Remaining Fantasy XIV’s fifth enlargement Dawntrail marks a turning level for the MMORPG after tying the bow strings on a decade-spanning journey. Now not is all the universe in impending peril, and our participant character, an adventurer of nice renown, is on the street as soon as once more.
A contest of succession is underway in Tural, and one in every of its individuals, Wuk Lamat, drafts you and a number of other of your Scion mates to her staff – an ideal excuse to sate your adventurer’s coronary heart by visiting new lands and other people. Tural, a land with myriad cultures impressed by indigenous populations of South and North America, has achieved a sure peace by means of unity, cast by the Dawnservant, Wuk Lamat’s adoptive father. Through the ceremony of succession, you tackle the function of a mentor to information Wuk Lamat, whose journey intimately mirrors your individual.
Fortunately, within the opening weeks of Dawntrail’s operation, I’ve had only a few points logging in to play, even throughout peak hours. It’s the stark reverse of Endwalker’s launch, the place, until you had been logging in in the course of the wee morning hours, you’d be sitting in an infinite login queue. It acquired so dangerous that the staff needed to droop gross sales of the sport, and there was no scarcity of frustration from gamers desperate to expertise the finale they’d been anticipating. Over the course of the Endwalker enlargement, the staff expanded the quantity of knowledge facilities, servers, and journey choices that may be wanted to accommodate a clean launch of an enlargement – and it seems like that preparation paid off in spades. Given how a lot of a distinction issues made throughout Dawntrail’s launch, I feel it’s a praiseworthy achievement.
So, let’s get into the sport itself.
Apart from a number of jobs, Dawntrail holds again on revamping lots of them, opting as a substitute to focus extra on new concepts in encounter designs. I principally play tank characters, predominantly Paladin, whose changes are nearly as hands-off as you may get. Within the flurry of updates because the enlargement’s launch, it stays to be seen how these adjustments sit with gamers as time goes on, however I’m in a superb place with the roles I do know nicely sufficient, and I think about throwing in issues simply to combine it up would appear unwise, particularly for the sake of a brief bandage on how homogenous sure jobs are beginning to really feel as time goes on.
Two new jobs have been added to the sport: Viper and Pictomancer. The primary makes use of a flurry of assaults delivered from a pair of blades to impart buffs and debuffs, after which connects their blades to begin dealing elevated injury. Whereas it took a little bit of time to get snug with the rotation, it’s one of many easier melee jobs and one thing of a toe within the water to check out job designs which will have much less buttons to press however rely extra on remodeling actions. (To not concern, remodeling actions might be pulled other than each other must you want.)
I’ve by no means been wild about casters, however I feel Pictomancer has been the very best case for me to begin choosing them up in earnest. Their rotation swaps forwards and backwards between coloration palettes, build up assets that can be utilized for extra highly effective spells. Numerous motifs might be painted and saved to deploy at sure occasions, they usually have a enjoyable mobility motion in Smudge. Each jobs really feel like enjoyable additions to the sport’s ever rising roster, however I feel Pictomancer is a standout. It’s simply neat.
By and huge, most of the bosses and mechanics in Dawntrail are because the staff promised, providing one thing that’s a bit much less “sleepy” and one thing to maintain you extra on edge. Most of the fundamental situation dungeons have mechanics that do exactly that, particularly as you progress into the Knowledgeable dungeons, requiring you to anticipate and react shortly to new and present patterns. A few of my favourite concepts included turning into a ghost to go by means of partitions in an area, levitating above arenas to place your self to keep away from incoming projectiles, and so forth.
As of this level, I’ve accomplished the traditional problem of the raid and have progressed by means of the primary Excessive trials the enlargement has to supply and I feel it’s a welcome child step above Endwalker with regard to its problem and design. These upgrades don’t really feel low cost, simply require extra fast and situational decision-making that finest signify the sport’s strengths. I sometimes don’t raid at a Savage or Final stage, however I’m extremely curious to see how the staff handles these encounters because the enlargement patch content material rolls out.
