💎 PREMIUM: Id/allwords/recommended/ - Complete Album!

I want to start this review by emphasing that I don't think this expansion is perfect.

I've no intention of glazing the game or making it sound like some of its criticisms aren't entirely valid and justified. Because they are.

Which is why I want to start with it's criticisms first.

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• A DECENT BUT FLAWED STORY
  Similar to Stormblood, half of Dawntrail's story feels like it's entirely separated from its other half. And much like Stormblood, the transition between the two doesn't work well.
  
  I enjoyed the lore and new societies introduced, but not much actually happens to push the narrative forward in any compelling way until nearly half ways through the 4th zone. Its best story beats and standout moments occur in the second half of the expansion.
  
  I like most of the new characters too - Wuk Lamat, Koana and Bakool Ja Ja especially -but it's hard to deny that their constant presence in the story cuts into Krile and Erenville's deserved character moments. The inclusions of the Scions throughout also feels largely superfluous; either have them matter to the story or let them stay home.
  
  
• BLAND JOB HOMOGENISATION
  This one is especially frustrating to me because it didn't used to be this way, and it never has to be. Jobs used to have a lot more noticeable differences and unique abilities between them, but streamlining has simplified things a bit too much.
  
  Astrologian especially gets worse with every expansion, and some tanks being able to solo bosses feels like something that just... shouldn't exist.

• GREAT DUTIES, TRIALS AND RAIDS
  Duties, raids and trials have gotten a significant increase in challenge in Dawntrail. Mechanics are more complex and not paying attention absolutely will get your killed.
  
  It's not a ludicrous increase in difficulty by any means, but you can no longer sleep through mechanics like you could in Endwalker, for the most part. That was such a baffling design choice for rhef expansion.
  
  
• VERY STRONG PATCH CONTENT
  With one small caveat; Occult Crescent is a great idea in theory and Phantom Jobs are fun, but it has some major designs issues around pacing and variety that I think makes it inferior to both Eureka and Bozja. However, I've enjoyed everything else we've gotten a tonne.
  
  I don't even care about wrestling, but the wrestling themed raids are fantastic and the story for it has been silly and fun. The FFFXI Alliance raids are novel, if a bit easy. Stellar Exploration ia rewarding and constantly updated. Lastly, Pilgrim's Traverse is easily my favourite Deep Dungeon ever added to the game.
  
  The amount of rewards offered and effort required to earn them is higher than it was in Endwalker as well.

---

Dawntrail doesn't reach the heights of FFXIV's best expansions - Heavensward, Endwalker and Shadowbringers - but neither is it an irredeemable mess that destroys the legacy of the franchise, or even as weak as the beginning and end of Stormblood were.

It has plenty of valid strengths... and some flaws that hold it back.

However, I enjoyed 7.3's story a lot, and I'm interested to see where things go next. I also genuinely think 7.3 is one of the best patches the game has ever gotten, with so much content and so many rewards that I can barely even keep up with it all.

I'm excited for the game's future, despite some of its recent fumbles.

I want to start this review by emphasing that I don't think this expansion is perfect. I've no intention of glazing the game or making it sound like some of its criticisms aren't entirely valid and justified. Because they are. Which is why I want to start with it's criticisms first. [hr][/hr] [h2][b]FFXIV: DAWNTRAIL CRITICISMS[/b][/h2] [list][*] [b]A DECENT BUT FLAWED STORY[/b] Similar to Stormblood, half of Dawntrail's story feels like it's entirely separated from its other half. And much like Stormblood, the transition between the two doesn't work well. I enjoyed the lore and new societies introduced, but not much actually happens to push the narrative forward in any compelling way until nearly half ways through the 4th zone. Its best story beats and standout moments occur in the second half of the expansion. I like most of the new characters too - Wuk Lamat, Koana and Bakool Ja Ja especially -but it's hard to deny that their constant presence in the story cuts into Krile and Erenville's deserved character moments. The inclusions of the Scions throughout also feels largely superfluous; either have them matter to the story or let them stay home. [*] [b] BLAND JOB HOMOGENISATION[/b] This one is especially frustrating to me because it didn't used to be this way, and it never has to be. Jobs used to have a lot more noticeable differences and unique abilities between them, but streamlining has simplified things a bit too much. Astrologian especially gets worse with every expansion, and some tanks being able to solo bosses feels like something that just... shouldn't exist. [/list] [h2][b]FFXIV: DAWNTRAIL PRAISES[/b][/h2] [list][*] [b] GREAT DUTIES, TRIALS AND RAIDS [/b] Duties, raids and trials have gotten a significant increase in challenge in Dawntrail. Mechanics are more complex and not paying attention absolutely will get your killed. It's not a ludicrous increase in difficulty by any means, but you can no longer sleep through mechanics like you could in Endwalker, for the most part. That was such a baffling design choice for rhef expansion. [*] [b]VERY STRONG PATCH CONTENT [/b] With one small caveat; Occult Crescent is a great idea in theory and Phantom Jobs are fun, but it has some major designs issues around pacing and variety that I think makes it inferior to both Eureka and Bozja. However, I've enjoyed everything else we've gotten a tonne. I don't even care about wrestling, but the wrestling themed raids are fantastic and the story for it has been silly and fun. The FFFXI Alliance raids are novel, if a bit easy. Stellar Exploration ia rewarding and constantly updated. Lastly, Pilgrim's Traverse is easily my favourite Deep Dungeon ever added to the game. The amount of rewards offered and effort required to earn them is higher than it was in Endwalker as well. [/list] [hr][/hr] Dawntrail doesn't reach the heights of FFXIV's best expansions - Heavensward, Endwalker and Shadowbringers - but neither is it an irredeemable mess that destroys the legacy of the franchise, or even as weak as the beginning and end of Stormblood were. It has plenty of valid strengths... and some flaws that hold it back. However, I enjoyed 7.3's story a lot, and I'm interested to see where things go next. I also genuinely think 7.3 is one of the best patches the game has ever gotten, with so much content and so many rewards that I can barely even keep up with it all. I'm excited for the game's future, despite some of its recent fumbles. [h1][b]- 7 out of 10[/b][/h1]