Ys VIII: Lacrimosa of DANA

 Switch
User Score
8.6

Generally favorable reviews- based on 322 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 268 out of 322
  2. Mixed: 27 out of 322
  3. Negative: 27 out of 322
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  1. Steyraus
    Jan 1, 2021
    10
    Amazing games, just as good as the ps4 version. Very few visual downgrades and with all the amazing story combat and exploring.
  2. rumbledore
    Jul 22, 2018
    10
    Just finished this game and I miss the experience already... The story was breathtaking, the characters were admirable and the gameplay was topnotch... Can't wait for Ys IX. This is truly a hidden gem more people should know about. This is the first Ys game I've played and this makes me want to play the previous Ys games.
  3. inkling_girl
    Jul 14, 2018
    10
    I'm not a fan of JRPGs at all so I was pleasantly surprised when I found myself enjoying this game. This is probably the only JRPG I've actually enjoyed. I haven't played the other games in the series but I read Ys games are standalone and can be played in any order since the storylines are not connected so I decided to give it a try and I am so glad I did. I loved everything about thisI'm not a fan of JRPGs at all so I was pleasantly surprised when I found myself enjoying this game. This is probably the only JRPG I've actually enjoyed. I haven't played the other games in the series but I read Ys games are standalone and can be played in any order since the storylines are not connected so I decided to give it a try and I am so glad I did. I loved everything about this game- the compelling and action-packed storyline, the seamless combat, the characters, the exploration and environments, and of course the music. I had an absolute blast playing this game, there was never a dull moment. Highly recommended.… Expand
  4. AliasOrion
    Jul 16, 2018
    10
    This game was good enough to convince me to make a metacritic account just to combat the shameful score critics gave it. As with Xenoblade 2, the best game to date for switch, this game is hurt by short attention spans and the logistical difficulty for critics to play such a massive game to completion before launch. I am by no means a JRPG fan, but despite this heavily abiding by the lawsThis game was good enough to convince me to make a metacritic account just to combat the shameful score critics gave it. As with Xenoblade 2, the best game to date for switch, this game is hurt by short attention spans and the logistical difficulty for critics to play such a massive game to completion before launch. I am by no means a JRPG fan, but despite this heavily abiding by the laws of the genre, it does so in such a way that it doesn't feel like tedious constant micro-managing, but just fun preparation. The pacing teaches you everything you need to know and prepares you for things to get harder. The bosses are well thought out and the combat system is phenomenal. The primary story does not really even begin until 40% through the content of the game, which explains in large part the low scores of critics who recognized fantastic combat, a well thought out map and world, perfect music and many more positive aspects, but had not yet made it to the engrossing plot. This is a port of a ps4 port of a ps vita game, and as such it is heavily instanced and the graphics are not exactly BotW tier, however, it is easy to look past these few short-comings with everything else this game has going for it.… Expand
  5. Sunshadow87
    Jun 6, 2020
    10
    Juegazo donde los hayan.
    Ys siempre ha sido una saga de ActionRPGs que ha destacado por su jugabilidad y su música, y esta entrega no decepciona. También su historia resulta muy interesante siguiendose un cierto hilo en todas sus entregas que comparten los viajes del protagonista Adol, compartiendo personajes recurrentes y narrandose antiguos sucesos pero, exceptuando los primeros,    Juegazo donde los hayan.
    Ys siempre ha sido una saga de ActionRPGs que ha destacado por su jugabilidad y su música, y esta entrega no decepciona. También su historia resulta muy interesante siguiendose un cierto hilo en todas sus entregas que comparten los viajes del protagonista Adol, compartiendo personajes recurrentes y narrandose antiguos sucesos pero, exceptuando los primeros, siendo entregas independientes (no es necesario jugar a los anteriores, las referencias son mínimas).
    En ese sentido este juego no decepciona para nada, con una historia que francamente me recuerda mucho a la serie "Lost" pero con temática más medieval.
    Al principio del juego naufragaremos en una isla aparentemente desierta, que tendremos que ir explorando mientras rescatamos a los supervivientes del naufragio, reclutándolos para nuestra base que iremos haciendo crecer, y girando las misiones en la exploración y en la supervivencia de esta, buscando los recursos o personal necesarios; mientras que por supuesto, buscaremos la manera de escapar de la isla. Pero la isla esconde intrigantes misterios que resolver: ¿qué es la criatura que hace naufragar en el barco y cómo poder escapar en el mar de ella? ¿Qué son los monstruos (dinosaurios) jamás vistos en el continente que pueblan la isla? ¿Cuál es el motivo de los sueños de Adol con la extraña chica peliazul y quién es ella?
    Como digo, una historia muy interesante de principio a fin, un sistema de batalla genial, geniales personajes con los que te unirá un fuerte vínculo por la estrecha colaboración con ellos para escapar de la isla durante las decenas de horas de juego, y una sensación de exploración de una isla como pocas.    … Expand
  6. hyjnpark
    Aug 14, 2018
    10
    I really don't know why the meta score is in the low 80's on this game. Feels this should be much higher. Great plot, great development of key characters and a very enjoyable game play experience on the switch platform. Yes, compared to the PS4, there were some adjustments due to console capability, but it didn't hinder the experience one bit. if anything, I got more playing time due toI really don't know why the meta score is in the low 80's on this game. Feels this should be much higher. Great plot, great development of key characters and a very enjoyable game play experience on the switch platform. Yes, compared to the PS4, there were some adjustments due to console capability, but it didn't hinder the experience one bit. if anything, I got more playing time due to the switch platform than anything else without having to sacrifice much. This one will be one to remember. Thank you for the memories Falcom. Excellent port.… Expand
  7. Patias
    May 4, 2019
    10
    An incredible masterpiece. Everything in this game is amazing. The art, the gameplay, the content, the original soundtrack. God, we talking about the king of action rpgs, and YS VIII is the best game of this incredible serie.

