Final Fantasy 14 (FFXIV) Endwalker PC review: The new gold standard for modern MMORPGS
Source: Windows Cardinal
Last month, I began my journey through Final Fantasy Fourteen: Endwalker, the latest expansion of Square's Enix popular MMORPG. This expansion is the climactic finale of the Hydaelyn Vs. Zodiark saga that has been waging for ten years. Information technology features a new race to play every bit (the male Viera), new Jobs, meaning changes to existing Jobs, and more.
My early impressions of Endwalker were positive. The story's premise had me hooked, the new Reaper Job was a blast to play and the changes to Warrior and the Summoner Jobs fabricated them more fun to play. Since then, I have completed the main storyline quests, delved into post-game content, and experimented with more job changes.
How does Endwalker fare a calendar month afterwards its release, and should you play Final Fantasy Xiv in 2022? Let u.s. find the reply together. This is our review of Terminal Fantasy XIV: Endwalker on PC.
The Final Days are here
Concluding Fantasy 14: Endwalker (PC)
Bottom line: Final Fantasy Xiv: Endwalker is a fantastic expansion that pays homage to the serial' legacy and is a cute transport-off to a ten-year-long story arc. The plot me had engaged throughout its entirety, the characters are memorable, and the new dungeons and Trials are satisfying to conquer. While some Task changes could be improved with future patches, many of them are welcome additions to the game.
Pros:
- The storyline is a gripping gamble.
- The new Jobs and Job changes are fun to play with.
- The new dungeons, boss fights, and post-game raids are tough yet rewarding challenges.
- The presentation from sound, graphics, and music is outstanding.
Cons:
- 1 of the main villains is not equally developed as they should be.
- Some Job changes have a decent foundation, just they notwithstanding need some improvements.
- Some parts of the main storyline exercise elevate on for a fleck besides long.
Final Fantasy 14 Endwalker: Graphics, Sound and Functioning
Source: Windows Central
| Category | Final Fantasy Xiv: Endwalker |
|---|---|
| Title | Last Fantasy XIV: Endwalker |
| Programmer | Square Enix |
| Publisher | Foursquare Enix |
| Genre | MMORPG |
| Minimum requirements | Windows® 8.1 64 bit / Windows 10 64-bit Intel® Cadre™i5 ii.4GHz 8GB RAM NVIDIA® Geforce® GTX750 / AMD Radeon™ R7 260X |
| Game size | 80GB |
| Play time | 100+ hours |
| Platforms | PC, PlayStation iv, PlayStation 5 |
| Launch cost | $threescore |
Permit'southward start by discussing Endwalker'south visuals and art. Square Enix games are known for putting in major effort towards the presentation of its games, and Terminal Fantasy Fourteen: Endwalker is no unlike.
This game features a multifariousness of unique locales y'all will explore over the course of your take chances. These include the idyllic, isolationist nation of Sharlayan, the state of war-torn wintertime fields of Garlemald, the cold, barren surface of the moon, and beyond. Every biome is rich with item and atmosphere that is on par with modern games despite running on a game engine that is x years old now. The same could exist said for the new dungeons you will exist fighting in. Without going into spoilers, the new dungeons in Endwalker contain some of the most cinematic, beautiful (and sometimes disturbing) backdrops to appointment in Terminal Fantasy XIV.
The game's character designs are too top-notch. Final Fantasy XIV: Endwalker's character designs manage to strike a solid balance betwixt detailed realism and high-concept fantasy without coming across as jarring. Not to mention, the new armor sets you can acquire for your graphic symbol are oozing with so much detail and personality, you'll feel adept but wearing them, even before considering the stats.
Source: Windows Fundamental
And what Final Fantasy game's presentation would be complete without a memorable soundtrack? Every expansion of Final Fantasy Fourteen features an incredible score that remixes classic tunes from the Final Fantasy franchise while creating whole new tracks that stand on their own merit. Endwalker's musical treatment continues that full-blooded with some of the all-time overtures I've heard in a Terminal Fantasy game in years.
The new battle music for the dungeons and raids heightens the tension with bombastic orchestral scores and rock tunes that conveys the feeling that this could be your last battle. And when the story slows downwards for character development and plot revelations, the soundtrack cuts deep into your heartstrings with emotional melodies that will paint by expansions in a new light. Plus, there are soft, atmospheric hooks for when you are exploring new areas to get y'all immersed in the setting.
