A brand new period of Remaining Fantasy XIV is simply on the horizon as our beloved Warrior of Mild and their companions set sail for the New World, Tural, in Dawntrail. The MMO’s subsequent growth teases a refreshing, summer season vacation-styled journey; it’s a second of reprieve for the heroes who traveled to the perimeters of the universe and saved their star.

Although, as is the case with any seaside episode, it’s all enjoyable and video games till God reveals as much as wreck the enjoyable. Whereas we don’t know the precise Dawntrail state of affairs, Remaining Fantasy XIV director and producer Naoki “Yoshi-P” Yoshida has dropped just a few sly teases indicating Model 7.0 gained’t be a strictly fun-in-the-sun affair. Tural is stuffed with journey, and after spending a day in among the growth’s earliest zones, I’m greater than able to set sail.

Throughout a latest press occasion hosted by Sq. Enix, I performed an early construct of Dawntrail — one which didn’t embrace among the newer benchmark graphic updates, thoughts you — and realized even a full day of playtime isn’t lengthy sufficient to pattern your entire slice. In a recreation like Remaining Fantasy XIV, I’m wanting to chase the story behind each environmental element, all whereas remembering there’s a wealth of recent fight and system adjustments to check out, too. 

The fabled golden cities of the New World

For the reason that Endwalker patches, Remaining Fantasy XIV’s workforce has promised a sizeable graphics overhaul that features all the pieces from improved textures throughout fashions to extra dramatic lighting and shadow results. Seeing these adjustments in particular person, even after a number of livestreams and an up to date benchmark, make the upgrades clearer than ever. Dawntrail is beautiful, little doubt. It’s maybe probably the most visually gorgeous growth but, and there’s quite a bit driving on 7.0’s drastic makeover.

As I moseyed into the capital metropolis, Tuliyollal, it’s clear the zone advantages from these new processes and programs. For a Remaining Fantasy XIV metropolis, there’s a noticeable soar within the variety of gadgets peppered throughout the panorama right here. The growth’s residence level appears like a sizeable step up, and that’s with a lot of the bustling NPCs and taste textual content faraway from the construct. In keeping with Yoshida, these had been lower to spare us from spoilers. Although in hindsight, I notice it was in all probability for one of the best, as my enchanted oh-what’s-that reactions whereas perusing the luxurious greenery and elaborate structure had me itching to cease and Gpose in every single place.

Tuliyollal jogs my memory a number of one other favourite vacation spot, Radz-at-Han, largely for its attention-grabbing makes use of of verticality and a skyline to die for. There’s a neighboring forest that slopes into the shoreline by a gradient of vegetation and colourful structure. Then at night time, the docks glow with posts and strings of heat lantern gentle, main the way in which from Tuliyollal’s seashores into the Aetheryte Plaza. Amongst my favourite stops had been Brightploom Publish and the Arch of the Daybreak. The previous, I’m assuming, serves as some type of authorities stronghold inside the metropolis; it hosted just a few powerful navy varieties. The latter was the place I discovered the Alpacas.

The standard metropolis staples we’ll all change into too accustomed to make up the house in between. Repeatedly, I doubled again to analyze the close by market, brimming with vibrant tapestries and tightly packed stalls managed by distributors all wearing hanging textiles. So hanging, in actual fact, that I couldn’t simply move any of them up as soon as, and combed the small print of their wares for brand spanking new gadgets on my Dawntrail furnishings wishlist. Right here’s to hoping that Sq. Enix offers us a minimum of a sliver of the brand new furnishings I noticed throughout Tuliyollal, I’ve acquired a spot to bulldoze and redecorate.

Even of your little Eorzea, valuable little

If I might’ve, inspecting the ins and outs of Tuliyollal’s pleasant first impressions would’ve taken up a complete day, however transferring alongside paved the way in which for exploring its neighboring zones, Urqopacha and Kozama’uka. Neither of which I’d ruminated for lengthy after their respective reveals prior, but it surely’s these areas which have left me reeling within the days after. It’s the place I had that previous acquainted feeling; the one. It’s the second the growth is actual. It’s when a bewildering decade’s price of storytelling kicks into excessive gear, leaving me to frantically scan my environment for something and all the pieces to point what occurred, what’s occurring, and what’s gonna occur.

And effectively, perhaps it’s a shocker, however I didn’t handle to search out any of these grand particulars within the terrain that may lead me to a second of mystery-solving genius. So no, I nonetheless don’t know what on earth Dawntrail is about aside from the massive Competition of the Hunt inspirations it appears to invoke from Remaining Fantasy IX, however the wheels are turning. I imply, actually turning, too. Each cog up there that sickly learn and reread the Eorzean Encyclopedias and facet tales is desperately looking for that means in each suspicious hillside and ominous blade of grass.

Additionally, it’s only a lot to absorb by your first move. I notice there’s a considerate use of unreachable objects within the distance and mountainous terrain splitting the zones, however each areas really feel gigantic. Come launch, Dawntrail’s Essential State of affairs, and a collection of Aether Currents, will undoubtedly information the way in which, however seeing it specified by totality for the primary time definitely gave me a little bit of choice anxiousness. With so many choices forward, I selected just a few locations to cease and sightsee in additional element than others.