    You simply NEED this game!
  8. Lesh0
    Sep 12, 2019
    10
    My top 2 jrpg after xenoblade chronicles 2 hands down. The story OMG!! no word for the story. The music man you need to buy the game only because of the music you can just stand and listen to the music thats how good it is omg. 15/10 for music hands down best music in jrpg for me ! Characters were all amazing some fun some annoying and some cool but overall you will start to care for allMy top 2 jrpg after xenoblade chronicles 2 hands down. The story OMG!! no word for the story. The music man you need to buy the game only because of the music you can just stand and listen to the music thats how good it is omg. 15/10 for music hands down best music in jrpg for me ! Characters were all amazing some fun some annoying and some cool but overall you will start to care for all of them at some point. The only negatives i can come up with are frame drops at some points and combat scaling in some areas… Expand
  9. Sanderbo99
    Dec 19, 2019
    10
    This is in my opinion the best non exclusive switch game, it's only one negative thing I can say about the game and that is the graphics, it doesn't look very good, everything else is perfect
  10. ActualReviewer2
    Sep 2, 2019
    10
    The best JRPG available on the Switch. Period. It has EVERYTHING, literally.

    Real time combat, action, slow times when you want slowness, just to gather herbs and ore. Fast when you need fast. The soundtrack is through the roof, A+ to the sound department. The story is touching. I felt each characters pain. The only problem would be if Ys IX never came out on Switch!    The best JRPG available on the Switch. Period. It has EVERYTHING, literally.

    Real time combat, action, slow times when you want slowness, just to gather herbs and ore.

    Fast when you need fast.

    The soundtrack is through the roof, A+ to the sound department.

    The story is touching. I felt each characters pain.

    The only problem would be if Ys IX never came out on Switch!

    If you like action combat games, with plenty of time (at your discretion) to work on other game facets ..
    this game may be for you!

    I enjoyed it 100%. The only sad part is how Square-Enix games seem lackluster in comparison.    … Expand
  11. Lesser_Critic
    Sep 9, 2020
    10
    So, I picked up Ys VIII after I finished Memories of Celceta, and I loved every minute of it. I loved the story which turned out to be more than just the vanilla "Escape the Island" scenario. The gameplay was fun and addictive, there was a good amount of quests, and the music(chef's kiss) was some of the best music that I've heard this past decade. I regret not buying the limited editionSo, I picked up Ys VIII after I finished Memories of Celceta, and I loved every minute of it. I loved the story which turned out to be more than just the vanilla "Escape the Island" scenario. The gameplay was fun and addictive, there was a good amount of quests, and the music(chef's kiss) was some of the best music that I've heard this past decade. I regret not buying the limited edition of the game because it includes the CD for some of the music in the game. I just recently started playing the Ys series in 2018 and since then, it's become one of my favourite series, and Ys VIII pretty much cemented it. In my opinion, Ys VIII is the best game in the series. So looking forward to Ys IX!… Expand
  12. Aerrihn
    Mar 20, 2020
    10
    Firstly, I have sunk over 1300 hours on the Switch version of the game, on top of over 350 hours on the PS Vita version. I have played 27 complete playthroughs with 24 of them being 100% completions. The rest of the time is being spent grinding for a material that increases the base stats of the characters.

    Ys VIII is by far my favourite RPG ever. Do not be intimidated by the number    Firstly, I have sunk over 1300 hours on the Switch version of the game, on top of over 350 hours on the PS Vita version. I have played 27 complete playthroughs with 24 of them being 100% completions. The rest of the time is being spent grinding for a material that increases the base stats of the characters.

