Re: the last zone, that's kind of the whole point. That portion of the story is all about letting go of that vision of the past, so I feel like letting you just toggle the illusory version of it would kind of ruin it. To me, that was a really great moment of the gameplay reflecting the themes. Just like Erenville has to try and be content with the time he had with Cahciua and hold that in his memory, we gotta just enjoy the original version of Living Memory while we can.
Issue with the Bakool Ja Ja story is they don’t lay enough groundwork for the reveal. Imho they should have made him a bit more Dick Dastardly (keeps getting ahead and setting traps but increase the ‘danger’ he poses) and a bit less ridiculously evil steps he takes that are just ridiculous. You can also use that to play up his desperation. As written he’s a bit too cartoonishly evil and then suddenly the reveal happens. I agree with you though I did like him by the end, but I think it could've been better
They tried to pull an Emet-Selch with him. "He did what he did because of the pain he was carrying..." As soon as I saw they were going there, I said - out loud, to no one (unless you count cats) - "No way.. No way they're going to try and cop the situation with Emet-Selch on a character we've only known for maybe a dozen hours..." But nope. that's exactly what they did. And all in the course of a single cut-scene, which made it even more ludicrous. It was one of the things that really turned me off to this expansion - and it wasn't even the only example of them doing this. Just lazy, lazy writing.
I also really liked the story overall. I thought it was fun and also recognize a lot of criticisms as fair. One of my biggest complaints is that there are moments that could have easily added tension, but they didn't. I really would have loved to see wuk and bakool get matched for the cooking competition and slowly watching wuk try and get bakool to cooperate. I would have love to see a moment of weakness there from Bakool sooner. I think that would have made his redemption or at least understanding him more reasonable. As much as I love wuk as well, I wished there was a little less here and there so that Krile could really get her moments because im glad we got more Krile but I was hoping for a lot more of her. Loved Sphene, loved the overall thematic throughlines, it also hit me quite hard. The endless were a thought provoking question. Its like if the Giants belief was real. From a cultural standpoint, Sphene believe the endless to be an extension of a person. It was familiar to shb but different enough for me to enjoy. I knew it was going to be controversial to destroy the final zone but i really like how permanent it felt. Its like weve been looking for things to make us feel important, and they gave that to us at the end. I respect CBU3s decision. Im sure if people really want to go back NG+.
A remake of a 27 year old FF game got every scrap of dialogue voiced but the one game in their current stable that is actually profitable can't even get the MSQ fully voiced. It's disappointing.
My main problem with last zone is that it's either a story of lost and many precious thing were lost as we turn the terminal off...... but then we would be conducting mass murder. If the endless were never alive, it doesn't matter to turn the terminal off, then nothing of note have been lost, and the story have no weight to begin with.
If what we did in the Unlost World wasn't murder then there is no such thing as murder in the FF14 universe. The Endless weren't copies of memories, they were the memories extracted from the soul and preserved instead of lost like what happens in the natural process. So what's left of Cahciua is a blank soul, more likely in some Alexandrian's regulator than in the aetherial sea. The part of her that feels excitement at seeing her son, the part of her that squeals, "my fuzzy bunbun," that is what we deleted. What's left is some life energy that may if it ever finds its way into another being lead that being into being more excitable and adventurous. But what made Cahciua, Cahciua is forever lost. And if that were not the case, if a person was just their soul and not their memories and personality, then murder wouldn't be a big deal in the FF14 universe as the soul is eternal. And while yes the Endless needed living aether to be manifested, we destroyed people already manifested, so that aether had already been spent and we destroyed the minds of those people which did not require living aether. Even if Sphene refused to be reasonable, we could have spared the servers and found a way to preserve those who wanted to continue on as Endless. There is the option of a virtual world, there is the option of dynamis, there is the option of robotic bodies, there is the option of getting help from the Omicron, there is the option of Allagan cloning. There were so many things we could have attempted to do for those people, but the story was so busy being preachy it didn't consider how I might feel about doing a play to make children smile and then turning around and deleting those same children from existence five minutes later. The last zone was more horrific than I could have imagined possible and now it sits there, a fetid corpse, to forever remind us of our darkest actions. The Ascians look like the Peace Corps compared to us.
