oct 9, 2017

A worthwhile addition to the Ys series that's enjoyable to veterans and newcomers alike.

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6.5 / 10.0
May 2, 2018

The Ys VIII: Lacrimosa of Dana port is a complete mess. Full of problems and technical flaws, this is the worst version to play the best chapter of the series.

Review in Italian | Read full review

8 / 10.0
Apr 25, 2018

Ys VIII: Lacrimosa of Dana disappointed me when I couldn't launch it to play after I picked it up. However, once it started working I was amazed by the rich visuals and the storyline. I was even pleased by the action aspect of the combat, and I am all about the traditional turn-based RPG. If you pick this game up you will love it or you won't. But it's definitely one I plan on playing for a long time still.

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8.5 / 10.0
Jun 13, 2018

If there's anything really "meh" about Ys VIII it's that the story takes a good long while to get going. It crawls along with dream sequences that don't really generate interest, and the first hour or more is just you running around the soon-to-crash ship talking to people. But once you're adventuring on the island, fishing, crafting, learning new skills, finding new secrets, and meeting new survivors, Ys VIII becomes a very memorable experience. It makes me hope we don't wait so long for a Ys IX, and that it's given the care and attention it deserves.

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8 / 10.0
Jun 19, 2018

YS VIII: Lacrimosa of Dana was certainly a great playing experience.

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8 / 10
Jul 18, 2018

Simply put, everything in Ys VIII feels real good.

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Unscored
Nov 28, 2022

Ys VIII Lacrimosa of Dana is and remains probably the best episode of a long-lived and beloved series, to which just over a decade ago we assigned a very high vote, which we would not hesitate to assign again if we had to examine only the purely playful aspect of the matter. But here we are called to judge the work done for PS5 users, the presence of novelties and, from these points of view, this version of the Falcom game has not particularly excited us, although it is, in absolute terms, the best among those published so far.

Review in Italian | Read full review

Aug 30, 2017

Nihon Falcom & Nippon Ichi Software has crafted yet another fantastic entry in the Ys series. The same great gameplay and storytelling elements that have become synonymous with the series, along with exceptional graphics. Sure, the top-down view has been replaced but the new 3D graphics help brings the world to life and I enjoyed the voice lines. Combine that with some enjoyable character development and a game that spans over 40+ hour and you got a game that you won't want to put down for a while.

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82%
Aug 30, 2017

Ys VIII is a smooth and speedy action RPG that is weakened by a curious proclivity to pander to trends instead of carving out its own niche in the space this series helped to define decades ago.

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RPG Site
Top Critic
8 / 10
Aug 30, 2017

The Ys series is back and its newest installment is simply remarkable.

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Alana Hagues
Top Critic
80%
Sep 12, 2017

Ys VIII is nearly perfect when you're simply exploring the island and defeating monsters, but the story sometimes interrupts the action too much.

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RPG Fan
Top Critic
75%
Jun 26, 2018

Ys VIII's smooth combat, amazing music, and fun-to-explore environments make for a memorable and rewarding experience. Unfortunately, you may want to steer clear of a Switch port that mars that experience with technical and localization issues.

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8.5 / 10.0
Jul 2, 2018

Despite some small annoyances, Ys VIII: Lacrimosa of Dana is a blast on the Switch. The simply, yet fun, combat is a winner whether you’re on the go or playing at home. Add in a thrilling story and it makes for one of the better offerings for the platform. Sure, it could perform a little better and do a better job with direction, but these things are quickly forgotten when you’re defending your settlement or finding new residents.

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7 / 10
Jun 23, 2018

Ys VIII on Switch manages to offer the best handheld version of the game, but it comes with its own fair share of problems that hold it back.

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Unscored
Jul 1, 2018

As a lover of RPGs, this game is extremely lacking, and it caters only to previous fans of the series.

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9.5 / 10.0
Aug 30, 2017

Ys VIII: Lacrimosa of Dana has introduced a new type of adventure to the Ys series and does it incredibly well. The game takes the action-RPG genre to a new level with its excellent story pacing and gameplay. The game offers many hours of exploring and fast-paced action along with plenty more for those who'd like to dive deeper into the mysteries of the island. The truth is after picking up Ys VIII: Lacrimosa of Dana I simply couldn't put it down until I finished the story. In the end, I found myself attached to many of the characters that I met along the way and part of me wished that this Ys adventure never had to end. Ys VIII: Lacrimosa of Dana will also release on PS Vita and PC.

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Sep 1, 2017

Despite the rough visuals and occasional storytelling misstep, Ys VIII: Lacrimosa of Dana delivers some of the best music and combat of any RPG out there.

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