    Ys VIII is by far my favourite RPG ever. Do not be intimidated by the number VIII attached to the game as each Ys game has almost no connection to each other outside of small easter eggs and the main character who appears in almost all the entries. Adol Christin is known as a red haired adventurer, and each game is a travelogue that was found in his home after his death. Ys VIII takes us to the Isle of Seiren, basically the Bermuda Triangle of the game.

    The basic plot is that Adol and his friend Dogi were in transition from one city to another on a ship when it gets attacked by a tentacle monster and Adol is washed ashore. The game then revolves around finding the castaways and building up a village which will help Adol grow his gear and upgrade tools and weapons.

    The music is a highlight in every Ys game. Each track can be found on YouTube for free as the game studio makes their music inhouse and allows anyone to use their music provided they are given credit. From ballads to kickass rock, the game has it all. It makes fighting the wolves at the very beginning of the game feel like a final boss fight that lasts 10 seconds.

    The game is action combat, with a button for a basic attack, a block, a dodge and a button to switch characters on the fly. On top of the fact that there is a skill point wheel where the first basic attack the player deals after a brief moment out of combat gains the player skill points. While holding down the ZR trigger (which can be mapped elsewhere, in fact everything can be remapped and should be, the defaults pretty awkward to use), it turns the face buttons into skills that can be assigned in the menu and leveled up through just using them. Blocking at the exact moment the enemy attack hits the player will grant a "flash guard" where for a short while every attack the player deals is a critical hit, and dodging at the right moment grants a "flash move" where time is slowed for all enemies for a short while and the player is immune to damage.

    There are a total of 6 different playable characters and there are three damage types. Slash, Strike and Pierce with one type for each character. The player can switch between three party members on the fly in order to "break" enemies by attacking enemies with their weakness and allowing the rest of the party to then deal true damage as well.

    The map is psuedo open world. As in, it is not fully open world like Breath of the Wild, but the player may revisit any part of the map that the player have been to previously and it is not fully linear. The environment is filled with harvest points to gain resources, obstacles that the player need the right tools or number of people in the player's village to clear. Traversal feels right and it feels like there is a variety of ways to move across the map.

    The graphic and cutscene animations do feel a little outdated for a game that originally released in 2016, but for essentially an indie studio, it can keep up with the likes Xenoblade Chronicles 2. It is definitely the type of game where the longer you play, the less the graphics bother you.

    Progression is displayed in a very genius way. There is a village that the player builds up through finding other Castaways. Each time the player finds new castaways or advance in the story, they can come back to the village to see how it has developed. Sidequests will appear in every chapter, and have expiry times. You can't expect someone in the village to ask for your help and wait forever, can you? Some of these sidequests will also permanently develop the village.

    The endgame is a very boring, past the DLCs and the expansions that were intially introduced in the PS4 edition, the last thing the player has to do is to grind for a material called Aura Grass. This allows the player to trade for potions that increase one of the character's three base stats (STR, DEF and HP) by 3. As of today I have not seen a single person online who has maxed out all 6 characters. I myself has only maxed out two.

