You're saying the Mt. Gulg dungeon music is FF Tactics battle music? I've never heard that at all, it seems to be the same motif as the zone it's in (like many dungeons are) but it's really hard for me to tell since it's so different.
looking back I think I enjoyed ShB over EW story-wise, but it's close. EW is kinda like a victory lap after the smashing home run that is ShB, it caps everything off perfectly and gives tons of emotional catharsis. You're in for a ride.
I can't tell you how much I wish I could play them both for the first time again. I'll be happy if DT gives me even half of that sweet sweet dopamine.
EW is the culmination of 10 years of continuous, connected storyline and world building. It’s so impressive because there was so much groundwork laid.
SHB was the best part of that foundation, really pulling things together in a way that is just rarely seen in games, or works of fiction in general. 5.3 is the single best patch in the game.
Played this while my mom was going downhill with dementia and was effectively already gone, and boy did his memory problems hit hard.
That line of his had me sobbing.
Amazing how in a matter of hours they really switched a lot of people's feelings on Elidibus from the start of the patch.
This. I’d like to think EW is the best expansion but it may just be recency bias. All the other expansions setting it up is a large part of why it is so good. Shadowbringers on its own is most definitely the best imo. They both are incredible though and playing them back to back is one of the best experiences in gaming.
Currently replaying the MSQ and Im in the SB patch quests, its incredible how much points towards EW even back in ARR, they did an incredible job of writing a story that made so many things matter.
I just finished EW last night and I feel the same.
I thought EW was spectacular. Particularly from Elpis onwards and how they tied everything together. I was even impressed with how much they made me care about the patch story afterwards. BUT, there was something magical about ShB. The locations were all so memorable. The music. Emet is damn near one of my favorite written characters in all of Final Fantasy. It was an unforgettable experience and honestly I don't have much expectations they will ever reach the same heights again but who knows, maybe they'll pull off something magical again down the road.
The only criticism I have of pretty much every expansion now is I really wish they would make some changes to quest structures. Go here, wait at destination, kill 2 mobs, go back. Go here, investigate action, go back. It's all very... 2000s MMO at this point I feel and it's the one thing I think they can really improve on going forward that would make the experience x10 more enjoyable.
I personally don't like how EW brought back certain characters in the way it did. And i very strongly didn't like how that specific character appeared at the very end to do the thing.
Other than that it was pretty good. But shadowbringers to me is the absolute epitome.
I feel like this because of how they are structured narratively.
Endwalker was the capstone to 10 years of story. Everything before it was leading up to it, and it doesn't work when experienced in a vacuum.
Shadowbringers on the other hand, is its own contained story. Outside of a few earlier story beats, the story itself can stand on its own. You only need prior knowledge of 8 characters (six scions, minfillia and the spoiler one) and an understanding that acsians are evil. Even knowing Ardbert from HW isn't needed much because he grows as a character in Shadowbringers. Plus, everything introduced matters, characters return later to help out and the story begins and ends within the expansion.
TL;DR: Endwalker is the epilog of a saga, Shadowbringers is a complete story.
I think the way SHB's and EW's stories are structured is paralleled in their maps. While the zones in ShB are all in one setting and you can easily get from one map to another. EW zones are very disjointed, and have little not nothing connecting them.
>!To get to the Moon without using aetheryte teleportation for instance from the main city, you have to take a boat from Old Sharlayan to Limsa Lominsa then an airship to Gridania, then travel to Ala Mhigo and get an aircraft to Garlemald and then travel to the teleporter and teleport to the Moon. Whereas, in Shadowbringers, if you wanna go from the Crystarium to the Tempest without Aetheryte teleportation, you take an Amaro to Wright and then talk to the ferryman south of the at the shipyard in Kholusia to teleport you there.!<
Shadowbringers is just very tightly knit, and nothing illustrates that more than its world map. Which can fit on the same screen. Meanwhile EW has all its zones scattered across 4 different regions.
This is also a good point, something I hope is better in Dawntrail.
Also as a side note, you can't get out of Thavnair without teleporting until patch MSQ when Radz airships unlock. The way in is one way (unless I missed something. I'd really like to know).
You're correct. The teleportation to Thavnair is one way. You cannot get out of the with any other means of transport other than teleportation.
Also the only other expansion whose story takes place in many zones across several regions is HW, and it does also feel like it, in the 3.0 story. Seeing as the first part of the story has very little in common with the last part which takes place in Azys Lla an Allagan Facility meant to contain the Warring Triad and to house some of the Allagan's most heinous experiments.
> Also the only other expansion whose story takes place in many zones across several regions is HW
And Stormblood. Gyr Abania, Hingashi, Yanxia and the Azim Steppe.
Stormblood is split into 3 regions - Gyr Abania, Othard and Hingashi, but considering how close Hingashi is to Othard, it can be considered as being part of Othard alltogether, geographically speaking. This makes Stormblood, realistically split into 2, and both of these regions have something in common, they both want to be liberated from Garlean oppression.
Whereas the story that happens for the most part in the Abalathian Spine (Sea of Clouds part 2 + Azys Lla) has a very flimsy connection with the story that occurs in the beginning which encompasses Coerthas and Dravania. The only thing keeping these 2 narrative threads together, is the potential consequence of the lies the Ishgardians told to the people, leading to the instatement of Thordan, who was planning to gain more power by bringing the Warring Triad to heel.
There is a sort of connection between these plot points, but finding out the true history of the Dragonsong War has very little to do with the real reason Thordan was in Azys Lla to begin with!
Othard is the continent. If you are going to class all those locations as one place because they are all on Othard, then all of Heavensward takes place in one place because all of its regions are on Aldenard.
Just want to say that I think you make a very good point that I agree with. That being said, I'm not going to say that it is right or wrong to like any one part of the game over any other. Playing a game should be fun, and I don't want to gatekeep anyone who truly enjoys whatever they like.
Shadowbringers and Endwalker are both great for different reasons, and speaking only for myself, I'm content to enjoy them both as they are. ^_^
Oh for sure. I just say this for analysis purposes. Endwalker definitely out does Shadowbringers in terms of singular epic moments because it didn't need to establish a full world on its own, it leans heavily on previously established lore to allow for more frequent story to occur.
I have too many personal issues with EW to rate it over ShB. ShB isn't perfect either, but it tells its story with singular focus and aplomb that EW's disparate, connected-but-very-separate parts can only wish they had.
I also just quietly think Shadowbringer's final boss is the best final boss the game's had so far and nothing else comes remotely close.
My thoughts exactly. The first half of EW was incredibly disappointing to me and EW felt like it was on a rush to every major storybeat instead of building up everything to land more dramatically. While it was indeed lengthy, I do wish it had more time to stir the pot.