What’s the story behind Urqopacha’s panorama?

My exploration left me with extra questions than solutions about something ready past the Indigo Deep. A few of my curiosity was rooted in earlier Stay Letter broadcasts, however Yok Tural little doubt has loads of historical past to inform. Within the Eorzea we’re accustomed to, the acceptance of the New World’s precise existence appears newer than something, simply inside the final 80 years or so. It was Urqopacha’s southern panorama, specifically, that spurred my want to dig and be taught extra. The land is roofed in crumbling ruins, some stretched alongside the mountains or tucked into valleys, all in numerous states of decay.

The map additionally revealed locale names, with locations within the south like Proof, Shades of Grief, Sunken Stars, and the Indelible Passage. It’s a pointy distinction from the wind up north that leads again to Tuliyollal, the place the terrain appeared extra hospitable, and stops like Ciblu’s Espresso Grounds, Miplu’s Mate Backyard, and The Household Ranch positive sound like locations the place Yok Tural’s historical past was a little bit kinder.

That’s when it dawned on me: Urqopacha’s description in Yoshida’s Fan Fest displays described the world because the “proud coronary heart of the enormous’s empire” that existed over 1,000 years in the past. Whereas that civilization is lengthy gone, I’m assuming the modern-day’s Yok Huy should, one way or the other, tie into these Gigant ancestors. There are traces of the enormous civilization in every single place. Additionally, somebody, or one thing, undoubtedly smashed within the mountainsides all alongside the southern space, and it was definitely larger than the neighboring Pelupelu.

The waterfalls and rainforests of Kozama’uka

Tuliyollal’s close by Kozama’uka is a little bit livelier, lined with countless rivers and smaller communities thriving in and round its rainforests. The regional local weather appears forgiving in distinction to Urqopacha’s rugged terrain, and the abundance of life is testomony to that. Simply in passing, I noticed a number of of the native Tribes already revealed as Yok Tural residents, just like the newer PeluPelu, together with the distant family of the Vanu Vanu, the Hanuhanu, and eventually the Goblin-like creatures, Moblins.

It’s one other sprawling zone, solely made extra spectacular by the rocky crags erupting into the skyline. They’re seen in some kind from almost all vantage factors in Kozama’uka, and after a number of journeys from one facet to the opposite, I developed an appreciation for the various biomes at each degree. Certain, at a look, it’s largely lush greens, however there’s a considerate lifestyle alongside the huge, stoney outcroppings at their highest peaks versus how the natural world adapt to the rivers and runoff under.

Positioned alongside the southwest, simply upon leaving Urqopacha, a portion of the zone is of course increased. Following the twisting and turning rivers landed me someplace a little bit extra central, with one space aptly labeled the Breath Between. The Hanuhanu appear to favor the area, and so they’ve constructed outlets and boardwalks simply above the raging rivers under. There’s no Aetheryte right here or hanging fixtures denoting significance, however I liked working the stretch of bridges providing such an ideal view of the bottom and highest grounds in Kozama’uka.

There’s quite a bit to see right here, and if stated Aetheryte placements are any affordable indicator, Kozama’uka is the bigger of the 2 preview zones, with three whole. Okay’hanu and its acquainted naming conference is the closest to Tuliyollal, within the north. I largely level that out as a result of, from the seems to be of it, the Stage 91 dungeon — Ihuykatumu — simply serves as a journey to the opposite facet, all the way in which south. The Responsibility begins alongside raging rapids, slowly guiding the get together up, by the huge jungle and ending someplace alongside the mountainside.

I’d hoped to identify an apparent function for Ihuykatumu’s location and clear path there, however I’m nonetheless undecided if its place means we’re taking a shortcut to see all, or most, of Kozama’uka’s sprawling forests early on. Maybe that’s not it, and we’ll go the great distance by Urqopacha. Alternatively, the reply is each, and that is the place Remaining Fantasy XIV’s formulaic cut up between starting zones occurs in Dawntrail.

Broaden your horizons

As for the dungeon itself, Ihuykatumu blends proper into the beginnings of Dawntrail’s earliest moments in Tural. There’s no unusual, otherworldly expertise looming within the background and no fiery trails of Magitek-fueled wars, both. It was simply me, the Warrior of Mild, Erenville, and a leisurely boat cruise down the river.

Or a minimum of, that was partially it — Alisaie, Wuk Lamat, Alphinaud, and Krile had been alongside for the journey as effectively, and this have to be the place a few of that struggle for Tuliyollal’s throne actually comes into play. Simply as we started, Alisaie warned of one other boat forward, with both Zoraal Ja or Bakool Ja Ja on board. Yoshida defined that almost all of this construct’s dialogue was lower to keep away from main spoilers, however there was sufficient info there to contextualize which Mamool Ja was the bastard that busted my boat.

Stated sabotage was by FFXIV’s ordinary groupings of trash mobs, and in case you’ve ever spammed one or two buttons in a Remaining Fantasy XIV dungeon, then congratulations — you’ve performed this one, too. For even reasonably skilled gamers, lowly dungeon mobs are all the pieces you anticipate them to be, and that’s fantastic. I ran Ihuykatumu twice as a Scholar: as soon as with different gamers, then once more with Responsibility Help. Neither struggled, and I used the breezy fight to check out new skills.

