With Final Fantasy XIV at present in its strongest place ever after two triumphant expansions, the times of its troubled launch are however a distant reminiscence. This is now not a narrative of an epic restoration, however one among constructing on its enviable place. The MMORPG’s third enlargement, Shadowbringers, is that subsequent massive step – one which goals to kick off an enormous new chapter within the game whereas sustaining its momentum.
How does Shadowbringers hope to do this? Well, by including heaps extra stuff. It boasts the prolonged record of latest options that we’ve come to count on from an MMO enlargement. New jobs, new dungeons, new raids, and a wholly new storyline to play by means of. The additions are sturdy, to say the least, however the alternative to wield the ludicrously inconceivable gunblade is chief amongst them.
The new Gunbreaker job is Final Fantasy XIV’s newest tank – a frontline fighter whose position is to guard allies and brush off the punishment of foes. The position makes a superb fist of letting you reside out your Squall Leonhart roleplaying fantasies, too. It’s a flashy and explosive job that has you finishing means mixtures to load a cartridge into the gunblade, which might then be used to fireplace off a fast single-target or area-of-effect blast. You also can begin a fast volley of chain assaults – a bit like Squall’s Renzokuken restrict break – whereas weaving in continuation strikes for an enormous harm combo. It’s a satisfying, aggressive gameplay loop.
On the defensive aspect, you get a cool self-heal that grants a brief barrier, which you’ll share to offer different occasion members some safety. Overall, although, long-term tank gamers gained’t discover an excessive amount of that drastically modifications the way in which they play. Still, it’s an thrilling addition to the game, particularly when the gunblade has been such an iconic a part of Final Fantasy’s historical past.
Though many anticipated the second job in Shadowbringers to be a healer, Dancer will as a substitute be a part of Bard and Machinist because the MMO’s third ranged DPS class. Even so, the job takes on extra of a help position throughout group occasions, in that you simply’re capable of buff, empower, and shield occasion members. It’s neatly designed and extra mechanically fascinating than Gunbreaker, principally due to the rhythm motion mini-game you get to play when bopping.
Once activated, 4 of your hotbar expertise turn into dance strikes indicated by differing colors. You have to carry out them so as based on on-screen prompts, very like Rock Band or Dance Dance Revolution. Hammer out that combo and hit your ending transfer, and also you’ll blast all surrounding enemies with a burst of harm whereas additionally placing your self in a state known as ‘Espirit’. This allows you to earn a useful resource to unleash additional assaults. The problem, then, is in sustaining this buff by busting some strikes so you’ll be able to proceed pumping out harm from the backlines.
If you’re not fairly seeing the help aspect of the position, you’ll be able to share the Espirit standing with a celebration member by assigning them as your dance accomplice, thus buffing their harm. When they land blows, they in flip will earn you additional assets to spend in your bonus assaults, or you’ll be able to apply but extra buffs to them.
It’s a cute concept that provides one other, properly themed layer to taking part in the category, and it might have been fascinating to see extra dedication to this facet of the Dancer job. Perhaps additional methods to differ the buffs you’ll be able to apply to allies – much like the Astrologian’s card system – might have provided superior gamers one thing extra intricate to grasp. As it’s, Dancer continues to be primarily a harm dealing position with some spectacular area-of-effect skills.
Shadowbringers provides a wholly new world to discover known as The First. Final Fantasy XIV has all the time astounded with its environmental design, and Shadowbringers doesn’t falter right here. It’s absolutely on present in one of many enlargement’s new dungeons, Dohn Mheg – a mysterious house that segues from floral gardens, to dense forest, to an ornamental palace. Amid the usual trash mobs are a handful of boss fights that can take a look at even long-time gamers on their first makes an attempt, and mechanics that blend in new concepts to point out how the dungeon crew continues to be preserving issues recent.
The most fascinating a part of our Dohn Mheg run, although, was utilizing the brand new NPC Trust System. It’s undoubtedly a cool concept, theoretically providing solo gamers a method to deal with dungeons alongside acquainted characters underneath AI management. At the identical time, it’s a dangerous proposition, because it additionally encourages gamers to be much less social in an enormous MMO world the place, effectively, they’re imagined to be surrounded by actual folks.
In apply, it’s a blended bag. AI NPCs get much more to say and do than you would possibly suppose, with the likes of Thancred and Minfilia bantering between one another as we progress, and barking throughout fight or after defeating enemies. In that sense, it’s fairly cool, giving the characters of the primary state of affairs extra of a connection to your adventures than earlier than.
And but, clearly, you’re taking an opportunity by placing your religion within the AI over the mind of one other human. And whereas it may be surprisingly good at primary duties resembling tanking and therapeutic, it does falter with regards to some combat mechanics. In Dohn Mheg, for instance, one boss releases spores whenever you attain him, which you’re required to dam. One participant should stand in entrance of every, however the AI’s decision-making may cause confusion and a few punishing errors.
Shadowbringers brings with it a radical rebalancing of healer jobs, permitting gamers to decide to a purer model of the position and really feel much less stress to DPS throughout each break. The choice hasn’t been eliminated, per se, however as a substitute, means gaps within the respective healer jobs have been patched as much as make them equally succesful.
Essentially, there’s been an enormous push for refinement, as is commonly the case when MMOs begin to get bloated with massive numbers and burgeoning spellbooks. All are in service to creating a smoother, cleaner and extra intuitive game, so whereas it’s simple to mourn the lack of some customisation choices in an space resembling position actions, it’s higher than an amazing variety of choices, lots of that are ineffective. A extra clearly outlined interrupt system for particular enemy assaults additionally makes for a way more readable and responsive fight system, during which you don’t waste stun and silence results.
These all really feel like very wise choices for a game that’s creeping up in age, although nonetheless feels as recent because it did at relaunch, and as creative because it did all through Heavensward and Stormblood. Shadowbringers confirmed that there’s nonetheless lots to look ahead to for now, and for additional forward in the way forward for Final Fantasy XIV.
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