The Ascians both A) Probably started the destruction that resulted in that place's existence, and B) outright destroyed 7 worlds and nearly broke 2 others. While I do not necessarily deny they seem alive and there is room for ethical concerns, the parallels to the shades in Amurot are pretty clear, and it's not like they're rebuilding civilization down there in the Tempest right now. We also don't have any particularly solid idea as to how tied into the systems that manifest them they are, but considering Cachiua had to remote control a robot to do anything outside the system, it's very likely that a solution isn't as simple as slapping maybes at it. The system was also already running threadbare on resources, and the apocalypse machine was revving up. There's a high chance they'd run out of juice to keep the memories alive even in stasis by the time we find a solution to a problem made by now likely long dead scientist. That being said, considering what post MSQ content we've seen in the lv. 100 optional dungeon, there is still yet a possibility something really interesting happens there. Cachiua might have presented it as absolute because of the uncertainty of a solution being found. Oblivion had been operating long before the 30 year gap, so they might've exhausted the options available to them to try and avert a complete shutdown. Although, at the end of the day, these people are effectively already dead. Some of those children could've been children for over a century. There is a philosophical argument to be made for sure, but I'm interested to see what they do with that zone later. Ain't no way they're just gonna leave it like that.
Everything about Dawntrail has been fantastic except the MSQ. It's probably the worst ever expansion msq in execution. Wuk Lamat is also the worst character in FF14 imo. Everything before the ascension ceremony is throwaway. The latter half is ok, not great and not bad and personally, is only saved by Krile's family section. With that being said, the content is fantastic, the dungeons are a breath of fresh air and I'd rather have a mediocre story, but great content.
Wasn't it announced that there would be a zone where we could level up crafters and gatherers sort of like Diadem? Could this be a way the last zone is restored? I feel like the art team spent way too much time and effort on that zone to just toss it away. I loved the story. I hated Wuk Lamat in the post EW stuff. I knew they were going to develop her, and they did. I respect her, warts and all. I don't have an issue with the WoL not being the main character. In ARR I felt more like Minfilia's servant than the main character. Plus, this story was setting up the next ten years and considering that they actually made me feel for several new characters and get me emotional while just laying groundwork speaks volumes for the story team. We were the driving force behind Wuk. We were an exemplar and a teacher and without the WoL's previous experiences Wuk's chances in the contest would've been dead on arrival. I enjoyed the pacing and felt the story was better than EW, at least for me. Graphics upgrade was great for me. Soken IS a genius and singular talent capable of a myriad of genres.I agree that the new story dungeons were not just snoozefests and they required you pay attention while still being accessible to casual/story gamers and I think that is wonderful for everyone. I can't wait to see where the story goes. If the raid design is as improved as the dungeons I think the people predicting a big falloff will be pleasantly surprised. Thanks for the honest review and for your guides!
The dad died because it was a duel, they showed how the dad fought estenian and you in a solo duel, it seems like a full traditional thing. Even zorul ja says that wuk basically chested because she fought the shade of the dad in the final trial with help. And in the later half wuk states how she doesn't want interference in their one on one fight. Seems like a cultural thing. I don't care that I'm not the full main character at all you are full focused as the true defender and you are choosing to help wuk she would have gotten destroyed the entire time without us backing her ideals, I wasn't bothered by her at all and was actually happy she had some part in the final fight and things. Also! Wth was with the Azim crystal symbol on the big trophy thing in the end fight?? Wondering if he created that or if he may be an interdimensional being which kind of means we might be or something, like the way the story is moving for the patches.
If the final days happened in Tural, I would let that stupid continent burn. I did not enjoy the whole "ooh cultures mean tacos and festivals" what a childish way of seeing culture. Also peace and happiness is not how rule, I wish I aided Koana instead of this braindead lion. 3/10, I give it 3 cause Erenville and Krile kinda helped me appreciate (they should have been the main focus)
The dmg on tank gap closers need to be brought back asap. I feel like they’re making every job so easy to play. Like wtf did they do to monk they made it so brain dead now.
