Ys VIII: Lacrimosa of DANA

 PlayStation 4
User Score
8.6

Generally favorable reviews- based on 296 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 254 out of 296
  2. Mixed: 13 out of 296
  3. Negative: 29 out of 296
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  1. Gamingking007
    Sep 18, 2017
    10
    Amazing RPG! iF youre a fan of the ys saga then this is a must! Endless vistas of beauty and an amazing storyline that keeps you hooked at all times!!!
  2. vahn
    Jan 23, 2019
    10
    I never played a YS game before and what a way to start this franchise with one of the best action RPG of the last years. Heck, even the start is exhilarating, with a fantastic rock tune to welcome you in with a bang. Seriously, I was never this excited about running around and fighting in years and that alone made me want to continue playing more and more.

    But I'm getting ahead of    I never played a YS game before and what a way to start this franchise with one of the best action RPG of the last years. Heck, even the start is exhilarating, with a fantastic rock tune to welcome you in with a bang. Seriously, I was never this excited about running around and fighting in years and that alone made me want to continue playing more and more.

    But I'm getting ahead of myself: the game talks about Adol, the main protagonist the series and he's an adventurer who shipwrecks in an island - apparently it's as common as elder's scroll prisoner's theme! The game is set in this island called "The Island of Seiren" and your job is to get out of it alive while saving castaways, protecting your village from enemies and discovering the secrets behind this island in turn.

    What fascinated me about the story is that it can literally go anywhere and not feel forced: too many times I played RPGs where the plot just stops in order to tell you another story that has nothing to do with it, but here there's just no real story because your main job is to get out of the island while everything else is an additional, and the more you discover the more you learn about the island, which only makes you more curious to play!
    It's been since Berseria I wasn't this curious for a plot before and I can easily spend 5-6 hours playing non-stop!

    And it doesn't stop there: the island is huge and the game rewards for exploring it with rewards, crafting materials - there's no money since you're all castaways- fishing spots, questing, etc. There's always something to do here and I NEVER got bored to fight once.

    Speaking of combat: it's amazingly fun and fast, showing its 60 fps that really makes it a great experience! The combat is super fast, flashy, rewarding (dodging and parrying in time buffs you) and very responsive: I never felt the game doing something I never intended and the commands can be customized at your leisure. It's almost perfect...if it wasn't for the camera and lock-on that occasionally confuses you by not letting you turn the camera around, forcing you to unlock your target. In fact, the camera is probably the clunkiest thing in the game thus far and it can be troublesome when climbing or when needing to see down below. It's not game-breaking but still a pain to deal with.
    Other than that I have no complains about combat: enemies are well balanced for all difficulties and none of their attacks are broken (I tried hard and nightmare and it was quite enjoyable but the exp rates are lower so I got back to normal) and the game is not even stingy with SP and it's kind of encouraged to spam skills in order to kill them and obtain half of the sp back, and it's just so fun!

    And how can I forget about the music?! This is usually a subjective thing but HOLY CRAP, the moment I got to the island, and Sunshine Coastline (that's the name on youtube at least) hit, I was like "Oh wow, this is...amazing, time to do some adventuring!". And it's not just one music: many tracks in the game are outstanding and really remarkable! I sincerely recommend checking the OST of the game and it's not something I say all the time!

    The game is just so fun...so what's wrong with it? Hmm it's hard to say...for instance while the story is pretty good the characters are your basic anime clichè that really changes nothing - Laxia is your usual tsundere who hates you for no reason, Sahad is your Bara character with a golden heart, Hummel is your silent and mysterious character and Ricotta is your overly cheerful character. The game is filled with clichè characters which are not entirely bad, but it feels like they tried to make anime fans happy first...I mean did we REALLY need to see Adol peeking on Laxia naked at the beginning, with her getting all mad for X hours of gaming - even though it's later explained but it's still crap-?
    No we didn't.