Source: Windows Fundamental
To round out Endwalker's presentation would be the audio blueprint. The attacks for the new player Jobs have crisp and impactful effects that brand them experience powerful and satisfying to use. And when enemies utilize their attacks on you, you really feel information technology as the crunching, and otherworldly distorted sounds cut deep.
The voice acting is too well-done as everyone brings their A-game in Endwalker. Backed upwardly by a strong script filled with memorable lines, the actors give it all their all to add together pathos and personality to characters they have been voicing for years.
Source: Windows Primal
As far as performance goes on the PC version, on my rig, it maintains a smooth 60fps frame charge per unit with a 1080p resolution fifty-fifty in more intensive battles. My pocket-size PC sports an Intel Core i5-9400 CPU and an NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2060 GPU, and makes short work of FFXIV, which has enjoyed ongoing optimizations over the years. This MMORPG is over ten years old, and so you won't need to track down the latest, cut-edge graphics carte or processor to experience Final Fantasy XIV: Endwalker at its optimal operation.
The simply upshot I have with Final Fantasy 14: Endwalker's presentation is a problem that's been a part of Concluding Fantasy XIV since day 1 — the colour dissimilarity. A lot of the areas in Concluding Fantasy XIV have a washed-out colour palette which makes exploring them feel a little irksome at times. Granted the desaturated colour scheme makes sense for some areas like the bureaucratic nation of Sharlayan and Endwalker's later areas do have brighter and more vibrant contrasts. Still, I wish in that location was an option in the graphics settings to increase the contrast to burnish upward some areas. Players have actually built mods specifically to accost this, but it would be dainty if Foursquare Enix provided options themselves.
Final Fantasy XIV Endwalker: Story
Source: Windows Fundamental
The story of Final Fantasy Fourteen has you assume the role of the Warrior of Calorie-free, a hero chosen by the Goddess of Low-cal, Hydaelyn to defend the world from the forces of Darkness. Throughout your career, y'all have saved the world from tyrannical empires, rampaging demi-gods, and evil conspirators, amidst others. Now, Final Fantasy XIV: Endwalker pits you up confronting your greatest challenge notwithstanding — "The Final Days."
"The Final Days" is a cataclysm that almost destroyed the earth eons ago and two villains are attempting to recreate information technology. Zenos, the bloodthirsty prince of the Garlean Empire who desires a rematch with you lot after his defeat at the end of Final Fantasy 14: Stormblood. And his cohort, Fandanial, a mad Ascian (villains who have plagued FFXIV since A Realm Reborn) who desires the end of the world.
Source: Windows Central
As the Warrior of Light, it is your mission to defeat these foes, notice the truth behind "The Final Days," and prevent it from happening again. However, the plot starts relatively calm, all things considered, as it sets up the new areas and characters you will frequently revisit. Once the phase has been set, the plot becomes a rollercoaster of emotions and high stakes. It careens dorsum and forth between methodical globe-building and character introspection to activeness-packed fix-pieces that had me on the edge of my seat.
Without going into spoiler territory, the story gradually builds to an epic climax of biblical proportions. Fan-favorite characters get a chance to show off how far they have grown. Questions that have been on the backs of fans' minds for years finally become answered. Endwalker explores themes of nihilism and finding the volition to live in the face of globe-ending despair.
Source: Windows Central
My only major problem is with Final Fantasy 14: Endwalker'southward narrative is with one of the main villains, Zenos. Zenos was criticized in Stormblood for being a simplistic warmonger who kills for fun and, without revealing spoilery details, that sadly doesn't change much in Endwalker.
His single-minded obsession with fighting the main hero at the expense of the world gets old after a while, and information technology isn't every bit interesting compared to the madness of his partner-in-state of war crimes, Fandaniel. Fandaniel is a fantastic villain that commits atrocities with such maniacal and sadistic glee, that I couldn't assistance but exist entertained by it. Not to mention, Fandaniel has tons of intriguing graphic symbol development devoted to the mechanics of his insanity. By the time I learned all in that location was to know about him, I both pitied and despised Fandaniel and was fully motivated to lay all his plans to ruin.
That isn't to say Zeno was a bad villain. He does get some character growth and a few great moments that got under my skin. It'southward just unfortunate that Fandaniel stole the show and screentime that could've delved into Zeno'southward backstory — which to this 24-hour interval is merely available through a book compilation of short stories called Final Fantasy Xiv: Chronicles of Light, not the the game itself. As information technology stands, despite being built up as our hero'southward evil counterpart for years, Zenos still feels too underdeveloped to earn that right.
