Writing this review having finished the MSQ last night. (None of the post-game patch quests, Alliance Raids, Regular Raids, Dungeons, etc).
I spent 2 and a half years playing FFXIV with the one singular thought in my mind. "I have to see why everyone says Shadowbringers is so good." I played through the whole game with this thought in my mind. The patch quests leading up to it had me instantly hooked and intrigued and even going into it I had no real idea what the story would even be about. I can say now, having finished it, that it was worth the hype. I'll avoid spoilers here, but what followed was an instantly enthralling story that I found far more engaging and better paced than anything I'd experienced in FFXIV previously. It wasn't without it's slow points, and in my experience FFXIV has a lot of those, but on the whole the story kept me interested the whole time. The finale as well is one of if not the best one in the game so far.
It's probably fair to say to some degree that Shadowbringers succeeds both because of and in contrast to what proceeded it. It's story works because you know these characters, because you know this universe that has been crafted here. As a standalone work the game would already be very good, but it's the careful tower that has been constructed that makes the foundation for it to really work.
I'm looking forward to doing all the things I said I haven't done yet. Alliance Raids tend to be my favorite part of the game and I've been looking forward to this series for a while.
Onwards in my unending journey.
I spent 2 and a half years playing FFXIV with the one singular thought in my mind. "I have to see why everyone says Shadowbringers is so good." I played through the whole game with this thought in my mind. The patch quests leading up to it had me instantly hooked and intrigued and even going into it I had no real idea what the story would even be about. I can say now, having finished it, that it was worth the hype. I'll avoid spoilers here, but what followed was an instantly enthralling story that I found far more engaging and better paced than anything I'd experienced in FFXIV previously. It wasn't without it's slow points, and in my experience FFXIV has a lot of those, but on the whole the story kept me interested the whole time. The finale as well is one of if not the best one in the game so far.
It's probably fair to say to some degree that Shadowbringers succeeds both because of and in contrast to what proceeded it. It's story works because you know these characters, because you know this universe that has been crafted here. As a standalone work the game would already be very good, but it's the careful tower that has been constructed that makes the foundation for it to really work.
I'm looking forward to doing all the things I said I haven't done yet. Alliance Raids tend to be my favorite part of the game and I've been looking forward to this series for a while.
Onwards in my unending journey.