david.reviews: the game "Ys VIII: Lacrimosa of Dana"

★★★★: An excellent action RPG. Loved the breezy island setting and the exploration aspect. Finding castaways to grow your base who also act as shopkeepers is brilliant design- it helps your exploration have real gameplay impact and makes the settlement really feel lived in. It's a fun supporting cast though and they hold just enough space to be distinct without feeling like there's a million people to meet.The story was interesting and runs a little long, but kept me engaged throughout. I wouldn't have hated if they'd kept it a simple adventure story, but I didn't mind where it went. I liked the time jump gameplay and am glad they didn't use it too heavily for puzzles. There was just enough of it to be novel.Basically the epitome of a AA RPG. Combat is engaging without being complicated- jump, dodge, attack, block, 4 skills. Weapons get upgraded over time without you having to shop for them. There are armor & accessory slots that provide character customization, but there are only 3…