Fuck no, no potencies on gapclosers. Make them actual fucking gapclosers not just another ogcd you push during burst. I dont mind a separate 150(or whatever it was) potency ogcd. Just let gap closers close gaps...
100% this is XIV's Pandaria. Divisive, and the closing of what made the game originally great. I have no doubt this was the direction Yoshi and CBU3 really want to tske FFXIV. Sadly they have let down nearly the entire playerbase with that direction. Hopefully they attract a new audience with this new XIV. Sustaining success with an MMO is difficult. It will be interesting witnessing what I anticipate being the biggest dropoff of players in XIV's history in the next two months or so
I was thinking the same. Theres going to be a huge dropoff of players soon, I hope Squeenix prepare for that. But the terrible post endwalker content does not make me feel confident..
@@VampireNoblesse ok I really got lost here, I too hate woke infused stuff but FFXIV really isn't the franchise that got infected with that shit. I can only assume you are here to play the straw man anti-woke stereotype.
I've taken a break, about halfway through the expansion. No desire to continue at this point. Ishikawa clearly wasn't behind the writing of this, and it shows. The painfully repeated gags and themes,which start out being fun and endearing, but are annoying by the 5th or 6th time they keep repeating it. Babook being a murderous psycho... and then just miraculous making a complete 180 in the course of a single cutscene... The pacing is just weird all over the place The blatant copying of major beats from previous expansions - especially ShB and EW - felt cheap and really made the writing seem even lazier to me. Create *new* situations that will pay off down the road. It was grating on my nerves, so I decided to just take a break and come back when the excitement and expectation is out of my system, so I can enjoy it for the subpar experience it is. I wondered at first if I was just somehow missing something.. but looking at a lot of the reactions being "mixed"... it seems I'm not alone in my experience.
I feel like it took me 10 hrs to get to the first dungeon ngl I was getting bored with the MSQ. IMO MSQ should be fully voice acted. Having to read so much makes it really hard for me to follow the story.
You would not have been able to handle older games. Back then, games only being partially voice acted or not having voice acting at all were the norm. You should go read some books to improve your reading ability if you cannot handle it in a work of media that has character actions actually being visible to you.
I kinda like taking the backseat this time around, let other characters have their time in the spotlight. We're just out here, making friends, seeing sights, slapping villains around.
Good review. I agree in most all points. Story felt a bit rushed at times, and somethings don't add up - Erenville got information over virtual travel into the Mesa Tower.. when? .. where? .. Bakool Ja Ja's Arc felt rushed too. And personally i don't like Wuk Lamat very much. You mentioned most of the points. She is no 'woke' character - she has a lot of weaknesses, thats true. But i cant stand her personality. But a small saving point is that she grows and learns a bit in her journey. But as others here mentioned - the MSQ is not the best one in FF14. And yes, it feels a bit like WoW Pandaria..
I felt so sad when we had to destroy the beautiful last zone
I'm sooo upset that we can't reset the colors it was soo pretty Maybe we restore it with something least the color
@@crossdaboss8914 NG+ says hi
@@crossdaboss8914 I am almost certain it's going to get prettied up in post patches.
Beast tribe probably, maybe...
@@Azulapus No, the dead people that we permanently deleted will not be a tribe.
Re: the last zone, that's kind of the whole point. That portion of the story is all about letting go of that vision of the past, so I feel like letting you just toggle the illusory version of it would kind of ruin it. To me, that was a really great moment of the gameplay reflecting the themes. Just like Erenville has to try and be content with the time he had with Cahciua and hold that in his memory, we gotta just enjoy the original version of Living Memory while we can.
We already had that with amarot and endwalker
I don't want to fish and gather in a zone constantly reminding me of the time I deleted half my friends' mothers.
I respect it as a story decision, but i hate it as a decision that effects somewhere i have to go and do quests for the next 2+ years.
Doesn't NG+ restore most settings to their original visuals if they change?
yeah new game plus works
If Wut Lamat can donate just 25% of her screen time to other character, Dawntrail as an expansion would improve a ton, especially in first three zone.