    Also while the bosses are challenging and fun, the enemies tend to die rather quick unless you play on higher difficulties, which makes them more resilient. In addition you have a 3-type system where depending on your type of hits you can break enemies...however considering you can have 3 characters at all times, and the 6 characters are of 3 types each, you can essentially have one of each everytime - and it's encouraged considering you get more rare materials.

    The map is also kind of confusing...it will take a while before you can learn how to use it, and there's a serious lack of voice acting in the game - at least in the English version - and the graphics aren't really that great, looking like ps3 era graphics.

    But I would just nitpick at this point: I cannot stop recommending this game for anyone needing for a fun action RPG with some surprisingly good plots and overall a clichè but likable roster of characters.
    And considering it's also pretty long - easily 40-50 hours on your first playthrough - it's a good value for your money! Give it a shot!    … Expand
  3. DrewHLMW
    Jul 1, 2020
    10
    I cant give 9.9 so this gets rounded up to 10.
    I love this game, the island setting is a cool decision, and exploring the giant beautiful island for shipwrecked passengers to build your village and community makes exploring interesting.
    The Combat is lots of fun and all the characters play well and the story is really good, I can't say anything about it due to spoilers though but it kept    I cant give 9.9 so this gets rounded up to 10.
    I love this game, the island setting is a cool decision, and exploring the giant beautiful island for shipwrecked passengers to build your village and community makes exploring interesting.
    The Combat is lots of fun and all the characters play well and the story is really good, I can't say anything about it due to spoilers though but it kept me entertained.
    If your looking for an action-rpg thats easy to get into and that will suck you in then this is a great place to start and if you like this make sure you grab Memories of Celceta next.    … Expand
  4. Steyraus
    Jan 1, 2021
    10
    WOnderfull, beutifull game, with insanly addictive combat and leveling. Surprisingly good story with lovable relatable characters..Goes on a bit long but all japanese games do.
  5. monks99
    Feb 1, 2020
    10
    One of the best overall jrpg games I have ever played. A must own!!!! Support this series!
  6. NexusTsunami
    Mar 6, 2018
    10
    Ein absolut geniales Spiel!! Nihon Falcom beweist einfach mal wieder, dass ein gutes Spiel nicht durch überragende Grafik (obwohl sie da mit Ys 8 durchaus vorangeschritten sind) oder viel Bombast punkten muss - sondern durch Konsistenz. Die Entwickler bleiben sich ihrem Wesen treu - eine sich langsam entwickelte aber fesselnde Story, ein geniales Kampfsystem, übergragende
    Haupt- sowie    Ein absolut geniales Spiel!! Nihon Falcom beweist einfach mal wieder, dass ein gutes Spiel nicht durch überragende Grafik (obwohl sie da mit Ys 8 durchaus vorangeschritten sind) oder viel Bombast punkten muss - sondern durch Konsistenz. Die Entwickler bleiben sich ihrem Wesen treu - eine sich langsam entwickelte aber fesselnde Story, ein geniales Kampfsystem, übergragende
    Haupt- sowie Nebencharaktere und ein toller und stimmiger Soundtrack aus dem eigenen Soundteam. Diese Mixtur die auch bei den überragenden The Legend of Heroes Spielen zum
    tragen kommt, geht mal wieder voll auf. Volle Punktzahl!!!    … Expand
  7. Leon_Magnus03
    Sep 18, 2017
    10
    YS Lacrimosa of Dana it is a really marvelous game, that was really worth the wait. Your story is nice, with a lot of mysteries, and the main dish is that amazing battle system, it's very fast, so you don't get bored. Play it on the "Inferno" mode, is way more difficult than any Dark Souls style games.

