As Endwalker began with you and the company cruising to the far-off city of Old Sharlayan, so too does Final Fantasy XIV’s Dawntrail expansion start with an extended voyage to a land we have never been before. But instead of making contact with a long-established society, you enter a whole area with which very few people in Eorzea are familiar. Entering Tural, a region influenced by Mesoamerica and Latin America, may initially give you the impression that a group of heroes who have spared vast realms from destruction are on a summer vacation. But I can guarantee you that Dawntrail is not what you may have imagined it to be. Even though the MMO is entering a new phase and there are occasionally growing pains associated with that, Dawntrail successfully demonstrates why Final Fantasy XIV is the flagship game in the series.
In a manner that FFXIV has not before, this most recent expansion examines culture, family, and legacy. Soon after, it starts to raise concerns about the extent we will go to protect the things we value most. Anyone who has been around for a while will recognize that on the surface, but Dawntrail approaches these issues from a different perspective so as not to repeat previously explored ground. Rather, it presents fresh viewpoints that occasionally strike as hard as any in the MMO’s 14-year history. The main scenario quest (MSQ) takes you to unexpected places by fusing cyberpunk ideas with high-tech science fiction with strong real-world inspirations, all while seamlessly incorporating the Final Fantasies from the past.
To get there, though, requires some effort. Dawntrail does a great job of laying the foundation for the main question in the first part, giving us a very clear picture of Tural and all of its cultural backdrop. Though we all know what tacos and mezcal are, there are subtle nods to the sources it draw inspiration from. For instance, putting a quest focus on the real-world cochinita pibil recipe is one of many excellent touches. Dawntrail embraces its influences, from the bright environmental design of its early zones to the architecture of its hub city, Tuliyollal. This readily fits those nations and the peoples that inhabit them into an already rich fantasy world. To get there, though, requires some effort. Dawntrail does a great job of laying the foundation for the main question in the first part, giving us a very clear picture of Tural and all of its cultural backdrop. Though we all know what tacos and mezcal are, there are subtle nods to the sources it draw inspiration from. For instance, putting a quest focus on the real-world cochinita pibil recipe is one of many excellent touches.
Verdict
The intriguing cultures of the Tural region are strong enough to take you to the game’s larger moments, even though Dawntrail has some growing pains and noticeable lulls as it ushers in a new age for Final Fantasy XIV. It is also amazing to see real-world influences that are close to and dear to my heart so clearly reflected in FFXIV. Even though it takes a while to get there, the primary story hits the same kinds of peaks we have repeatedly seen from the MMORPG once it turns the corner and reveals its true nature. Dawntrail took me on a remarkable journey filled with breathtaking combat engagements and a profound feeling of introspection. This experience can only exist in the way that it does because I got to travel through it with characters I have come to love, both old and new. This addition adds value to Final Fantasy XIV and opens up a ton of intriguing new possibilities for the game’s future. Dawntrail keeps in mind that this is a Final Fantasy narrative, and the way it integrates its history, present, and future creates amazing moments that uplift and define the franchise even further.