    Overall, it is an amazing game that showcases the best of Nihon Falcom and in my opinion, a must have on your Switch if you enjoy traditional JRPGs.    … Expand
  13. Rhonx
    Sep 25, 2020
    10
    This was one of the best gaming experiences I have ever had.
    This game has rewarding meaningful exploration with a nice central story progression.
    If you like Robinson Crusoe, the Mysterious Island, Treasure Island, Land of the Lost, or King Kong, you will probably love this game. I technically give this a 9.5 because the ending gets convoluted as almost every JRPG does. I cannot knock    This was one of the best gaming experiences I have ever had.
    This game has rewarding meaningful exploration with a nice central story progression.
    If you like Robinson Crusoe, the Mysterious Island, Treasure Island, Land of the Lost, or King Kong, you will probably love this game.
    I technically give this a 9.5 because the ending gets convoluted as almost every JRPG does. I cannot knock it down to a 9 because the experience it gave me for the first 3/4ths of it was absolutely superb.
    Simply an amazing adventure.    … Expand
  14. Making_war
    Jan 2, 2021
    10
    Is one of the very veryyy few games that got me sentimental and I have played a lot of games, truly a majestic brilliant story that made me to become such a fan!
  15. Kirbyfan45
    Apr 26, 2021
    10
    This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. This game is something else, let me tell you. Starting out with a simple RPG plot of returning home to a plot that will make you love each character no matter what, alongside gameplay addicting that will be super satisfyingly to master, and makes each character super unique. Graphics are also super charming with great character designs and expressive characters. This game is perfect, no doubt about it. Ys 8 should set the standard when it comes to ARPGs, especially with story. Dana especially is an amazing character with so much depth. Falcom does a great job at making the player sympathize with her. And yes, you will cry. Especially in the true ending where Dana thanks you for everything you did for her. That ending deserves to be framed on a wall… Expand
  16. rechechelly
    Apr 26, 2022
    10
    我们并非神的道具，而是有生命有意志的存在
    即便如此，却依旧碰到超越人智的命运到访的瞬间
    这种时候，你会怎么做呢？ 那纵然置身于极限的境地 却依然秉持意志和尊严的姿态是那么的美丽 我渴望着也能成为那样的存在，因而即使到了数十年后的现在 我仍情不自禁地对【她】怀有敬畏 ——亚特鲁.克里斯汀    我们并非神的道具，而是有生命有意志的存在
    即便如此，却依旧碰到超越人智的命运到访的瞬间
    这种时候，你会怎么做呢？
    那纵然置身于极限的境地
    却依然秉持意志和尊严的姿态是那么的美丽
    我渴望着也能成为那样的存在，因而即使到了数十年后的现在
    我仍情不自禁地对【她】怀有敬畏
    ——亚特鲁.克里斯汀
  17. Ronoleo
    Jan 28, 2023
    10
    This is an RPG well worth playing, 100+ hours of fun in my case. 50 hours in the game is still introducing new features that fit well and add to the loop. finding new castaways always brings progress and the story was a big surprise as I did not expect something so grand. The whole game was a wonderful surprise. As a big RPG player who has been playing final fantasy, dragon quest and y'sThis is an RPG well worth playing, 100+ hours of fun in my case. 50 hours in the game is still introducing new features that fit well and add to the loop. finding new castaways always brings progress and the story was a big surprise as I did not expect something so grand. The whole game was a wonderful surprise. As a big RPG player who has been playing final fantasy, dragon quest and y's this game is truly a great.… Expand
  18. kiwijinxter
    Nov 1, 2018
    9
    This is the battle system Xenoblade Chronicles should've adopted!

    When I first picked up Xenoblade Chronicles, I expected the battle system to be like that of Ys VIII. It wasn't, but I still finished that game. However, my itch for a real-time action battle system remained... until I discovered Ys VIII. I had no idea what kind of game it was until I stumbled upon some reviews... after    This is the battle system Xenoblade Chronicles should've adopted!

    When I first picked up Xenoblade Chronicles, I expected the battle system to be like that of Ys VIII. It wasn't, but I still finished that game. However, my itch for a real-time action battle system remained... until I discovered Ys VIII. I had no idea what kind of game it was until I stumbled upon some reviews... after reading them, I decided to buy it... and I've no regrets - this game managed scratched that itch that left the battles wanting in Xenoblade Chronicles.

    Ys VIII is an action RPG, and it circumvents everything that I didn't like about Xenoblade. IN Ys VIII, I am fully in control of the battle, I use special moves when I want, I use normal moves when I want, I face the monster from the back / side / front, whenever I want. The upgrades to the weapons are straightforward, just keep going up, so I don't get flummoxed by complex systems. Almost all the time, I knew exactly where to go for my next quests / missions.

    The story is relatively straightforward, almost without any plot twists, so really, it's the entire battle system that shines through in this game. As you level up you gain new special abilities which you can assign to one of 4 buttons to execute (there are lots of abilities to choose from as you progress). In Xenoblade Chronicles, sometimes you don't really feel "in control" of the battles because of the way it's implemented. With Ys VIII on the other hand, you're completely in control every single second of the battle, which means you feel more engaged during battles.

    You also get to choose to play a number of characters each with different feel. You get the melee type character (the main character, Adol is one) which is great if you like it up close and personal. Then you get the "fencer" type which is a very agile and quick character but very good at "breaks". You get the tank which basically, well, the tank with huge HP and power hits but just slower than others. You get the AoE (area of effect) type which whacks everything around you, you get the gunner who actually has some super powerful moves, but can also jab when close up... this means you have a great variety of options to play.

    Another great design I like about this game is that, unlike Pokemon, those characters you are not using in your party of 3 at any time will also passively level up so you don't have to grind unnecessarily. The ones not in your party doesn't level up as quickly as the 3 in your party, but it's still helpful that they do level up almost as quickly. This further gives you the flexibility to interchange characters and really have fun at the action part of this RPG. That said, you could grind if you wish to grind as everytime you enter an area again, the monster respawn. Good for parts collection to upgrade weapons and armor too.

    It's a relatively long game, it took me about 60 hours to complete (I almost completed every single side quest), however, what I found was that often, when it started feeling repetitive, they introduce a new move, or new area, or new something, and it does help keep it fresh throughout. Admittedly, I changed from "Normal" to "Easy" about 3/4 way through because I wanted to get to the ending (note there's a "good", "normal" and "bad" ending depending on the reputation points you earn). Reputation points are earned as you complete side quests for characters, give gifts, etc.

