I really thought that Heavensward would be the pinnacle of storytelling for the game, and that nothing would ever top it. Then I reached Shadowbringers.
@@Revima if you want a bit of a braingasm, understand that there are actual lines of dialogue foretold in 4.0 MSQ that directly references events and dialogue in 5.3 (keeping away from spoilers, but pay attention in the Steppes). Ishikawa was foreshadowing events that far ahead (even more-so if you consider she also wrote the Crystal Tower series), and that is amazing.
It was baffling too. I still can't believe somehow heavensward story pales in comparison to how good shadowbringers was. HOW?! How did they top heavensward?
Yeah I've had many WoW guildies go into ARR with the mentality of "fine I'll try it, now IMPRESS ME GAME". That isn't the mindset you need to stick with them game. You have to want something new and be prepared to absorb the journey.
Quite the case. Also, I've been viewing Preach's videos for quite some time and I've never heard him speak about wow in such a praising way. Usually it is systems discussions or broken stuff or "this is fun but i hope they wont ruin it." , like when he tried Torghast on PTR.
I'm one of those who quit in ARR because of how slow and tedious it was, then covid came and i went back to playing it. What really hooked me into the game was the shiva fight, god that was a really cool fight.
@@Ellyll8T IIRC it's on the ground near the landing area where you first fly into Azys Lla, with the rotating rings in the background. There's a quest available outside Fortemps Manor called 'The Paths We Walk' that should lead to the exact spot as well, can't remember if the quest is required to see the flowers or not though. Hope that helps!
There's actually a questline that starts in the Fortemps Manor from the manservent that takes you there and to other places. Most people miss it, it's worth looking into.
@@janedoe885 Thanks! I'd done that, but I don't remember that part. I'll go look! Oh - damn. I guess it goes after you complete the quest, which I suppose I did years ago. off to see if it's in my journal! (it is not)
@@JackgarPrime Straight up, I would not have bought the full game if ARR was where I had to stop. I was invested pretty soon after Heavensward starts and was a for-lifer by the end of Alexander
I'm like near the end of 5.0 and I'm just like....oh....oh he's going to love this. It's insane too cuz they had this story in their bank for like what 2-3 years?
@@enyaliosares4301 You definitely feel it. I also really like their transitions with going into the next expansion the X.5 patch just unloading mayhem on you in preparation for the next expansion really feels well done to me.
@@Gofr5 In a recent interview with Famitsu, Yoshida mentioned that they have the groundworks for the next saga of the story worth 10 years more content to come.... Idk what they are planning, but the seeds will apparently be sown for it in Endwalker...
"I really don't want to put any spoilers in the video, because I know a number of people are not up to where I am.." climax of iceheart's story playing in the background lol
@@iceman3317 Yeah, not bad but pretty heavy-handed and predictable and I have to say I was mad that they un-assassinated Nanamo and took her death back
We should extend the meme to include "After that you pay a sub and play trough the not nearly as much award winning but still good Stormblood and finally you get to Shadowbringers, the one that everybody tells you is better than HW, you won't believe them cause how can anything top that, but when you finish it you will stare in disbelief at the masterpiece you just experienced".
@@yoshiiscool2002 No time limit, you can play ARR and HW in full there are some limitations though like max level is 60 or not being able to use the market board etc.
Love how you put Grim's "I saw you skip the cutscene you little twerp!" in there. I've always agreed, it isn't for everyone, but I'm really glad to hear you've been enjoying it all so far despite the scepticism.
The issue isn’t really skipping, it’s skipping then complaining about being bored, lost, having nothing to do, etc. if you’re just here for the raids and feel like you got your money’s worth that’s fine.
@@jacobb5484 Yeah I don't really care how people play and enjoy the game. I do take issue with people bashing the story when you haven't experienced it.
Part of the way through stormblood myself and so far Yotsuyu has been everything that Blizzard wanted Sylvanis to be but Blizzard could never pull it off.
@@keithfilibeck2390 They show you her motives and why she's the way she is. They even made me empathize with her a lot. However, they also show you what she is doing and how awful she is.
@@iraqiwalker1436 This was the Sylvanas of Cataclysm. Yes, Sylvanas did horrible things, so horrible that Garrosh even threatened to kill her if she didn't cease. But no matter how horrible the things she did, it was always shown that she did them for the Forsaken, not for herself. She truly was the morally grey character that Blizzard wished it could have made in BfA.
And you can end up feeling sorry for her, wanting to sit with her as she dies, give her comfort, and yet know she wasn't going to be redeemed. I like that they leave it uneasy, that your character can't always fix things or change things. (the Nier stuff just destroyed me for that, and I loved it so much)
@@TheSilverwing999 I'm not sure whether you ask to be spoiled or you felt like complaining. I'll take it's the latter. Don't worry, your ADHD will settle for a while there.
I love how you pointed out the commonality between Aymeric and Hraesvelgr because that's honestly the crux of Heavensward right there: the conflict between humans and dragons is bridged by two people who have been abused by Thordan's lies and who decide to heal instead of let those wounds fester any longer. Man and dragon are not so different after all. Healing is possible for both sides. The beauty of Heavensward I think is due to how the game switches the story at the patch quests. For the base expansion, Heavensward was Estinien's story - how he will stop the war and get revenge by killing Nidhogg. But then the story changes and becomes Aymeric's story - how he will rebuild Ishgard and lead this nation into the future. And then the two stories are brought together again in 3.3 in a masterful, emotional way.