The reason why he died was already explained in their duel. No one can interfere even if the person resurrected.
Issue with the Bakool Ja Ja story is they don’t lay enough groundwork for the reveal.
Imho they should have made him a bit more Dick Dastardly (keeps getting ahead and setting traps but increase the ‘danger’ he poses) and a bit less ridiculously evil steps he takes that are just ridiculous. You can also use that to play up his desperation.
As written he’s a bit too cartoonishly evil and then suddenly the reveal happens. I agree with you though I did like him by the end, but I think it could've been better
They tried to pull an Emet-Selch with him.
"He did what he did because of the pain he was carrying..."
As soon as I saw they were going there, I said - out loud, to no one (unless you count cats) - "No way.. No way they're going to try and cop the situation with Emet-Selch on a character we've only known for maybe a dozen hours..." But nope. that's exactly what they did.
And all in the course of a single cut-scene, which made it even more ludicrous.
It was one of the things that really turned me off to this expansion - and it wasn't even the only example of them doing this. Just lazy, lazy writing.
I also really liked the story overall. I thought it was fun and also recognize a lot of criticisms as fair. One of my biggest complaints is that there are moments that could have easily added tension, but they didn't. I really would have loved to see wuk and bakool get matched for the cooking competition and slowly watching wuk try and get bakool to cooperate. I would have love to see a moment of weakness there from Bakool sooner. I think that would have made his redemption or at least understanding him more reasonable. As much as I love wuk as well, I wished there was a little less here and there so that Krile could really get her moments because im glad we got more Krile but I was hoping for a lot more of her.
Loved Sphene, loved the overall thematic throughlines, it also hit me quite hard. The endless were a thought provoking question. Its like if the Giants belief was real. From a cultural standpoint, Sphene believe the endless to be an extension of a person. It was familiar to shb but different enough for me to enjoy. I knew it was going to be controversial to destroy the final zone but i really like how permanent it felt. Its like weve been looking for things to make us feel important, and they gave that to us at the end. I respect CBU3s decision. Im sure if people really want to go back NG+.
I dont think this was supposed tk be a reply oops!
A remake of a 27 year old FF game got every scrap of dialogue voiced but the one game in their current stable that is actually profitable can't even get the MSQ fully voiced. It's disappointing.
My main problem with last zone is that it's either a story of lost and many precious thing were lost as we turn the terminal off...... but then we would be conducting mass murder. If the endless were never alive, it doesn't matter to turn the terminal off, then nothing of note have been lost, and the story have no weight to begin with.
I feel like one of the only people who thought the second half was boring and wanted more of the swashbuckling south american adventure
If what we did in the Unlost World wasn't murder then there is no such thing as murder in the FF14 universe. The Endless weren't copies of memories, they were the memories extracted from the soul and preserved instead of lost like what happens in the natural process. So what's left of Cahciua is a blank soul, more likely in some Alexandrian's regulator than in the aetherial sea. The part of her that feels excitement at seeing her son, the part of her that squeals, "my fuzzy bunbun," that is what we deleted. What's left is some life energy that may if it ever finds its way into another being lead that being into being more excitable and adventurous. But what made Cahciua, Cahciua is forever lost. And if that were not the case, if a person was just their soul and not their memories and personality, then murder wouldn't be a big deal in the FF14 universe as the soul is eternal.
And while yes the Endless needed living aether to be manifested, we destroyed people already manifested, so that aether had already been spent and we destroyed the minds of those people which did not require living aether. Even if Sphene refused to be reasonable, we could have spared the servers and found a way to preserve those who wanted to continue on as Endless. There is the option of a virtual world, there is the option of dynamis, there is the option of robotic bodies, there is the option of getting help from the Omicron, there is the option of Allagan cloning. There were so many things we could have attempted to do for those people, but the story was so busy being preachy it didn't consider how I might feel about doing a play to make children smile and then turning around and deleting those same children from existence five minutes later. The last zone was more horrific than I could have imagined possible and now it sits there, a fetid corpse, to forever remind us of our darkest actions. The Ascians look like the Peace Corps compared to us.