Source: Windows Primal
There are also some points in the story that I won't spoil that drag out for too long. I understand that these moments of reanimation are needed to requite the players a much-needed break after a climactic showdown. Yet, given the gravity of the situation, it would've helped the pacing if we could've sped these plot points along.
Yet, these sticking points don't detract from the rest of Final Fantasy XIV: Endwalker's well-written story. It was a fun, heart-breaking, cathartic, and satisfying send-off to a storyline x years in the making. Even the world-building had me intrigued plenty to explore some of the optional side quests to find more lore virtually the new areas despite offering fiddling experience points. That's a sign of a expert story if I went out of my way to engage in the side-content out of curiosity instead of necessity.
Final Fantasy Fourteen Endwalker: Gameplay
The gameplay construction of Final Fantasy XIV: Endwalker follows the same routine as its predecessors. You progress through the story and unlock content by completing Main Scenario Quests and Role Quests. In that location are side quests between these Main Scenario Quests to consummate, aether currents to attune to and so you lot can fly with your mount, optional world events called "FATES," which offer feel points to level up your character and much more than.
At specific points in the Main Scenario Quests, you lot will take to form a party with other players using the matchmaking systems known every bit the Duty Finder or Political party Finder and fight through dungeons populated with hordes of enemies and bosses. On top of that, you lot will undertake Trials that involve joining a party of 8 players to take on a massive dominate with multiple phases. Y'all tin too tackle a few dungeons solo with NPC allies using the Trust system.
Source: Windows Central
I enjoyed the gameplay of the chief questline just as much as the story. The dungeons and Trials of Endwalker are an first-class culmination of every mechanic, and gimmick players accept weathered throughout all the expansions. At the aforementioned fourth dimension, FFXIV Endwalker tosses in new attacks to catch long-time players unawares.
The boss fights are particularly challenging in this regard. They will toss out tons of aoe (surface area of upshot) attacks downward on your friends, obfuscate their senses with status effects, and unleash mighty spells that tin break the laws of physics. Learning how each boss fight works and determining which attacks are all-time avoided or mitigated to salve the party feels rewarding for my efforts. Similar a choreographed fight scene in a picture show where if you follow the script to the letter, the scene in question can exist majestic spectacle for both players and viewers watching online.
Source: Windows Central
The Main Scenario Quests also feature some interesting quests to break the routine of Dungeons and Trials. Without getting into nitty, gritty spoilers, these include special solo dungeons where y'all have to fight unique bosses and enemies alongside NPCs. And some primary quests are semi-escort missions where you must take NPCs on tours effectually hub areas.
These were fun missions that added multifariousness to the main questline. Even the semi-escort missions were engaging, given that some of them aren't nigh protecting NPCs from enemies. They're more reminiscent of early Concluding Fantasy games where party members follow you around a town and offering extra character moments and lore when yous interact with the environment.
Source: Windows Fundamental
However, there is ane result I had with the construction of the game. Retrieve when I said earlier that I enjoyed doing the side quests despite offering little feel points? Well, it doesn't alter the fact that these quests offer little tangible rewards to warrant investment from near players. The EXP needed to level upward beyond Lv.eighty is in the million digits and sidequests barely offer a tenth of that. Running through a dungeon one time was enough to level my grapheme much faster than clearing out two areas worth of sidequests. There's a balance upshot with regards to the value offered by questing when compared with other activities.
The only sidequests worth doing from a pure gameplay perspective are those that unlock new content, such as the Raids or Part Quests for instance. It'southward a shame the regular sidequests offer piffling gameplay benefits to the histrion because they contain interesting side stories and lore most the world. If these quests rewarded more exp or other rewards, it could incentivize more players to pursue them. This mode, they get more immersed in the story and take a practiced alternative way of leveling up their characters if they don't experience similar queuing up for a dungeon/trial/raid or if the queue is taking too long.
Jobs
Source: Windows Key
To help you overcome the new dungeons, Raids, and Trials of Endwalker, every Job (the character classes of Final Fantasy 14) has been given new abilities and updates to old ones. There are besides two Jobs to play as — the scythe-wielding Reaper and the laser-blasting Sage.