    Every Ys fan should take this game :D
  8. danpc
    Oct 7, 2017
    10
    I absolutelylove this game.
    The story is farily simple but enjoyable.
    But everything else about the game is so much fun.
    The feeling of adventure that you get from exploring the island is amazing,and the combat is easily one of the best.
    Not to mention it has great music,has usual in the series.
  9. nobilki
    Oct 1, 2017
    10
    this is my first ys game i play.
    what can i say is falcom really make a awesome games. this games tell us interesting story that will make you want to continue play it. good gameplay, awesome OST.
    want good story? play this game :3
  10. Debris44
    Apr 1, 2019
    10
    Terrific RPG! Engaging story, fun as hell combat, fun yet simple skill and crafting systems, fun world to explore. This was my first ever Ys title and I'll be anxiously awaiting Ys IX here in the U.S.
  11. Flazzard
    Jun 16, 2019
    10
    Being new to the series, this game impressed me quite a lot. Soundtrack is absolutely fantastic and memorable, gameplay is fun, and story is very interesting; you can easily find yourself absorbed in the plot, and the game gives you no shortage of questions that need answers, keeping you always interested in what's gonna happen next.
    The art is also quite impressive in menus and such,    Being new to the series, this game impressed me quite a lot. Soundtrack is absolutely fantastic and memorable, gameplay is fun, and story is very interesting; you can easily find yourself absorbed in the plot, and the game gives you no shortage of questions that need answers, keeping you always interested in what's gonna happen next.
    The art is also quite impressive in menus and such, which brings me to another point - the characters are great, they all bring something new to the table.
    It seems that heart and soul was put into this game, and it was absolutely worth it. This game is beautiful.    … Expand
  12. Tsareena
    Oct 9, 2017
    10
    Everything about this is a 10/10. Gameplay was perfect, Story was perfect, Graphics were perfect. One thing about action RPG's is that they can easily feel one-note with the gameplay but ys viii really did that with the battle system. The ending also got me in my feelings. Major +
  13. pixelpassion
    Aug 8, 2018
    10
    This is a amazing game that many will overlook don't be that person play this game. Anyone with just a passing interest in jrpgs or action rpgs need to experience this rich story and it's smooth gameplay. On the PS4 Pro to the art style shines. Falcom are truly underated masters.
  14. Jaywa
    Nov 30, 2017
    10
    First impressions were less then I expected. I thought the graphics weren't all that good and seemed a bit childish. HOWEVER after a few hours I realised I was very wrong. This game was absolutely incredible. It kind of reminded me of the epic book The Mysterious island by Jules Verne. The building of the township was a nice extra to feel like you're building towards something. The sceneryFirst impressions were less then I expected. I thought the graphics weren't all that good and seemed a bit childish. HOWEVER after a few hours I realised I was very wrong. This game was absolutely incredible. It kind of reminded me of the epic book The Mysterious island by Jules Verne. The building of the township was a nice extra to feel like you're building towards something. The scenery was great. The story was amazing and I genuinely loved every minute. The only things that I would have liked is a bit better voice acting and more of it as a good portion is text. However the game is absolutely stunning and truly a game to remember. Must play… Expand
  15. vinnysoft
    Dec 12, 2017
    10
    First Ys game I've played. This game has a beautiful history with every character being charismatic it's own way... The controls also have great responsiveness, making a smoothing gameplay. JRPG fans must play it for sure!
  16. Infrexius
    Feb 10, 2021
    10
    Had this game on my backlog for so long. But my god what a suprise this was. My first ys game ever and it was amazing. By far one of the best game i have ever played. Pros:
    Good story
    Amazing combat
    Exploring feels nice
    Lots of character building.

    Cons:
    Story starts slow
    Graphics dont look top quality.