The Ascians both A) Probably started the destruction that resulted in that place's existence, and B) outright destroyed 7 worlds and nearly broke 2 others.
While I do not necessarily deny they seem alive and there is room for ethical concerns, the parallels to the shades in Amurot are pretty clear, and it's not like they're rebuilding civilization down there in the Tempest right now. We also don't have any particularly solid idea as to how tied into the systems that manifest them they are, but considering Cachiua had to remote control a robot to do anything outside the system, it's very likely that a solution isn't as simple as slapping maybes at it. The system was also already running threadbare on resources, and the apocalypse machine was revving up. There's a high chance they'd run out of juice to keep the memories alive even in stasis by the time we find a solution to a problem made by now likely long dead scientist.
That being said, considering what post MSQ content we've seen in the lv. 100 optional dungeon, there is still yet a possibility something really interesting happens there. Cachiua might have presented it as absolute because of the uncertainty of a solution being found. Oblivion had been operating long before the 30 year gap, so they might've exhausted the options available to them to try and avert a complete shutdown. Although, at the end of the day, these people are effectively already dead. Some of those children could've been children for over a century. There is a philosophical argument to be made for sure, but I'm interested to see what they do with that zone later. Ain't no way they're just gonna leave it like that.
Everything about Dawntrail has been fantastic except the MSQ. It's probably the worst ever expansion msq in execution. Wuk Lamat is also the worst character in FF14 imo. Everything before the ascension ceremony is throwaway. The latter half is ok, not great and not bad and personally, is only saved by Krile's family section.
With that being said, the content is fantastic, the dungeons are a breath of fresh air and I'd rather have a mediocre story, but great content.
Wasn't it announced that there would be a zone where we could level up crafters and gatherers sort of like Diadem? Could this be a way the last zone is restored? I feel like the art team spent way too much time and effort on that zone to just toss it away. I loved the story. I hated Wuk Lamat in the post EW stuff. I knew they were going to develop her, and they did. I respect her, warts and all. I don't have an issue with the WoL not being the main character.
In ARR I felt more like Minfilia's servant than the main character. Plus, this story was setting up the next ten years and considering that they actually made me feel for several new characters and get me emotional while just laying groundwork speaks volumes for the story team. We were the driving force behind Wuk. We were an exemplar and a teacher and without the WoL's previous experiences Wuk's chances in the contest would've been dead on arrival. I enjoyed the pacing and felt the story was better than EW, at least for me.
Graphics upgrade was great for me. Soken IS a genius and singular talent capable of a myriad of genres.I agree that the new story dungeons were not just snoozefests and they required you pay attention while still being accessible to casual/story gamers and I think that is wonderful for everyone. I can't wait to see where the story goes. If the raid design is as improved as the dungeons I think the people predicting a big falloff will be pleasantly surprised. Thanks for the honest review and for your guides!
My understanding is that alot of games in square enyx is not making money and that ffxiv is their main cash cow
The dad died because it was a duel, they showed how the dad fought estenian and you in a solo duel, it seems like a full traditional thing. Even zorul ja says that wuk basically chested because she fought the shade of the dad in the final trial with help. And in the later half wuk states how she doesn't want interference in their one on one fight. Seems like a cultural thing. I don't care that I'm not the full main character at all you are full focused as the true defender and you are choosing to help wuk she would have gotten destroyed the entire time without us backing her ideals, I wasn't bothered by her at all and was actually happy she had some part in the final fight and things. Also! Wth was with the Azim crystal symbol on the big trophy thing in the end fight?? Wondering if he created that or if he may be an interdimensional being which kind of means we might be or something, like the way the story is moving for the patches.
I do like Wuk Lamat as a character but ive gotta say (my opinion ofc) the english v.a does not feet the character at all
1:20 I enjoy yapping. Consider me subscribed.
Dude, you almost hit on all the same things I thought (and at this point i've listened to many reviews). Get out of my brain.
If the final days happened in Tural, I would let that stupid continent burn. I did not enjoy the whole "ooh cultures mean tacos and festivals" what a childish way of seeing culture. Also peace and happiness is not how rule, I wish I aided Koana instead of this braindead lion. 3/10, I give it 3 cause Erenville and Krile kinda helped me appreciate (they should have been the main focus)
I would say it's mediocre. It's not as good as Endwalker, and even EW wasn't that good.
