Ys V: Lost Kefin, Kingdom of Sand (PS2)

	Maia: "This is just another dream of mine..." This story is a reimagining of Ys V: Lost Kefin, Kingdom of Sand. The content of this article is not canon to the timeline of the Ys world.

For the Super Nintendo game, see Ys V: Lost Kefin, Kingdom of Sand.

The City of Sand and Mirages, Kefin. Apparently it used to be a magnificent kingdom. A kingdom that thrived on the magic of alchemy. (...) They say it exists somewhere in the Safar desert... But it's said there are never ending sandstorms. (...) And thanks to that, no one can approach it. (...) Even so, are you still gonna go? ...I see. Then I pray your trip goes well. ~ Excerpt from "Lost Kefin, Kingdom of Sand"

Ys V: Lost Kefin, Kingdom of Sand (イースV ロストケフィンキングダムオブサンド^?) is an action role-playing game developed for the PlayStation 2 by Access and published by Taito. The game is a remake/re-imagining of the original Ys V.

No English translation is available for this title.

Synopsis[]

Preface[]

Hey, where are you planning to go on that ship?
Oh really? The Safar desert on the Afrocan continent.
Does that mean you are searching for "that"?
The City of Sand and Mirages, Kefin?
Apparently it used to be a magnificent kingdom.
A kingdom that thrived on the magic of alchemy.
I don't know who started it, but there's a rumor of gold and riches sleeping there.
Apparently all the citizens were immortal.
A paradise, with no illness, hunger or conflict thanks to alchemy.
That was the Kingdom of Kefin.
But naturally no one's ever seen it.
They say it exists somewhere in the Safar desert...
But it's said there are never ending sandstorms.
They say they were brought about by the power of alchemy.
And thanks to that, no one can approach it.
And well...
A haven in the desert? That's gotta be just a rumor.
Even so, are you still gonna go?
...I see.
Then I pray your trip goes well.
...Oh huh...
I didn't catch your name Red-head.
What do they call you?

Plot[]

The storyline has been altered quite a bit from the original. In 2003, Falcom released Ys Complete Works, which detailed the original story draft for Ys V, revealing a number of elements that were cut out of the Super Famicom version. This remake reintegrates some of these aspects. The biggest change is that Dogi is now along for the adventure, who was mysteriously absent from the Super Famicom game. Outside of the intro, he communicates mostly through letters found at different inns throughout the game. However, there’s a new section where Adol and crew get locked up, and Dogi is there to bust them out.

Most of the other story changes flesh out some of the characters and tie them more closely with the plot, some of which are entirely original and weren’t part of the original design document. Dorman’s motivations paint him as more than just a power hungry villain, and both Massea and Niena play more integral roles in the story. This version also makes reference to the Eldeen, the winged race that play a big role in Ys IV and Ys VI. This ties the game more closely to the mythology of the rest of the games, whereas previously it was almost entirely unrelated.

Stoker and his lover Foresta are cut entirely, also many areas of the game are simply missing. Foresta Cave is gone, with the events therein moved to the later Neida Cave. The jungle, marshland maps, as well as the Woodcutter Village, are completely absent. Ys V was already a relatively short game, but the PS2 remake is even shorter.

Gameplay[]

The gameplay closely resembles that of the previous Taito title, Ys IV: Mask of the Sun: A New Theory, with only minor adjustments. While the three distinct sword attacks have been removed, combat remains slow and cumbersome. However, Adol can now use his shield for defense, similar to the Super Famicom version, which introduces a small element of strategy. Unfortunately, enemies often exhibit frustrating behavior, frequently staying just out of reach of the player's sword strikes, which are still challenging to control effectively. The game feels more unbalanced than typical Ys titles, as players encounter some enemies that are incredibly dangerous while others inflict only a single point of damage.

Level design primarily features vast, flat, open spaces, making them feel one-dimensional, especially when compared to the Super Famicom game. The only area with notable platforming elements, the waterfall, is even more frustrating than in the SFC version due to the difficulty of landing on smaller platforms. Additionally, distinguishing one section from another can be challenging, particularly when the camera reorients itself arbitrarily. The absence of a map further complicates navigation, though players can quick-save at any location.

The magic system has seen slight changes from the Super Famicom version. Players can now find elemental crystals by defeating enemies, requiring a specific quantity of each to craft various spells. They can load multiple spell orbs onto their sword and use them in succession, provided they allow time for charging. While this system is an improvement over the previous one, aiming the spells remains quite difficult. There are only five elements this time—four for crafting stones and one for upgrading weapon strength at blacksmiths. Stones can only be crafted at Massea, unlike before when alchemists were scattered throughout the land. Warp points allow players to return to Massea’s cabin, but since these trips are one-way, players must backtrack through previously explored areas.

The game also includes several escort missions, but the AI of companions is subpar, leading to a Game Over if they die.

Some boss fights have been altered as well. For instance, when Terra and her gang trap Adol in the arena, players previously faced a wolf/boar that was not particularly fierce; in this version, they must battle a gigantic dinosaur instead. In the encounter for the water crystal, players now fight a crab instead of a jellyfish. Unfortunately, boss fights remain awkward due to often poor hit detection.

Players with save files from the PS2 versions of Ys III and Ys IV on their memory cards can link them via the main menu to unlock exclusive items, regardless of whether the games were completed.

Music[]

Similar to the PlayStation 2 remakes of Ys III and Ys IV, the music in this version of Ys V is rather underwhelming, featuring average arrangements and lackluster instrumentation.

No official soundtrack release exists for this version of Ys V.