Final Fantasy XIV: Endwalker

Endwalker is not the end, but it is very definitely an end. In the game, it is the end of the tale of Hydaelyn and Zodiark, the Ascians, and the Scions of the Seventh Dawn who rose to challenge them. In our universe, it is the end of the second era of Final Fantasy XIV, a midnight that transitions into a bright and new day for the players and developers, in which anything could happen. But for now, the clock is still striking twelve, and I’m absolutely thrilled to see what will happen at 12:01.

Wrapping up a story is never easy, even in a single-player game. Wrapping up a near decade-long arc and meeting the high bar set by previous expansions is even more difficult, but Endwalker manages both with aplomb. Even with the promise of a new adventure on the horizon, I was still sad things were over when I reached the end credits and immediately wanted to start a replay. By my reckoning, this is the sign of an exceptional, unforgettable experience, and I enthusiastically recommend it to anyone with even a passing interest in FFXIV.

Endwalker exudes excellence. The minor shortcomings pale in comparison to the sheer magnitude of its achievements. It’s one of the most ambitious MMO expansions ever made, and a magnificent conclusion to a journey that boasts some of the best storytelling in this medium. Those harboring reservations about the time commitment should carefully consider that you’re missing out on one of the best experiences in gaming. It’s been a remarkable eleven-year journey, and here’s to many more adventures to come.

It’s obvious that Endwalker is going to be a favorite of many Final Fantasy XIV, while for others, it might not have hit that high bar that was raised with Shadowbringers. Regardless, Endwalker is still a fantastic addition to a game that was originally one of the worst received in the series. It truly is the comeback story of video gaming. Naoki Yoshida and his team should be commended for the incredible amount of world building and story telling that they’ve been able to pull off for, now, over ten years. Final Fantasy XIV continues to be a game that we would recommend everyone experiences. That is, as soon as the game stops being so popular that it’s able to resumes sales.

It’s something that delves deep into the existential question regarding life and death, and our reason for living under suffering. It also goes in an immensely different direction, one that it felt impossible to see coming. This is all enhanced thanks to the original soundtrack that goes well beyond what we could have hoped for, immersing us in a tale we will never forget. That’s not to say there aren’t flaws, though, as there’s a few moments throughout the campaign that felt like padding, and some of the solo instances, as creative as they may be, killed the flow of events. This is on top of a good chunk of gear being reused assets. Thankfully, all of this pales in comparison to the rest of the adventure, witnessing one of the most well-written RPG stories ever told. Truly, Final Fantasy XIV: Endwalker is like nothing you’ve ever experienced before, in an MMO or otherwise.

It's impressive that the team is still able to take FF14's trappings and crystalise them into new forms even so many years on, from the way jobs and dungeons feel like the best they've ever been, to their confidence when it comes to experimenting with the relationship between gameplay and storytelling. But while there are some stunning vistas and lighting effects, and the detailing on new armour designs are enchanting, the age of the core game can't help but show, smooth as it is to play. This is a great final chapter to a story that'll stick with me, and I'm excited to see the team tell a new one—but I'm eager for some bigger changes to shake up Eorzea when they do.

For all that Endwalker suffers from pacing issues and the sheer amount of plot lines it lobs at us, an earnestness carries the entire story. Endwalker is jubilant in its sincerity, and tender in the way it treats life and death, mankinds' inevitable failing and flaws. It doesn't shy away from grand proclamations that would come across as cheesy if it was any other game, with any other cast of characters. But because it's FFXIV and because the Scions are people who accompanied us through Ala Mhigo's revolution, averting the apocalypse on the First, and much more, Endwalker's loud and bold demands for hope, light, and love fall more on the endearing side rather than hamfisted sentimentality. Endwalker is a fitting, emotional conclusion to a years-long journey for us adventurers, and I can't wait to see what's next.

Shadowbringer and endwalker is the greatest fictional story of all time! This is coming from someone who's experienced thousands of movies and games. Nothing has ever made me feel so much emotional impact over and over again. The cinema just never stops. The music is S+ tier! Every song tug at your heart or makes you feel so damn hyped! It'll make you laugh, it will make you cry (lots of crying), but all of it'll make you feel good. So good you'll want to watch other streamers play it just to experience it again. The dialogue and voice acting is the absolute pinnacle of rpg story telling. World building is akin to attack on titan level in terms of how much it all make sense. Endwalker is like that sequel to the greatest movie of all time, but it didn't **** but elevated the original to new heights. These two expansion gives you the emotional impact like the ending of FF10, but from beginning to end. It doesn't just compare, but surpasses it over and over again. Absolute cinema! I doubt anyone will read this because if you finished shadowbringer, there's no way you won't finish endwalker. It's just so god darn perfect!

6.0 MSQ: 9 | 6.1 - 6.55 MSQ: 5 | Patch Content: 5 | Average score: 6.3. I give it a 7 because it's a shame that the base MSQ of Endwalker is being dragged down by the meager patch content and a huge drop in writing quality from patch 6.1 onwards. That being said, the story of 6.0 was overall great, but not perfect. Pacing issues were apparent during the Level 80/81/83/89 sections of the MSQ, but could be redeemed by all the heights the story goes to otherwise. Overall it was a shame that major events only took place in 1 zone instead of *all* the zones, including ARR zones. The story is not as good as Shadowbringers, but still satisfying overall.

7/10

Skrajnie nieudany interfejs; bardzo słabe przekazywanie kluczowych informacji; zbyt mało zadań, przez co gracze nie mają co robić; fatalny system ekonomiczny; każda część gry stawia przed graczami idiotyczne przeszkody.

It felt like the expansion was constantly at war with itself and couldn’t decide on what kind of tone and story it wanted to take. There were far too many plot devices going on at once and none of them were well fleshed out imo. And the post patch content… my god…