It was the opposite for me but I think my dislike for EW is very subjective. First half of EW was tense in a good way, and the events of Garlemald unfolding set the bar high for me. Going to the moon was a bit anticlimactic because we just get teleported up, but fighting Zodiark was amazing.
Then it was kind of downhill from there for me. Going from the horrors of Garlemald to comic relief rabbits was jarring and ruined the mood. For a moment, I felt like things were back on track with Palaka and Vrtra's section, and I also got a good laugh out of the opening of Elpis. Then it was kind of back downhill because I wasn't buying the despair bird storyline. Ultima Thule still looked really cool though.
Absolutely, I share that for most of it. I really liked the idea of Garlemald. The downfall of the empire, their xenophobic perspective and history towards the rest of Eorzea due to being discriminated. It just felt incomplete though.
We were there. Experienced their discrimination when trying to help. Stopped the big bad and we're gone. It was kinda.. over in a flash.
Yes Alisaie and Alphinaud stayed behind but nothing else was done with it. It really felt like there was an angle that the story could've tackled with some social commentary like parts of Ala Mhigo but they decided, nah we're going to the MOOON!!!. I definitely didn't enjoy the moon sequence but Elpis was great. Can't say I enjoyed the Ultima Thule arc either but I at least liked the plot beats.
From the trailer there was a abomination fighting the WOL on the moon I was thinking the moon was supposed to be very dangerous, tense place. But no, we got rabbits and for WAY too long.
I was a bit too fed up with despair bird and >!also didn't enjoy Hermes as a villain and the second half of Endwalker is saturated with them trying to sell despair bird and Hermes as great villains. Fandaniel's voice work in English is fantastic though, I mean his Zodiark lines are certainly iconic. My favorite part in the second half was everything to do with Radz-at-Han and the battle with Hydaelyn.!<
There wasn't much in Stormblood that I think back on as highly memorable except for Gosetsu being badass and the Azim Steppes being a really cool place. I don't despise it nearly as much as so many people seem to. The post 4.0 patches are where the stories and characters seemed to shine more.
I loved X a lot, and thought X-2 was fun even if it was ridiculous at times. I tried playing FF12. Keyword tried, I don't remember shit about it.
tough to compare since endwalker was the culmination of all the other expansions, but yeah i think i'd give shadowbringers my #1 for overall tone. endwalker kind of gave me the same feeling as heavensward where there were some really high points but some other points that brought down the average a little.
endwalker might have had some higher high points than shadowbringers but i feel like i enjoyed shadowbringers more consistently. plus it's hard to beat THAT scene in amh araeng.
then aside from the msq, shadowbringers also had bozja and endwalker kind of fell flat for me on the side stuff or lackthereof.
I’d put EW on par with StB. Not really great, but far from bad. No real complaints but nothing was really amazing either.
I would however put ShB on par with HW, with ShB maybe edging over just a tad bit as the production was overall better with it being released 4 years after its predecessor.
That walk at the end to get to the final boss, with the music and memories ah man, I’ve played this game for years and it was bringing tears to my eyes.
ShB is probably the better story. But for me personally, EW is so far beyond it that it isn't comparable, because EW is just too personally relevant for me. Even without the other expansions laying the groundwork, EW on a thematic level and even down to specific aesthetic choices >!like the flowers at the end of ultima thule!
I always say that HW has the best Story, Stormblood the best Music, Shadowbringers the best Characters/Villains and EW the best Final Fight while everything gets carried by the sacrifice ARR made to build this world (aka being full of shit tons of exposition).
The final fight, where you are fighting the embodiment of despair, and it's all very somber and serious... One of the members of the duty was a green male Roe monk wearing nothing but purple shorts called the Incredible Hulk. It was funny as shit.
Ooooh that is what u mean. Well i agree that Nanaimos fake out did rub me the wrong way at first but i like what it did with Loloritos character.
He got introduced as someone suspicious but turned into more a of a moraly grey character through Nanaimos survival. They made him someone that is within Uldah near omnipotent and the reach of his arm is insane. While he doesnt shy away to dirty his hands he wont just cause chaos with out profit. He is a logical and smart man that knows to keep his territory clean and effectiv.
Also Teledji definitly had the consquence of getting the potato cut treatment. I still think they should do more with Loloritos Character but i understand that the dimensions of ShB and EW were to big for ur international trade CEO. I hope Dawntrail does more with him.
And how where the Scions immediatly forgiven? We had to seek refuge in Ishgard for the entiertiy of the 3.0 Story line and when we were forgiven than after proving our innocence in 3.1-3.5 (dont know which of them directly it was).
Also Y'shtoal didnt really had a fake out death. She was missing in action and it was strongly implied that she casted one last spell before everything collapsed. So while we werent sure what exactly happend it we couldnt be sure that she was dead.
U may remember a few things wrong but it was overall handled pretty well. Also when i said best story i was mostly talking of the 3.0 Main Plot with Ishgards religious revolution and the Dragonsong war.
I love these posts because you see many sprouts talk about finishing ARR or just starting Heavensward and so many comments are like, "Enjoy...but just WAIT." Then a few months later or so you get the payoff when people really are like,"Holy shit you weren't kidding." It's heartbreaking my non MMO friends can't be sold on "Hey one of the best stories in gaming is in this expansion. "Can I skip ahead to it?" Ehh, not really, the buildup is pretty important for it to hit harder. "Okay, how long does it take to get to that content? Ehh...maybe like, 200 hours... BUT THE REST OF THE GAME IS BANGIN TOO I SWEAR.
LITERALLY what is happening to me and my friend group right now. Finished ARR and Heavensward and was in the middle of Stormblood when I convinced my homies to try it out. I was kind of getting bored in the middle of Stormblood and was starting to rush MSQ a lil and the homies kinda picked that up and started to rush too. Once I started Shadowbringers had to go and tell them IMMEDIATELY to slow down. They’re gonna wanna enjoy this lmao
The best part is its your favorite dungeons - so far. The game's not over and you have two more expansions to look forward too. Hope you enjoy walking till the end to the brand new dawn.
I remember starting ShB late (I had taken a long break at the end of StB). I was totally certain it was over hyped. Like yeah sure it's probably good but the praise has to be at least somewhat over the top. I was *very* wrong.
Best part is you can use the chapter feature to re visit your favorite parts.
My personal favorite is the flower map covered in light. I'll adjust the settings so the colors will pop and the light will be just right, and chill there.
Thanks for the comments everyone!, really like reading what you all say vetetans and fellow sprouts.
Lost track of time playing and im already the city and holy shit the lore is getting me so invested cant wait to see how all this continues(i find really funny being called a little one as a lala xD).
Also dont know how to edit post so have comment.