After a lot ado, the primary stage of Remaining Fantasy XIV’s graphics replace arrives with Dawntrail. In it are many, many updates to the decade-old sport which might be smart and tangible. I feel what I’m most impressed by is the up to date textures on supplies equivalent to wooden and metals that give structure and gear a finer stage of element that had me admiring often. Denser and higher-resolution grass additionally actually does wonders for outdated and new areas alike, and the lighting and fog rework actually provides a variety of environment to Previous Sharlayan and Limsa Lominsa of all locations. Having the ability to flip to softer shadows additionally made cities and area areas extra visually enticing.
Character fashions have additionally been up to date with larger decision textures and lighting, which look good, however are on the conservative finish of adjustments to protect the picture of characters individuals have been enjoying as for years. A lot of it provides the sport a little bit of a sharper look, however sadly there appears to be a little bit of a difficulty with 3D decision scaling that provides the sport a little bit of a swimmy, grainy look. By adjusting this within the system config, you may functionally flip it down, however it doesn’t give a superb default impression.
Collectively, the tiny tweaks and good upgrades don’t essentially alter the picture of the sport however are simply sufficient to serve the sport nicely because it ages.
Dawntrail’s soundtrack is a delight, and the sound staff present all kinds of types that deftly encapsulate the second they’re in. Every space has a day and evening association with the identical melody however completely different instrumentation, and the dungeon in that exact zone normally caps off the situation with an thrilling model of that theme that basically imparts the feeling of being in a spot and when stress within the story involves a head.
A few of my favourite items play in Urqopacha and Shaaloani in daytime and Heritage Discovered at evening. Keiko’s sometimes somber night-time association shortly twists into one thing frenetic and sinister, befitting the situation as you journey by means of these lands. Whereas I feel Dawntrail’s vocal theme Smile is okay for the way it’s used: a name and response that displays Wuk Lamat’s journey, it doesn’t fairly hit the excessive marks of its predecessors. Nonetheless, the idol pop and rock themes in Arcadion are spot-on, and doubtless among the finest bops in the previous couple of years of the sport’s operation. Highly effective melodies make for excellent leitmotifs, and carry a variety of weight as I think about the schedule doesn’t permit for lots of room to wholly use dwell devices.
Moments the place I really feel Remaining Fantasy XIV is at its finest are throughout its boss encounters the place the battle mechanics, artwork, story, music, and lyrics are in holy communion with one another, and Dawntrail has no scarcity, particularly in terms of the newly-released Arcadion raid. I feel one weak level was using songs immediately from Remaining Fantasy IX for sure scenes that haven’t been organized for Remaining Fantasy XIV. Given the references are laid on thick, maybe too thick, all of it sort of takes you out of the second and one thing that ought to have been a bit intelligent or cheeky seems a bit fundamental.
With the destiny of the universe within the rear-view mirror, Dawntrail units its sights on distant shores, buying and selling within the world-ending stakes of Endwalker for a journey of discovery. The earlier enlargement tied a bow on the plight of the traditional world, and the way its destruction rippled by means of the ages, entwining the fates of its heroes and villains alike. In its twilight hours, as you put together for the ultimate encounter, you’re regaled with a glimpse of the world and worlds past that you’ve but to see.
In some ways, the story of Remaining Fantasy XIV is in regards to the lifetime of an adventurer. Or, extra precisely, an journey by means of life and the entire feelings you carry with you. It’s all of the those that stroll by your aspect. The enjoyment within the easy pleasures of life, the sorrow of sudden, unimaginable cruelty, or quietly remembering these you’ve misplaced alongside the way in which. Imagining what’s across the subsequent nook, or simply past the horizon. The best way this story has continued, chapter by chapter, for almost fifteen years makes it really feel like one thing of an incidental companion coming from somebody who’s hung round for its entirety. So, it appears becoming that the winks and nods of its meta-narrative really feel significantly resonant.
