Ys VIII: Lacrimosa of DANA Reviews
Ys VIII: Lacrimosa of Dana provides more than enough thrilling action RPG gameplay to satisfy fans' appetites.
If you've never had the chance to play any game from the Ys series, it's time to give yourself a chance to do this. With many hours of duration, fun gameplay and dynamism thanks to its excellent performance, Ys VIII: Lacrimosa of Dana easily becomes one of the best action RPGs on the console.
Review in Portuguese | Read full review
So, should you buy Ys VIII: Lacrimosa of Dana? Absolutely and unequivocally yes. With a reduction on the fluff, an easy-to-learn combat system and a plot that (unlike many JRPGs) doesn't border on the incomprehensible, Ys VIII stands as a fantastic example as to how these games should be made and one I'll now hold as a benchmark to mark any future JRPGs against. An essential Switch purchase.
Some minor technical limitations aside, gamers are in the presence of what is one of the most compelling JRPG stories the Nintendo Switch has seen, easily on par with Xenoblade Chronicles 2's and, admittedly for lack of competition at this level of polish, at time of writing anyway, the absolute and unquestionably best Action JRPG on the system.
Ys VIII is a lovely and harmonic mixture of Hack 'n' Slash and Role Playing games and has successfully accelerated the pace of gameplay without sacrificing the originality of this series.
Review in Persian | Read full review
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.
Overall Ys VIII: Lacrimosa of Dana is a great game. It's a fantastic adventure with some noticeable flaws that can be mostly overlooked. Even if you rush through the game, you can expect roughly 40 to 50 hours of gameplay, while completionists can expect far more than that.
A great new adventure awaits fans of the series and those looking to try out Ys for the first time should have their fair amount of fun.
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
Simply put, everything in Ys VIII feels real good.
YS VIII: Lacrimosa of Dana was certainly a great playing experience.
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.