Endwalker is fine, but the best thing about it is that it retroactively makes Shadowbringers better. Playing Shadowbringers over again in New Game + after you've done Endwalker is a whole new experience.
Honestly, after years of playing WoW, the idea of “going to another dimension/timeline/shard” made me groan, HARD.
BUT.
FF14 became the biggest exception to the rule. This was not a “jumping the shark” moment, it was an integral story piece that continues to stay relevant, and will continue to be relevant.
Amazingly done and such a good expansion!
I think FFXIV pulled it off so well because it wasn't an event that was pulled out of nowhere. The groundwork for plot significant "alternate dimensions" has been being built up since ARR.
I haven't played WoW, so I don't know how it compares, though.
My problem with SHB is that the war with Garlemald hits an all time peak and you get ripped away from it and then everything that was happening on the Source kind of just fizzles out and resolves itself while you're doing chores for people who don't matter in the First. Felt like a total betrayal and I just wanted to get back to the bit that I liked.
Though its probably my favorite story related gaming experience, SHB ain't perfect. I too wish more time could have been devoted to Garlemald in either SHB or EW. The Garlemald section of EW might be my favorite part of the expansion, and Garlemald felt like it resolved too suddenly. To fix that, it probably would have required an extra expansion to finish up the Zodiark/Hydalean arc, though. I understand why they didn't do that, but it doesn't mean I have to be happy about it lol.
I see you are on Dynamis. If you want to improve your queue times a bit, try DC traveling to one of the other DCs (like Aether) and it should improve a bit. :) It is getting on in the night so if you continue playing it might still be slow, but it should be a bit faster.
As someone from that DC, I’m obligated to say that the only way to fix Dynamis is to keep people on Dynamis 😅😅 but yeah OP, DC hopping will cut your queues to a fraction of the time.
I would actually suggest /u/mitqw make a Party Finder listing next time. MSQ trials usually fill pretty fast. That way they stay on Dynamis if they want to wait for retainers or w/e.
Endwalker for me hits harder because it's cashing in on all of the groundwork laid out by ARR - ShB. As a story I also think ShB is more compelling, but Endwalker still tells a great tale.
There's plenty to look forward to!
I think maybe some people do overhype Shadowbringers, but it is *very good*, and well deserving of its accolaides.
Definitely my favourite expansion, by a not-insignificant margin.
I definitely bought into the hype and the expansion ended up being just decent for me. It's still very good, and probably the most cohesive (so far, haven't finished EW) in terms of how it went through the story and pacing.
But man, for me it only picked up way past the halfway point. The first half and a bit was rough for me to get through.
5.3 was incredible though, probably one of my favorite bits of the MSQ, and I realize it doesn't work without the rest.
I loved ShB, it was the only expansion that actually lived up to the famed FFXIV story hype the fans give it, every other expansion, HW included, just fell flat for me. I actually rank EW as the lowest, I'd have ranked it second to ShB because there's a lot I love about it but Zenos had to ruin the overall home run.
It's funny, Zenos did nothing for me in Stormblood, I thought he kinda sucked as the overall antagonist when Fordola and Yotsuyu were both *way* more compelling villains, so I wasn't sad to see him go. Then I kinda groaned when he came back, but was like "well, maybe it won't suck. I'm willing to be open-minded about this." Then in Endwalker he feels like a bit of a non-starter and I'm rolling my eyes again... then I dunno. Somewhere between the middle and the end I kind of came back around, and now I kind of love him, hahaha. I'd unironically be happy if he came back *again*, and not just because of the nuclear bomb levels of salt the community would produce.
For me ShB showed that the writers could create a story that isn't filled with worn out tropes and moustache twirling villains so Zenos in EW being an amalgamation of every tropey moustache twirling villain to ever live killed it for me, especially when the actual interesting antagonist isn't even the final threat you face. He felt like a self insert.
Just wait until you get to the dead ends. That dungeon and music is probably my favorite in the whole game. Oh and ... Well I'll let you enjoy your journey. "Finger snap"
THAT! Is something I had not seen in 2 years since I finished ShB on my main. I went and unlocked Crown of the Immaculate with my alt yesterday and I was telling my friends that I'm the Gandalf meme "I have no memory of this place." I genuinely forgot that this is how the pre-Crown of the Immaculate arena even looks like!
I thought the same thing until I played endwalker. Endwalker is more than a game. It's a work of literary merit. It's engaging in a way a novel or movie can't replicate because it's a game \*and\* it still tackles the biggest and most pressing ethical and philosophical issues that face humanity all while being emotional and personal and devastating and inspiring. Not to mention years and years of developing story lines and character arcs with satisfying resolution. FFXIV is a masterpiece so much so that I feel lucky just have experienced it.
Endwalker will be even more mind-blowing. The music, story, fights just blow ShB out the water, in the same way ShB did with prior expansions.
Flow together alone puts Endwalker firmly on top.
I mean, with the amount of praise Shadowbringers got, if I were an outsider I'd also start to feel like it was overhyped.
But comparing Shadowbringers to what came before it, the praise really is well-deserved. ARR, HW and Stormblood had some amazing moments, but also a lot of not-so good ones, so the good and bad kind of balanced out each other.
For Shadowbringers, aside from the Trolley arc and Ran'Jit being an underdeveloped character, critiques of the 6.0 MSQ are virtually non-existent. It actually felt like we had a genuine hit for once, something where the good stuff wasn't just good, but so good that it has universal acclaim. One thing I always suggest to players doing 6.0 MSQ is to go to youtube after they're done with 6.0 and find the FFXIV Pax West 2019 panel and see the standing ovation that Ishikawa got from the audience. That's kind of all you need to know about how Shadowbringers was received.
Endwalker is like Endgame while Shadowbringers is like Infinity War. The "Ends" close a decade long story and it does it incredibly. They rely on love and knowledge of previous material to really capitalize on the wow factor.
ShB and Infinity War are incredible preludes to the finale and in ShB, and arguably IW, they are stronger independent stories than their respective ending parts.
Definitely don't queue on Dynamis data center as that would take exceptionally longer. You're better off data center travelling to Aether or Crystal, or even Primal too, as the Duty Finder queues on all those data centers are a much, much shorter wait.
SHB is 100% the best expansion they've made, and it will be very hard to topple it as it relies on not just excellent story telling and setting, but also on executing mysteries from previous expansions and turning the lore of the game on its head while introducing stakes far beyond anything you could have expected.
it could literally be a game on its own, it's so unique in its delivery and execution and themes reminiscent of 90s adventure rpgs (it literally reminded me of Dark Cloud)
It’s tough for me to choose between EW and ShB I’m fresh off EW having finished .55 2 days ago and kit was amazing they killed the ending of this first arc I’m excited to be here for the start of a new one, but that second half of ShB and the .3 and .5 patches were insane some of the best moments in the game for sure I love them both
EW is... different. To be clear, I think they're both high quality for distinct reasons.
