Okay, yeah, this game is amazing. Easily my favorite Falcom game of all time and I don't think anything's topping it, and tied with Heart of the Woods as the best game I've played in 2024.

The gameplay was fun and satisfying. I had a ton of fun trying out everyone's different play styles, and I was actively encouraged to use everyone. Flash Moving and Flash Guarding took a while to master but it made the combat more fun once I got the hang of it. Also, keep in mind that I played through the game from start to finish on Nightmare difficulty, so I was sufficiently challenged throughout and it was so much fun.

And outside of combat, I loved the exploration aspect. The Isle of Seiren actively encouraged me to explore its every nook and cranny, and going back to previously inaccessible areas once I got the appropriate Adventuring Gear was always a treat.

The OST is an absolute banger. Probably in my top 3 Falcom OSTs of all time. When Sunshine Coastline first played, little did I know that it was only a preview to an absolutely banging soundtrack. Hope Alive in particular is my favorite Falcom boss theme now.

As for the setting, apart from what I already mentioned above about exploration I quite liked the feel of the island. As a Monster Hunter fan, the Isle of Seiren gave me a similar vibe to the Deserted Island/Moga Woods from Monster Hunter Tri, which added to my enjoyment. And I loved Castaway Village, and each castaway endeared me in their own ways. I actively searched for castaways to rescue and maxed out their approvals, I was that endeared to them.

The core party was also a joy to be with. Laxia, Sahad, Hummel, and Ricotta all were very fun and endearing characters in their own ways and I was attached to them all, and Adol, while a (largely) silent protagonist, was cool too.

But the real star of the show has to be Dana herself. She's such a well-written character, her struggles and suffering were heartwrenching to watch, and her unyielding determination despite the odds being stacked against her was downright inspiring to see, and give me a lot of inspiration and hope to carry on. Dana has become one of my absolute favorite characters in fiction, easily top 4 (only surpassed by Tohru Honda, the 12th Doctor, and Touko Nanami), and has officially surpassed Estelle as my favorite Falcom character.

So yeah. Ys VIII was great and I enjoyed my time with it quite a lot.

DANA FOREVER!!!

Okay, yeah, this game is amazing. Easily my favorite Falcom game of all time and I don't think anything's topping it, and tied with Heart of the Woods as the best game I've played in 2024. The gameplay was fun and satisfying. I had a ton of fun trying out everyone's different play styles, and I was actively encouraged to use everyone. Flash Moving and Flash Guarding took a while to master but it made the combat more fun once I got the hang of it. Also, keep in mind that I played through the game from start to finish on Nightmare difficulty, so I was sufficiently challenged throughout and it was so much fun. And outside of combat, I loved the exploration aspect. The Isle of Seiren actively encouraged me to explore its every nook and cranny, and going back to previously inaccessible areas once I got the appropriate Adventuring Gear was always a treat. The OST is an absolute banger. Probably in my top 3 Falcom OSTs of all time. When Sunshine Coastline first played, little did I know that it was only a preview to an absolutely banging soundtrack. Hope Alive in particular is my favorite Falcom boss theme now. As for the setting, apart from what I already mentioned above about exploration I quite liked the feel of the island. As a Monster Hunter fan, the Isle of Seiren gave me a similar vibe to the Deserted Island/Moga Woods from Monster Hunter Tri, which added to my enjoyment. And I loved Castaway Village, and each castaway endeared me in their own ways. I actively searched for castaways to rescue and maxed out their approvals, I was that endeared to them. The core party was also a joy to be with. Laxia, Sahad, Hummel, and Ricotta all were very fun and endearing characters in their own ways and I was attached to them all, and Adol, while a (largely) silent protagonist, was cool too. But the real star of the show has to be Dana herself. She's such a well-written character, her struggles and suffering were heartwrenching to watch, and her unyielding determination despite the odds being stacked against her was downright inspiring to see, and give me a lot of inspiration and hope to carry on. Dana has become one of my absolute favorite characters in fiction, easily top 4 (only surpassed by Tohru Honda, the 12th Doctor, and Touko Nanami), and has officially surpassed Estelle as my favorite Falcom character. So yeah. Ys VIII was great and I enjoyed my time with it quite a lot. DANA FOREVER!!!