A return to war.
What They Say:
Join the Resistance and continue your adventures in the next expansion to the critically acclaimed online RPG.
Featuring an Increased Level Cap (60-70), Two New Jobs (Samurai and Red Mage), Updated Battle Systems, along with New Raids and Dungeons FINAL FANTASY XIV: Stormblood expands on all the elements that make FINAL FANTASY XIV Online stand out.
The time has come to embark upon a new adventure to realms near and far─to rise up with the people of Eorzea and the Far East, and cast down the curs of Garlemald!
The Review:
It would’ve been easy for Square Enix to ride on the success of Final Fantasy XIV and its first expansion Heavensward for several years, but the company has proven time and again that it is focused on providing continuous support for the title, including a brand new expansion just two years after the last and four years after the original game was released. Stormblood takes players to not one, but two new countries in the Near East Ala Mhigo, final portion of the Eorzea continent, and the Far East land of Doma. The main storyline is this duality of war for freedom that both lands are striving for against the Garlean Empire.
It’s unfortunate that while it ultimately comes together and does have its few powerful moments, it is no Heavensward. Stormblood eschews the intimacy that made Heavensward so Game of Thrones-like for a more broad and spread out tale. This is by no means bad, as it actually makes it feel more traditionally Final Fantasy in that sense, and more similar to the original A Realm Reborn storyline, except more refined.
By far the most impressive part of the plot is the introduction of some key characters that have gone on to be my new favorites. Lyse, in particular, is easily the most impressive character that Final Fantasy XIV has introduced to date. She certainly has the potential to be the poster child for the MMO.
On the opposite end of the spectrum, the villains here are the best in the MMO. A Realm Reborn and Heavensward lacked a Kefka or Sephiroth, having development and motivations or just simply being totally crazy. I won’t spoil anything about the villains, but know that they steal the show when they are in the room much like other beloved Final Fantasy villains, something the game has desperately needed.
The gameplay of the game is mixed as well. Stormblood introduces six new areas just like Heavensward, complete with aether currents to collect, swimming, underwater exploration, side quests, and exploration. The problem is that for every epic, Chinese-inspired area like Yanxia or the Final Fantasy XII-esque Azim Steppe, there’s the generic Peaks and heartbreakingly disappointing Ruby Sea.
The Ruby Sea, in particular, was an area I was excited for. Mostly made up of water and the true proponent of underwater exploration, it is a chore to even get through and a perfect example of everything that’s wrong with Stormblood. There’s just way too many side quests to finish, the area is unappealing to look at, swimming takes too long, and the underwater exploration is not as engaging and interesting as it should’ve been.
Despite how long The Ruby Sea takes to trudge through, the rest of Stormblood is a breeze in terms of length and difficulty. The main story took two weeks to finish, even for someone like me that works a full-time job and can only put in a few hours a night. This is actually a great thing in comparison to the way too long Heavensward.
Also unlike the first expansion, Stormblood is much easier to play. I remember my surprise at fighting a random level 50 enemy in Heavensward at level 50 and how hard/long it was to beat compared to the original game. The difficulty is much smaller and gradual in Stormblood, but sometimes a little too easy. The new primals and dungeons are absolutely amazing in terms of mechanics and look, but they are relatively easy to actually beat. There isn’t a Ravana or Bismarck-level catastrophe, where you have to waste time going through a dozen groups to find one that can beat them.
In fact, the first two trials I did were completed in my first go with no wipes, and I was playing with strangers no less. The easy difficulty can also be attributed to the new classes, Samurai and Red Mage. They are easily the best classes that Square Enix has ever introduced, and I’m certain they will both be hit with a nerf soon (though I hope not). The damage that each deals is insane and turn even the hardest of trials and dungeons from before Stormblood into a joke.
The Samurai employs flashy, complex combos coupled with a lot of health to make it into a tank-lite class that is sure to be a fan favorite. The Red Mage, on the other hand, is the jack-of-all-trades type that uses black magic, white magic (including powerful heals), and limited sword attacks to create a well-rounded glass cannon. They are both my new favorites and the Red Mage is actually replacing Summoner/Scholar as my main class.
Before I end this review, it would be a shame to not mention Kugane, the new main city in Stormblood. The ancient Japanese-inspired city is a testament to the graphical enhancements Final Fantasy XIV now has since dropping PS3. The city is basically the two areas that other cities have separated by a loading screen in one. It is not only large in size, but dense in detail. From the shady pier to the uppity embassies to the secret way to traverse across multiple rooftops like a true Ninja, there are so many reasons it is the best city in Final Fantasy XIV.
In Summary:
Stormblood is the exact opposite of the first expansion Heavensward, which is both good and bad. It replaces the intimate, tragic story for a broad and rapidly-moving plot that pushes the overall lore much further, while being shorter and easier in terms of content. And while the expansion is rather mixed in almost every way, it is highly recommended and makes the expansion finally feel like a Final Fantasy game.
Grade: C+
Developer: Square Enix
Released By: Square Enix
MSRP: $39.99 (Normal version)
Platforms: PC (reviewed), PS4 (reviewed)
Release Date: June 20th, 2017
This review was done with a review copy of the game provided by Square Enix. We are grateful for their continued support.
