Ys V: Lost Kefin, Kingdom of Sand attempts to steer the series in a new direction, but shipwrecks somewhere along the way. Unlike protagonist Adol himself, who successfully makes it to the Afrocan city of Xandria and teams up with wealthy merchant Dorman to seek the riches of the eponymous phantom city. The adventure that follows trades in the series’ signature bump system for more conventional gameplay involving direct control over jumping, sword attacks and blocking with a shield. What stands out most is the attempt to evolve the series’ formula, even if the attempt doesn’t come together in a satisfying way.
Its main strength lies in its willingness to experiment beyond the simplicity of earlier entries. That shift, however, comes at a detrimental cost: sword attacks look like wide swings but feel more like difficult-to-aim thrusts, its magic system is woefully underdeveloped and bosses are often boringly stationary. Fans of the series might appreciate its experimental nature as a stepping stone toward its sequel, but others would do best to steer clear of the game. Ys V is less a hidden gem and more a missed opportunity that would need a full remake to stand alongside the rest of the series.