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Final Fantasy XIV: Dawntrail, As Told By Steam Reviews

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Final Fantasy XIV: Dawntrail, As Told By Steam Reviews

Image: Square Enix / Kotaku

There’s a lot of pressure on Dawntrail, the newest expansion for Square Enix’s critically acclaimed MMO Final Fantasy XIV. As the first expansion after the game finished off a decades-long story with world-ending stakes in Endwalker, Dawntrail’s adventure in the tropical locale of Tural is a new start and also a much-needed summer vacation for the Warrior of Light. But can it be a relaxing expansion while also setting up the stakes for the MMO’s next decade? Steam reviews seem mixed on how well Dawntrail pulls it all off.

Many are praising Dawntrail, with some even calling it the best expansion the game has ever received (which is incredibly high praise considering how good Shadowbringers was). Generally, positive reviews highlight the new world of Tural and its diverse cast of characters, including everyone’s favorite Hrothgar, Wuk Lamat. It’s no surprise that a lower-stakes adventure for the Warrior of Light and their best buddies through a tropical wonderland is hitting perfectly for a lot of long-time players. But it isn’t just the relaxing vibes and beautiful setting getting high praise, Dawntrail also brought with it quality-of-life features like a graphical update which has made the game shine like new. The overall takeaway from positive Steam reviews is that Dawntrail is a breath of fresh air for the aging MMO in almost every way.

Shocking nobody, however, the fanbase is hardly unanimous on the matter. Dawntrail haters have two major problems. The first is Wuk Lamat. Yes, some of these people just hate Wuk Lamat! I cannot understand it but a lot of negative reviews are criticizing the character many other players adore. Specifically, the critique is that Wuk Lamat is so central to the overarching Dawntrail story that she effectively becomes the main character over the Warrior of Light. Second, some feel that the relaxing vibes of the expansion, rather than making it work as a vacation-like adventure, diminish it instead, making it too low-stakes with a boring nothing-burger of a plot. Some reviews go so far as to say that Dawntrail is as bad (if not worse) than Stormblood, the second and most-derided expansion to Final Fantasy 14.

Some of the criticism of Dawntrail is probably a result of how different its goals are from those of past expansions. From the release of A Realm Reborn until the conclusion of Endwalker, each expansion raised the stakes of the story and led to a climactic finale to a decades-long story. Dawntrail couldn’t have raised the stakes from Endwalker, and it’s meant as a de-escalation. Inherently that may be less exciting, but it is intentional. To tell a new exciting story you have to start from square one.

At the end of the day, Steam reviews have given me a sense of what to expect in Dawntrail when I finally get around to it. Most importantly, I now know that I will encounter sentient corn at some point, so I have more motivation than ever to get to Tural. Check out what else players are saying.

Steam review that reads "Game is pretty good if you skip the entire story"

Image: Valve / Kotaku

Steam review that reads "I personally think that every time Wuk Lamat isn't on screen a character should ask "Wheres Wuk Lamat?"  (Edit - This actually happens.)""

Image: Valve / Kotaku

Steam review that reads "Follow the adventures of Brave Hero Wuk Lamat (OC DO NOT STEAL) as she learns the meaning of friendship along with her friends such as, no prior accomplishments you can do it person (This NPC is customizable!), Krile and guy with a backpack! Learn fun lessons like no crime is unforgivable if you become a friend! Who needs leadership to lead? Is that boat a boat? and last but not least lets get sad then do a 180 after literally one sentence of encouragement! SE has pulled out all the stop on this expansion by somehow out doing the award winning writer of the famed Jailer (from WoW!) with the subversion of well known tropes as story structure, character growth and having fun!  Graphics Update: 10/10 Dungeons: 10/10 New Lore: 8/10 Main City Music: Donkey Kong Story: 2/10  Overall Rating: Wuk Lamat/Wuk Lamat"

Image: Valve / Kotaku

Steam review that reads "Baby sitting Wuk Lamat"

Image: Valve / Kotaku

Steam review that reads "I don't know what everyone is complaining about. I've skipped every cutscene since ARR and I think Wuk Lamat is a cool dude."

Image: Valve / Kotaku

Steam review that reads "I am a camera man"

Image: Valve / Kotaku

Steam review that reads "I think dawntrail would be better if instead of speaking to wuk lamat we got to speak to wuk larat and instead of a big cat she was a big rat and instead of the battle for the big throne it was the battle for the big cheese and-"

Image: Valve / Kotaku

Steam review that reads "I can't believe they made a MSQ worse than Stormblood. Impressive, really."

Image: Valve / Kotaku

Steam review that reads "Big fat tacos, oh, big fat tacos, Oh, big fat tacos, So big!"

Image: Valve / Kotaku

Steam review that reads ""The story is fine, ya'll were just spoiled by the last two expansions. Critique shit that actually matters"

Image: Valve / Kotaku

Steam review that reads "They added the Sanghelli from Halo to FFXIV"

Image: Valve / Kotaku

Steam review that reads "They ruined AST and not even the alpacas can save this"

Image: Valve / Kotaku

Steam review that reads "Yawntrail"

Image: Valve / Kotaku

Steam review that reads "Wuk Lamat I love you"

Image: Valve / Kotaku

Steam review that reads ""I've only had Wuk Lamat for a day and a half, but if anything happened to her, I would kill everyone in this room and then myself."

Image: Valve / Kotaku

Steam review that reads "Has a sentient corn quest. 10/10. Game of the Year"

Image: Valve / Kotaku

Steam review that reads "It is so calm and relaxed. NO pressure at all. I needed this vacation""

Image: Valve / Kotaku

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