What I love about role-playing games is the immersion factor. Playing a well-made RPG is akin to reading a great novel. You can spend countless hours getting lost in its fantasies, indulging in a world that is only limited by our physical need to sleep. For all of you RPG lovers – Ys VIII: The Lacrimosa of Dana is another gem to add to the list of jewels out there. Let’s take out our jeweler’s loupe and meticulously analyze this action-filled adventure.

Developer: Nihon Falcom

Publisher: NIS America, INC.

Hours Played: 20 hours // Review Copy Provided // Nintendo Switch Price: $59.99 USD

The story begins

You take on the valorous role of the main protagonist, Adol Christin. Adol is a younger gentleman who happens to be working his way across the ocean as a sailor to earn his keep. Along with his friend and companion, Dogi, the two thrill-seekers are just on another one of the many exploits for which they live and breathe.

These self-proclaimed “adventurers” find themselves aboard the esteemed Lombardia, a passenger ship headed for the continent of Eresia. Commanded by the poised Captain Barbaros, this particular night on the water seems to encounter nothing but smooth sailing. Everything looks to be in the making of a lovely evening. That is, until you are personally tasked with guard duty – with special orders from the captain himself.

Captain Barbaros summons you into his quarters. A private conversation reveals that there may be suspicious passengers aboard. The captain sees something noble in you, and sees fit that you should take on this responsibility. In exchange, the captain promises to alert you when the ship will pass by the infamous Isle of Seiren.

Why would hearing of this Isle be intriguing? Well, tales have spread of the dangers of The Isle of Seiren like ripples in the ocean whence anchors drop. It is said that everyone who has been to the island has not lived to tell of their experience… Many are afraid just from the name being spoken aloud. As you may have guessed, telling an adventurer such a story is basically an open invitation.

After a successful evening of patrolling the deck and private quarters as requested, Captain Barbaros makes good on his promise. There is little to report, save for a young girl stealing a sailor’s uniform. You are genuinely commended for your efforts. Just as you are discussing the chilling sea tales of The Isle of Seiren, the real adventure begins.

Chaos Ensues

The sturdy Lombardia is rocked by an unknown force! You and the others are hanging on with all of your might. Debris is flying and the ship is at risk of capsizing. Passengers are scrambling, and are being thrown overboard from the sheer force. That’s when you discover the source of this violent interruption: a giant tentacle.

Cue the first real fight in which you engage adrenaline kicks with an accompanied upbeat battle theme. It not only serves as a great learning experience to basic combat mechanics, but showcases what makes this game a great ARPG. In the midst of battle, tips will appear on screen to guide you to victory.

Success! You and a few others are able to fight off this one tentacle. However, there is a certain fact about tentacles that every good sailor should know… There is always more than one. Lo and behold, the celebration is short-lived. You are soon plunged face first into the icy depths of the sea.

Saved?

You awaken on a beach, unsure of your exact location. You soon realize that others have also survived the perilous midnight dip. After some introductions and eye-opening conversations, it is apparent you are on none other than the Isle from the Captain’s story. You, along with the help of everyone you can find, soon find a suitable area to make camp. It is now your mission to survive long enough to escape the deadly Isle of Seiren.

Will you be able to build a functioning camp? Will you find more survivors? What else will you run into on this unplanned “vacation”? All this and much, much more will be revealed in your experience with Ys VIII: The Lacrimosa of Dana. It only ramps up from there!

The Technical Facets

Without giving away too much of the story, I think this is a great place to stop. As mentioned, RPG’s are known for being story intensive and Ys VIII: The Lacrimosa of Dana is no exception. Let’s take some time now to explore through some elements that are crucial to the game. The first one being the type of role playing game you will experience.

Ys VIII: The Lacrimosa of Dana is what’s called a third-person “ARPG”, or “Action Role Playing Game”. What this means is that you will be viewing your character from the third person, with no option to switch to first person. The combat is action-focused, and does not utilize the traditional turn-based mechanics you would see in a typical RPG. Everything is moving at once, incorporating and ensuring a seamless play experience.

Everything moving can get a bit hectic at times, especially when in combat with multiple enemies at once. However, it will truly test your timing, reflexes, and overall combat awareness. Not to mention forcing both proper and timely use of items to keep you alive in the heat of battle. It is more physically engaging for the player, and just as much mental.

The Illusion

Another characteristic to mention is that Ys VIII: The Lacrimosa of Dana is what I would consider a “semi-open world” adventure. This means you are able to explore the map as you please, for any length of time, with some exceptions. Based on the linear nature of story-driven games, there are certain areas that will be blocked or inaccessible until later on. As you progress, more and more will be unlocked.

Once more is unlocked, you will then gain access to new items, new options, new characters, etc. This is pretty typical in similar titles, and keeps you focused on progression. Ys VIII: The Lacrimosa of Dana incorporates this system of progression very well. It gives the illusion of an open world adventure minus the headache of becoming overwhelmed in a world with endless opportunities.

Speaking of opportunity, this game offers a lot in the way of activities, quests, and exploration. Though the replay value tends to suffer slightly in story-driven games, the content you will find here will keep you busy for upwards of 40-50 hours. This includes the main story, side quests, map completion, raids, and more. Each portion of the game plays a role in adding to the story and overall enjoyment you will find in this game.

The Suggestion

That being said, the enjoyment of this Switch port will have to be derived from playing solo. Ys VIII: The Lacrimosa of Dana, like many other RPG’s, is a one player affair. There is no online compatibility or multiplayer options available.

It would be fun to have your friends control other characters. Though, due to the nature of the combat, local co-op would be nigh impossible to accomplish successfully. Online access may be a different story, but then again this game tends to favor long play sessions. Many gamers (myself included) are unable to set aside the necessary time for a lengthy session, thus hampering potential enjoyment.

