As a seasoned adventurer in the realm of Eorzea, I must say that with the arrival of Final Fantasy XIV: Dawntrail, I find myself standing at a crossroads, much like the paths we tread through this enchanting world. The latest expansion seems to be a delightful journey for those who seek familiarity and comfort in its well-trodden paths, but for those yearning for fresh adventures and bold departures from the norm, it may fall short of expectations.
In the finest moments, evaluating an MMO expansion like “Final Fantasy XIV: Dawntrail” is always a challenge. As I sit down to express my concluding opinions about the game at its launch, I must admit that “Dawntrail” follows this trend. I’ve invested numerous hours in the expansion since its release last month, even postponing my review to complete the new Savage raid tier. However, I find myself somewhat perplexed about expressing my thoughts now, as a significant portion of what sets “Dawntrail” apart from previous installments won’t be revealed until several months and years down the line.
Let’s take a step back for a moment. Dawntrail is the fifth expansion for the current version of Final Fantasy XIV, making it the sixth if you count the initial 1.0 release. The previous expansion, Endwalker, concluded the storyline that Creative Studio 3 has been developing for over a decade. Now, with Dawntrail, Creative Studio 3 must balance the task of preserving the legacy of what’s come before while setting the stage for the next ten years of Final Fantasy XIV. This isn’t just about the story, which I’ve expressed my thoughts on, but also about refining the core gameplay mechanics to keep players hooked in the future.
As a gaming enthusiast, I can’t help but get excited about the latest expansion, Dawntrail. Just like its predecessors, it offers eight dungeons – five for leveling and three for endgame play. Additionally, there are two Extreme Trials and three Normal Mode trials, plus role quests tailored for both combat and crafting/gathering jobs.
In Dawntrail’s latest zones, graphical improvements are skillfully employed, and while they don’t revolutionize the visuals, they certainly add a layer of depth that was previously missing before version 7.0. Tural’s landscapes each present something slightly distinct from their predecessors. Unlike Stormblood where many regions resembled each other too closely, zones like Kozama’uka, Urqopacha, and Yak T’el evoke the blending of different regions found in the city-states of basegame A Realm Reborn, while still maintaining their unique identities. Even zones that diverge significantly from the expansion’s overall aesthetic are appreciated; my only criticism for Solution Nine lies in the fact that it would be more enjoyable if players could use their mounts throughout the zone, given its expansive layout.
At the game’s launch, one significant new feature is the long-awaited introduction of playable Female Hrothgar characters. My feelings about their inclusion are quite varied. On one hand, I admire the effort the team has put into creating these characters and would be thrilled to switch my character to one. However, we’re now five years in, and the development team seems to overlook Hrothgar and Viera when designing new outfits. This means that certain cosmetics from Dawntrail don’t appear at all or are improperly displayed on the new race option. To make matters worse, the existing Hrothgar and Viera populations also face these issues. It’s disheartening to see this limitation persist, especially since a graphical update seems like an ideal opportunity for the development team to revise previous equipment to better fit these races. I can’t help but feel that things are stuck in the same place as they always have been.
The situation for combat roles in the game is quite critical. While most jobs have undergone minor adjustments since Endwalker, some jobs like Astrologian and tanks (Gunbreaker and Dark Knight) have experienced significant changes due to removing their damage on gap closers. This has caused a bit of confusion regarding job balance and identity. The newly introduced role, Viper, has gone through a major overhaul that many believe strips it of its original essence. On the other hand, Pictomancer seems to be overpowered, which might explain why the first Savage tier is easier than usual. Instead of fixing Pictomancer, they’ve buffed other combat jobs to compensate. There’s also been a sudden reversal of a Black Mage change, which is unusual given how the development team typically handles feedback.
It seems quite plausible that the development team is finding it challenging to decide which direction to take Final Fantasy XIV next, given Dawntrail feels very similar to previous expansions at launch and some unusual adjustments to jobs. This could be my interpretation overthinking things, but it’s hard not to notice how much alike the gameplay loop for Dawntrail is compared to Endwalker and Shadowbringers. Endwalker also felt repetitive initially, but there was excitement surrounding new gameplay systems promised in future patches. However, these upcoming features mainly seem like content expansions rather than entirely new gameplay mechanics.
As a gamer, let me tell you, I’m still in the dark about where Dawntrail is heading. But there’s one thing I can say for sure – the combat content has been top-notch so far! The dungeons and Trials we’ve received are some of the best yet, and the first Savage Raid tier was a blast to play. It might not have been as challenging as anticipated, but it was still meticulously designed, making the fights enjoyable.
1. I have no issues with that, and I believe the majority of active players will agree. However, if you’re feeling drained by the current approach, there isn’t much incentive to stay for extended periods. Dawntrail is more like a relaxing break rather than a rush towards the game’s future; we’re all taking some time to figure out what lies ahead together.
8
Versions tested: PC. Final Fantasy XIV is also available for PlayStation 4, 5, and Xbox Series X|S.
Read More
- CKB PREDICTION. CKB cryptocurrency
- EUR INR PREDICTION
- PENDLE PREDICTION. PENDLE cryptocurrency
- PBX PREDICTION. PBX cryptocurrency
- ICP PREDICTION. ICP cryptocurrency
- USD DKK PREDICTION
- USD VND PREDICTION
- GEAR PREDICTION. GEAR cryptocurrency
- IMX PREDICTION. IMX cryptocurrency
- CSIX PREDICTION. CSIX cryptocurrency
2024-08-10 00:26