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In Shadowbringers, fans will find a blend between everything that makes Final Fantasy XIV brilliant already with some deft strokes of narrative and gameplay innovation that solidify it as the best MMORPG on the market today.
WhileFinal Fantasy XIV : Shadowbringersis still ostensibly about saving the human race - just not yours - it also hits much closer to home than the traditional MMORPG expansion typically point for . That ’s true of other musical genre stalwarts andFinal Fantasy XIVitself , which has often asked players to question big ideologies that require entire Carry Nation as the crucial repair of young content . InStormblood , it was colonization and the political relation behind it , and inHeavensward , putrefaction and religion were the name of the plot . All of these musical theme are at fun inShadowbringers , too , but they ’re more closely colligate to a personal level of ontogenesis , tragedy , and relationships - the latter of which gleam brighter than the total light - instill area of Norvrandt , by the meter the story come to a close .
last Fantasy XIV : Shadowbringersis the third enlargement for the enfranchisement , and it ’s something of a turn percentage point . Square Enix ’s unbelievable and candidly tall resuscitation of a game that set in motion as one of the worst major MMORPG attempts of all - clip is already well - known , but it ’s time we move past that . Final Fantasy XIVis , like some of the more cynical grapheme would remind you in the new expanding upon , no longer in motive of being carry through . Unlike Norvrandt , though , that ’s because it ’s already been rescued . Now , the 16 million ratifier title of respect has to grapple with a new challenge - the spotlight and the expectations that come with being recognized as an already great plot . Luckily , inShadowbringers , fans will find a portmanteau word between everything that makesFinal Fantasy XIVbrilliant already with some deft strokes of story and gameplay innovation that solidify it as the best MMORPG on the grocery today .
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Players will reprise their role as the Warrior of Light as they are cast into the new area - and world - of Norvrandt , a place that at first glance might be turn over nirvana for follower of Hydaelyn , the Goddess of Light . Yet under the never - end day of Norvrandt linger the sinister noesis that all is not well , and has n’t been for a long fourth dimension . This is one of thefirst and most compelling narrativebeats inShadowbringers , setting the timbre for all that is to occur . The Warrior of Light won , in this world , across time and space and mostly removed from the Source . The dark was press back and as a result , an apocalypse of theology ravaged the land , upend all but the tiniest slivers of civilization that now must defend for their survival against " holy " beings known as sinfulness - eaters .
So , yeah . Religion , corruption , and good and awry remain central to the patch ofShadowbringers . The change is that the floor train around a stringent - knit chemical group of friends and ally who all grow and acquire their own personal tale throughout the tale . At times , Shadowbringersfeels less like an MMORPG and more like a newfangled exclusive - participant entry in theFinal Fantasyfranchise . return characters cast anchor the ambitious tale and lend it the emotion that will draw players in , while new additions have a astuteness that widen well beyond average execution . Emet - Selch , in special , is one of the best - written type we ’ve run across in quite some prison term , but it ’s not an award he deliver the goods easily - there are many inShadowbringersalone , old and unexampled , that contend for that title with each Apocalypse . It would be well worth it to playFinal Fantasy XIV : Shadowbringersfor the news report alone , a quality that could become something of a tradition inFinal Fantasy XIVafterHeavenswardandStormbloodpossessed similarly engrossing journeying .
Shadowbringersdoes more than just spin a great recital , though . The gain of Gunbreakers and Dancers adds fresh depth to the franchise though , admittedly , would it have killed Square Enix to lastly includeanother healer class ? It ’s one of the very few complaint we have about the expansion - queue take age as the game currently faces a famine of those willing to lend parties crumbs of Cure , and that ’s in part due to the fact that it ’s been nearly four class since we last got a Modern healer function . Lack of variety for that purpose notwithstanding , though , the new jobs are intelligently designed and increase the depth for tank and legal injury - dispense roles well .
If there ’s a victor between the two in the early Clarence Day ofShadowbringers , though , it ’s the Gunbreaker . The job is best - suited for an off - tankful purpose , as it tends to deal harm that outdo common tanking prospect but is also a little more hard to keep alive . There ’s also an interesting tautness between Superbolide , which drops a Gunbreaker ’s health to 1 while preventing incoming damage , and a healer ask to bang if an emergency heal is needed or if they can wait it out and just gradually bring the tank back up . It append a moral force to dungeons and test that is fascinating to watch , even if , once again , it feel a little unfair that tanks got an entirely newfangled toy while healers got something new to keep cart track of during already phrenetic scrap .
