Games Happy

After I reviewed Last Fantasy XIV: Endwalker all the best way again in 2021, it was my first time critiquing an MMORPG growth; and, honestly, it’s at all times going to be a query whether or not it’s acceptable to present a numbered rating to an MMO growth when a lot of the content material that comes as a part of the package deal will solely be added to the sport months and years down the road as a part of the patch cycle alongside it. Past that preliminary evaluation, I’ve been doing my greatest to maintain up-to-date on my ideas and emotions of every patch Endwalker has delivered to the desk; and whereas we’re not fairly on the end line but, with the discharge of patch 6.5 it’s greater than truthful to begin reassessing Endwalker as an entire.

Getting the brand new content material out of the best way in the beginning, 6.5 noticed the conclusion of the present story arc. Whereas there’s nonetheless some story but to come back to Endwalker, the true closing patch of story content material will tie straight into the following growth – Last Fantasy XIV: Dawntrail – scheduled to launch subsequent yr. This storyline has been contentious, to say the least… however I used to be at all times happy with it, and I discovered the conclusion to be satisfying. It definitely helps that each this patch’s dungeon and trial had been particularly good.

As for every part else; x.5 patches are at all times gentle on content material, because the growth’s headliner inclusions are often doled out within the earlier half of the patch cycle. In addition to an replace to Island Sanctuaries, the opposite necessary content material drop got here within the type of the ultimate raid within the Myths of the Realm Alliance Raid Collection. Whereas it could be nonetheless a little bit too early to say, it definitely feels just like the collection has cemented itself as both the most effective Alliance Raid collection within the sport to date, or top-of-the-line. Both method, from each the gratifying story and the wonderful raids themselves – together with a few of the greatest music to hit XIV, not to mention in Endwalker – it definitely helps make 6.5 really feel like a worthy endnote to Endwalker as an entire; even when, after all, gamers received’t be capable of expertise Dawntrail for one more 8 to 10 months or so.

However the place does that depart Endwalker, now that it is primarily full? The reply is, understandably, greater than a bit combined. Full props to all of the work that the devteam have completed to each replace the backend of Last Fantasy XIV with High quality-of-Life updates, and the particular consideration given to implementing the Obligation Assist system to the purpose the place each required dungeon within the sport will be accomplished with out different gamers; whereas gamers will nonetheless need to queue with others for Trials and the A Realm Reborn Alliance Raid Collection, for anybody trying to play via Last Fantasy XIV’s story whereas retaining issues as solitary as doable – it’s an enormous boon, even when I’m nonetheless torn with the concept of disincentivizing multiplayer in an MMORPG.

It’s truthful to say at this level that the PvP revamp that Endwalker launched was a significant success, and Crystalline Battle is essentially the most enjoyable I’ve had in Last Fantasy XIV PvP, maybe ever. That being mentioned; there’s nonetheless work to be completed. Firstly, whereas Sq. Enix has formally sanctioned PvP tournaments, in-game you truly can’t queue right into a match with your pals. Regardless of no matter reasonings Artistic Enterprise Unit 3 have for the choice, I can’t assist however disagree on precept, and I sincerely hope that shifting ahead some kind of help for pre-made social gathering queues will be enabled; it truly is the one main factor stopping me from taking part in PvP extra, moreover the sport’s inherent latency.

Battle Content material, equally, has been a combined bag. Whereas Endwalker has acquired the anticipated variety of Excessive Trials, Savage Raids, and even two Final Raids – it’s clear that the cracks within the present Job stability has begun to indicate, and particularly the change to a standardized two-minute meta appears increasingly more like a failed experiment. Particular fights like P8S and The Omega Protocol confirmed the system at its breaking level; however even divorced from these remoted situations, it’s clear that the present state of the sport exacerbates points with Crit RNG and the like. 

In fact, this is a matter that the overwhelming majority of the playerbase received’t meaningfully have interaction with, or perceive – however I’d argue it’s nonetheless essentially the most obtrusive concern with Endwalker as an entire. Extra informal gamers will proceed to take pleasure in Last Fantasy XIV whatever the faults with high-end content material, but when the adjustments had been made to ease newer gamers into high-end raiding then it’s nearly plain that the change has completed extra hurt than good. That’s not even partaking with the very actual argument for a way the change has taken an axe to job id – significantly for the help jobs within the sport. 

In the same vein, Endwalker’s Relic Weapons have been a mistake. Earlier weapons already provided alternate strategies of grinding them out, with the intention to not field gamers into particular content material – but the overcorrection with this growth’s weapons has robbed them of virtually any id, outdoors of the controversial option to lock them behind finishing the sport’s prolonged Hildibrand sidequest chain. They might’ve required gamers to have interaction with Variant & Criterion Dungeons, the brand new Deep Dungeon, or one thing else solely; whereas each the brand new V&C Dungeons are a terrific idea, they lack the kind of endurance and reward that will incentivize the playerbase to maintain coming again and interesting with them. 

In comparison with each Shadowbringer’s patch cycle – which was very a lot hampered by the pandemic – and Stormblood’s, it’s straightforward to see why gamers might need discovered themselves upset with the quantity of content material Endwalker delivered to the desk. It’s clear that a lot of the dev workforce’s focus has been on much less glamorous updates to the sport, and that’s not essentially a foul factor. But on the identical time, it’s clear that the stability may not have been struck for each participant. I wouldn’t go almost so far as some need to decry the complete patch cycle, nevertheless it’s additionally equally true that with as busy as I’ve been within the time since Endwalker’s launch, I haven’t been fairly as impacted as others.

With Patch 6.5, Endwalker itself is kind of full. Whereas a number of straggler patches will launch within the weeks and months forward, all eyes are on the following growth – and the way it plans to steer the following 10 years of Last Fantasy XIV. Whereas I’m excited to see what the long run has in retailer for the sport, it’s plain that there’s an air of uncertainty in regards to the sport’s future; however that was at all times going to be the case. Points and all, Endwalker has been a wonderful growth for Last Fantasy XIV – and I, for one, can’t wait to see what’s subsequent within the New World.