Ys is a long running and beloved action RPG series now making its Nintendo Switch debut thanks to NIS America. I first played the series on the Turbo Grafx 16 several years ago and found it to be amazing and began following the series ever since. I loved Ys VIII: Lacrimosa of Dana on the PS4 and was excited when it was confirmed for a Switch release as well.
I am pleased to say that the game has translated beautifully from the PS4 version, and may in fact be slightly more refined here. The game felt smoother, combat controls more responsive and so on. I had no issues with framerate or screen tearing, and considering all previously released DLC is packed in here from the stat, I daresay this is the definitive version.
Ys games are known for great action and great music, and Ys VIII: Lacrimosa of Dana continues that tradition brilliantly. The game brings with it several new innovations in terms of combat to keep things fresh and the result is an action RPG on par with the top action games. New dodge and reactions mechanics bring a new way of approaching combat that makes this game more involving than the previous entries, and while they take a while to get used to, they really do make the experience fulfilling.
The music in the game is of the high qwuality that we have come to expect from the series of course, and you will find yourself replaying several areas just to hear the amazing soundtrack. Ys VIII: Lacrimosa of Dana has one of the best soundtracks in recent years from a diverse range of styles, . Great boss themes, incidental music, area music etc, are all perfectly fitting as well.
Ys VIII: Lacrimosa of Dana, has a great story, and you will find yourself lost in the game for hours on end. In addition, the characters are well written and likeable. Even when the game has some overused tropes, this isnt a bad thing becausea trope is a tool and if used well, it is fine. With Ys VIII: Lacrimosa of Dana, we have been given an epic action RPG that makes great use of resources. This is the biggest and best Ys game yet and truly feels like it can rival some of the big players in the genre.
For players new to the Ys series, don’t worry. the game does a good job of catching you up to speed in a way that will not leave you confused. You do not need to be aware of the past games to follow the plot and thus you will have an excellent jumping on point here. Grant Morrison once said that every comic book is someone’s first comic. That can also be applied to video games, and Ys VIII: Lacrimosa of Dana, is a game that is very much aware of that.
Ys VIII: Lacrimosa of Dana, is a game that honors its past while paving a bright future for itself. For players new to the series, you are in for a treat. Highly recommended.
Disclaimer: A review key was provided