The new Reaper Chore was a major highlight of my time in Endwalker. This is a DPS Chore ("damage per second" for short, Jobs that focus on dealing damage) that summons an ominous creature known every bit a Voidsent Avatar to fight alongside you in battle. You mix scythe set on combos with attacks from the Voidsent Avatar to bargain massive impairment to the enemy.
At college levels, y'all gain the ability to fuse together with your demonic companion to become Death itself. In this form, you can reap a whirlwind of destruction with enhanced scythe attacks and volatile night magic. I absolutely adored playing equally a Reaper. The multitude of attacks at your disposal coupled with mobility and party enhancing abilities fabricated me experience like I was playing an action game half the time.
Source: Windows Central
While I haven't been able to experience every Job change personally, the ones I accept, for the almost part, have made some Jobs more fun and accessible than earlier. For example, the Warrior Chore has received new wellness regeneration and harm mitigation abilities and so potent that they experience like a virtually-immortal berserker, and I honey it. The quality-of-life improvements such equally ranged attacks no longer breaking melee combos (which applies for all melee Jobs) and applying my assault buffs during crowd-focused melee combos immensely improved the flow of combat. And with the new savage attacks learned at max level, Endwalker has sealed the deal on making Warrior my new favorite tank Chore in Final Fantasy XIV.
The Summoner Job meanwhile has been reworked from the ground up to function more than like a traditional Summoner from older Terminal Fantasy games. All of its damage-over-time spells and pets-based actions have been replaced with new attacks where y'all summon Ifrit, Titan, and Garuda in between summoning Demi-Bahumut and Demi-Phoenix to unleash explosive magic attacks. And at higher levels, you will be able to perform new attacks based on which animal you summoned. Even Carbuncle, your very first summon, has been given new utility abilities to help the party with defense and assail buffs.
Source: Windows Central
Endwalker's changes to Summoner have made this Job faster-paced and more mobile than the previous version. Not to mention, Summoner is more versatile in that it can choose which of three elemental summon spells in whatsoever social club appropriate for the situation. Ifrit's spells for big damaging spells with long cast times, instant-cast Titan spells to keep attacking while avoid getting hitting, and AoE (area of issue) Garuda spells for crowd command. Yous can even shop these spells for moments when a boss has left the arena and use them when they come back, so your tools aren't wasted.
When I get-go played Summoner months earlier Endwalker's release, I thought it was slow and awkward. Having to constantly maintain damage-over-time furnishings and commanding my pet to arrive position to bargain damage was boring piece of work. Now, I'grand having the time of my life blasting enemies to $.25 with my squadron of summons and I tin can't look to reach to max level to be able to summon Ifrit, Titan and Garuda in their true Central forms.
Source: Windows Primal
However in that location is one Job I take played that I feel the changes could employ more than fine-tuning — Monk. Monk has been given the Masterful Rush ability, allowing them to perform powerful fighting techniques after completing melee combos under the furnishings of the Perfect Residual power. I was intrigued at first because Masterful Rush feels like a call-dorsum to the Rush mechanic used by Sabin from Terminal Fantasy Six on the Super Nintendo.
However, once the initial hype faded, I noticed this change made Monk too simplified for its ain good. Namely, nearly all of Monk's Off-Global Cooldown attacks (Tornado Kick and Elixer Field for instance) are now locked behind Masterful Rush. For those unaware, in many MMORPGs, abilities often have 2 kinds of recharge timers — the Global Cooldown (or GCD for curt) is a recharge timer shared among all abilities that have it. And the Off Global Cooldown (or OGCDs for short), is a timer that is only tied to ane specific ability unless it specifically says information technology is shared with some other.
Source: Windows Central
Using OGCD abilities in between GCD abilities adds extra spice to the combat system and makes some Jobs exciting to play such as Reaper, which has a ton of OGCDs to use. Monk in Terminal Fantasy XIV on the other hand, is a Job that has always been been focused more than on fast recharging GCDs melee combos with having a couple of OGCD attacks to mix things upwardly. But now, they have been stripped of nearly all of them (except the ones related to the Chakra Estimate).
Having to wait 40 seconds after using both Perfect Remainder charges and doing the required GCD melee combos to activate Masterful Rush in order to use attacks that were once used freely in previous expansions makes Monk experience clunky and boring. It'south like the equivalent of playing a beat 'em up but you're not immune to use your regular heavy attacks in combination with low-cal attacks unless the game says you tin can. If Monk had more than OGCD attacks to mix in between the moments when you lot're waiting to employ Masterful Blitz again, information technology would make the Job feel more exciting. In a mode, it feels like Monk has stepped backward, rather than forwards in Endwalker.
