After saving the universe from a catastrophe that would mean the end of time, the world is left with Final Fantasy XIV after the events of 2021 Endwalker expansion is: How do we move forward? This question prepares the quests that immediately follow EndwalkerThe climax becomes a story arc that perfectly serves as an epilogue to everything that came before, punctuated by a superb character in the form of newcomer Zero. Since a decades-long overarching narrative has also come to an end in Endwalkerthe post-expansion “patch quests” serve as a great blueprint for the future of the game.
To be clear, I know I am late to the party. As I have already documented, I have recently been FF14‘s many extensions and have not quite managed to Morning trail not yet. Patch quests after expansions are nothing new. Since there are usually two to three years between expansions, the team at Square Enix distributes smaller story and content updates to tide players over. In previous expansions, these patch quests often consisted of two parts. The first part concludes the story of the previous expansion and the second prepares for the next one. For Endwalker
The new freedom transforms the post-Endwalker Quests into their own mini-expansion. They introduce new characters, locations, dungeons, and a great evil for the Warriors of Light to face. But not to start from scratch, the story is about the Void, a world surrounded by darkness that has appeared from time to time in the past. It’s a setting that has always seemed tailor-made for an expansion, and while it’s not quite that way, the smaller approach is beneficial.
The Void is a lost world. Now consumed by darkness and ravaged by beasts corrupted by that power, it is virtually beyond redemption. It is a contrast to so much of what we have experienced in the past. FF14. Shadowbringer took us to a world called “The First”, which was consumed by the light and on the brink of death, but could be brought back with our help. Here, however, we are confronted with a world that our endless heroic deeds cannot do much for. There we meet one of its inhabitants, Zero. Like the other inhabitants of the Void, she is cursed to an immortal existence. In the years since the loss of her world, she has lost many of her memories and with it her humanity. When we first meet Zero, she is a cold, indifferent person who has something in common with Endwalker‘s antagonist; both see existence as an endless cycle of suffering that is hardly justified. But because she cannot die, Zero cannot find the peace she craves.
The majority of post-Endwalker In the patch quests, we lug Zero around as we try to rescue an ally from the Void while also leading the recovery efforts after the nearly avoided apocalypse in our own world. Unlike the entire story of the MMO up to this point, Endwalker
The story also parallels Zero’s journey and that of the people in your world. In life, Zero was a loner who believed she couldn’t trust anyone and had to save the world alone. It’s the same problem the main villain of the patch quests has, but it’s also one that anyone trying to return to a normal life goes through. This is best exemplified when you visit the people of Garlemald, a now-fallen nation that long served as the MMO’s evil empire. Now they’re occupied by you and your allies, and while you have the best intentions, they’re not so willing to accept your help. Both sides must put their pride aside to move forward together, as it’s the only way they can both rebuild. The situation has a profound impact on Zero, who reflects on her own decision to turn down the help of a pair of heroes who hoped to avert the end of their world before it becomes the Void.
Ultimately, the surviving member of the duo she encountered so long ago is revealed to be the story arc’s big villain, Golbez. It’s a poignant moment for Zero, as she realizes just how much her insular way of life has affected those around her. She’s not solely responsible for the Void, but she feels a new sense of guilt and missed opportunities. If only she could’ve reached out a hand back then. The patch quests don’t quite land in their predictable end to the conflict, but as a character study of Zero, it’s excellent. When Zero is finally able to bring a spark of light to the Void, it’s a reflection of how we’ve brought a spark of hope into her life as well.
Although there are only about half as many quests here, they convey a sense of narrative impact and adventure that of a complete Final Fantasy 14 Expansion. After Endwalker, I was almost hoping that smaller, more focused stories would become the new norm for the MMO. Of course, that hasn’t happened, and there are currently thousands of players exploring the awesome new expansion. Morning trail. But based on what I’ve heard about the structure, it can sometimes feel more like you’re playing a series of episodic mini-expansions, and to me that sounds like a good thing.
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