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.
A breathtaking ending to a saga. And you could hardly have seen those story twists coming. A story, that is entertaining and so deep - asking questions about existance and life.
Brilliant storytelling, awesome design, heartbreaking music, an emotional rollercoaster.
Get ready to have you mind blown by FFXIV. A master piece of a story and an ending to a saga. All the dots get connected and strings pulled together in an epic story. Together with Shadowbringers one of the best stories in gaming ever told, and my personal 2 best experiences in gaming stories.
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.
The culmination of a story over a decade in the making. The stakes are high and the game continues to pick up from Shadowbringers in providing more high quality entertainment that is work checking out instead of skipping through.
The main story was solid, although it left a lot to be desired. The post patches, unfortunately, drag the score down significantly. This expansion also took far too long and delivered far too little content in return. In general, the story should have focused more on individual characters. As it stands, Endwalker felt like they wanted to check off everything as quickly as possible.
Since I've reviewed Dawntrail, I want to take the opportunity to look back at Endwalker. I appreciate that we finally got to see things from the Garleans' perspective after a long time. This was long overdue and was handled well and mostly credibly. However, this storyline was far too short. We also learn more about the Ascians and how they used to be. This was also sorely needed and gave the characters more depth. But here too, more could have been invested. While Zenos had interesting appearances and it was always exciting when he got screen time, he suffered greatly from the writers' apparent desire to wrap up this saga as quickly as possible. Zenos, as our equal mirror so to say, had incredible potential that was ultimately left completely untapped. He was neither given much needed background nor a compelling development as one would expect from a quality story. It would have been incredibly exciting if the Scions had shown him what makes them who they are, and I thought when Alisaie briefly spoke to him, that such a development was being teased. After all, it made him think. In the end, however, this opportunity was completely squandered. More than disappointing. The post patches were simply disappointing. Zero was far too clichéd and predictable for me, and what they did to the gods is just sad, given the quality we are used to in this game.
The story was simply an enormous letdown. It had such a tremendous amount of potential coming in hot off the heels of Shadowbringers, but the last second decision to change it out for something with a lighter tone - and more one dimensional, I'm forced to say - really destroyed what otherwise promised to be something great. The loss of nuance, as well as the horrendous number of plot holes, resulted in a final product that was both jarringly dissonant and highly unappealing.
The dumbing down of the combat system is another strike against this expansion. Jobs were streamlined to the point of identity loss, and the forcing of everything into a two-minute burst window forced encounters to be simplified to the point of absurdity.
If we are discussing 6.0 expansion the game would probably be a solid 8/10. With subsequent patches after this score drops to a 3/10. The casual or mid core content is way to easy and not engaging or pressuring enough for players to comeback. The game prides itself on its great community but they are no where to be found due to lack of social content. Awful playerbase has been taken over by erotica roleplayers. Encounter design in alliance raids have gotten very lazy and braindead. I was a longtime player of 10 years and quit the game.
SummaryEndwalker is the fourth expansion pack for FINAL FANTASY XIV Online. Experience the climax of the Hydaelyn and Zodiark story, and encounter an even greater calamity than ever before as you travel to the far reaches of Hydaelyn and even to the moon.