Welcome to our final club game for 2021! I've been excited to play this one ever since I read about it, several years ago, and I'm kind of amazed that I haven't picked it up yet. I'm talking about Ys VIII: Lacrimosa of Dana.
Guys, this one has everything. Hack and slash action? Exploration and filling in a map? Yup. Crafting? You betcha. A base that you build up over time? Heck yes! A silent protagonist? ... I'm not sure why we're still doing that, especially because Adol clearly has a personality -- he doesn't need to be a blank slate. But apparently, here's as unvoiced as Joker.
And buckle up, it's a big one!
One other note, for the trophy hunters out there: at least in the PS4 version, there is one trophy associated with the Nightmare difficulty level (or higher). So if that matters to you, start on Nightmare. You can always drop the difficulty later, but if you start on a lower level, you're not eligible for the trophy. I'm not a Ys series expert by any stretch, but from what I've read, Nightmare is much less challenging in this game than it is in other Ys games. There is also a New Game + option that lets you carry over a lot of your stuff, if you'd like to take a run at Nightmare later on.
In.
I started playing this yesterday (on PC), and I'm almost 4 hours in (chapter 2). Having just recently completed another Falcom game (Trails to Azure), this is quite the graphical upgrade! It doesn't look amazing by any stretch, but it is still a very good looking game.
The soundtrack (particularly 'Sunshine Coastline') has been on my phone for quite some time. It is really excellent (like most Ys soundtracks).
Of interest to exactly nobody but me:
I found that streaming the game from my main PC to my TV using Moonlight is not an option: fullscreen mode does not work (although borderless window does), and inputs don't register properly (there is a delay, and then they get batched together). I had to take my old HTPC out of its box (good thing I haven't sold it yet) to play it (and it runs really well at 1080p on the aging GTX 960).
I've been on the Ys VIII train for awhile now, so I'm definitely in. I have a couple other games I'm wrapping up, but I'll be starting up soon.
The silent protagonist really is a weird holdover. If you are giving me a fully fleshed out character with a name and personality, then why not a voice as well? It's not like it can be a character insert when there isn't any sort of customization or blank slate for me to build on. Regardless, I'm in!
If I ever finish what I'm playing right now, I might join in.
Finally!!! yay!!!
Can i join?
Finally!!! yay!!!
Can i join?
Everyone is welcome!
Quick update: I was feeling pretty down today, so I spent it playing this game, and I made it to chapter 3 (about 12 hours in).
I need to complain about something (which I will spoiler, even though it's not a story spoiler):
I like the game a lot, but after 12 hours,
all I got to visit were natural environments: beaches, jungles, bogs, forests, caves... I expect we will get ancient temples and some other man-made environments later, because despite some variety, it's getting repetitive.
As I always do, I find myself just mashing the buttons during combat (it's a bad habit of mine, as my regular Monster Hunter partners can attest), but I'm trying to use the block and the dodge more, because mashing buttons can be an excellent path to failure during boss battles. Especially the one at the end of chapter 2. I took several tries to beat this one.
Ok.. sign me up!!!
And hope you are better my freind
Ok.. sign me up!!!
And hope you are better my freind
Thanks!
Minor early chapter 3 spoilers:
Those ladies need to put on some more clothes.
I've already beaten this gem, so I'm commenting to tag myself in the thread. Keen to follow along.
I think this game shines when you bump the difficulty up from standard. I found the first 10-or-so hours a little button-mashy until I tried playing on hard. Highly recommended.
Otherwise, have fun! The exploration and village mechanics are a treat. Once you get rolling, it feels like every hour there's a new mechanic to play around with. The pacing is wonderful.
Also, remember to try out the other party members besides Adol! They all support slightly different playstyles so you don't get too stuck in one approach.
Anyone try new game plus? I'm kind of tempted if I can easily keep all my stuff and just mop up some remaining trophies.
Adol is the least interesting part of Ys in my opinion although I gather there are those who are obsessed with the Ys continuum. For me, Ys is about the gameplay and the rocking soundtrack. I’d love to see an Ys going in hard on an epic story with a new engaging protagonist.
Anyway, of course I’m in for this. My Ys history is 1&2, 7, Origins, Memories of Celceta, and Oath in Felghana. Happy to add another to the list. I’ll be playing on Vita.
I'll be playing on PS4. I sold a second copy on Vita a couple of weeks ago for (gulp) the equivalent of $94 USD here in Australia. I feel a little bad contributing to the current madness of retro / harder to find game prices, but I couldn't justify keeping it when I had it on another platform (and can always get the Vita digital version for a reasonable price if needed).
A prologue reaction, based on your (very, very minor) Chapter 3 spoiler:
Spoiler:Where did Laxia even get that towel?
That is a very good question...
And I’m off!
I only got up to the first boss in the cave tonight. I felt like I was being button mashy for a bit, but was getting my butt kicked for a bit, and then started using the specials and then triggered the big attack, and then I won. I’ll get into the groove of things, but I did have to change the bottoms to move the rolls and specials off of the bumpers of my Switch and onto the triggers, since it just didn’t feel right the way it’s set up by default.
Since I’m on the switch, the visuals do feel like they’ve been turned down a little, but at least the frame rate is holding solid for now.
And the music is great, just all of the time. But Falcon does great music, so I’m not surprised in the least.
- A fun little marriage of story and gameplay:
Spoiler:After I acquired Sir Carlen and Dr. Kiergaard, I thought I had enough guys to clear out that 8-person boulder, though I did think it wouldn't be in Sir Carlen's character to help. And sure enough, he complained and then refused! So my number was not high enough. I also love that, according to the journal, he actually harms you (by buffing the enemy) during the raid battles.
I loved that bit! I'm surprised nobody has punched Sir Carlan in the face yet. He's such a piece of sh*t...
I've been playing more than I thought, and I am currently in Chapter 4 (with a time clock at around 19 hours, if I remember correctly).
Regarding the Meunière:
I found the recipe AFTER actually unlocking the quest, so I'd say don't worry too much, you'll get to it eventually. Due to story elements, I expect this quest will disappear at some point, so it's probably a good idea to finish this quest right after you find the recipe.
Going to start the game tonight, but before I did that I did a little unpacking of the collector's edition of the game I picked up when it came out. Going to throw it in a spoiler tag since there will be some images and don't want to clutter the thread too much.
The box looks nice and feels like one of the tabletop grid maps you can draw on and wash off (neoprene or something I think it is called). I like it.
All (except poster) the goodies packed inside with images of Dana and Adol on either long side of the box interior. The goodies are: the game with standard case, an OST called Seiren Songs, a book that is a replica of Adol's codex, the steelbook case for the game, a mini art book, and acrylic bookends of Adol and Dana.
Front page of the Codex:
The picture of all the goodies didn't include this. A rather large cloth poster of the key art.
And finally the assembled acrylic bookends which look very nice.
I'm in on this. I've never played a Ys game, but this looks good.
I finished Chapter 2 last night. Plenty to talk about! And end-of-chapter boss fight that I found super frustrating! But in the meantime, I'll just post this, my reaction when I meet any new castaway:
The fact that I am still finding new ones in Chapter 5, however many days it has been since the ship sank, boggles the mind. Especially considering how deep into the island I am at the moment. Unless these guys are better at fighting than Adol, which seems far-fetched at best.
Speaking of chapter 5, I have to say it's nice to finally be exploring environments that are not jungles, beaches or caves.
I'm just popping in to say that I really enjoyed this game, and I love reading all the impressions.
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