Final Fantasy XIV: Dawntrail Review

This newest growth explores tradition, household, and legacy in methods FFXIV hasn’t prior to now – and earlier than lengthy, it begins to ask questions in regards to the lengths we’ll go to protect the issues we maintain dearest. On the floor, that may sound acquainted to anybody who has caught round all these years, however Dawntrail takes its personal angle on these themes as to not retread well-worn territory. As a substitute, it gives new views that, at occasions, hit simply as onerous as something within the MMO’s 14-year historical past. The primary state of affairs quest (MSQ) takes you in unpredictable instructions, mixing its deep real-world influences with high-tech sci-fi that includes ideas seen within the cyberpunk style, after which manages to weave within the Final Fantasies of yore and have all of it nonetheless make sense.

It takes some work to get there, nevertheless. I recognize the groundwork Dawntrail lays within the first half of the primary questline, portray such a vivid image of Tural with all its cultural context on the forefront. Deep cuts are tucked beneath the extra apparent references to the inspirations it attracts from – everyone knows what tacos and mezcal are, however having a quest give attention to the in-world cochinita pibil recipe is one instance of a number of good touches. From the structure of the hub metropolis of Tuliyollal to the colourful environmental design of its early zones, Dawntrail wears its influences on its sleeve, naturally becoming these societies and the peoples who embody them into an already-rich fantasy world.

However for as fascinating because the cultural exploration is, there’s a noticeable lack of momentum in the way in which you expertise the story, which doesn’t shock me given the character of creating a complete new story arc. For roughly the primary half of MSQ, you journey throughout the lands of Tural alongside a brand new character named Wuk Lamat, a naive however always-optimistic feminine Hrothgar who has a coronary heart of gold. She’s in the midst of an anime-like event arc in opposition to her siblings in hopes of turning into the brand new Dawnservant, or ruler, of Tural. This leads you to achieve an intimate reference to the area’s folks and bridge gaps between the seemingly disparate societies of every zone. It is structured so that you simply undergo comparable motions for very lengthy stretches, and the story itself within the early goings is written in a manner that’s uncharacteristically surface-level. Not every little thing must be poetic and profound (and Dawntrail finally will get there), however conflicts are introduced up and resolved in a somewhat simplistic method that isn’t as highly effective because the story appears to need you to really feel they’re. As a substitute, I discovered unraveling the sophisticated relationships between the siblings to be one of many highlights within the entrance half, which is an fascinating dynamic that is still constant all through.

Initially, I used to be fairly shocked that Wuk Lamat is actually the primary character of Dawntrail when you, because the Warrior of Gentle, and your Scion pals are put in supporting roles. Nonetheless, she is the hyperlink that connects you to the brand new area and having her as your lens whereas being a part of her touring band gives the required context as for why you’re concerned within the first place (aside from not having a lot to do again in Eorzea and looking for journey for the sake of it). I like Wuk Lamat as a personality since she has the center to hold Dawntrail’s themes, however she isn’t actually given the depth wanted to be a de facto protagonist. FFXIV hasn’t actually used this sort of strategy to its characters earlier than – even because the Warrior of Gentle, the supporting solid has at all times performed their half in uplifting the story as a complete. The closest factor in previous expansions is the Crystal Exarch from Shadowbringers, however his character instantly shined and his affect was unmistakable whether or not he was on-screen or not. So, when Wuk Lamat extolls the virtues of peace with out absolutely greedy the nuances that include that, it tends to ring hole.

With a tinge of shonen-style “energy of friendship” power, Dawntrail has its coronary heart in the appropriate place – and though it typically appears superficial, it’s good to have a narrative that outright says that embracing our variations and fascinating in an trustworthy cultural trade would make the world a greater place, which Wuk Lamat does represents admirably. Its quest construction can typically be unexciting, however I’m hesitant to say that FFXIV is lastly exhibiting its limitations or something as a result of I’ve seen quests (principal and elective) be actually inventive throughout the confines of its MMO bounds over time. Quite, it’s obvious that Dawntrail’s storytelling priorities imply it has so much to get by way of whereas transferring you alongside at a tempo that tries to not drag on an excessive amount of.

There have been a couple of occasions the place I started to query what Dawntrail was actually constructing in the direction of. Each growth has a way of momentum to it proper from the start, and this one’s new begin presents a problem that FFXIV hasn’t actually needed to face since A Realm Reborn. Nonetheless, some well-designed dungeons, partaking boss fights with recent battle mechanics, and hype moments in story-based solo situations stored me engaged and invested – and if something, I used to be simply completely satisfied to be alongside for the trip. That’s additionally as a result of I knew I might inevitably hit a turning level in Dawntrail, like all of FFXIV expansions are inclined to have – and after I obtained there, it left me floored with revelations that ripple all through the MMO’s lengthy historical past.

The change flipped within the second half, which ushers you into FFXIV’s model of the old-timey American West. Listening to a Texan accent, not to mention an American one, in FFXIV for the primary time gave me whiplash on the identical degree as any plot twist. It’s charming as hell how one other piece of the actual world effortlessly blends into the remainder of the growth’s character. That’s additionally to say that what it has up its sleeve deeper in creates a stark distinction that’s each conceptually and aesthetically excellent. The high-tech sci-fi facet of Dawntrail is fairly well-known within the lead as much as its launch – the primary metropolis of Resolution 9 was revealed properly beforehand, however it’s the explanations for bringing you there that make for quintessential FFXIV storytelling. It goes for some wild swings, and on this second half, accommodates actually beautiful moments I’m nonetheless attempting to wrap my head round.

