Whereas I’ve vastly loved my time with Ultimate Fantasy XIV: Endwalker over the past 2 years, I might be remiss to disregard {that a} portion of the playerbase have had their points with how the enlargement’s post-launch updates have contributed to the sport. Should you have been a raider like I used to be, we ate nicely this enlargement; however when you did not gel with the Ultimate Fantasy IV impressed storyline for the patches, it has been a combined bag. Variant and Criterion Dungeons have been enjoyable, however lack the type of purpose to return to them like content material from the previous. Equally, the brand new Deep Dungeon felt like extra of the identical, relatively than an actual reinvention of the idea… and maybe it is best to not get began with the state of relic weapons in Endwalker.
Commercial. Hold scrolling for extra
We all the time knew that when Ultimate Fantasy XIV needed to begin contemporary with a brand new story, to maneuver the world ahead, there can be some rising pains; nevertheless it’s fascinating how with the latest patch, we have seen how the characters themselves have struggled with a few of those self same issues as a brand new journey stares them within the face. After saving the universe, and saving a dragon whereas paving the best way to maybe sooner or later salvage the Void; when a traveler from the New World tries to recruit the Warrior of Gentle as an ally to her battle for the throne, there is a diploma of hesitation within the air – one which gamers can select to hone in on.
Like anticipated, Patch 6.55 is much less of a content material patch and extra of a seque into the following arc of the journey – the primary since Endwalker’s grand finale of the Hydalen and Zodiark storyline that had made up XIV’s story since A Realm Reborn. Even exterior of the participant’s selection to try to distance themselves from the battle that they’re going to quickly discover themselves in, different characters grapple with the occasions in their very own means. Krile struggles to deliver herself as much as activity of becoming a member of us on our upcoming journey to the New World, in the hunt for data on her grandfather’s legacy; whereas Thancred and Urianger understand that they have been recruited by a distinct social gathering for a similar wrestle for the throne in Tulioyollal.
As for brand spanking new characters… Wuk Lamat is already a pleasure, bringing a dynamic to the forged that has been lacking. She’s filled with pleasure, wanting to show herself, and equally wanting to discover the brand new delacicies that the creatures of Eorzea can deliver. In brief, she’s precisely the type of animated character that the primary forged has been lacking because the story had ballooned in dimension and scope with every enlargement, and presents some a lot wanted levity. I am curious to see precisely how that levity will deal with beneath stress in Dawntrail, however I am particularly wanting to see extra of her relationship with Erenville. He was already a fan favourite from Endwalker’s principal state of affairs, and it is thrilling to see him tackle a way more distinguished position heading into the long run.
Commercial. Hold scrolling for extra
It is fascinating to observe how the stage has been set for Dawntrail. Whereas earlier expansions ended with bombastic occasions that will instantly tie into the following part of the story – A Realm Reborn’s betrayal main into the Warrior of Gentle in search of exile in Ishgard, Shinryu’s summoning instantly forcing Eorzea’s palms into working to liberate Ala Mhigo and so forth – with Dawntrail, there was nothing forcing us or our allies palms. As a substitute, there’s the sense of trepidation and pleasure as everybody, characters and gamers alike, brace themselves to discover the unknown. Whereas we nonetheless have a obscure concept for why we’re heading to the New World, the ramifications of doing so aren’t but clear, and sure will not be till we’re already at its shores.
In that sense, we’ve not had this a lot thriller concerning the occasions surrounding the Warrior of Gentle in practically a decade; and hopefully the builders tackling a extra political slant to the storytelling in Dawntrail may simply be what was wanted to reset the stakes. In spite of everything, after we simply bought completed saving the universe, it might be an ungainly follow-up to instantly try to craft an enemy that our strolling instruments of destruction would wrestle to deal with in a battle. Certainly, no matter which choices gamers ended up selecting, if there was one factor that 6.55 made clear – is that our characters must be at the very least a bit of cautious of the occasions to come back, particularly contemplating all of our shared historical past with royalty in Eorzea.
“Warning” actually is the operative phrase, right here. Whereas Dawntrail has been billed as one thing akin to a summer time trip for our characters, it stays in the back of my thoughts that this enlargement is supposed to kickstart the following story arc for the world of XIV; and even when the stakes begin smaller than Endwalker’s finale, I am nicely conscious that any occasions that will kickstart a bigger narrative must be impactful for the world as a complete. Much more than that, no matter what precisely occurs, the Warrior of Gentle will likely be intimately concerned.
Commercial. Hold scrolling for extra
Whereas Dawntrail payments itself a technique, it isn’t arduous to see the way it may find yourself being the calm on the eye of the storm – and what awaits on the different facet will likely be anybody’s guess. Ultimate Fantasy XIV: Dawntrail has so much to stay as much as, and so begins the ultimate wait to see precisely if it might probably match these expectations.