Thanks to its worldwide nature and the magic of time-zones, Final Fantasy XIV‘s third expansion, Shadowbringers, is out now, defying its listed July 2nd release date. It’s an enormous chunk of latest story for the MMO-JRPG, this time taking a break from Eorzean politics to drop gamers right into a post-apocalyptic parallel world. Here, the sky at all times glows with holy gentle and carnivorous angels prey on the few enclaves of survivors; a bit grim, then. Players who pre-ordered acquired a number of days of early entry, however now it’s open to all. From the bit I’ve performed, it’s extra of factor.
Bullet-point smart, Shadowbringers isn’t a lot to jot down dwelling about. Two new jobs (Dancer, a ranged caster utilizing chakrams, and Gunbreaker, a tank that makes use of gunblades), two new gender-locked beauty character races (Lion-like Hrothgar dudes and rabbity Viera girls) and a degree cap prolonged to 80, with a handful of latest expertise per class. In my expertise, nearly all of Final Fantasy XIV gamers play it explicitly for the huge, linear story. What you get in your cash is one other big story arc plus a season of 5 episodic mini-expansions over the approaching 12 months and a bit.
So far, my solely criticism with Shadowbringers (and I’m not very far in in any respect) is that it looks like a side-story, albeit with acquainted characters. Your hero and the remainder of the Scions have been referred to as away to this new land. The stakes are excessive, but it surely looks like occasions in Eorzea are on pause whereas I’m away on this new journey. Of course, this feels liable to alter over the course of the story. Concerns apart, gamers have quite a bit to sit up for, with a Yoko Taro-written Nier: Automata story arc, a New Game+ mode and quests to revive Ishgard coming within the subsequent quarterly expand-o-update.
While I’ve solely performed by one to date, judging by the video above, the ‘dungeons’ (four-player situations with three bosses) are going to be the massive set-pieces to sit up for right here. What was once static chains of rooms at the moment are much more dynamic and narrative-driven, particularly as you may (optionally) deliver chatty essential story NPCs with you rather than gamers. That’s solely an possibility for the brand new essential story dungeons, however I hope that the function turns into common. The occasion AI is succesful, and once they do get smacked round by a boss, it’s often to indicate you ways not to do it.
Final Fantasy XIV: Shadowbringers is out now, and prices £30/€35/$40. It’s obtainable on Steam, Humble and direct from Square Enix. Note that keys for the Steam model will not be suitable with the Square retailer or vice versa. Shadowbringers consists of each earlier expansions – Heavensward and Stormblood – however requires the unique Final Fantasy XIV: A Realm Reborn to play.