It fills me with pleasure to be genuinely shocked by a sport I believed I’d recognized so properly. Having been so invested in FFXIV for all these years and carrying a lot of my favourite story moments into my very own life, I can’t at all times anticipate it to maintain reaching these highs. But, Dawntrail does it once more – maybe not as persistently or elegantly, however it has left a big affect nonetheless. It questions what makes household necessary, asks why we harbor such resentment for these completely different from us, and exhibits what’s potential after we work collectively. Extra successfully, it additionally builds on the questions posed in Shadowbringers and Endwalker, about how we deal with loss, mortality, and the inevitable passage of time sweeping away the issues we maintain pricey – and the uncomfortable reality that we ascribe worth to life as a result of it will finish.

At essential factors, I used to be reminded that FFXIV at all times will get me in my emotions in methods no different piece of fiction can, sport or in any other case. A lot of that may be attributed to the truth that sure characters I’ve beloved proceed to develop and be voices of purpose to present readability when every little thing else in my life appears like utter chaos. Sure, you’re venturing into new and compelling beginnings in a land international to the characters you’ve been with for years, however Dawntrail is made stronger for the way in which it remembers the place it got here from.

A part of me appears like Dawntrail conjoins two very completely different halves, and I usually think about the depth to which FFXIV might have explored its bigger themes had it devoted extra time to at least one or the opposite. However with simply sufficient connective tissue for its hard-hitting moments to not ring hole, it’s capable of land with the identical form of affect that earlier expansions have, and for its personal causes. If there’s one explicit theme to level towards, it’s that peace isn’t simply the absence of warfare however a two-way road that should be labored for – whether or not that be peace on this planet or the wrestle for internal peace amid indelible heartbreak and tragedy.

For all its shortcomings within the earlier hours, it definitely makes good on the concepts it tries to construct. The best way Dawntrail wields its last zone as a storytelling gadget, conceptually and visually, left me shocked and with my abdomen in knots. Absolutely the onslaught of its previous few dungeons had me on the sting of my seat frantically executing my assault rotation. The inventive battle mechanics that even shocked me as a long-time Savage raider left me grinning as I took these Injury Down debuffs like a champ. And to have fought virtually all these battles alongside my favourite characters by way of the Responsibility Assist system let these gameplay sequences additionally shine as peaks in its storytelling.

The emotional core that at all times ushers FFXIV’s finest moments is present in its music. Composer Masayoshi Soken alongside the sound crew has damaged new floor for the MMO, and for Final Fantasy as a collection, right here in Dawntrail. The Spanish and Latin American influences have been effortlessly woven into the songs that fill the brand new zones and cities with marvel and pleasure, and the Flamenco-style battle theme is caught in my head as I write this. The wistful melodies of the outdated western guitar riffs in Xak Tural standout as catchy tunes that set an unmistakable temper. Then you have got synth-infused steel and trance tracks for pivotal battles that pack a punch not like anything in Dawntrail’s eclectic soundtrack. And sure, there are some actually candy lo-fi beats to relax or research to. Oh, and let’s not neglect the jazzy swing theme of the brand new hub metropolis of Tuliyollal. No matter model, Soken and firm create unbelievable music that bends, fuses, and elevates genres whereas persistently incorporating the classical musical themes that naturally change into a part of the storytelling expertise – simply one other widespread W for FFXIV.

Story could also be on the forefront of Dawntrail’s launch, however with a brand new growth comes tons of recent content material on prime – most notably the 2 new Jobs: Pictomancer and Viper. After leveling Pictomancer and perfecting its assault rotation filled with lovely portray talents turned harmful, it’s change into certainly one of my all-time favourite growth Jobs. Pictomancer is so cute, so unserious, and a lot rattling enjoyable to play as. It finds a center floor between its magic DPS counterparts Black Mage and Summoner; not so complicated that you simply’ll wrestle to be taught however not so easy that you simply’ll mindlessly cycle by way of your rotation. Popping your work pre-pull is an lovely visible, as is dropping Moogle poms earlier than whipping out a magic hammer to crush your foes. It’s satisfying once you line up all of the cooldowns and casts whereas bouncing between the completely different spells you’re anticipated to execute, and as of now, it sits fairly excessive on the DPS charts (though some tweaks are deliberate to mitigate sure exploits).

Viper however isn’t fairly as thrilling as I’d hoped – possibly it’s as a result of I’ve performed melee DPS for many of my time in FFXIV and have caught with Ninja by way of each raid tier. However in distinction to Pictomancer, it lacks that rewarding buildup and burst window, or perhaps a distinct character to make it stand out inside a crowded area of DPS Jobs. Don’t get me fallacious, it seems cool as hell to see a Viper swap between twin swords and the double-sided blade, however when in comparison with Reaper (which shares similarities), the dynamic of Viper’s branching assault rotation doesn’t fairly attain these satisfying heights. At launch, the event crew even stated that it’ll be remodeling Viper, and though it’s unimaginable to say how which may change the core idea of the Job, there’s definitely potential for it to develop into a greater one.

As per normal, there are two Knowledgeable-level dungeons within the post-game, each of which make good use of the extra whimsical settings of Dawntrail and experiment with a couple of new battle mechanics. And though I’m nonetheless progressing by way of them as of scripting this, the Excessive trials presently accessible stretch the base-level boss fights into wild and chaotic battles. The opposite necessary piece of content material value mentioning are the function quests, which stick with it the custom of offering extra backstory based mostly on the Jobs you have got leveled up. They’re not fairly as defining as those seen in Shadowbringers or Endwalker, however they’re value seeing by way of and add a pleasant contact to tie in different components of FFXIV. The lasting legacy of Dawntrail additionally lies in future patch content material – the Arcadion raid collection, the Beastmaster particular Job, Cosmic Exploration, and all the brand new issues the FFXIV crew will roll out over the following two years. I’ll be sat prepared for them once they arrive, however for now, Dawntrail has earned its place within the pantheon of nice expansions.