Dawntrail’s story ruminates on the legacies we depart for others and those we’ve been entrusted to hold ahead. What does it imply to be a frontrunner, through which the hopes and desires of many are positioned upon your shoulders? What does it imply to be so consumed with proving your self that it drives everybody away? What does it imply when that burden corrupts, regardless of the very best of intentions, or turns into an excessive amount of to bear. What prevails? And, when all is claimed and finished, what are the recollections of ourselves we depart with others?
Very similar to Stormblood, Dawntrail seats one other hero on the head of its story. Right here: it’s Wuk Lamat. The daughter of the Dawnservant, she and her siblings are in a contest to find out his successor. His legacy is thought all through Tural as a uniter of disparate, warring peoples. Every potential successor has their very own designs on how you can protect this unity, however because the story transpires, we be taught they’re all missing in varied methods. Wuk Lamat is pushed to protect this unity by means of peace, a really perfect she holds near her coronary heart, however is naive and untested even by her personal requirements – inflicting her to enter bouts of self-deprecation and doubt. Koana seeks to make use of know-how from overseas lands to enhance outcomes for Tural, however simmering beneath this need is his distrust and concern of his personal individuals’s functionality to be resilient and progressive in their very own methods. Zoraal Ja seeks to unite the individuals by means of battle and conquest, and is taken into account the favourite, however harbors his personal misgivings about his father’s legacy and is consumed by it. Bakool Ja Ja, exterior the Dawnservant’s adoptive household, is resolved that solely two-headed mamool ja are worthy of ruling the individuals of Tural given their preternatural skills.
The primary half of the story revolves across the contest for the throne: introducing the rivals in addition to their motives and backstories because the events journey by means of Tural to go to electors who will problem, and in the end decide, the subsequent chief. It’s right here that the tempo and storytelling decelerate, and want to decelerate, to offer house for Wuk Lamat’s story to unravel and to be taught extra about herself and the individuals she is going to probably lead.
It’s amusingly just like A Realm Reborn, generally to a fault, through which Wuk Lamat’s labors mirror the “urgency” of the Warrior of Gentle fetching cheese or gathering corrupted crystals. Right here although, the participant character is put into the function of grasp to Wuk Lamat’s scholar – and as you realized in regards to the individuals of Eorzea following the Calamity, so does she after a robust storm wreaks havoc throughout the land. The function of the adventurer lending a serving to hand to those that want it, who invite you into their lives so that you could be know them higher.
Nonetheless, all this stated, there’s only a lot of textual content and cutscenes to get by means of. Whereas it’s not almost as glacial as A Realm Reborn’s pacing, it definitely conjures its reminiscence sufficient to be thought-about. Extra battle content material occurring a bit earlier may have combined issues up a bit higher right here, although I believe instance-heavy content material initially of an enlargement could have its personal logistical challenges, however it’s a sore spot nonetheless. Whereas Wuk Lamat takes middle stage for a lot of this, as she must be, different characters simply appear to be alongside for the journey, principally observing what’s occurring within the second fairly than having moments of reflection or perception all through. Alphinaud and Alisaie usually present their perception and observations for the second, however we don’t appear to get an excessive amount of out of them in any other case.
I’m glad the remainder of the Scions have a smaller function – because the temptation to hold on to characters that don’t have a lot going is one thing XIV ought to extra confidently shed. However, in the event that they’re going to tag alongside, you would possibly as nicely use them, and Dawntrail does so with out overbearing the forged it chooses to middle.
