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It's time for a video game interlude: FF14 Dawntrail
Alright, some background, I played FF14 for about two years straight, then burned myself out at the beginning of last year. I have still been playing attention to updates though, and resubbed for the latest moogle treasure trove because I really wanted two of the TT cards. I then decided to go through Dawntrail while the sub was still active because, you know, I paid for it.
Anyway I finished 7.3 last night and here are a couple thoughts on the experience as a whole
TL;DR: I rate this it 5/10. Its not the worst thing I've ever played but it's not great either.
It's been a year and a half since I played at all so I went into this with a really open mind, but. Man.
-Except for the opening theme + the lyric version, really enjoyed the music
-Beautiful maps. I think they are generally way too big (Especially S9 with practically nothing in it), but they are very pretty.
-I enjoyed Wuk Lamat. She was fine, people really overreacted.
-Big fan of Hrothgals, they are SO cute. I love my guy too much to famta him, but I really like the hrothgal models. If I wasn't too tired of playing I'd totally start a second character as one
-Super happy we finally had some development with the Mamool Ja; I've been wondering what their deal was since ARR and it seemed strange to me they were never explored in the different tribal quests until now. I love them lol, it's so refreshing to have a bunch of normal characters that also happen to be lizardmen
-This was the "gun" expansion for sure. I have never seen SO many machinist and gun wielding npcs anywhere else in this game. If they aren't a pugilist then they've got a gun. I love the absurdity of "gun in fantasy setting" so I just found this funny.
-The overall story was very meh. It wasn't what I wanted. I thought we were getting an Amazing Race style thing with the Rite of Succession taking up the entire plot (the fun vacation we were promised) and that's just not what it was.
-The pacing was absolutely abysmal. Like. I don't even know where to begin. It's either too slow or too fast, and you are constantly locked into long cutscene - walk 5 feet - long cutscene, and very little to actually do. They were constantly introducing issues and then immediately resolving them, then at the same time telegraphing plot twists so far in advance that waiting around for the official reveals felt like a chore. There are so many moments that were supposed to be these heartfelt things, but we spend so little time with any of the supporting characters that I just could not bring myself to care. Ugh.
-I do not like Calyx based simply on the fact that he is in multiple duties and can not shut up. I do not look forward to more of him.
Less a comment on Dawntrail but more of the game in general, I have to wonder what kind of audience they're going for. 🤔 Obviously I beat it with no issue, but I still found the dungeon bosses and trials tough simply because everything hits *so* fast and so hard at this point; I honestly have to wonder if they're really expecting people more casual than me to be able to get though it. Maybe not, hmm.
Anyway I finished 7.3 last night and here are a couple thoughts on the experience as a whole
TL;DR: I rate this it 5/10. Its not the worst thing I've ever played but it's not great either.
It's been a year and a half since I played at all so I went into this with a really open mind, but. Man.
-Except for the opening theme + the lyric version, really enjoyed the music
-Beautiful maps. I think they are generally way too big (Especially S9 with practically nothing in it), but they are very pretty.
-I enjoyed Wuk Lamat. She was fine, people really overreacted.
-Big fan of Hrothgals, they are SO cute. I love my guy too much to famta him, but I really like the hrothgal models. If I wasn't too tired of playing I'd totally start a second character as one
-Super happy we finally had some development with the Mamool Ja; I've been wondering what their deal was since ARR and it seemed strange to me they were never explored in the different tribal quests until now. I love them lol, it's so refreshing to have a bunch of normal characters that also happen to be lizardmen
-This was the "gun" expansion for sure. I have never seen SO many machinist and gun wielding npcs anywhere else in this game. If they aren't a pugilist then they've got a gun. I love the absurdity of "gun in fantasy setting" so I just found this funny.
-The overall story was very meh. It wasn't what I wanted. I thought we were getting an Amazing Race style thing with the Rite of Succession taking up the entire plot (the fun vacation we were promised) and that's just not what it was.
-The pacing was absolutely abysmal. Like. I don't even know where to begin. It's either too slow or too fast, and you are constantly locked into long cutscene - walk 5 feet - long cutscene, and very little to actually do. They were constantly introducing issues and then immediately resolving them, then at the same time telegraphing plot twists so far in advance that waiting around for the official reveals felt like a chore. There are so many moments that were supposed to be these heartfelt things, but we spend so little time with any of the supporting characters that I just could not bring myself to care. Ugh.
-I do not like Calyx based simply on the fact that he is in multiple duties and can not shut up. I do not look forward to more of him.
Less a comment on Dawntrail but more of the game in general, I have to wonder what kind of audience they're going for. 🤔 Obviously I beat it with no issue, but I still found the dungeon bosses and trials tough simply because everything hits *so* fast and so hard at this point; I honestly have to wonder if they're really expecting people more casual than me to be able to get though it. Maybe not, hmm.