The Redemption

Do you know what I also enjoy about Ys VIII: The Lacrimosa of Dana? VOICE ACTING. I can’t begin to describe how much more engaged I feel when listening to good voice actors portray these characters. I feel like I’m a part of the conversation. Plus, this game throws in subtle text narration to fill in gaps or speed up what otherwise would be long sequences of events. The developers did a great job in moving the game along fluidly, keeping the attention of its players.

The other thing that complements the attention span is the characters! The cast of unique, relatable characters are a breath of fresh air. I really enjoy the subtle conversations they have during exploration of the map. You become engaged in the moment of deep conversation initiated fireside. Enjoy watching the gradual familiarity they gain with each other, and the different dynamics each character brings to the table. There is a sense of genuine camaraderie and hierarchy as people step up to different tasks within the game.

It’s in the Details

Something of note is also the concept of “smoothness”. Fluidity is something we’ve become accustomed to as gamers. We want a buttery-smooth experience! Well, despite Ys VIII: The Lacrimosa of Dana being a port, they do a very good job of keeping things flowing. I mentioned that earlier for the story, but that goes for the game itself too.

You will come to find the game has a fairly large map. Being as such, there are loading screens and “breaks” between areas as you explore. They are apparent and expected as you become familiarized with the layout of the map. It doesn’t add to the immersion, but it does its best to minimize the inevitable distraction it causes.

Hallelujah! The loading screens are short! The game even gives you the option to remove screen tips, thus shortening the length of time of the loading screens further. The breaks in the map don’t take too much time either; it’s just something to which you’ll quickly become accustomed. Many times when exploring new areas, they’ll even be accompanied by a short cut scene, making them feel purposefully placed.

I mentioned many of the cut scenes are voice-acted; beautiful! They also look almost identical to the aesthetics of the gameplay itself! I love when games use the same assets for both cut scenes and gameplay, as it helps maintain that immersion. That being said, this will be a good transition into some of the more questionable aspects of Ys VIII: The Lacrimosa of Dana.

Room for Improvement

Unfortunately, this game is graphically weaker than I’d like. Chalk it up to being a port, or stylistic choice, or not. It is playable in docked mode with a decent resolution and FPS, however not so much in handheld. I’m not usually one to complain, and I’m not here either. I still enjoy playing most games in handheld regardless, however there is definitely something to be desired in this department. Those who hold this in high regard may be let down.

In my play through of Ys VIII: The Lacrimosa of Dana, I noticed something. Things aren’t exactly as smooth as I’d like. Unfortunately for this title, I recently completed Bayonetta. Oh boy, did that set a standard for action fighting! Dodging, countering, and attacks were literally within frames of one another. You could string together combos as quickly as you can press the buttons… I cannot say the same for this game.

Granted, the fighting is executed well and relatively quick. Ys VIII: The Lacrimosa of Dana has a unique system in which you can dodge or block in order to activate a slow-mo sequence, similar to Bayonetta. This is pretty awesome and definitely gives you a sense of speed in combat. However, slight graphic hiccups and attack animations hinder what I wished the game could do.

In order to dodge or block, you have to wait until the current attack animation is complete before the game will let you activate said defensive maneuver. I can’t count how many times this has resulted in me getting blasted by the enemy. Pair this with an overly generous hitbox and some very slight screen hops during intensive scenes, and it can sometimes become a bit frustrating.

I had to retrain myself on timing and when certain moves and counters could be activated. Again, most of my gripes I chalk up to technologically-limited nuances; however I’m sure there are patches that could fix these things. Despite the minor flaws experience in this Switch port, the positive definitely outweighs the negative. On that note, let’s wrap up on something positive!

Closing Thoughts

The last element I want to touch on is the uniqueness of the base progression. You literally unlock new things in the “base” you are building with each passenger you come across. Each character shows their personality and skills they can offer. You can influence your relationship based on how you interact with them and by completing specific side missions they request. You are rewarded for generosity, exploration, and positive responses. I enjoy the positive reinforcement and seeing what else you can do with your base!

If you aren’t convinced by now, this ARPG has crazy depth and loads of content! It is an enjoyable and recommended experience to RPG enthusiasts and action lovers alike. Don’t let the title fool you! You will not need to have played any of the previous titles to enjoy Ys VIII: The Lacrimosa of Dana. There is so much to this game that I cannot justify ruining it by explaining the whole story in this review. You will just have to experience this ARPG for yourself!

A couple of honorable mentions before I go: Along with many RPG’s, crafting, raids, item collecting, fishing, and quests play a huge role in this game. You can upgrade weapons, raise levels, gain and upgrade skills. You can swap the characters you are controlling in combat and fight with anyone in your party you please. There are outfits you can craft and special items only gained through specific quests. Please, do yourself a favor and check this one out!

Thank you so much for taking the time to read this lengthy review. Anything shorter would not have done it justice! If you enjoy this content, let us know by joining in our Discord or subscribing to our subreddit. If you prefer watching video content, take a look at our YouTube! Lastly, if you want to contribute to see more great content continue – we have a Patreon as well. Thanks again – until next time!

The game that keeps on giving!

At its core, Ys VIII: The Lacrimosa of Dana is a great ARPG. On a deeper level, there is a world in which you become immersed and characters for whom you care. Any fan of RPG’s will feel right at home in this action-packed adventure!

Thank you so much for taking the time to read this lengthy review. Anything shorter would not have done it justice! If you enjoy this content, let us know by joining in our Discord or subscribing to our subreddit. If you prefer watching video content, take a look at our YouTube! Lastly, if you want to contribute to see more great content continue – we have a Patreon as well. Thanks again – until next time!