Ys V: Lost Kefin, Kingdom of Sand has always been the ugly stepchild of the Ys series, and not because of its gibberish title, which is actually par for the course for the Ys series. Released in 1995 for the Super Famicom, Ys V arrived at an awkward point in the series’ evolution, experimenting with new ideas while quietly slipping past much of the audience that would later define Ys fandom in the West. Before the SNES version was translated by fans, it remained one of those entries people talked around rather than about, largely because it simply was not playable in English without caveats. That has now changed again, this time with a new fan translation targeting the PS2 remake.
The game follows series mainstay Adol Christin to Xandria, a desert region on the continent of Afroca, where a spreading wasteland and rumors of a lost alchemical city set the stage. The plot revolves around Kefin, an ancient civilization whose power was sealed away, six elemental crystals, and a wealthy merchant eager to exploit them under the guise of restoration. Along the way, Adol crosses paths with thieves, the Iburr criminal gang, an amnesiac girl named Niena, and resistance fighters living in Kefin’s shadow. As Ys stories go, it leans harder on themes of environmental collapse and the cost of reviving ancient power than earlier entries.
Mechanically, Ys V is where things get complicated. It abandons the series’ early “bump” combat in favor of a dedicated attack button, eight-directional movement, and jumping, pushing it closer to the conventional action RPG gameplay of newer entries. On paper, this sounds like progress. In practice, the combat is widely considered too easy, with magic systems that exist more as an idea than a necessity. It is functional, occasionally interesting, but rarely demanding.
That reputation has followed Ys V for years. It is often labeled a weaker entry, though not an uninteresting one. The atmosphere, music, and story still carry weight, and its relatively short length makes it approachable if you know what you are getting into. It is less a recommended starting point and more a historical footnote worth experiencing.
The new development is a first public beta English translation patch for the PS2 remake, created by fan translator Kaisaan. As emphasized by the author, this is a beta, so expect rough edges, read the documentation, and report issues through the provided channels. Still, its existence matters. Every new translation like this pushes another previously inaccessible version of a game out of limbo and into something playable.
Ys V may never escape its reputation, but with this patch, it no longer has to remain in obscurity. For long-time fans and preservation-minded players, that alone makes it worth paying attention to. Check out the translation at the project GitHub.
What did you think of this article? Let us know in the comments below, and chat with us in our Discord!
This page may contain affiliate links, by purchasing something through a link, Retro Handhelds may earn a small commission on the sale at no additional cost to you.