{"id":239673,"date":"2019-07-06T11:48:00","date_gmt":"2019-07-06T15:48:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/jbsgame.com\/review-final-fantasy-xiv-shadowbringers\/"},"modified":"2019-07-06T11:48:00","modified_gmt":"2019-07-06T15:48:00","slug":"review-final-fantasy-xiv-shadowbringers","status":"publish","type":"eg_reviews","link":"https:\/\/jbsgame.com\/reviews\/review-final-fantasy-xiv-shadowbringers\/","title":{"rendered":"Review: Final Fantasy XIV: Shadowbringers"},"content":{"rendered":"
[You can read updated reviews for future patches here: 5.1<\/a>, 5.2<\/a>, 5.3<\/a> as well as other releases\/expansions here: A Realm Reborn<\/a><\/i>, Heavensward<\/a>, Stormblood<\/a><\/em>.<\/em>]<\/sub><\/p> I’ve been putting Final Fantasy XIV: Shadowbringers <\/em>through its paces<\/a>, but now that I’ve completed the new campaign and have toiled away at the current endgame, it’s time to really weigh in.<\/p> The short version? It brings it.<\/p> <\/p> Final Fantasy XIV: Shadowbringers <\/em>(PC, PS4 [reviewed])<\/strong> Props to the narrative powers that be for allowing Shadowbringers<\/em> to breathe as both<\/strong> a charming fish-out-of-water story and an epic swirling confrontation not unlike The Avengers just had in the MCU. Swept away to a new world (the First), you and all of your big deal NPC friends aren’t so big timey anymore, which lends itself to a completely different feel unlike anything experienced so far in Final Fantasy XIV<\/em>.<\/p> Now everyone has sufficient time to grow, and the whole Warrior of Darkness dichotomy adds a new dimension to the narrative lens. We’re getting different perspectives from characters who have been previously sidelined, and more threads for storylines that were merely hinted at in past expansions. Shadowbringers<\/em> also lets you enjoy the ride without forcing you to make decision after harrowing decision.<\/p> There are personal stories intertwined with these galactic conflicts, and it all works: a testament to how skilled the writing team is at their craft. Shadowbringers<\/em> tangos with themes from sympathy for the devil to innocence and atonement, and does it with Moogles and fairy creatures fluttering about all the while. Yes, proper fair folk are a huge part of the story, and with additional spoken languages in tow no doubt: Tolkien would be proud.<\/p> Outside of one uninspired area (Amh Araeng is too similar to the existing desert locations from Realm Reborn<\/em>) the zones are a hit, as Square Enix continues to experiment with wild quest concepts and out-of-the-box stories that allow us to become invested in what would normally be a 10-minute sideshow for experience points in a typical MMO. That said there are some standard “kill [x]” quests, but if you pay attention to the dialogue you’ll probably enjoy those too.<\/p> <\/iframe><\/p> A mix of modern and classic MMO archetypes are also at play with Shadowbringers<\/em>‘ dungeons. Several dungeons do things a little differently and present entertaining miniboss fights, and now, a concerted effort has been made to connect them. The final foe of each run isn’t just a random enemy: rather, an encounter that helps sew the entire storyline together. The “Trust” system, which allows you to recruit NPC characters to enter dungeons to sidestep queues, is also a fascinating addition that enhances the whole “proper Final Fantasy\/JRPG” feel of it all. Perhaps Square Enix is already building the foundation for an offline XIV<\/em> one day, similar to what they’re doing for Dragon Quest X <\/em>(you heard it here first folks).<\/p> In case you’re wondering, I finished the entire<\/strong> expansion (leveling to 80 and completing the main story quest) without having to repeat dungeons or “grind.” That said, I did have to clear out 99% of all sidequests on offer (many of which had better storylines than the critical path) and engaged in a ton of FATEs (group world quests that appear on the map). But there’s more beyond the new main story quest (MSQ), as two additional dungeons and two EX trials (hard mode boss fights) are unlocked at the end, with more on the way<\/a>.<\/p>
Developer: Square Enix<\/strong>
Publisher: Square Enix<\/strong>
MSRP: $39.99 ($12.99 per month)
Released: June 28, 2019 (Early Access) \/ July 2, 2019 (Full)<\/strong><\/p>