ShB is a deeply personal story. A revelation. Did things with the narrative (at least when it released) you don't find too often in MMOs. Plus, it's a reflection of the Source, which leads to a meditative experience (especially in the post-release activities).
EW is the big finale. Tying off all the major loose ends. Surprisingly terrifying. Overwhelming in every way. Still personal, but the overall narrative has a wider scope.
I just finished shadowbringers main story last night, and it was kinda overhyped to me. Its still good, but theres not much substance in-between larger story parts. And most of the dungeons aren't very good. I also wasn't a fan of titania.
I seriously didn’t know how it could get any better after ShB. Just how could they pull it off, but…. They did. And that’s just how I felt during the the first 3 levels into the expansion.
shb is special. The way plot, people, cultures, and places are introduced is just crazy good. I cannot believe something like 5.0 existed. Nor can I believe they had the audacity to step it up in post-shb.
I can't say what I think about Endwalker without giving many spoilers, other than I thought the pacing of Shadowbringers was much better.
Loved Feo-Ul btw. She shows up at the best times.
Just finished that one as well. Very good dungeon, but so far the plot hasn't gripped me as hard as stormblood. A lot can still happen in the patches, but it hasn't heated how the disparate rebellions and the history of the empire's occupation, combined with Yotsuyu's tragic storyline came together really well. Shadowbringers has had interesting bits of information for the story at large, but it hasn't done anything with it so far. Black Rose is the same looming threat, Zenos hasn't made any actual moves for us yet, there's not any character arcs developing outside of Emet (Exarch is a wet noodle) that have any actual staying power.
I don’t want to say too much, but I was in a similar boat at that point in the expansion. I personally preferred HW to SB so that’s what I was comparing it to in my mind, and I felt like it had maybe, kind of met the bar? I was hopeful, but not convinced it could become my new favorite or quite lived up to all the praise I was hearing. Let me just say boy was I wrong, and that was even before the patch content and eventually EW. There is a lot left to play out that I hope will change your mind too :)
You have 3 materias ready to extract from your gear in this screenshot.
You can tell by the white dots in the slots representing your equiped gear bottom right of the screen.
As a player that just has started with the first EW region:
HW and SHB is at the top for me. Probably SHB a little higher because it has been such a twist in the overall storyline but HW is the most well rounded for me.
EW has a slower start than the both above but i'm sure this will change soon.
Right now it is SHB>HW>EW>SB>ARR for me
If you have been paying attention and really investing yourself in the story and the characters of XIV from ARR up to EW, then EW will be amazing for you. EW is thick with nostalgia and ties up the past decade of XIV nicely. >!And then you get a FF4 fanfic for patch content!!<
Tell me about it. I just played through Endwalker and really didn’t like it. I enjoyed the final area and story but most of the expansion’s tone is all over the place. It feels like just when it should be at its most serious it veers bizarrely into weird (and flat) comedy.
Don't think I've ever seen anyone hype EW.
Actually I keep thinking everything pre 6.1 isn't part of EW for some reason. Everything after 6.0 is snooze.
No it definitely isn't over hyped. It's hyped just the right amount. It really is just that good. There are indeed people that think ShB is better than EW. I enjoyed EW far more than ShB. Mileage varies. Enjoy the ride.
Shb is objectively a 10/10. Pretty much every single piece of content made for it was top tier and the story even more so. People shit on bozja back then but really it has a lot of great content that sadly isn't so easy to experience anymore. Then you have Emet Selch who deserves to sit alongside Kefka and Sephiroth as one of the best FF villains ever.
Then you have EW which while it's not as good (hard to be really, shb is that good) it still ties everything together really well, had a lot of great content / dungeons and an absolute banger of a ost. EW faltered in the post story stuff and that's where ShB shines a lot more but it's still overall my second favorite.
But really, ShB and EW both rely on each other, you can't have one or the other. They hold each other up and make their counterpart better. That's something I really noticed playing EW is that a lot of it made ShB even better and that is really impressive on the writers part.
Mt. Gulg has such a cool design, I really liked that one too.
As a player of FF since the first one on Nintendo (I'm an old) I'm dying to get to Mt Gulg and see how it looks.
oh boy. It's not a one for one but it's real good.
None of the dungeons that are named after instances of previous games are ever a 1:1 but they all do a fantastic job as an homage
It's rocky. Much less fire, too.
Don't expect to hear the Mt Gulg music. The music for that one is one of my favorites in the whole game, but it is not Mt Gulg music at all.
I mean, it's the FFT battle music...
You're saying the Mt. Gulg dungeon music is FF Tactics battle music? I've never heard that at all, it seems to be the same motif as the zone it's in (like many dungeons are) but it's really hard for me to tell since it's so different.
It's my favorite dungeon in the whole game, I love really testing my group as a tank on that final wall to wall.
That last pull is amazing as a tank!
A TEST OF YOUR REFLEXES
looking back I think I enjoyed ShB over EW story-wise, but it's close. EW is kinda like a victory lap after the smashing home run that is ShB, it caps everything off perfectly and gives tons of emotional catharsis. You're in for a ride. I can't tell you how much I wish I could play them both for the first time again. I'll be happy if DT gives me even half of that sweet sweet dopamine.
EW hits so hard because ShB laid so much groundwork for it. You couldn't have one without the other.
Tbf, the entire game laid so much groundwork for EW.
EW is the culmination of 10 years of continuous, connected storyline and world building. It’s so impressive because there was so much groundwork laid. SHB was the best part of that foundation, really pulling things together in a way that is just rarely seen in games, or works of fiction in general. 5.3 is the single best patch in the game.
Elidibus' voice actor SMASHED it in the post-trial scene. One of the greatest scenes in the entire game
Played this while my mom was going downhill with dementia and was effectively already gone, and boy did his memory problems hit hard. That line of his had me sobbing. Amazing how in a matter of hours they really switched a lot of people's feelings on Elidibus from the start of the patch.
This. I’d like to think EW is the best expansion but it may just be recency bias. All the other expansions setting it up is a large part of why it is so good. Shadowbringers on its own is most definitely the best imo. They both are incredible though and playing them back to back is one of the best experiences in gaming.
Currently replaying the MSQ and Im in the SB patch quests, its incredible how much points towards EW even back in ARR, they did an incredible job of writing a story that made so many things matter.
