Wow... just wow
There's this sense of sadness yet catharsis of finishing 5.3, I really wasn't ready to leave Norvrandt and by extension "the First". I had grown attached to the diminished yet beautiful world through my adventures and the relationships with the characters forged. It's hard to put into words, but I haven't felt this way in awhile about a videogame probably not since playing Death Stranding blind on release back in 2019.
The First while broken and scattered due to the flood had this ethereal beauty to it travelling the various locales that didn't get swallowed up. People finding their own ways to cope with the tragic fate of the land and sin eaters really made you emotional. So many amazing character arcs that felt just right in length and didn't overstay their welcome. Also the way the game presents moral ambiguity and the dilemma of whether or not you're doing the right thing heightened the experience. Too often in the “Hero's Journey” are things presented black and white with good and evil being showcased in a overly straightforward manner. Here there's a lot of grey area and it's done very tastefully too. I found myself both empathizing and sympathizing with characters I didn't think I would. Also the villains felt more dynamic this time around, and less cartoon-ish in their motivations. It helped with adding more weight to stakes you were fighting for this time around.
I loved that we finally got to know the Scions beyond the fact we fight for a common cause. Prior to that I knew they were our allies, but I didn't feel like I had a connection with them. But Shadowbringers had them vulnerable so you could see what makes them all tick. Also showing they are more than just "colleagues", but an actual family that cares for one another. The levity when it occurred was great showing they are also able to joke and poke fun at one another in loving way. And damn the "Crystal Exarch" was such a great character, the dev team really knows how to make the most of the open threads from previous expansions.
I know Natsuko Ishikawa (The writer for this expansion) is coming back for Endwalker, but even so I wonder if Shadowbringers can be topped? Maybe we shouldn't have unrealistic expectations for how the ending of this "Hydaelyn & Zodiark" saga of the story will be.
Gameplay wise Jobs feel great, the right amount of actions so you have a lot of things at your disposal. Regardless of what you decide to main you had a lot of options in your rotation and role specific actions to aid the party. Dungeons are even more dynamic than before feeling like you're on a theme park ride or a theatrical performance. It also helps with the diversity in biomes that you get a wide aesthetic palette for the dungeons. Mechanics are also very fun and keep you on your toes with the added trials and raids. The trust system is also great, just wished they would use their AOEs on trash packs lol.
The music has so many bangers and the theme "Tomorrow and Tomorrow" just hits different when you conclude the narrative. While beautiful on its own the lyrics in context mean so much more when you think about the journey you went on and people you've encountered along the way. The theme of passing the torch onwards and for the recipient to carry that legacy forward is just so beautiful here. Life goes on and you just have to keep moving forward, but always remember the road that got you to where you are presently especially if you feel like you're losing your way.
Some of my favorite expansion focused characters in no particular order include the Exarch, Ardbert, Ryne, Lyna, Emet-Selch, and Feo Ul to name a few. They helped breathe life into the post-apocalyptical world that is the First. All of them having something they are coping with and are able to resolve their respective plights in one way or another.
Overall as I've mentioned before I was not ready to leave when it was time to go. A part of me just wished we could stay in Norvrandt. But no rest for the righteous, there are still responsibilities to be resolved in the Source, and I can't wait to see first hand how everything will converge in Endwalker. Also how they will even set up a new overarching plot since Yoshi-P confirmed FFXIV is here to stay still for a long time.
Grateful I decided to take a chance on FFXIV despite not being crazy about MMOs as a genre. I would be kicking myself for not having this experience. And it saddens me that more offline/single player RPG enthusiasts may never get to enjoy this amazing story because of the mentality I once had. Hopefully I can encourage those who may be curious about the game to give it a try.
P.S. I'm still totally a Sprout despite losing the icon, I still have so much to learn. Also so much to do gameplay wise. I still want to level alt jobs and gear them, spend time on my crafters and gatherers, and the huge backlog of content I set aside to focus on the MSQ. I'll make sure to pace myself though I don't want to burnout. Thankful Endwalker isn't too far away either! Can't wait to experience it with you all on release!