Wuk Lamat herself is one thing of a shock subsequent to the sometimes stuffy Scions, her vitality retains issues from getting too dreary even when it’s a bit an excessive amount of for the script to deal with at occasions. Suppose Yuffie in Remaining Fantasy VII Rebirth having one too many scenes about being movement sick or stealing materia that the character begins to really feel a bit of one-note when that’s hardly the case. She not often sheds her outgoing and energetic persona, however beneath the floor you may see her insecurity in her personal naivety and self-worth. It’s the journey itself that adjustments her – by assembly new individuals who conflict along with her beliefs or assist sharpen them, that she is ready to hone her instincts round how she will obtain the peace she wishes.
There’s a scene in Resolution 9 the place Sphene is confronted by a gladiator of the Arcadion area, begging for using extra souls and is denied, prompting Wuk Lamat to query the need of the system if it results in such strife. To which, Sphene, merely responds no. It’s at this second the rulers diverge. Whereas each are pledged to protect their peoples’ happiness, Sphene is not going to – can not – impact change, for she will solely protect what she has been charged with preserving.
Wuk Lamat, alternatively, results change as a way to the identical finish, however it’s not determined with out coming to grasp the complexities of different societies. The mamool ja didn’t come to depend on “blessed siblings” for no cause, and it’s in addressing these causes with empathy and understanding she is ready to construct the data to put the inspiration for dismantling a cycle of useless loss of life and despair for a path towards a brighter future. Zoraal Ja is a casualty of his personal preoccupation along with his father’s legacy, so single minded on attaining the facility he holds that it blinds him to all else, and in flip he closed off his coronary heart to others – that nobody would know him, and in the end, that’s how he ends. Sphene, in her ignorance, is so wholly dedicated to maintaining her individuals in stasis, unable to maintain the rot from seeping in, that she begins to worth the souls of Alexandrians above all others. She would grow to be a world-devourer for them if just for the sake of their base contentment. On the subject of blows, it’s Wuk Lamat who prevails, and on the phrases she constructed and cast alongside an adventurer who has walked along with her down the lengthy street.
Sena Bryer (Wuk Lamat) imparts the joyful warrior with a variety of coronary heart, whilst her scenes run the gambit from foolish gags to battle cries to heartfelt consultations. Lamaty’i’ll not outwardly remodel her persona however Bryer’s efficiency highlights what counts: how she forges herself into the individual she needs to be. Sarah Ovens (Sphene) nails the frail and brittle kindness that masks the character’s troubled motives and her descent into futility. Luis Bermudez (Koana) lets his character simmer till he boils over, but these moments are cooled by his personal familial love. Ulises Cuadra (Gulool Ja Ja) is one other favourite of mine, fiery and feisty but tender as a kitten when doting upon his household in confidence with the Warrior of Gentle.
There are numerous aspect characters alongside the way in which that I discovered endearing as nicely. Gulool Ja Ja is a loving father who’s hailed all through Tural, however the mild that has forged shadow throughout his household will change them perpetually. Bakool Ja Ja’s flip round comes at a blistering pace, earlier than his motives reveal him as a casualty of a individuals who sought energy as the one means to their salvation. Cachiua is a doting mom however can be keenly within the pure world, a ardour she has handed on to her son. Wuk Evu is a foolish outdated man and the Shadowbringers Trolley Boys don’t disappoint. Moreover there are a variety of nice sidequests I’d urge of us to not skip – a few of them are fairly humorous and others fairly heartfelt, together with one the place the Warrior of Gentle helps craft guide bindings for tales from Turali oral traditions that I discovered fascinating and uplifting.
The ultimate space of the enlargement is especially affecting, as we enter an amusement park crammed with the Limitless, individuals preserved previous their regular lifespan by consuming souls which have been “cleansed” of the recollections. Right here, the social gathering proceeds by means of every part, shutting down the equipment that preserves the Limitless and their everlasting paradise. Brightly-lit streets and canals develop dim and the joyful those that wander them as nicely. G’raha Tia ruminates on this soulfully, casting your ideas to the individuals in your life who you’ve misplaced – who you’d like to spend only one extra joyful day with. These are individuals who have as soon as lived, some maybe unfulfilling and too-short lives, however by ushering of their oblivion can life be preserved. One after the other, every space is darkened, the colour and sound fading, the pure blue sky returning – perpetually. It’s one of the skillfully executed space designs within the sport, or of any sport I’ve performed. I feel the reminiscence of it can stick with me for a very long time, and it’s been fascinating to see others’ response to it, like-minded or not.