The dmg on tank gap closers need to be brought back asap. I feel like they’re making every job so easy to play. Like wtf did they do to monk they made it so brain dead now.
Fuck no, no potencies on gapclosers. Make them actual fucking gapclosers not just another ogcd you push during burst.
I dont mind a separate 150(or whatever it was) potency ogcd. Just let gap closers close gaps...
@@The_Yukki why does Warrior get to keep dmg on theirs
@@JDxxatteis I don't know, want it gone too. But probably because they dont have that many weaves otherwise.
100% this is XIV's Pandaria. Divisive, and the closing of what made the game originally great. I have no doubt this was the direction Yoshi and CBU3 really want to tske FFXIV. Sadly they have let down nearly the entire playerbase with that direction. Hopefully they attract a new audience with this new XIV. Sustaining success with an MMO is difficult. It will be interesting witnessing what I anticipate being the biggest dropoff of players in XIV's history in the next two months or so
I was thinking the same. Theres going to be a huge dropoff of players soon, I hope Squeenix prepare for that. But the terrible post endwalker content does not make me feel confident..
It's a filler expansion. They're keeping the big ideas for the big 8.0 reboot (PS4 dropps off)
but if they keep up the woke nonsense (non feminine glamours, focus on hot dudes only etc), than they really will lose a lot
@@VampireNoblesse lol cope
@@VampireNoblesse ok I really got lost here, I too hate woke infused stuff but FFXIV really isn't the franchise that got infected with that shit.
I can only assume you are here to play the straw man anti-woke stereotype.
I've taken a break, about halfway through the expansion. No desire to continue at this point.
Ishikawa clearly wasn't behind the writing of this, and it shows. The painfully repeated gags and themes,which start out being fun and endearing, but are annoying by the 5th or 6th time they keep repeating it. Babook being a murderous psycho... and then just miraculous making a complete 180 in the course of a single cutscene... The pacing is just weird all over the place
The blatant copying of major beats from previous expansions - especially ShB and EW - felt cheap and really made the writing seem even lazier to me. Create *new* situations that will pay off down the road.
It was grating on my nerves, so I decided to just take a break and come back when the excitement and expectation is out of my system, so I can enjoy it for the subpar experience it is.
I wondered at first if I was just somehow missing something.. but looking at a lot of the reactions being "mixed"... it seems I'm not alone in my experience.
main story is the worst on this expansion. the others improvements are aight/good tho.
The first half wasn't good but the second half is interesting not perfect but it's a pretty big improvement
I feel like it took me 10 hrs to get to the first dungeon ngl I was getting bored with the MSQ. IMO MSQ should be fully voice acted. Having to read so much makes it really hard for me to follow the story.
You would not have been able to handle older games. Back then, games only being partially voice acted or not having voice acting at all were the norm. You should go read some books to improve your reading ability if you cannot handle it in a work of media that has character actions actually being visible to you.
@@user-mu1os7me8s maybe I should’ve been more clear. Having to read constantly puts people to sleep.
I kinda like taking the backseat this time around, let other characters have their time in the spotlight. We're just out here, making friends, seeing sights, slapping villains around.
MSQ was garbage Shoujo manga
Translation: I am a man baby who has zero attention span and cannot handle not being the center of attention.
@@user-mu1os7me8s nah story is ass, do not get upset cause people for once aren't dick riding the game, grow tf up!
Good review. I agree in most all points. Story felt a bit rushed at times, and somethings don't add up - Erenville got information over virtual travel into the Mesa Tower.. when? .. where? .. Bakool Ja Ja's Arc felt rushed too. And personally i don't like Wuk Lamat very much. You mentioned most of the points. She is no 'woke' character - she has a lot of weaknesses, thats true. But i cant stand her personality. But a small saving point is that she grows and learns a bit in her journey.
But as others here mentioned - the MSQ is not the best one in FF14. And yes, it feels a bit like WoW Pandaria..