Simply as Endwalker opened with you and the crew setting sail for the distant metropolis of Previous Sharlayan, Closing Fantasy XIV’s Dawntrail enlargement kicks off with a protracted cruise to a spot we’ve by no means been earlier than. However as a substitute of connecting with a long-referenced society, you step into a complete area nobody from Eorzea is aware of very a lot about. From the outset, venturing into the Mesoamerican and Latin American-inspired land of Tural would possibly lead you to consider that this can be a summer time trip for a band of heroes that has saved whole realms from calamity. Nevertheless, I can guarantee you that no matter you thought Dawntrail was, that’s precisely what it’s not. It’s the beginning of a brand new period for the MMO, and the rising pains of that transition might be obvious at occasions – however Dawntrail manages to show as soon as once more why FFXIV is the standard-bearer for the Closing Fantasy collection.
This newest enlargement explores tradition, household, and legacy in methods FFXIV hasn’t up 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 can 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 an alternative, it affords new views that, at occasions, hit simply as arduous as something within the MMO’s 14-year historical past. The principle situation quest (MSQ) takes you in unpredictable instructions, mixing its deep real-world influences with high-tech sci-fi that comes with ideas seen within the cyberpunk style, after which manages to weave within the Closing Fantasies of yore and have all of it nonetheless make sense.
It takes some work to get there, nonetheless. I respect the groundwork Dawntrail lays within the first half of the principle 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 best way you expertise the story, which doesn’t shock me given the character of building 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 realize 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 just undergo comparable motions for very lengthy stretches, and the story itself within the early goings is written in a method that’s uncharacteristically surface-level. Not the whole lot must be poetic and profound (and Dawntrail finally will get there), however conflicts are introduced up and resolved in a fairly simplistic method that isn’t as highly effective because the story appears to need you to really feel they’re. As an alternative, I discovered unraveling the difficult 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 stunned that Wuk Lamat is basically the principle character of Dawntrail whilst you, because the Warrior of Gentle, and your Scion buddies are put in supporting roles. Nevertheless, 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 offers 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 in search of 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 type of method to its characters earlier than – even because the Warrior of Gentle, the supporting solid has all the time 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 impression was unmistakable whether or not he was on-screen or not. So, when Wuk Lamat extolls the virtues of peace with out totally greedy the nuances that include that, it tends to ring hole.
With a tinge of shonen-style “energy of friendship” vitality, Dawntrail has its coronary heart in the fitting place – and though it generally appears superficial, it’s good to have a narrative that outright says that embracing our variations and fascinating in an trustworthy cultural alternate would make the world a greater place, which Wuk Lamat does represents admirably. Its quest construction can generally 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 non-compulsory) be actually artistic inside the confines of its MMO bounds over time. Quite, it’s obvious that Dawntrail’s storytelling priorities imply it has loads to get via 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 enlargement 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. Nevertheless, some well-designed dungeons, partaking boss fights with recent battle mechanics, and hype moments in story-based solo cases saved me engaged and invested – and if something, I used to be simply completely satisfied to be alongside for the experience. That’s additionally as a result of I knew I might inevitably hit a turning level in Dawntrail, like all of FFXIV expansions are likely to have – and after I bought there, it left me floored with revelations that ripple all through the MMO’s lengthy historical past.
The swap 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 true world effortlessly blends into the remainder of the enlargement’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 principle metropolis of Answer 9 was revealed effectively beforehand, but it surely’s the explanations for bringing you there that make for quintessential FFXIV storytelling. It goes for some wild swings, and on this second half, comprises actually beautiful moments I’m nonetheless attempting to wrap my head round.
It fills me with pleasure to be genuinely stunned by a recreation I assumed I’d recognized so effectively. 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 all the time anticipate it to maintain reaching these highs. But, Dawntrail does it once more – maybe not as persistently or elegantly, but it surely has left a big impression nonetheless. It questions what makes household necessary, asks why we harbor such resentment for these totally different from us, and reveals 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 expensive – and the uncomfortable reality that we ascribe worth to life as a result of it will finish.
At vital factors, I used to be reminded that FFXIV all the time will get me in my emotions in methods no different piece of fiction can, recreation or in any other case. A lot of that may be attributed to the truth that sure characters I’ve cherished proceed to develop and be voices of motive to provide readability when the whole lot else in my life appears like utter chaos. Sure, you’re venturing into new and compelling beginnings in a land overseas to the characters you’ve been with for years, however Dawntrail is made stronger for the best way it remembers the place it got here from.
A part of me appears like Dawntrail conjoins two very totally different halves, and I typically think about the depth to which FFXIV might have explored its bigger themes had it devoted extra time to 1 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 sort of impression 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 conflict however a two-way avenue that should be labored for – whether or not that be peace on the planet or the battle for interior peace amid indelible heartbreak and tragedy.
For all its shortcomings within the earlier hours, it actually makes good on the concepts it tries to construct. The way in which Dawntrail wields its remaining zone as a storytelling machine, 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 artistic battle mechanics that even stunned me as a long-time Savage raider left me grinning as I took these Injury Down debuffs like a champ. And to have fought nearly all these battles alongside my favourite characters via the Responsibility Help system let these gameplay sequences additionally shine as peaks in its storytelling.
The emotional core that all the time ushers FFXIV’s greatest moments is present in its music. Composer Masayoshi Soken alongside the sound group has damaged new floor for the MMO, and for Closing 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 previous western guitar riffs in Xak Tural standout as catchy tunes that set an unmistakable temper. Then you will have synth-infused metallic and trance tracks for pivotal battles that pack a punch in contrast to the rest 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 type, Soken and firm create unbelievable music that bends, fuses, and elevates genres whereas persistently incorporating the classical musical themes that naturally grow to be a part of the storytelling expertise – simply one other frequent W for FFXIV.
Story could also be on the forefront of Dawntrail’s launch, however with a brand new enlargement comes tons of latest content material on prime – most notably the 2 new Jobs: Pictomancer and Viper. After leveling Pictomancer and perfecting its assault rotation stuffed with lovable portray talents turned damaging, it’s grow to be one among my all-time favourite enlargement 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 just’ll battle to study however not so easy that you just’ll mindlessly cycle via your rotation. Popping your work pre-pull is an lovable visible, as is dropping Moogle poms earlier than whipping out a magic hammer to crush your foes. It’s satisfying whenever you line up all of the cooldowns and casts whereas bouncing between the totally 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 alternatively isn’t fairly as thrilling as I’d hoped – perhaps it’s as a result of I’ve performed melee DPS for many of my time in FFXIV and have caught with Ninja via 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 subject of DPS Jobs. Don’t get me incorrect, it appears to be like 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 group 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 may be actually potential for it to develop into a greater one.
As per traditional, 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 via them as of scripting this, the Excessive trials at present 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 further backstory based mostly on the Jobs you will have leveled up. They’re not fairly as defining as those seen in Shadowbringers or Endwalker, however they’re value seeing via and add a pleasant contact to tie in different elements 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 group will roll out over the subsequent two years. I’ll be sat prepared for them after they arrive, however for now, Dawntrail has earned its place within the pantheon of nice expansions.