Krile’s decision along with her mother and father is tender and temporary, for she solely will get a blinding flash of time to know them, however that’s how life is typically. Whereas nothing can ever convey again the twenty years she missed, this opportunity assembly, one which galvanized her for the mysteries forward, is a brief, heat embrace – an opportunity to know them that may have by no means occurred in any other case and have to be savored and treasure – for that’s the present of the reminiscence of the departed. Errenville, alternatively, should say goodbye to his mom and mentor – a goodbye he may have by no means predicted would come so quickly and in such a method. The ultimate act of his journey underlines how pushed and educated he’s, regardless of his insecurity. This latter trait he sees in Wuk Lamat, and in his makes an attempt to information her by means of it fails to acknowledge it in himself, till all is made clear. These items really feel all too temporary, however therein lies the purpose. These can be much less served by ten hours of drip-fed drops merely for the sake of satiating a chilly, mathematical want for a personality’s “variety of scenes” or no matter different bizarre goalposts weakly apply.
The place Endwalker searches for that means of life joyfully lived, Dawntrail extends a comforting hand, that loss of life and the ache it brings even have their very own that means in our lives. Our ache and grief derived from loss, our recollections of our dearly departed, are a bittersweet reminder of the love we’ve beloved and the life we’ve shared. Within the late hours of the principle situation, the plot unfurls across the machinations of shard journey, round which many mysteries the Ancients have pointed us in direction of are held as an indication that extra is but to return – that many mysteries of the remaining shards are in play.
As a complete, I really feel the story doesn’t fairly hit the excessive notes as persistently because the earlier two expansions, however it has its personal particular moments that rank on the prime of what has endeared Remaining Fantasy XIV’s story to many. There’s a heat to Dawntrail that I particularly respect within the methods it depicts the myriad peoples and cultures of Tural, to its strong-willed protagonist who should battle for peace with an open coronary heart and noble readability, and the tender glow of fondly remembering these we’ve misplaced and the recollections we’re left with. The time we’ve on this life is restricted, and the way we reckon with our legacy is one in every of life’s burdens, however in that journey it’s after we open our hearts to others and know them that the various meanings of life we derive grow to be clear.
Dawntrail‘s story is a heat, heartful story about residing your life to its fullest – to ask others into your coronary heart and to develop your horizions. It’s in regards to the legacies we depart and the individuals we mourn. It’s an thrilling new starting to discover unvisited realms. It’s additionally, in construction, nonetheless the Remaining Fantasy XIV you realize. That’s a superb factor as a result of, nicely, Remaining Fantasy XIV continues to be good, however for many who have come by means of the earlier saga and are discovering themselves a bit weary: don’t count on a revolution. In lieu of an enormous overhaul to jobs, updates are leaner and encounters are sharper, and supply a well-known and thrilling problem.
Dawntrail is a stable begin, a superb basis for the adventures but to return. It’d begin a bit sluggish for some coming off Endwalker, however I feel it’s very a lot within the sport’s spirit to embrace the trail of the adventurer and to see and uncover new lands and new peoples and listen to their heartfelt tales. Fortunately, the sport isn’t tying itself too tightly to the previous and is excitedly pointing towards new paths to wander.
With the enlargement now shifting into the post-release patch schedule, it’ll be fascinating to see what momentum the story will transfer with contemplating sure plot parts. The chances appear infinite, however I wouldn’t be dissatisfied to see rather more of Tural earlier than we wander paths unknown.
Assessment code for Remaining Fantasy XIV Dawntrail was offered to Nova Crystallis by the writer Sq. Enix.