    If you love JRPGS you should play this.
  17. justishar
    Jan 3, 2018
    10
    This is a really great game. The difficult name does it no favors and probably limits the number of people who will ever play it, but if you get past this, you're in for a treat. The gameplay is a lot of fun and the fighting is very fluid and not clunky at all. This was my first Ys game and I played through with the difficulty on Hard, and I found this gave a pretty good balance ofThis is a really great game. The difficult name does it no favors and probably limits the number of people who will ever play it, but if you get past this, you're in for a treat. The gameplay is a lot of fun and the fighting is very fluid and not clunky at all. This was my first Ys game and I played through with the difficulty on Hard, and I found this gave a pretty good balance of difficulty where the game was challenging but seldom frustrating. If I could go back in time and advise myself on the difficulty setting before starting the game, I might say to try the next level of difficulty just to get the extra challenge from it, but Hard mode was definitely very well balanced as far as giving the style of gameplay that it claims to. There are many innovative ways of keeping up the challenge level as the game progresses and the fighting never really feels burdensome, which is quite a feat. The music is amazing and really adds to the experience. This is not a Triple A game, but it hangs with the best of them, as I put this game on the same level as games like Persona 5 and The Witcher 3, and in fact this game wins out over both in certain areas. If I had to list areas for improvement, there could certainly be more time given to character development, as many the characters can be a bit one dimensional, and their stories could be a bit more interesting. However, overall, the game still works well with the amount of character development provided and is an absolute blast to play, so I give it a 9.5 out of 10.… Expand
  18. Kaledis
    Jan 16, 2018
    10
    Coming from someone who plays a lot of games but never can stick to a single one for more than I few hours. I have currently put over 36 hours into this game and I am nowhere near finished with it.

    Its in no way an original game, its your standard JRPG fair, everything is very predictable, the graphics aren't PS4 quality at all, the characters are your usual fair, the combat is    Coming from someone who plays a lot of games but never can stick to a single one for more than I few hours. I have currently put over 36 hours into this game and I am nowhere near finished with it.

    Its in no way an original game, its your standard JRPG fair, everything is very predictable, the graphics aren't PS4 quality at all, the characters are your usual fair, the combat is surprisingly fun and not overly complicated. But for some reason I am absolutely love it. It has just really clicked with it. Most of the time I couldn't care less about the story, but I want to actually get everyone off the island and find out Dana's history.

    I haven't cared this much about a story in a game since Bioshock Infinite!    … Expand
  19. Vinidmx
    Mar 11, 2019
    10
    This game do not receive praise enough, never thought i would find another game that would give me the same feeling that Zelda BOTW gave me, but this game is amazing, history, caracters, gameplay, exploration... everything amazing, Zelda is only better than this game by the care and budget with the game and trademark, but this jrpg is a masterpiece.
  20. Syfin
    Jul 21, 2020
    10
    Потрясающее приключение на острове. Отличная механика боя( у игр этой серии боевка это главное). Интересная механика своей деревни, которая постепенно развивается.
  21. Notackan
    May 24, 2019
    10
    I’ve been playing Ys game for about 10 years now. I got Ys Seven before my first deployment and played through it very fast. Since then I’ve been addicted beating every Ys game save for V. Ys VIII does not disappoint. The fighting is amazing, the characters are great, the music is outstanding and the story is superb. If you find this game on the shelf pick it up, you won’t regret!
  22. iCyanRyu_
    Jul 22, 2020
    10
    This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. I love it. Truly amazing game. The art and character design is great. Stroy is amazing. Ys 8 deserves an anime adaptation if it's not there yet. So much to do on the mysterious island. The boss fights were amazing especially the secret bosses. I can't Express how much I love the story and how deep is it. I dont know about others but I really enjoy this type of game. After obtaining the platinum trophy and unlocking the endings.. I watched the ship leaves the island and it felt so nostalgic after a year of playing this game. Hope to see more great games like this :)… Expand
  23. B1d
    Dec 26, 2019
    10
    This was the first Ys serie I've played but i loved it. It has touching story, great music and of course enjoyable gameplay. I am confident that you will like it.
  24. dyne_laike
    Jan 14, 2020
    10
    The game is perfect. The art style is lively and beautiful, every character well developed and designed. The gameplay is an absolute blast that no other action RPG comes even close to. Every Ys game has a soundtrack that reflects the greatest in the entire video game industry has to offer. And of course, the main grade in any RPG is the story, and this one is utterly unique and wellThe game is perfect. The art style is lively and beautiful, every character well developed and designed. The gameplay is an absolute blast that no other action RPG comes even close to. Every Ys game has a soundtrack that reflects the greatest in the entire video game industry has to offer. And of course, the main grade in any RPG is the story, and this one is utterly unique and well realized. Everybody needs to play this, as the YS series is a complete bastion of greatness that should have the recognition is so well deserves.… Expand
  25. Rukru
    Apr 8, 2020
    10
    Amazing game, great music, this is my first ys game and I am now a fan of the series it is a must pay for JRPG fans
  26. MrMiggins
    Apr 29, 2020
    10
    One of the most amazing games I've ever played. I'm not a huge RPG fan, but Ys VIII is very special.

