BLIGHTTOWN
While Endwalker isn’t yet over and I’m waiting to see how the current smaller story arc is going to walk us into 7.0, I can safely say that the 6.0 arc has been one of my favourite media experiences full stop. A perfect culmination of everything that’s been built towards. Expanding Lahabrea’s story in the optional raids is also a perfect full circle moment. The gameplay is the worst it has ever been, however, and this is the first expansion I’ve taken an extended break in because of it, but that still has not tarnished my experience of the 6.0 story.
I can’t help but look back on this expansion so favourably. In the first step of XIV’s new narrative direction, Ishikawa almost flawlessly managed to get me to care about the plights of a world I’d never even given much thought before landing on it’s doorstep. The presentation of Eulmore vs The Crystarium is a little jarring especially considering the different cultural aesthetics and the optional side content and gameplay took a sharp nose dive with the homogenisation of roles and the introduction of an entire side story for Gaius, but the main story was enough to pull me away from getting too bogged down in this.
The pacing and themes of this expansion are…muddled at best and offensive at worst. The characters, however, make up for this in spades with Yotsuyu, Sadu, Cirina and Gosestsu being prime examples of excellent character driven story arcs. It would be remiss of me to also ignore the introduction of Red Mage and Samurai which fit in beautifully both thematically and practically. Side content and gameplay were the gorgeous highs that contrasted the terrible lows of the main scenario.
A gorgeous first attempt at expanding the field in terms of both location and gameplay. Building upon previous job identities created perhaps the most interesting gameplay the game has had outside of Stormblood. The story expands upon the seeds sown in A Realm Reborn in an interesting way and I view it more favourably now, but I remember not being too enthused about it at the time outside of our dynamic with Ysayle and Ishgard itself. A solid first expansion nevertheless.
Probably the best example of a redemption in modern media. It wasn’t perfect by any stretch of the imagination but with such a clear vision for both gameplay and story as well as the touch of experimentation that is sorely lacking from the more recent expansions it would be sacrilegious to rate this anything less.
This review contains spoilers
On one hand, Lightning dress up game with interesting combat. On the other hand, Hope is God.
2011
Whilst it completely remedies every criticism levelled at XIII and also provides perhaps one of the most varied video game OSTs I’ve ever heard, the distinct drop in quality from the first as well as the lack of a coherent narrative and ending makes it a far less rewarding experience.
2009
The pinnacle of modern Final Fantasy I fear. I understand the criticisms levelled at it. Whether it’s due to blind nostalgia or a deeper understanding due to the sheer amount of time I’ve spent playing and replaying it, I can safely say this is my favourite game of all time for a multitude of reasons.