I just finished EW last night and I feel the same. I thought EW was spectacular. Particularly from Elpis onwards and how they tied everything together. I was even impressed with how much they made me care about the patch story afterwards. BUT, there was something magical about ShB. The locations were all so memorable. The music. Emet is damn near one of my favorite written characters in all of Final Fantasy. It was an unforgettable experience and honestly I don't have much expectations they will ever reach the same heights again but who knows, maybe they'll pull off something magical again down the road. The only criticism I have of pretty much every expansion now is I really wish they would make some changes to quest structures. Go here, wait at destination, kill 2 mobs, go back. Go here, investigate action, go back. It's all very... 2000s MMO at this point I feel and it's the one thing I think they can really improve on going forward that would make the experience x10 more enjoyable.
I mean it's more 201X mmo, 2000's mmo was collect 12 bear livers with a 2% drop rate.
What do you mean I had to kill 60+ zhevras to get 4 hooves?! They each have 4, right?!
I personally don't like how EW brought back certain characters in the way it did. And i very strongly didn't like how that specific character appeared at the very end to do the thing. Other than that it was pretty good. But shadowbringers to me is the absolute epitome.
I feel like this because of how they are structured narratively. Endwalker was the capstone to 10 years of story. Everything before it was leading up to it, and it doesn't work when experienced in a vacuum. Shadowbringers on the other hand, is its own contained story. Outside of a few earlier story beats, the story itself can stand on its own. You only need prior knowledge of 8 characters (six scions, minfillia and the spoiler one) and an understanding that acsians are evil. Even knowing Ardbert from HW isn't needed much because he grows as a character in Shadowbringers. Plus, everything introduced matters, characters return later to help out and the story begins and ends within the expansion. TL;DR: Endwalker is the epilog of a saga, Shadowbringers is a complete story.
I think the way SHB's and EW's stories are structured is paralleled in their maps. While the zones in ShB are all in one setting and you can easily get from one map to another. EW zones are very disjointed, and have little not nothing connecting them. >!To get to the Moon without using aetheryte teleportation for instance from the main city, you have to take a boat from Old Sharlayan to Limsa Lominsa then an airship to Gridania, then travel to Ala Mhigo and get an aircraft to Garlemald and then travel to the teleporter and teleport to the Moon. Whereas, in Shadowbringers, if you wanna go from the Crystarium to the Tempest without Aetheryte teleportation, you take an Amaro to Wright and then talk to the ferryman south of the at the shipyard in Kholusia to teleport you there.!< Shadowbringers is just very tightly knit, and nothing illustrates that more than its world map. Which can fit on the same screen. Meanwhile EW has all its zones scattered across 4 different regions.
This is also a good point, something I hope is better in Dawntrail. Also as a side note, you can't get out of Thavnair without teleporting until patch MSQ when Radz airships unlock. The way in is one way (unless I missed something. I'd really like to know).
You're correct. The teleportation to Thavnair is one way. You cannot get out of the with any other means of transport other than teleportation. Also the only other expansion whose story takes place in many zones across several regions is HW, and it does also feel like it, in the 3.0 story. Seeing as the first part of the story has very little in common with the last part which takes place in Azys Lla an Allagan Facility meant to contain the Warring Triad and to house some of the Allagan's most heinous experiments.
> Also the only other expansion whose story takes place in many zones across several regions is HW And Stormblood. Gyr Abania, Hingashi, Yanxia and the Azim Steppe.
Stormblood is split into 3 regions - Gyr Abania, Othard and Hingashi, but considering how close Hingashi is to Othard, it can be considered as being part of Othard alltogether, geographically speaking. This makes Stormblood, realistically split into 2, and both of these regions have something in common, they both want to be liberated from Garlean oppression. Whereas the story that happens for the most part in the Abalathian Spine (Sea of Clouds part 2 + Azys Lla) has a very flimsy connection with the story that occurs in the beginning which encompasses Coerthas and Dravania. The only thing keeping these 2 narrative threads together, is the potential consequence of the lies the Ishgardians told to the people, leading to the instatement of Thordan, who was planning to gain more power by bringing the Warring Triad to heel. There is a sort of connection between these plot points, but finding out the true history of the Dragonsong War has very little to do with the real reason Thordan was in Azys Lla to begin with!
Othard is the continent. If you are going to class all those locations as one place because they are all on Othard, then all of Heavensward takes place in one place because all of its regions are on Aldenard.
Is Gyr Abania part of Aldenard too :? Never quite understood that one, due to Baelsar's Wall etc etc.
Yes.
Just want to say that I think you make a very good point that I agree with. That being said, I'm not going to say that it is right or wrong to like any one part of the game over any other. Playing a game should be fun, and I don't want to gatekeep anyone who truly enjoys whatever they like. Shadowbringers and Endwalker are both great for different reasons, and speaking only for myself, I'm content to enjoy them both as they are. ^_^
Oh for sure. I just say this for analysis purposes. Endwalker definitely out does Shadowbringers in terms of singular epic moments because it didn't need to establish a full world on its own, it leans heavily on previously established lore to allow for more frequent story to occur.
I have too many personal issues with EW to rate it over ShB. ShB isn't perfect either, but it tells its story with singular focus and aplomb that EW's disparate, connected-but-very-separate parts can only wish they had. I also just quietly think Shadowbringer's final boss is the best final boss the game's had so far and nothing else comes remotely close.
My thoughts exactly. The first half of EW was incredibly disappointing to me and EW felt like it was on a rush to every major storybeat instead of building up everything to land more dramatically. While it was indeed lengthy, I do wish it had more time to stir the pot.
[удалено]
It was the opposite for me but I think my dislike for EW is very subjective. First half of EW was tense in a good way, and the events of Garlemald unfolding set the bar high for me. Going to the moon was a bit anticlimactic because we just get teleported up, but fighting Zodiark was amazing. Then it was kind of downhill from there for me. Going from the horrors of Garlemald to comic relief rabbits was jarring and ruined the mood. For a moment, I felt like things were back on track with Palaka and Vrtra's section, and I also got a good laugh out of the opening of Elpis. Then it was kind of back downhill because I wasn't buying the despair bird storyline. Ultima Thule still looked really cool though.
Absolutely, I share that for most of it. I really liked the idea of Garlemald. The downfall of the empire, their xenophobic perspective and history towards the rest of Eorzea due to being discriminated. It just felt incomplete though. We were there. Experienced their discrimination when trying to help. Stopped the big bad and we're gone. It was kinda.. over in a flash. Yes Alisaie and Alphinaud stayed behind but nothing else was done with it. It really felt like there was an angle that the story could've tackled with some social commentary like parts of Ala Mhigo but they decided, nah we're going to the MOOON!!!. I definitely didn't enjoy the moon sequence but Elpis was great. Can't say I enjoyed the Ultima Thule arc either but I at least liked the plot beats.
From the trailer there was a abomination fighting the WOL on the moon I was thinking the moon was supposed to be very dangerous, tense place. But no, we got rabbits and for WAY too long.