    If you're a fan of action RPGs, and you like to be in total control of your action / battles, then this is exactly the game for you. The story is a bit light, but hey, I played this for the action, I sure got them!    … Expand
  19. Djungelorm
    Jan 4, 2022
    9
    A beautiful experience that I would recommend to any JRPG fan; the characters' interactions are a joy to watch and I liked every party member, Dana in particular. The adventure grows into something bigger as you go through it, through exciting boss battles and dungeons, and it is worth it to stick through to the end. There are a few issues like with the translation or the framerate onA beautiful experience that I would recommend to any JRPG fan; the characters' interactions are a joy to watch and I liked every party member, Dana in particular. The adventure grows into something bigger as you go through it, through exciting boss battles and dungeons, and it is worth it to stick through to the end. There are a few issues like with the translation or the framerate on distant large enemies, but you would be a fool to let it put you off experiencing this beautiful tale.… Expand
  20. Firepistol95
    Jun 20, 2020
    9
    >>Story: It centers around a adventurer named, Adol, with his bud Dogi.Where he starts off on a ship coming from Xandria and heading to Eresia.(It takes place shortly after YsV)
    In search of his next adventure till they come close to a "Cursed" island, Seiren, tht has caused many a ship wreck.They got a lil too close and get attacked by a undersea creature tht sinks the ship.
    Adol ends    >>Story: It centers around a adventurer named, Adol, with his bud Dogi.Where he starts off on a ship coming from Xandria and heading to Eresia.(It takes place shortly after YsV)
    In search of his next adventure till they come close to a "Cursed" island, Seiren, tht has caused many a ship wreck.They got a lil too close and get attacked by a undersea creature tht sinks the ship.
    Adol ends up on the island as a castaway.He starts off his adventure trying to find any surviving castaways and a way to get off the island.But their seems to be more to wht this island contains
    Honestly the story was pretty engaging and when u find out a pretty good bit of wht this island is at the halfway point of the story, the pacing of the story just keeps hitting moment to moment and honestly never slows down, in a good way.
    Also has a Bad, Normal and Good ending.
    >>Graphics: Its a game ported from the PS Vita with a bump n resolution and higher res UI. Thts pretty much it....a pretty bare bones port imo They didnt bother updating some of the assets to look good on a tv.Shadows are still blocky, render distance for grass is pretty short, enemies move at half framerate at a distance and a few smaller things. BUT still the game looks great overall despite the noticeable Vita assets. (Switch version when played in handheld keeps constantly switching between 576p and 720p, even when there isnt much goin on and ur just standing. Most notable in the "hub" area of the game; but overall not noticeable in normal gameplay.) Plus the locations are pretty varied so never looks bland.
    >>Gameplay: So like typical jrpg fashion u start out as Level 1. As u continue to level up, u get incremental boosts to ur stats. As u level up, u unlock more skills for ur character (and other party members) to use in combat and the skills are pretty varied from each member. They may hav some similarities but overall hav their own "identity" to make it entertaining. U can hav up to 4 skills slotted to use in combat.The more and more u use a skill, it will level up and boost its stats to be more effective in damage or reduced SP use. (SP is essentially the currency in ur meter to use skills) Skills can be like slash upwards to air, dive honing onto a enemy, parry into a big blast, big wide aoe spin, blast radius shot, etc.; SP can be recovered by just normal attacks onto enemy, if u wait till a blue TING visual/noise pops on ur character then ur next attack will fill a good portion of SP to use.
    Now there is a skill called a, EXTRA skill where its unique to the individuals of the party; its a separate meter tht can be filled from constant use of ur regular skills. Once it fills completely, u can unleash it to a big powerful attack. (Pretty anime in nature u culd say. lol)
    >>Gameplay Part 2: Now as u find more castaways as u progress the story (some require ur own searching tht isnt in line with the story entirely), tht help open up more facilities. Blacksmith, clothing maker, Trade shop, Farming, Accessory making, etc.
    The ones I listed (except) farmer will be given to u just by following the story missions instead of a need to search.
    Also u need to rescue castaways to help clear blocks in paths to get to the next part of the island; story related and side stuff.
    Blacksmith is where u upgrade ur weps and get armor (obviously lol); For wep upgrading u can level up wep to lvl 3 if u bring the right materials; as u progress through the story u will find "Fire Stones" tht will help upgrade ur wep to the next Tier and affects them visually. (some cool designs) Same with armor on needing to find materials.
    Now on gathering materials, its typical to like survival games or MH, where u need to gather from material spots. Veins, trees, plants, fishing, etc.
    Now in the game as u reach a point in the story early on, u hav to partake in Raids. Where beasts attack ur hub.U need to build fortifications, support, etc. from materials u find out on ur adventure; level them up as well. Once u complete raids, u are graded with how u performed. Eradication, EXTRA skill use, no damage, etc. The higher ur grade, the better materials u get as ur rewards.
    Later on in the story, u partake into something similar called, Hunts. Where u eradicate overpopulation areas of the island tht might be a threat to ur hub. Where u places torches in set locations and protect them, since they weaken beast nests and enemies to make easier and faster to kill; till at the end the Boss appears tht u must defeat.
    Now to get the Good ending in the game, u must acquire 200 Rep by doing story, castaway related sidequests, giving castaways gifts (tht appear in the Trade shop or Chests u find in the game), rescuing more castaways, etc.Its not too hard to get it if u keep doin alot of stuff;Took me 46 hrs to get nearly everything done.
    >>Music: I'll just list some tracks tht I like and let u judge. I really luv the OST of the game overall. SunshineCoastline, NextStepTowardTheUnknown,AtoZ(best 1)    … Expand
  21. GBG_Jason
    Jun 26, 2018
    9
    It may just be me, but I really miss the style of older JRPGs. Having grown up on them, they’re a sort of comfort food for me. As much as I enjoy modern RPGs and all the new mechanics they’ve brought about, I love to venture back to the olden days of the genre, typically by replaying games from decades past, but this manages to bring a lot of what those games had while still keeping thingsIt may just be me, but I really miss the style of older JRPGs. Having grown up on them, they’re a sort of comfort food for me. As much as I enjoy modern RPGs and all the new mechanics they’ve brought about, I love to venture back to the olden days of the genre, typically by replaying games from decades past, but this manages to bring a lot of what those games had while still keeping things a bit up-to-date. The dialogue and characters are very reminiscent of older games, and similarly, the dialogue options selected don’t affect the gameplay, so you don’t have to worry about what you’re selecting. This is obvious should you choose to pause during a section of dialogue and see the option of skipping it. Yes, if you feel like RPGs have too much dialogue and you’d rather just swing your sword, you are more than welcome to do that in this. While a strange feature to include, it was very welcome in the prologue having played through it just recently on PC. Should something happen for you to lose your progress, like the power going out, this will undoubtedly save you time if you were in the middle of a narrative heavy section.

