#npc; i can still be a hero (arenvald)

[greenmagic-oilspill]

Spoiler Heavy Stormblood Review

Now that I’m done, I’m gonna try to splurge out all my thoughts on the expansion. Very spoiler heavy and LONG, so putting this under a read more...

Okay, first! Most important to me in any medium is the characters and the development they go through. And by god Stormblood did not fail to deliver! I had such a tough time picking who my favorite was in this expansion, but I’m probably going to have to go with Lyse. She developed SO much and I loved all of the focus on her. I knew she’d be a focal point this time around, but I didn’t expect quite so much and I loved it. Stormblood was HER story, and she owned it. It’s so hard to imagine her as the same old Yda from 2.0. I love her so much that I’m afraid they’ll be done with her once the 4.x series is over, especially since she left the Scions. I do not want to see her drop out of the story.

I loooooved everything about the Leveilleur twins. Alisaie really came into her own as a character, just like Alphinaud did in Heavensward, and I really hope these two, at the very least, remain constants with the Warrior of Light all throughout the future of FFXIV. I just loved them so much - from their bickering, to them trying to one up each other, being KIDS, showing so much open fear and concern for the others’ wellbeing... It was just perfect.

All around I just loved all the new characters this expansion in every area. Hien was fantastic. Loved the focus on Yugiri, too, and as much as I expected Gosetsu to sacrifice himself I am glad he pulled through and is still alive by the end. Special mention is gonna go out to Soroban and Cirina. Too much for me to comment on all around. I just loved the writing and how new characters brought so much to every place we visited. Also can we talk about Estinien randomly appearing and helping out and not telling anyone about it? I already care for him much more than I ever did in Heavensward and I’m looking forward to seeing him more. Love the Kain parallels.

So what did Krile go through in captivity? Did she get experimented on? Is she gonna reveal something insane that happened to her? I felt like that was glossed over pretty quick.

The villains: For the first time in this game, I found someone to be genuinely threatening - Zenos. Every time he was around, I lived in the constant fear that someone was gonna die (I was on the fuckin edge of my seat when Yugiri tried to assassinate him oh lawd). The only thing that put me off about him was that he would fight you and kick everyone’s ass and then just... leave? Multiple times? Like, I get it, he just likes a good fight, but by the second or third time that happened it bordered on stupidity. I loved Yotsuyu as well - she was twisted as hell, and now that she’s still alive I’m excited to see what they do with her. Fordola also has a lot going for her, and I’m fully expecting a redemption arc by the end of the 4.x series, which I’m all for. I was also hoping to see more of Aulus(?), the mad scientist guy. I was intrigued by those Resonant experiments and I wonder if there’s going to be any consequences for that in the future. I just wish we didn’t kill Aulus so quickly and, frankly, randomly.

Side note before I forget: Shipping! This game is sorely lacking in the romance department for some reason and I do actually want to see more. I thought it would be refreshing not to have any romantic subplots, but I do like at least a little bit. I just can’t decide if I ship Hien with Yugiri, Cirina, Lyse, or the WoL. I’m also not about Magnai/Sadu... would definitely prefer Magnai/Cirina if it doesn’t work out with Hien for her lmao. Loved the ship tease with Lyse and the WoL as well.

I loved all the drawn out war scenes. They really pulled out all the stops with the cinematics this expansion, and it showed. They really captured the scale of it pretty well, I think. Oddly, though, it seemed like NPCs were safe walking into towns and villages and stuff because every time there seemed to be no imperials around? Occupation, what occupation? They just visited on occasion and terrified people and left? I think a lot of the reason for this is that we didn’t see ANY Garleans really just patrolling around as regular enemies in the field or even like a token guard as a townsperson. Like, there’s a castrum a stone’s throw outside of Wineport and no one seems to bat an eye, but in Stormblood areas they seem way more afraid of “nearby Garleans” that we don’t even really see. Yeah, we have the word of NPCs to go off of and certain story cutscenes, but other than that I didn’t feel like I was in an occupied area... though a lot of that has to do with how we conveniently arrive just as the Alliance chased them off, or something. No such excuse in the East.

Other side note: NPCs seem to travel between Gyr Abania and the Far East really quick?? Especially Hien with his big damn heroes moment on the wall in Ala Mhigo? Didn’t it take us weeks to sail there the first time??

I loved, loved, loved the role of beastmen in this expansion. It was interesting to see the Garleans recruit them for their own forces (and a bit bizarre, I thought they were against all Beast Tribes...) and just see what roles the Kojin and Ananta played. Loved both Primals and their fights. Really, really intrigued by the Lupin and even the Namazu! I hope the rest of the 4.x series introduces their beast tribe quests and Primals.

I LOVED the way the MSQ ended. Zenos fusing with Shinryu was a little unexpected and I’m still processing how I feel about it, but I do like to think of it as a little callback to Vayne fusing with Bahamut in XII. Just... how did he manage to seal Shinryu when Papalymo’s spell barely did? That battle was awesome, though. And the final cutscene where Lyse walked by everyone and Arenvald raised the flag and everyone was singing made me super emotional and I still get chills just thinking about it. That was an all around beautiful scene.

Thank god Nidhogg’s eyes are finally done with. I liked that Estinien was the one to break them, but... why did everyone just leave the eyes there after they carried off Zenos’ body?

Surprising lack of Ascians until the stinger this time around. But since the Garleans took a back seat in Stormblood a bit, I’m okay with it. Kinda surprised to see Varis willingly working with Elidibus. Definitely intrigued to see where that goes. And I’m wracking my brain trying to think of what Elidibus looks like that it got Varis so shook.

But anyway! All around AMAZING expansion. I didn’t really feel like it dragged anywhere. The areas are beautiful, the music was solid, gameplay and battle mechanics are all fresh and unique... So, so happy with it.

Thanks for reading all this!