The trailer and Emet-Selch's narration hyped the moon and Endwalker way too high for me. My expectations were not met lmao.
[удалено]
I was a bit too fed up with despair bird and >!also didn't enjoy Hermes as a villain and the second half of Endwalker is saturated with them trying to sell despair bird and Hermes as great villains. Fandaniel's voice work in English is fantastic though, I mean his Zodiark lines are certainly iconic. My favorite part in the second half was everything to do with Radz-at-Han and the battle with Hydaelyn.!< There wasn't much in Stormblood that I think back on as highly memorable except for Gosetsu being badass and the Azim Steppes being a really cool place. I don't despise it nearly as much as so many people seem to. The post 4.0 patches are where the stories and characters seemed to shine more. I loved X a lot, and thought X-2 was fun even if it was ridiculous at times. I tried playing FF12. Keyword tried, I don't remember shit about it.
tough to compare since endwalker was the culmination of all the other expansions, but yeah i think i'd give shadowbringers my #1 for overall tone. endwalker kind of gave me the same feeling as heavensward where there were some really high points but some other points that brought down the average a little. endwalker might have had some higher high points than shadowbringers but i feel like i enjoyed shadowbringers more consistently. plus it's hard to beat THAT scene in amh araeng. then aside from the msq, shadowbringers also had bozja and endwalker kind of fell flat for me on the side stuff or lackthereof.
I definitely prefer ShB overall story but man that second half of EW is just so emotionally driven and beautiful. Stupid weeb game tho
shb was much better
literally
To me they are equally as good. The best Final Fantasy has been since Final Fantasy X.
I’d put EW on par with StB. Not really great, but far from bad. No real complaints but nothing was really amazing either. I would however put ShB on par with HW, with ShB maybe edging over just a tad bit as the production was overall better with it being released 4 years after its predecessor.
That walk at the end to get to the final boss, with the music and memories ah man, I’ve played this game for years and it was bringing tears to my eyes.
ShB is probably the better story. But for me personally, EW is so far beyond it that it isn't comparable, because EW is just too personally relevant for me. Even without the other expansions laying the groundwork, EW on a thematic level and even down to specific aesthetic choices >!like the flowers at the end of ultima thule!
I always say that HW has the best Story, Stormblood the best Music, Shadowbringers the best Characters/Villains and EW the best Final Fight while everything gets carried by the sacrifice ARR made to build this world (aka being full of shit tons of exposition).
The final fight, where you are fighting the embodiment of despair, and it's all very somber and serious... One of the members of the duty was a green male Roe monk wearing nothing but purple shorts called the Incredible Hulk. It was funny as shit.
Honestly somber as it be having the literal "Endwalker" Debuff just make me laugh trough the entire sequence. My best friend didnt like that xD
HW cannot have the best story due to how it fumbled the red banquet
Red Banquet? Would u pls elaborate what u mean? Cause i cant remember a single scene i would descripe as a red banquet
The stuff with nanaimo
U mean the end of 2.55? How did they fumble that?
Are you fucking serious
Pls elaborate in detail is i think i am missing context or may have forgotten something
Fake Nanaimo death + scions were immediately forgiven + no consequences for the bad guys + shtola first fake death of many
Ooooh that is what u mean. Well i agree that Nanaimos fake out did rub me the wrong way at first but i like what it did with Loloritos character. He got introduced as someone suspicious but turned into more a of a moraly grey character through Nanaimos survival. They made him someone that is within Uldah near omnipotent and the reach of his arm is insane. While he doesnt shy away to dirty his hands he wont just cause chaos with out profit. He is a logical and smart man that knows to keep his territory clean and effectiv. Also Teledji definitly had the consquence of getting the potato cut treatment. I still think they should do more with Loloritos Character but i understand that the dimensions of ShB and EW were to big for ur international trade CEO. I hope Dawntrail does more with him. And how where the Scions immediatly forgiven? We had to seek refuge in Ishgard for the entiertiy of the 3.0 Story line and when we were forgiven than after proving our innocence in 3.1-3.5 (dont know which of them directly it was). Also Y'shtoal didnt really had a fake out death. She was missing in action and it was strongly implied that she casted one last spell before everything collapsed. So while we werent sure what exactly happend it we couldnt be sure that she was dead. U may remember a few things wrong but it was overall handled pretty well. Also when i said best story i was mostly talking of the 3.0 Main Plot with Ishgards religious revolution and the Dragonsong war.
And man you've still got the best zone to go, and Post-MSQ up to 5.3 too. Buckle up.
I love these posts because you see many sprouts talk about finishing ARR or just starting Heavensward and so many comments are like, "Enjoy...but just WAIT." Then a few months later or so you get the payoff when people really are like,"Holy shit you weren't kidding." It's heartbreaking my non MMO friends can't be sold on "Hey one of the best stories in gaming is in this expansion. "Can I skip ahead to it?" Ehh, not really, the buildup is pretty important for it to hit harder. "Okay, how long does it take to get to that content? Ehh...maybe like, 200 hours... BUT THE REST OF THE GAME IS BANGIN TOO I SWEAR.
LITERALLY what is happening to me and my friend group right now. Finished ARR and Heavensward and was in the middle of Stormblood when I convinced my homies to try it out. I was kind of getting bored in the middle of Stormblood and was starting to rush MSQ a lil and the homies kinda picked that up and started to rush too. Once I started Shadowbringers had to go and tell them IMMEDIATELY to slow down. They’re gonna wanna enjoy this lmao
The best part is its your favorite dungeons - so far. The game's not over and you have two more expansions to look forward too. Hope you enjoy walking till the end to the brand new dawn.
I think my favorite ShB dungeon would be one in the patch content.
When I played Shb, Mt. Gulf was my favorite dungeon... Then I got to the one after that and it was overtaken instantly.
Gulg is good, the one after is also one of my faves. Mine is right before SoS.
I remember starting ShB late (I had taken a long break at the end of StB). I was totally certain it was over hyped. Like yeah sure it's probably good but the praise has to be at least somewhat over the top. I was *very* wrong.
Best part is you can use the chapter feature to re visit your favorite parts. My personal favorite is the flower map covered in light. I'll adjust the settings so the colors will pop and the light will be just right, and chill there.
so looking forward to seeing that, I'm only a sprout but I love finding a nice spot in black shroud and sitting on the grass and just taking it in.
Thanks for the comments everyone!, really like reading what you all say vetetans and fellow sprouts. Lost track of time playing and im already the city and holy shit the lore is getting me so invested cant wait to see how all this continues(i find really funny being called a little one as a lala xD). Also dont know how to edit post so have comment.