Dawntrail’s earliest dungeon encounter, Ihuykatumu

The actual meat, after all, is within the boss fights. The primary encounter was with Prime Punutiy, a darling manatee sporting an uncharacteristically unhealthy mood, after which there was Drowsie, a sleepy troll with a inexperienced thumb. The previous most definitely has a minion; it’s on the finish of the Dawntrail benchmark. As for the latter, I’ve but to identify the darling, dopey boy wherever else. Fingers crossed, however I’m hoping comparable current fashions imply Drowsie will get the mount therapy.

Ihuykatumu wraps up with a struggle in opposition to the less-adorable and drastically extra killable, Apex Predator Apollyon. There’s little I hate greater than the thought of complimenting an enormous bug, however credit score the place credit score is due, the creature put up a enjoyable struggle. A few of its mechanics, whereas all iterations on previous FFXIV tips, felt surprisingly busy for a dungeon encounter.

It was additionally Apollyon’s enviornment that made just a few of the obligation’s recurring design selections click on. Bosses had, fairly actually, spelled out a mechanic for me, however the warning was straightforward to disregard in case you’re the kind to autopilot by dungeons. It’s nothing the sport hasn’t performed earlier than; it’s simply extra obvious now. Even in A Realm Reborn, bosses inexplicably introduced their secrets and techniques in cryptic monologues tucked away within the textual content chat, whereas extra fights added additional on-screen textual content later.

In Dawntrail, bosses warned my get together that mechanics had been certainly occurring with extra enthusiasm than ordinary. Every with cautionary textual content, some white and purple, smack-dab within the middle of all of it. Beneath, a bar signaled how a lot time I had left earlier than the sequence started. I can’t assist however assume the thought’s new implementation leans into the controversial methods some gamers use third-party instruments within the MMO’s battle content material. On this case, we aren’t speaking about world first races or additional early raid warnings, so it’s much less contentious. The design is a internet constructive in story-driven fight and a little bit aid in a recreation with chaotic screens and slim textual content.

I get it, too. I almost leapt over the moon when Endwalker supplied a solution to middle recast timers and improve their measurement. Tweaks like this are the small, significant I respect in Remaining Fantasy XIV’s regular evolutions. For the entire hemming and hawing I do over the trivialities, these components are what I hope make entry-level content material much less intimidating to mates and different potential gamers.

Go forth and search discovery

For these wanting to get additional within the weeds, Dawntrail’s preview construct a minimum of gave me a greater thought of how a few of my favourite Jobs ought to really feel come launch. As context, I’ve spent most of my time in Eorzea taking part in Scholar, although my resume does embrace chaotic stents as an Astrologian, White Mage, Machinist, and impressively lifeless or dying Dragoon. I’m by no means matching the brilliance of the scene’s most gifted gamers, however I’ve limped my method by (virtually) each Savage tier and different battle content material.

That is all to say I’m a minimum of accustomed to how each growth’s fight felt, fairly keen on how Scholar performs now, and proud of the Dawntrail makeover. When you’re a Job veteran eager for the times of Bane or Miasma II, an AoE DoT eliminated in Shadowbringers, then maybe you’ll dig the adjustments to Chain Strategem.

Now, the Scholar Means lasts a little bit longer, but it surely’s not performed after one use. Chain Strategem offers the Healer a 30-second window, Affect Imminent, the place you hit the goal and surrounding enemies with an AoE DoT, Baneful Impaction. It doesn’t unfold Chain Strategem, so we will let go of that dream, however I’m wanting to see how this works into Dawntrail’s more durable content material.

Taking a Job’s most notable skills one step additional appears to be a recurring factor with Dawntrail. After I swapped to Astrologian, I observed Divination turned Oracle, an enormous arena-wide hit solely out there beneath one other restricted window, and White Mage’s Temperance turned Divine Caress. For now, I dig that change, however till I’ve had extra fights to pattern, I’m staying firmly optimistic about how our new kits form encounters.

Attempt as I’d, there was no method I used to be fulfilling a lot of my curiosity across the patch in simply at some point’s time, and that optimism is a theme by a lot of my early Dawntrail expertise. It’s a bright-eyed shift in my outlook from right here, one which’s had no lack of ups and downs since 2013, however after saying goodbyes in Endwalker and brute forcing my method by the Pandaemonium Raid collection, it’s good to be again right here.

I’m lastly feeling the growth ‘temper’ once more, with anxieties over the course such a monumentous world will take quelled till it’s time for the whole expertise. After a full day of Dawntrail, I’ve acquired that growth spirit once more and all in for no matter waits in Tural. If this journey is something like the opposite 4 earlier than it, then I determine it’s sufficient to maintain me round and ready for no matter patch quantity takes us to Meracydia.

This text relies on play of an in-development construct of FINAL FANTASY XIV: Dawntrail, and content material within the remaining model is topic to vary.[Travel and lodging for this event was provided by Square Enix.]