    Once you get past the fact that this game won’t be winning any visual awards, you can focus on the fact that the game plays wonderfully. Ys has always been great for combat, and the latest game is no exception. Falcom didn’t sacrifice gameplay for graphics in the way that Final Fantasy XIII did. It could be argued they did the opposite in lieu of not only showing a great game is not dependent on its visuals, but also to spend more time with the mechanics they implemented into this. Combat with any of the characters you acquire throughout is fluid, with three of your party members being a button press away at any given moment – in battle or out. This is important not only for the types of eclectic battles you’ll face, but for the skills each one has for exploration. Battles are mainly hack and slash, with dodges, blocks, and skills to use. It’s a fairly simple system, but it can’t be overstated how well it works. You’ll be faced with using weaknesses on enemies, forcing you to strategize with the different cast members you acquire.

    While certainly not something that’s alien to the series, I can’t think of many RPGs that make use of the Metroidvania level design which taunts you with areas you can’t access until you gain abilities later on. And yet, it’s one of the things that make this so enjoyable. One of the other large portions of the game you’ll be introduced to fairly early on is building your base and recruiting people into it. Having just recently played through Ni no Kuni 2, this was a familiar yet very welcome addition to the rest of the game. Building up your base with differently skilled denizens while defending them from external threats will undoubtedly take up a major portion of your time.

    One of the more notably weak portions of the game will be dependent on your experience with the genre. If you’re like me, you’ll appreciate the story despite its shortcomings. If you’ve never seen anything like this, it can go either way – it can be seen as shallow or it may serve as an introduction to many tropes. As mentioned previously, should you really hate it, you can always skip it altogether. Did I mention there are dinosaurs in this game? You wash up on an island where boats are known to crash if they come within a certain distance of it for reasons unknown (sort of a Bermuda Triangle deal). Do note that if you’re not familiar with the series at all, that’s not a reason to skip out on this, as very little from the other games will help or hinder your experience with this. The one thing you don’t have to worry about is the localization, as this comes with the newly updated script that came out several months after its initial release.