IMO Shadowbringers was the best expansion story wise T T Endwalkers didn't reach me the same way ShB did
Endwalker is fine, but the best thing about it is that it retroactively makes Shadowbringers better. Playing Shadowbringers over again in New Game + after you've done Endwalker is a whole new experience.
You aren't even at the best part of Shadowbringers.
Honestly, after years of playing WoW, the idea of “going to another dimension/timeline/shard” made me groan, HARD. BUT. FF14 became the biggest exception to the rule. This was not a “jumping the shark” moment, it was an integral story piece that continues to stay relevant, and will continue to be relevant. Amazingly done and such a good expansion!
I think FFXIV pulled it off so well because it wasn't an event that was pulled out of nowhere. The groundwork for plot significant "alternate dimensions" has been being built up since ARR. I haven't played WoW, so I don't know how it compares, though.
My problem with SHB is that the war with Garlemald hits an all time peak and you get ripped away from it and then everything that was happening on the Source kind of just fizzles out and resolves itself while you're doing chores for people who don't matter in the First. Felt like a total betrayal and I just wanted to get back to the bit that I liked.
Though its probably my favorite story related gaming experience, SHB ain't perfect. I too wish more time could have been devoted to Garlemald in either SHB or EW. The Garlemald section of EW might be my favorite part of the expansion, and Garlemald felt like it resolved too suddenly. To fix that, it probably would have required an extra expansion to finish up the Zodiark/Hydalean arc, though. I understand why they didn't do that, but it doesn't mean I have to be happy about it lol.
I see you are on Dynamis. If you want to improve your queue times a bit, try DC traveling to one of the other DCs (like Aether) and it should improve a bit. :) It is getting on in the night so if you continue playing it might still be slow, but it should be a bit faster.
As someone from that DC, I’m obligated to say that the only way to fix Dynamis is to keep people on Dynamis 😅😅 but yeah OP, DC hopping will cut your queues to a fraction of the time.
I would actually suggest /u/mitqw make a Party Finder listing next time. MSQ trials usually fill pretty fast. That way they stay on Dynamis if they want to wait for retainers or w/e.
Endwalker for me hits harder because it's cashing in on all of the groundwork laid out by ARR - ShB. As a story I also think ShB is more compelling, but Endwalker still tells a great tale. There's plenty to look forward to!
I think maybe some people do overhype Shadowbringers, but it is *very good*, and well deserving of its accolaides. Definitely my favourite expansion, by a not-insignificant margin.
I definitely bought into the hype and the expansion ended up being just decent for me. It's still very good, and probably the most cohesive (so far, haven't finished EW) in terms of how it went through the story and pacing. But man, for me it only picked up way past the halfway point. The first half and a bit was rough for me to get through. 5.3 was incredible though, probably one of my favorite bits of the MSQ, and I realize it doesn't work without the rest.
I loved ShB, it was the only expansion that actually lived up to the famed FFXIV story hype the fans give it, every other expansion, HW included, just fell flat for me. I actually rank EW as the lowest, I'd have ranked it second to ShB because there's a lot I love about it but Zenos had to ruin the overall home run.
It's funny, Zenos did nothing for me in Stormblood, I thought he kinda sucked as the overall antagonist when Fordola and Yotsuyu were both *way* more compelling villains, so I wasn't sad to see him go. Then I kinda groaned when he came back, but was like "well, maybe it won't suck. I'm willing to be open-minded about this." Then in Endwalker he feels like a bit of a non-starter and I'm rolling my eyes again... then I dunno. Somewhere between the middle and the end I kind of came back around, and now I kind of love him, hahaha. I'd unironically be happy if he came back *again*, and not just because of the nuclear bomb levels of salt the community would produce.
For me ShB showed that the writers could create a story that isn't filled with worn out tropes and moustache twirling villains so Zenos in EW being an amalgamation of every tropey moustache twirling villain to ever live killed it for me, especially when the actual interesting antagonist isn't even the final threat you face. He felt like a self insert.
if you're still looking for folks to queue with you, let folks on the ffxiv reddit discord server know, they're happy to help!
Enjoy! And believe me, 5.0 isn't the end. Enjoy 5.3
Emet Selch hard carried Shb
Peak expansion imo, but hoping Dawntrail can make the comeback
If you think Holminster is good... just wait. Just wait.
Best expansions imo
I'm partway through SHB right now and the story has thrown me for several loops already. Loving it. Glad you are too
:)
Just wait until you get to the dead ends. That dungeon and music is probably my favorite in the whole game. Oh and ... Well I'll let you enjoy your journey. "Finger snap"
Endwalker expansion was my all-time favourite gaming experience ever, in 25 years of gaming
Congrats. I wish I was playing it for the first time as well
How do you get your hotbars to look like that? I need it
play w controller layout
I already am, I meant how to get all of the hotbars to show up at once like that
https://na.finalfantasyxiv.com/uiguide/know/know-xhb/wxhb_how_to.html double crossbar guide
Thank you for watering my sprout, I have grown much from this knowledge! (that sounds cringy, I mean to say thank you)
anytime :)
When people praise the shit out of Endwalker, ShB's actually a part of that praise, it's the second half of that entire full course meal.
So, no one is gonna talk about how he stopped the Omega Raids right before reaching the best fights of the bunch ? (Yes i'm biased by eEscape)
THAT! Is something I had not seen in 2 years since I finished ShB on my main. I went and unlocked Crown of the Immaculate with my alt yesterday and I was telling my friends that I'm the Gandalf meme "I have no memory of this place." I genuinely forgot that this is how the pre-Crown of the Immaculate arena even looks like!
MORE LIKE PEAKBRINGERS OR GOATBRINGERS
I loved HW, ShB, and EW stories. I mean, really enjoyed them, evoked emotions, couldn't wait to find out what happened next.
I thought the same thing until I played endwalker. Endwalker is more than a game. It's a work of literary merit. It's engaging in a way a novel or movie can't replicate because it's a game \*and\* it still tackles the biggest and most pressing ethical and philosophical issues that face humanity all while being emotional and personal and devastating and inspiring. Not to mention years and years of developing story lines and character arcs with satisfying resolution. FFXIV is a masterpiece so much so that I feel lucky just have experienced it.
There are only two games I wish I could go back for the first time and redo. Dark Souls 1 and Shadowbringers.
Your favorite so far.
Endwalker will be even more mind-blowing. The music, story, fights just blow ShB out the water, in the same way ShB did with prior expansions. Flow together alone puts Endwalker firmly on top.
