So I finally have some time to sit and ramble my impressions.
The mundane starting fetch quest got me instantly on alert. I narrowed my eyes and was like, 'this is really dry, they're gonna mess me up with something I know it'. I expected the Dragon stuff sure, but it was a nice touch seeing it happening in that moment. Sure, Moony is dead but lol dragons are here now, strap your belts and set your cups.Â
The stuff leading up to the Steps of Faith was all expected, and that only made me even warier of things to come. I enjoyed that trial a lot. The music, the scale, the mechanics! I cheated and healqueued for it, switching from cannon/tether to emergency OSHIT heals lol. I WASN'T WAITING 40 MINUTES FOR NO DPS QUEUE, NOPE. I didn't like the idea of tanking massive dragon-sama, though I didn't know he was untankable at the time.Â
The building up to the banquet/assassination got me nice and tense, I couldn't load into zones and talk to NPCs fast enough, ate it all up, and wondered how the hell all of it was going to come together.Â
Oddly enough, it all hit me once I saw the goblet. My mind immediately flashed to the patch graphic and the way it fell and hit the floor during the trailer (at which point I said "Oh -SHIT-!" a bit too loudly for the hour). Nanamo's death scene was BRILLIANT, given the animation contraints. They put a lot of energy into pushing that knife in us and TWISTING IT. They also did a brilliant job of making me DESPISE (and love, omg) Teledji before giving me the immense satisfaction of seeing him split in two. With two people dead in quick succession I began to fear for Raubahn's life, and when his hand got lopped off shit got even REALER.Â
I understand the animation and rating limitations involved in the fact that he didn't bleed all over the floor, I even have a little pet theory that Ilberd's sword immediately cauterized the wound. ILBERD. Magnificent bastard. I liked him from the start but I NEVER TRUSTED HIM. They milked that bromance moment (*quietly hides ship*) too hard and got me super suspicious. Well, more than before. Either way, he was despicable and I love him for it.Â
The fight! I loved that fight holy hell! Yes, yes, people complain about how it was too animu -- what else these folks expect from a Final Fantasy game I honestly don't know. It was a proper demonstration that these people did not get where they were by just waving around and clashing swords. They are -powerful-.Â
The Scions' exodus was lovely. I'm not concerned whether they live or die, but I was moved by their resolve. In that moment they showed exactly how committed they were to their cause. Also Yda's mask getting cut made me squirm and squeal in glee. Thancred and Y'shtola -- that was touching. Y'SHTOLA GIRL YOU A STAR. Kind of literally, after that stunt.
Minfilia -- I've...made my peace with her and was mildly pleased to see her turn back and go to the others. That is to say, I was pleased to see her at least IMPLIED TO BE DOING SOMETHING. If she had made it out I think my hatred for her would have returned in one swoop. ALSO, SIL'DIH WATERWAYS UNDER UL'DAH YES YES LORE GOOD. ALSO ALSO. BRENDT. BRENDT WITH THAT SEXY-FINE ACCENT (I soooo thought of Crofte when I heard him). I was DELIGHTED to see things come full circle with Alphinaud, my character and Brendt on a chocobo carraige again. I was also THRILLED to see Pipin, after having read about him in the Tales of the Calamity short stories that came out during the anniversary event.Â
People are disappointed with Yugiri's 'oh well' appearance, but it made me smile. Everyone expected massive fear and ROROROR, but...acceptance. It was there. Tataru said she was pretty (as I cricked my neck from nodding vigorously behind the screen), and that was that. Acceptance. It was beautiful (AND SO WAS SHE HOLY SHIT). I don't think they'll give us more than that until expansion time, and I'm fine with it. ALSO. SHE LOOKS SO MATURE, AND STATELY, AND -NOT DAINTY AND WEAK-. She's beautiful and still looks like she can fuck a man up. She looks like a race of man, and has her distinct features in the scales, horn, tail and that fucking fierce hairdo (WERK.). I AM HAPPY WITH HER.
I had a mini heart attack when I saw Urianger and the Ascians, but then I realized that he was speaking with Edilibus (that's his name right?), and so he may not truly be allied with them, and instead seeking an audience. When it was all over I just leaned back, wiped my brow and raised a glass to Square, because -- well done.Well bloody done. That was the most engaging story content I've ever played in an MMO without having to go digging for obscure lore or reading between-expansion books. Thank you for giving it to us in game. It was like a damn great season finale cliffhanger deal.Â
I'm satisfied as hell, and really excited about what's to come. Bring on Heavensward!
