Shadowbringershas the best opening move of anyFinal Fantasy XIVexpansion . In fact , it ’s   up there with the best expansions in MMORPG chronicle , drumming up a level of fervour and performance that feels very much likeWrath of the Lich Kingdid when it released a tenner ago . There ’s a certain somberness to the story , now , that hearkens back to the kind of sweeping , earth - changing battles that have long been a raw material of the fantasy genre but are often difficult to put to death in things as touchy as MMORPGs .

For those unfamiliar with the context surrounding the new expansion , Final Fantasy XIV Shadowbringersis the secret plan ’s third expansion , and follows storyline threads that have been laid down sinceA Realm Reborn , the reboot of the franchise that save a rocky launch . The expansion supply two new job in the iconic Gunbreaker and Dancer professions , and also include a backwash in the Viera that have become extremely pop , particularly after theFinal Fantasy XIIremaster execute so well on theNintendo Switch . wholesale modification have been made to the direction every class encounter , with many of them receive overhauls in their raid revolution and in fundamental skill set , which has givenShadowbringersthe feel of a brand newfangled world in many different ways .

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Kulebra and the Souls of Limbo artwork showing Kulebra facing dark souls.

While those changes need to be experienced over the line of the expansion ’s ten additional player stratum , though , the initial spirit ofShadowbringersis something that ’s more tangible from the start . There are a few contribute factor to the wayFinal Fantasy XIV Shadowbringersestablishes itself as having one of the in force openings in MMORPG story , and here ’s a quick run - down of why that is .

The Stakes inShadowbringersAre High From The Start

It takes jolly much no metre to install that the world inShadowbringersis one that is being torn apart . Players meet a recall to the friendly traveler who begins their journey in the alkali game before he is quickly consume by a demon , leaving only his ring behind .

That ’s just setting the tone , too -Shadowbringersis dark . Really dark . It begins with a gruesome fate for the first friendly look the Hero of Darkness sees and rapidly approach tragedies on a grander scale , lay down that it ’s not just the player ’s own lives they ’re trying to protect , but the entire populations of two different reality . Some expansions can be plodding in their starting time , bit by bit easing players into new realm before ramping up what ’s in sport by the final stage of the demolishing campaign . InFinal Fantasy XIV Shadowbringers , every foreign mission feels dreadfully important , help to rub down away the common fetch quest fatigue .

ShadowbringersRewards Long-Time Players Constantly

Another affair about MMORPG expansions that can be a little off - putt is that they ’re commonly design with an influx of new players in mind . While long - prison term lover will certainly be present , new elaboration are tacky , fun , and often come partner off with deals on premature expansions as well , intend player who ’ve been gone for years - or those who have never play at all - are more potential to give it another shot . That can result in some questing and storyline retread that are sluggish and unnecessary for those who ’ve stuck with the game .

Shadowbringersdoes a wonderful line of bleeding those recaps into a new story , often coupling them with callbacks to specific mo that are well - known in theFinal Fantasy XIVcommunity . That , alongside the fact that the first few campaigns in the enlargement center around inflate the participant ’s relationship with the main reference of the narrative and reuniting them , makes it an appealing expedition down remembering lane that will also serve to push the narrative forward . It ’s a dexterous hand at storytelling that makesShadowbringersso obligate in its opening 60 minutes .

Shadowbringers’Early Quests Are Varied Enough They’re Not Boring

Before fans get too excite - yes , there are still mess of fetch quests . The thing is , Shadowbringerstends to sprinkle those ones into side quests that are n’t extremely crucial , and also puts them in region where another side seeking that ’s more interesting will also take place . It ’s been rarified that the only affair in our pursuance log early on is retrievingxamount of bird fender without also need to cut across down a missing person , do something silly , and also unveil another mystery about a world over - rill by the Light .

Final Fantasy XIVhas require some criticism for its quest and the way they can often find bizarrely out of character for someone who calls themselves the Warrior of Light - or Warrior of Darkness , as is the case in this expansion . Those are still present , too , send the thespian character all over to salute at mass , doubt their need , or concoct unknown potions for eccentric scientists . The tonic switching is more important here than it ’s feel in the yesteryear , though , because the independent story is so brooding and broody about what it means to be " well " that the breaks are welcome . After catch how some former favorites in the new expansion touch unfortunate fates , players will be all too beaming that they ’ve got to kill three mushroom-shaped cloud guys and then help an aspiring artist learn how to paint better .

Overall , Shadowbringersearly instant are some of the dealership ’s right . That ’s to say nothing of the environment itself , which is breather - pickings and changes as the instrumentalist progresses through the story , and the music , which is seriously incredible . ToppingStormbloodwon’t be easy - and we ’ve yet to see how the tarradiddle represent out , asStormbloodgot betterand well as fourth dimension went on - but it ’s potential forShadowbringers , which has already established its first ten or fifteen hr as some of the well uncommitted in the MMORPG genre .

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