    While this review started off rocky with the PC port, I believe the game is playable for most people there now. Should you not have a console, you would probably be safe nabbing it there. However, I definitely recommend the PS4, Vita, or Switch versions for the reassurance of it working properly. The Switch has that wonderful little feature that doesn’t tie you to a TV, and I enjoyed my time in the recliner with the screen a few inches from my face more than on the 4K TV across the room. This is especially true considering the fact that the game appears better on a smaller screen when played on Switch. I can honestly say this is probably the best Ys game I’ve played on all fronts, and am happy to see it make out of the PlayStation ecosystem, as it’s a game and series that deserves much more love than it gets.    … Expand
  22. Deathbackwards
    Sep 16, 2019
    9
    This game is absolutely fantastic. It is easily one of the best action rpgs of all time. The game, story, and music get a 10/10, but the switch port is lacking. It is a Playstation Vita game, which should run fine on the Switch, but it has some framerate and graphical issues that hold it back from its full potential. It's not a bad port, but it could be better.
  23. AllySky
    Jun 24, 2019
    9
    Ys does not what-so-ever struggle to obtain the number one slot as best rpg on the Nintendo switch, at least for me. Its competitors such as Xenoblade Chronicles and Tales of Vesperia are mighty foes, however what Ys offers over the others leaves them in the dust in the end.

    For starters, the combat, While Xenoblade is locked with auto hits and calls upon you to only tap a button for    Ys does not what-so-ever struggle to obtain the number one slot as best rpg on the Nintendo switch, at least for me. Its competitors such as Xenoblade Chronicles and Tales of Vesperia are mighty foes, however what Ys offers over the others leaves them in the dust in the end.

    For starters, the combat, While Xenoblade is locked with auto hits and calls upon you to only tap a button for specials, it quickly bores you with its repetitive and movie-like combat, where you have little control, or to the point it feels meaningless to try. And Tales of Vesperia, while the combat is nice, it's also locked in a awkward 2.5D perspective, sluggish combat, and perhaps even immersion breaking, where as Ys is far better. Ys has open, free, and full combat at your finger tips, nothing is holding you down,where you have all the control you'd want in a rpg.

    Now more about the game itself, it has a massive, wonderful world to explore, so much to explore, and lovable characters to meet and find. There were some characters I didn't like, but the game made me like them in the end through fantastic character building, not to mention the story is top notch, it'll be hard to put the controller down once you pick it up to play this game. If you've never touched this game before, I recommend getting it, it's worth every penny.    … Expand
  24. ReyalsfoSwodahs
    Sep 14, 2018
    9
    After spending some time with YS VIII, I can safely say this game just works. The story is engaging and offers enough content to keep one entertained for hours on end. The combat is fun and switching between characters on the fly adds a more in-depth play style. Being able to switch between characters adds a sense of freshness to the game that other games lack. I have enjoyed recruitingAfter spending some time with YS VIII, I can safely say this game just works. The story is engaging and offers enough content to keep one entertained for hours on end. The combat is fun and switching between characters on the fly adds a more in-depth play style. Being able to switch between characters adds a sense of freshness to the game that other games lack. I have enjoyed recruiting people and building up the base so far (though I'm only like 15 hours in and haven't progressed a ton). Now, I will say one thing I do not like about the game is the walking/running animation. Adol and Co. seem to glide across the ground. I try not to nitpick stuff that does not really matter, but this is the main flaw I have with this game. If you're looking for a content filled RPG to keep you busy, YS VIII holds the keys to what you are looking for!… Expand
  25. kell32669
    Jul 8, 2018
    9
    Being My first Ys game playing, it is very welcoming with a great experience, love the story, the gameplay, and how its all put together, it gets you hooked to the game within the first few minutes of playing, some people complain about the visuals of the switch version, but to me, it looks amazing, i even tested the demo version, on the ps4, while its the graphics look slightly better,Being My first Ys game playing, it is very welcoming with a great experience, love the story, the gameplay, and how its all put together, it gets you hooked to the game within the first few minutes of playing, some people complain about the visuals of the switch version, but to me, it looks amazing, i even tested the demo version, on the ps4, while its the graphics look slightly better, its barely noticeable when playing on switch, which is acceptable being that u can take this on the go. AWESOME GAME, HIGHLY RECOMMENDED. only downside imo, is that it should have contained more costumes either by in game or dlc.… Expand
  26. Paradox_
    Sep 12, 2019
    9
    un juego increible, la musica es de lo mejor que he escuchado, muy buenos personajes, una aventura tremenda y un juego extremadamente divertido :3, el unico incoveninente que le vi y por que no le puse 10 fue por el idioma, aunque si sabes algo de ingles como yo no tendras problemas
  27. infectedA
    Sep 5, 2018
    9
    This game is what made me make an account on metacritic. I have completed the game and must say that it was a very good experience. The combat in this game is great and always keeps the game entertaining. The story feels fresh throughout the game. I usually do not really follow stories and completely found myself wanting more with this game. It does run at 30fps and graphicallyThis game is what made me make an account on metacritic. I have completed the game and must say that it was a very good experience. The combat in this game is great and always keeps the game entertaining. The story feels fresh throughout the game. I usually do not really follow stories and completely found myself wanting more with this game. It does run at 30fps and graphically reminds me of a Playstation 2 game. However, I am a firm believer that graphics do not make games and this game is a perfect example. The crafting system is fun. I never felt like I had to excessively grind for things to complete the game. I would highly recommend this game for your Nintendo Switch if you have not already played it. It's a great game to be able to play on the go. It really shines in portable mode. I would say I played 40% portable and 60% docked.… Expand
  28. Kadoosh
    Sep 30, 2018
    9
    This was an unexpected gem. Didn't know what I was getting myself into (especially with this being my first Ys game), but I stayed, and absolutely enjoyed the whole ride. Good story, great cast, and excellent gameplay. Got the true ending in one go, and while it wasn't hard by any means, is definitely the ending the shoot for. Looking forward to the next one. Just please make all ports ofThis was an unexpected gem. Didn't know what I was getting myself into (especially with this being my first Ys game), but I stayed, and absolutely enjoyed the whole ride. Good story, great cast, and excellent gameplay. Got the true ending in one go, and while it wasn't hard by any means, is definitely the ending the shoot for. Looking forward to the next one. Just please make all ports of future games better next time. I can see where the complaints are coming from for the PC version. I also hope newer titles go for a more improved artsyle, or showcase better graphics overall. The opportunity is there. They should take it.