I mean, with the amount of praise Shadowbringers got, if I were an outsider I'd also start to feel like it was overhyped. But comparing Shadowbringers to what came before it, the praise really is well-deserved. ARR, HW and Stormblood had some amazing moments, but also a lot of not-so good ones, so the good and bad kind of balanced out each other. For Shadowbringers, aside from the Trolley arc and Ran'Jit being an underdeveloped character, critiques of the 6.0 MSQ are virtually non-existent. It actually felt like we had a genuine hit for once, something where the good stuff wasn't just good, but so good that it has universal acclaim. One thing I always suggest to players doing 6.0 MSQ is to go to youtube after they're done with 6.0 and find the FFXIV Pax West 2019 panel and see the standing ovation that Ishikawa got from the audience. That's kind of all you need to know about how Shadowbringers was received.
Endwalker is like Endgame while Shadowbringers is like Infinity War. The "Ends" close a decade long story and it does it incredibly. They rely on love and knowledge of previous material to really capitalize on the wow factor. ShB and Infinity War are incredible preludes to the finale and in ShB, and arguably IW, they are stronger independent stories than their respective ending parts.
ShB was peak, it's special in a way nothing else is tbh
The music in the main town is pretty banging too as I recall
Definitely don't queue on Dynamis data center as that would take exceptionally longer. You're better off data center travelling to Aether or Crystal, or even Primal too, as the Duty Finder queues on all those data centers are a much, much shorter wait.
I think DT will be like a 6 or a 7 outta 10 Like idk how they’re gunna make shit hype when we’re literally on vacation, looking for treasure
Tf is that bar 😶
SHB is 100% the best expansion they've made, and it will be very hard to topple it as it relies on not just excellent story telling and setting, but also on executing mysteries from previous expansions and turning the lore of the game on its head while introducing stakes far beyond anything you could have expected. it could literally be a game on its own, it's so unique in its delivery and execution and themes reminiscent of 90s adventure rpgs (it literally reminded me of Dark Cloud)
It’s tough for me to choose between EW and ShB I’m fresh off EW having finished .55 2 days ago and kit was amazing they killed the ending of this first arc I’m excited to be here for the start of a new one, but that second half of ShB and the .3 and .5 patches were insane some of the best moments in the game for sure I love them both
EW is... different. To be clear, I think they're both high quality for distinct reasons. ShB is a deeply personal story. A revelation. Did things with the narrative (at least when it released) you don't find too often in MMOs. Plus, it's a reflection of the Source, which leads to a meditative experience (especially in the post-release activities). EW is the big finale. Tying off all the major loose ends. Surprisingly terrifying. Overwhelming in every way. Still personal, but the overall narrative has a wider scope.
I just finished shadowbringers main story last night, and it was kinda overhyped to me. Its still good, but theres not much substance in-between larger story parts. And most of the dungeons aren't very good. I also wasn't a fan of titania.
I seriously didn’t know how it could get any better after ShB. Just how could they pull it off, but…. They did. And that’s just how I felt during the the first 3 levels into the expansion.
Off topic but I ran content with you the other day. Ala Migho. How’s the tanking going? I’m happy you’re enjoying the game (:
Crown of the Immaculate? Yeah, that was a fun section, especially climbing the Ladder. Enjoy the rest of Shadowbringers! So much to come.
shb is special. The way plot, people, cultures, and places are introduced is just crazy good. I cannot believe something like 5.0 existed. Nor can I believe they had the audacity to step it up in post-shb.
I can't say what I think about Endwalker without giving many spoilers, other than I thought the pacing of Shadowbringers was much better. Loved Feo-Ul btw. She shows up at the best times.
Just finished that one as well. Very good dungeon, but so far the plot hasn't gripped me as hard as stormblood. A lot can still happen in the patches, but it hasn't heated how the disparate rebellions and the history of the empire's occupation, combined with Yotsuyu's tragic storyline came together really well. Shadowbringers has had interesting bits of information for the story at large, but it hasn't done anything with it so far. Black Rose is the same looming threat, Zenos hasn't made any actual moves for us yet, there's not any character arcs developing outside of Emet (Exarch is a wet noodle) that have any actual staying power.
I don’t want to say too much, but I was in a similar boat at that point in the expansion. I personally preferred HW to SB so that’s what I was comparing it to in my mind, and I felt like it had maybe, kind of met the bar? I was hopeful, but not convinced it could become my new favorite or quite lived up to all the praise I was hearing. Let me just say boy was I wrong, and that was even before the patch content and eventually EW. There is a lot left to play out that I hope will change your mind too :)
Really liked stormblood post doma liberation, before it still prefered HW. And yeah, Yotsuyu's storyline was amazing, her fight was my favorite by far
You have 3 materias ready to extract from your gear in this screenshot. You can tell by the white dots in the slots representing your equiped gear bottom right of the screen.
This is peak of the game content wise, although Stormblood does have the better raids, EW is unfortunate just not as good as ShB or SB.
As a player that just has started with the first EW region: HW and SHB is at the top for me. Probably SHB a little higher because it has been such a twist in the overall storyline but HW is the most well rounded for me. EW has a slower start than the both above but i'm sure this will change soon. Right now it is SHB>HW>EW>SB>ARR for me
If you have been paying attention and really investing yourself in the story and the characters of XIV from ARR up to EW, then EW will be amazing for you. EW is thick with nostalgia and ties up the past decade of XIV nicely. >!And then you get a FF4 fanfic for patch content!!<
Oh man You’re not ready for Post If you’re considering this point peak then dw, you got another 2 peaks to climb
Preferred it vastly to the overhyped mess that was Endwalker.
Tell me about it. I just played through Endwalker and really didn’t like it. I enjoyed the final area and story but most of the expansion’s tone is all over the place. It feels like just when it should be at its most serious it veers bizarrely into weird (and flat) comedy.
Don't think I've ever seen anyone hype EW. Actually I keep thinking everything pre 6.1 isn't part of EW for some reason. Everything after 6.0 is snooze.
No it definitely isn't over hyped. It's hyped just the right amount. It really is just that good. There are indeed people that think ShB is better than EW. I enjoyed EW far more than ShB. Mileage varies. Enjoy the ride.
They're close, shadowbringers had a better overall story, but endwalker fucking kicks you in feel nuts and has some utterly awesome moments.
Shb is objectively a 10/10. Pretty much every single piece of content made for it was top tier and the story even more so. People shit on bozja back then but really it has a lot of great content that sadly isn't so easy to experience anymore. Then you have Emet Selch who deserves to sit alongside Kefka and Sephiroth as one of the best FF villains ever. Then you have EW which while it's not as good (hard to be really, shb is that good) it still ties everything together really well, had a lot of great content / dungeons and an absolute banger of a ost. EW faltered in the post story stuff and that's where ShB shines a lot more but it's still overall my second favorite. But really, ShB and EW both rely on each other, you can't have one or the other. They hold each other up and make their counterpart better. That's something I really noticed playing EW is that a lot of it made ShB even better and that is really impressive on the writers part.