Ys VIII: Lacrimosa of DANA Reviews
Ys VIII sets the bar high for Adol Christin's next adventure. This is one of the best Ys titles yet, and one of the best RPGs of the year.
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.
A worthwhile addition to the Ys series that's enjoyable to veterans and newcomers alike.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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
The story of survival at the heart of the game is pulled off well thanks to an endearing cast of characters who all have a unique perspective and purpose. Ys VIII is hardly thematically rich, but it's so satisfying to play, tapping into that primal desire to pull off flashy combos at high speeds and watch that map percentage slowly creep up. Rather than one of shambling prehistoric beasts that populate Seiran, Ys VIII is no dinosaur and this is the freshest and most fun the series has been for a while.
Despite the complaints, I can easily see Ys VIII: Lacrimosa of Dana going down as a modern classic of the genre. The sense of wonder the game offers during exploration, the beautiful artistic presentation, and the just plain solid and fun gameplay make this a title that you absolutely should not pass up.
Right now is a great time to be a fan of the Ys series. With just about a simultaneous release of the upgraded Ys Seven for the PC which came out back in 2009, Ys VIII: Lacrimosa of Dana takes the concepts that were designed almost a decade ago and takes it all a step further.
Ys VIII: Lacrimosa of Dana is an exhilarating and extensive experience, which fans of the franchise, and just fans of action RPGs in general, absolutely need to play.
Although a few technical issues do still exist, Ys VIII is still a fantastic JRPG. The combat is fun, the story is interesting, the soundtrack is excellent, and there is a ton of content to wade through.
It took over 20 years, but Ys finally came to the fore. Lacrimosa of Dana is an excellent action RPG with a clever focus on survival that, unfortunately, it can't keep up to its completion. The Switch version has its problems, namely the resolution, but when we see it moving, without frame breaks and with a solid performance, we understand how its quality was not harmed. Ys VIII is essential for all fans of the genre.
Review in Portuguese | Read full review
Still, this port isn’t flawless, and there are still dips and even resolution downgrades from time to time, but overall, this port is an excellent second-place to the PS4 version of the game, and Switch owners are in for the best action RPG experience out of the entire Nintendo Switch library to date.
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.
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.
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 VII: Lacrimosa of Dana was an already excellent game at it's core. With minor tweaks, its enough to experience the magic again.