    Note: I played the PC version. After 40+ hours for my initial playthrough, game only crashed once, had a couple of typos, and major slowdown in only one *optional* segment, so my experience overall was pretty good.    … Expand
  29. Nimander
    Feb 27, 2019
    9
    I would describe YS VIII as Lost the JRPG, but this one stays great until the end.
    The characters are great, and the story takes some nice twists and turns.
    The graphics leaves something to be desired if that is important(I like the art style though), but story and gameplay more than makes up for it in my book.
  30. Dino84
    Feb 28, 2019
    9
    All new to Ys. I got it quite reluctantly, with mediocre expectations, and I was somewhat disheartened when the first character introduced looked like a blue haired male prostitute...
    But, just a few moments later I found I was fully enjoying myself, and now about 30 hours later (not even halfway through!), I got to say: this game has sailed up onto my top 10 games of all time.
    Which    All new to Ys. I got it quite reluctantly, with mediocre expectations, and I was somewhat disheartened when the first character introduced looked like a blue haired male prostitute...
    But, just a few moments later I found I was fully enjoying myself, and now about 30 hours later (not even halfway through!), I got to say: this game has sailed up onto my top 10 games of all time.

    Which is odd, because the graphics are not the best (especially on the Switch), the character interactions can feel a bit stiff (and ridiculous), and invisible walls are quite frequent during exploration. And the Switch framerate is around 30 rather than 60. Under normal circumstances, for me these would be major cons.
    But, everything else; the action, setting, story, soundtrack, progression, customization, pacing, variety, stability...
    All those are nailed to a degree that simply makes me quit caring about the cons. There is also some clever optimization done here, where creatures outside a certain radius are rendered with fewer frames, while keeping the players perspective smooth. This actually works very well, almost gives it an artistic touch.

    Few games makes me feel so good while playing as Ys8.

    Hoping for more Falcom Switch ports!    … Expand
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Awards & Rankings

68
#68 Best Switch Game of 2018
29
#29 Most Discussed Switch Game of 2018
44
#44 Most Shared Switch Game of 2018

Critic Reviews

All reviews »
Metascore
82

Generally favorable reviews - based on 21 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 18 out of 21
  2. Mixed: 3 out of 21
  3. Negative: 0 out of 21
  1. Nintendo Force Magazine
    Oct 29, 2018
    95
    Ys VIII: Lacrimosa of DANA is just a joy, and I'm so thankful that I took a chance on it. [Issue #36 – November/December 2018, p. 87]
  2. Eurogamer Italy
    Sep 23, 2018
    70
    YS VIII for Nintendo Switch a lazy port from Sony’s consoles. Despite the use of dynamic resolution scaling (DRS) and halving the frame-rate to 30fps, both of these aspects suffer and fail to deliver in the heat of the action. Besides these technical issues, the experience is the same of the original release and this game offer a lot to old school RPG lovers.
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  3. Cubed3
    Jul 26, 2018
    90
    Ys VIII: Lacrimosa of Dana does have some light, frustrating moments that await the pure completionists out there, but that comes with the territory. It is a fully realised artistic masterpiece, both visually and even more so in the audio department, and deserves a place in any serious Switch player's collection. To crown it all, everything is tightly packed into one cohesive package that, at retail, requires no additional download and even comes with some neat little bonuses.
    Read full review
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