Endgame
Source: Windows Cardinal
In one case you have completed the Master Scenario Quests, a whole new globe of content is waiting for you. These include Pandaemonium, an 8-man Raid series where you explore the depths of a gothic dungeon filled with magical experiments gone hideously incorrect. The Excitatron 6000, a luck-based dungeon where y'all go to fight enemies with random modifiers in a bid to win special prizes. High-level gear to obtain from the new Allagan Tomestones of Aphorism and Astronomy currency. And a plethora of new mounts, minions, crafting materials, and housing items to collect, amid others.
For those looking for a claiming, there's the Brutal Raids and Farthermost Trials. These are harder versions of Raids and Trials intended to push hardcore MMO players to their limits. The bosses in these modes hit harder, most of their regular attacks take indicators removed, and will characteristic brand new attacks and even new phases to the fight.
And if that'south not enough, there will be even more content coming soon for Endwalker. Such as Myths of the Realm, a 24-man Brotherhood Raid series that will involve the patron gods of Eorzea known as the Twelve. At that place will likewise exist more role player Job adjustments, new dungeons, new storylines, then much more. So, this game has no shortage of endgame content to keep subscribers playing long after completing the master story.
Source: Windows Cardinal
However, in that location is a caveat to some of the endgame content. There is a weekly limit on how many Tomestones of Astronomy you can larn. And the tokens you learn from the Pandaemonium Raid (both normal and Fell modes) that you need to trade for gear are limited to i token from each floor, per week. The Treasure Coffers that reward loftier-level gear in the Savage Raids tin can be obtained every bit many times as you want to depend on how many players there are in the political party who haven't washed them yet before the weekly reset.
Time gating is a double-edged sword, and hard to balance in MMOs. While it does artificially slow the pace of progression down, which may be frustrating for some players, it also allows more than casual players to keep upwards with the footstep of gearing. It contributes to a more than level playing field in terms of gear ability levels for postgame content, so no one gets left backside — at least in theory. Besides, the gear will be made readily through other means in future patches one time new raids get added into the game. Thankfully, in that location's a decent corporeality of content outside of raids even after y'all hit the weekly caps.
Final thoughts
Source: Windows Central
Final Fantasy Xiv: Endwalker was an amazing game filled with laughs, tragedy, triumphs, and ultimately, closure. It had an engaging story, tight gameplay, and a gargantuan amount of worthwhile content to proceed players coming back for more. It has issues for sure but compared to the number of positives this game has, they're minor speedbumps in an otherwise fantastic adventure.
If y'all're a fan of MMORPGs or Final Fantasy fan looking for a skilful story and fun gameplay, then Final Fantasy Xiv: Endwalker is for you lot. And if yous are a returning player of Final Fantasy XIV, then yous volition exist in an epic welcoming home party.
Final Fantasy XIV: Endwalker is at present available on PC, PlayStation 4, and PlayStation 5. Not merely has Final Fantasy Xiv: Endwalker secured Last Fantasy XIV's place as ane of the best multiplayer games on PC, simply information technology has besides cemented itself every bit one of my favorite Concluding Fantasy games of all time.
The Final Days are here
Final Fantasy 14: Endwalker (PC)
Bottom line: Final Fantasy Xiv: Endwalker is a satisfying conclusion to 10 years' worth of stories. It is rife with hundreds of hours' worth of content, tight gameplay, and a fully realized earth to explore. MMORPG and Final Fantasy fans will not want to miss out on this epic finale.
We may earn a committee for purchases using our links. Acquire more.
I like 'em large ... I similar 'em chunky
These are the all-time gaming mice for folks with large easily
A nifty gaming mouse is important for anyone looking to go into PC gaming. Nevertheless, if yous have large hands, you may struggle to find a mouse that feels comfortable for you. Thankfully, at that place are enough of plus-sized mouse options on the marketplace.
Source: https://www.windowscentral.com/final-fantasy-14-ffxiv-endwalker-review
Posted by: frederickshabligne.blogspot.com
0 Response to "Final Fantasy 14 (FFXIV) Endwalker PC review: The new gold standard for modern MMORPGS"
Post a Comment