The mundane starting fetch quest got me instantly on alert. I narrowed my eyes and was like, 'this is really dry, they're gonna mess me up with something I know it'. I expected the Dragon stuff sure, but it was a nice touch seeing it happening in that moment. Sure, Moony is dead but lol dragons are here now, strap your belts and set your cups.Â
The stuff leading up to the Steps of Faith was all expected, and that only made me even warier of things to come. I enjoyed that trial a lot. The music, the scale, the mechanics! I cheated and healqueued for it, switching from cannon/tether to emergency OSHIT heals lol. I WASN'T WAITING 40 MINUTES FOR NO DPS QUEUE, NOPE. I didn't like the idea of tanking massive dragon-sama, though I didn't know he was untankable at the time.Â
The building up to the banquet/assassination got me nice and tense, I couldn't load into zones and talk to NPCs fast enough, ate it all up, and wondered how the hell all of it was going to come together.Â
Oddly enough, it all hit me once I saw the goblet. My mind immediately flashed to the patch graphic and the way it fell and hit the floor during the trailer (at which point I said "Oh -SHIT-!" a bit too loudly for the hour). Nanamo's death scene was BRILLIANT, given the animation contraints. They put a lot of energy into pushing that knife in us and TWISTING IT. They also did a brilliant job of making me DESPISE (and love, omg) Teledji before giving me the immense satisfaction of seeing him split in two. With two people dead in quick succession I began to fear for Raubahn's life, and when his hand got lopped off shit got even REALER.Â
I understand the animation and rating limitations involved in the fact that he didn't bleed all over the floor, I even have a little pet theory that Ilberd's sword immediately cauterized the wound. ILBERD. Magnificent bastard. I liked him from the start but I NEVER TRUSTED HIM. They milked that bromance moment (*quietly hides ship*) too hard and got me super suspicious. Well, more than before. Either way, he was despicable and I love him for it.Â
The fight! I loved that fight holy hell! Yes, yes, people complain about how it was too animu -- what else these folks expect from a Final Fantasy game I honestly don't know. It was a proper demonstration that these people did not get where they were by just waving around and clashing swords. They are -powerful-.Â
The Scions' exodus was lovely. I'm not concerned whether they live or die, but I was moved by their resolve. In that moment they showed exactly how committed they were to their cause. Also Yda's mask getting cut made me squirm and squeal in glee. Thancred and Y'shtola -- that was touching. Y'SHTOLA GIRL YOU A STAR. Kind of literally, after that stunt.
Minfilia -- I've...made my peace with her and was mildly pleased to see her turn back and go to the others. That is to say, I was pleased to see her at least IMPLIED TO BE DOING SOMETHING. If she had made it out I think my hatred for her would have returned in one swoop. ALSO, SIL'DIH WATERWAYS UNDER UL'DAH YES YES LORE GOOD. ALSO ALSO. BRENDT. BRENDT WITH THAT SEXY-FINE ACCENT (I soooo thought of Crofte when I heard him). I was DELIGHTED to see things come full circle with Alphinaud, my character and Brendt on a chocobo carraige again. I was also THRILLED to see Pipin, after having read about him in the Tales of the Calamity short stories that came out during the anniversary event.Â
People are disappointed with Yugiri's 'oh well' appearance, but it made me smile. Everyone expected massive fear and ROROROR, but...acceptance. It was there. Tataru said she was pretty (as I cricked my neck from nodding vigorously behind the screen), and that was that. Acceptance. It was beautiful (AND SO WAS SHE HOLY SHIT). I don't think they'll give us more than that until expansion time, and I'm fine with it. ALSO. SHE LOOKS SO MATURE, AND STATELY, AND -NOT DAINTY AND WEAK-. She's beautiful and still looks like she can fuck a man up. She looks like a race of man, and has her distinct features in the scales, horn, tail and that fucking fierce hairdo (WERK.). I AM HAPPY WITH HER.
I had a mini heart attack when I saw Urianger and the Ascians, but then I realized that he was speaking with Edilibus (that's his name right?), and so he may not truly be allied with them, and instead seeking an audience. When it was all over I just leaned back, wiped my brow and raised a glass to Square, because -- well done.Well bloody done. That was the most engaging story content I've ever played in an MMO without having to go digging for obscure lore or reading between-expansion books. Thank you for giving it to us in game. It was like a damn great season finale cliffhanger deal.Â
I'm satisfied as hell, and really excited about what's to come. Bring on Heavensward!
![[Image: tumblr_ojgu7zoaag1robwlio1_540.png]](https://68.media.tumblr.com/80be4033cdf57fb6268473ef9ce37db6/tumblr_ojgu7zoaag1robwlio1_540.png)