    Technically, it's about as good as it could be, with excellent graphics and sound. The localization is par excellence, with great voice acting and translations. The music is fantastic. Frame-rate rarely if ever suffers with intense action scenes during combat. Most importantly, for me,    One of the most amazing games I've ever played. I'm not a huge RPG fan, but Ys VIII is very special.

    Technically, it's about as good as it could be, with excellent graphics and sound. The localization is par excellence, with great voice acting and translations. The music is fantastic. Frame-rate rarely if ever suffers with intense action scenes during combat. Most importantly, for me, you can save the game at any time. I absolutely hate games which make you find save points, with very rare exceptions. Who has time for that? There is fast travel to previously visited locations and all the nice quality of life you would expect from a polished game.

    When it comes to story and characters, Ys VIII is up there with the best that the Final Fantasy series has to offer. Laxia in particular is a brilliantly realized character who has a fully realized character arc during the game, as does the titular Dana. But all the characters are great and fully fleshed out. They are never shrill and annoying like many inferior Japanese RPGs. You can talk to anyone during your adventure and they'll always have something interesting to say.

    The mark of a true genius RPG is when you think you have almost finished it, and then you realize you are only about half-way through! The story is absolutely compelling, with mysteries to solve and time travel playing an integral part. I put 60 hours into Lacrimosa of Dana on my first play-through and finishing this game was a bittersweet experience that brought a tear to my eye. I wanted to stay in this world with my new friends forever. And that's what a real RPG should be like. I cannot recommend it highly enough.    … Expand
  27. nelfielm
    Jul 22, 2020
    10
    The game is perfect. The art style is lively and beautiful, every character well developed and designed. The gameplay is an absolute blast that no other action RPG comes even close to.
  28. vvv123
    Dec 30, 2020
    10
    One of my favourite games! The story was engaging, I enjoyed exploring the island and the learning more about the characters. The combat and music was amazing!
  29. dogshea
    Aug 24, 2020
    10
    Masterpiece of JRPG. Perfect story and the character design is really enjoyable. Exploration and investigation in the island is also interesting. I think this game is the one of the most well-made games for FALCOM and JPRG history.
  30. Biizz
    Jan 4, 2022
    10
    I prefer this one to the newest Ys game. Both the gameplay and the story were good and the soundtrack is also great, if you want to play good JRPG this game is a must-play.
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Awards & Rankings

23
#23 Best PS4 Game of 2017
59
#59 Most Discussed PS4 Game of 2017
98
#98 Most Shared PS4 Game of 2017

Critic Reviews

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Metascore
85

Generally favorable reviews - based on 39 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 38 out of 39
  2. Mixed: 1 out of 39
  3. Negative: 0 out of 39
  1. GameGrin
    Oct 18, 2017
    90
    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.
    Read full review
  2. 4P.de
    Oct 18, 2017
    87
    The visuals are a little outdated but that can’t take away much from the rest of this gem, that.
    Read full review
  3. Impulsegamer
    Oct 13, 2017
    80
    While obviously not without its flaws, Ys VIII: Lacrimosa of Dana is one of the stronger, albeit more obscure, JRPG offerings to hit the PS4 this year.
    Read full review
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