The Dancer , on the other hand , will in all likelihood involve a bit of tweaking , although it ’s still an interesting and fun job as it stands now . Late game , however , it ’s damage - dealing foliage players wanting , and single - butt buff will take some getting used to now that Bards have had their political party - all-inclusive arsenal removed . When the Dancer is given fourth dimension to found their subprogram and begin transitioning through the rhythmic execution of their rotations , however , the stratum is something to lay eyes on , visually and statistically . As it stand now , with prolonged fights a staple of the terminal - secret plan content in design , it appears Square Enix remains attached to letting the line of work have a chance to breathe . In early dungeon , though , the Dancer does n’t really get a chance to get going , not necessarily in wrong but rather in design . That can obviously hinder a player ’s fun with it , and it ’s something that will retroactively need to be addressed , although it ’s hardly a concern with all the shiny new substance thatShadowbringersintroduces to the folding .
The addition of Viera and Hrothgar as races has also in effect taken overFinal Fantasy XIV , as it ’s tough to take the air more than a few steps without tripping over a bunny woman . The Hrothgar have been amazingly democratic too , however , and both races have helped increase the diversity of aesthetics and party appearance in - game , something that ’s always welcome . The Viera ’s settlement is also a skillful standout in the story , a zone that gets breeze through during the Main Scenario Quest and is well - worth a role player ’s clip to retread once all is say and done .
One of the most crucial additions in terms of accessibility comes toShadowbringersin the form of the Trust system . It let role player pick out a full party of Nonproliferation Center - importantly , the 1 they ’ve occur to worry deeply about over the course of past expansions andShadowbringersespecially - and tackle story dungeons with them . For DP jobs , this is a godsend , as lengthy queue have long been the strike against hug that role , especially in between elaboration when queue clip set out to get a piddling longer . It ’s also a boon for players who do n’t enjoy the caller of unknown , or who have raise sick of people execute mechanics ill during dungeons . From what we can secern , the Trust system brings Nonproliferation Center that are always competent and wo n’t pass over unless the player themselves does something wrong . It might take a little longer - the goal of the Trust scheme is not to extend the staring company , which would eliminate the need to queue with real mass altogether - but it ’s the kind of addition that only strengthens the overallFinal Fantasy XIVoffering . We test the Trust system in the first and last donjon it was offered inShadowbringers , and both times it mat smooth , gentle , and in reality an excellent means to learn mechanism yourself if ask . The NPCs will show musician how to nullify attacks or where to abide , which can also be a helpful learning tool for those who want to party with others but do n’t need to be a load initially .
The keep themselves are a high spot of the enlargement and another protraction of the sublime purpose thatStormbloodwas so famous for . Shadowbringersdungeons- in particular , its run - are flat - out exciting . Each one features mechanics that will keep participant co - ordination at the forefront , but with heedful execution can be surmounted with relative informality . It ’s a good blend , saving the hair - pulling and keyboard - throwing for hard modes only . The serious part of the dungeons might just be their soundtrack , though , which is good than it has ever been . Music inFinal Fantasy XIVis always a strength , but the composition inShadowbringersis captivating . It ’s the kind of soundtrack that many who experience it will seek out and play during downtime in their own personal lives , and that ’s a high compliment for a video secret plan OST .
If there ’s a complaint to be had withShadowbringers , it ’s the same one that harry every MMORPG - Libra needs addressing , at least to some extent . There are still jobs that feel far and away superscript to others , although that interruption has reduce well since the early 24-hour interval . There are also minor hiccups in footing of the tempo at the goal of the Main Scenario Quests - including a puzzling level requirement logic gate that feels like it ’s enforce backwards .
terminal Fantasy XIV : Shadowbringersis the best MMORPG expansion in recent memory - perhaps of all - fourth dimension . Its exceptionally few warts are the kind that will be removed with a few plot of land of tweaking , and what ’s left is skin so unblemished it rivals the shininess of a crystal . Shadowbringerstells the best story thatFinal Fantasy XIVhas ever tell , sets up an equally challenging report to adopt after , and does it while insert us to some of the most reverence - inspire environs and battles we ’ve ever seen in the genre . If there was still a debate , let it end now . Final Fantasy XIVisthegame for MMORPG enthusiasts and entrant alike , andShadowbringersis the expansion that proves it .
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Final Fantasy XIV : Shadowbringersis available now for PC and PlayStation 4 . A digital copy of the expanding upon on PC was put up to Screen Rant for the purposes of this critical review .