What I loved about HW is just how very grey it was morality wise, like no one is entirely correct or wrong on the base scale (of course other than that one guy who was a dick and playing both sides)
The best part is that what the choice they connected on? There are several candidates. Realizing that they have been through immeasurable hate, and they have to let go of it. Aemyric realizing "My father must die," and Hraesvalgr realizing "My brother must die."
I liked that after the Warriors of Darkness present themselves and you as a player are thinking that it's kinda cringe, Kryle comes out and says basically that.
I like that he cares about Ysayle and Minfilia too. :) Ysayle is generally well-liked but her and Minfilia tend to get overlooked a bit with everything else going on with other characters.
Preach, you make a good point about leaving threads from ARR until the end of HW.... but more impressive as you will see is how they leave threads from ARR until the end of Shadowbringers!
I remember when I first encountered them at the time, and I just thought, 'whatever, filler patch!' And by the end of the Role series in Shb, I would have basically died for them all. Especially Lamitt.
Watching you play and commentate on the shadowbringers narrative experience is literally one of my most anticipated pieces of content on youtube. Yes you've heard it a million times, but one RPG story gamer to another, it really does get even better.
While Stormblood starts slowly, it is a fantastic expansion in its own right. The dungeons and trials are especially magnificent compared to Heavensward, but the narrative lacks the same mysticism and romance of Heavensward. When you're through it, however, you have Shadowbringers waiting for you and _that_ expansion is the best of the three, for sure.
I think that Stormblood's biggest strength is its worldbuilding. The Azim Steppe section is one of my favorite areas in the entire game. While its story doesn't have quite the same polish as Heavensward, that expansion still has plenty of merit, so I'm glad to see your thoughts on it expressed so well! A soft spot in my heart exists for Ishgard and Heavensward always, but Shadowbringers is truly the expansion that actually lives up to its hype. It is a story fantastically told and while having its hiccups manages to present a truly moving story. It's got heart, and I'm forever grateful I picked up this game to play it.
One thing I've thought about a lot in the HW vs. SB conversation is how much culture can affect people's experience of it, even subconsciously. HW taps into themes of not trusting the church, lies about your people's origin, and trying to find ways to atone for the mistakes of ancestors. SB taps into being colonized, being part of a diaspora, trying to hold onto your culture/ways when that very act can be seen as rebellion/reason to be punished, colonized people turning against each other out of fear/desire to survive. As someone who belongd to a historically colonized and oppressed group, there were so many moments in SB that resonated and stuck with me. Those same moments have been labeled "confusing" or "weak" by people with a different experience (see: Lyse's character journey). One thing I really appreciate about FFXIV is it exploring such different stories and themes. I just wish more players were less militant about "SB is bad" just because it didn't resonant with their own experiences as much.
@@tangentkatz I never gave your point much thought but, wow, I can completely see that in the themes. I have a whole new perspective to approach that expansion with now. Thanks!
@Nalae Ulqiora personally I find stormblood makes you think there will be complex politics happening and then it just doesn't follow through. I don't like Zenos as an antagonist as he doesn't sell himself as a threat to me. And his instances really took me out of it. I think part of the problem lies with the character's goals which are kinda all or nothing which doesn't really mark him as a threat until he actually makes a move. Expansion content do have a great tragic story though and I think that's the best they have done to tell part of a story during gameplay.
One of my favorite conversations about the story was when I asked my FC leader about something in the story, and he said “We’ll get an answer in three years, don’t worry”
The best way I can describe it: ARR was good. Stormblood was good. Heavensward and Shadowbringers both felt the same as a book that I just couldn't put down until I either passed out at 5AM or finished it one.
What a perfect description. I'm still in StB and haven't gotten to ShB yet, but HW was like those books that I would read as a kid with a flashlight under the covers in case my mom came into my room to make sure I was asleep. Couldn't put that shit down until I finished lol
I took me 6 years to realize what Preach has learned in over the months he played. I was a story skipper until I saw shadowbringer trailer. It was then that I gave the game another try and play it properly. I am so glad I did because the game has changed me. It taught me to take my time. The game is not about where you end up, it's the journey itself that's worth it. I am here now kicking myself for skipping story for so long.
Look at him, he's almost a walking advertisement now, just two more expansions lol. Glad you thoroughly enjoyed the HW story Preach, please keep doing so at your leisure!
I've been watching Preach's streams with a very wary eye, because he always seems so cynical. He makes it very clear that he doesn't like the anime moments, it's just not his thing. And yet, I wanted him to enjoy FF14, because it's just such an enriching experience. I had been waiting for him to finish 3.3, because it is a signature moment in the game, and it would bear the truth of if it's for you. After this big 3.3 battle and cutscene, when he immedietly said it was one of the best story's ever, it was like the tension bubble I had been holding for months finally burst. Glad you're here, Mike!
II has been *very* satisfying to see FF cut through many people's deep cynicism. I think it's why I keep following these guys. It's good for my own heart.
Love how people are seeing how awesome FF14 really is. ARR and Heavensward was out around the same time of WoD and Legion, so remember this is 6-8 year old content. FF14 has always been awesome, just took a while for people to experience it.
Really glad you're enjoying it. There is one thing I recommend you do before hitting SB, it's a "generic" (gold) quest chain starting in Fortemps manor called "The Paths We Walk". 5 quests each starting where the other ends, super easy to miss but I'd say very important to a few loose ends from HW. Even has it's own space in the NG+ log.
After watching this... holy shit... Mike might actually really like Stormblood if he's cool with the slow burn. I'm one of the few crazies that actually preferred it's story to HW (which also fantastic)
@@jeffreysmith1314 Even the people who dump on SB don't call it bad. Just not as good as HW. As someone who felt the same way, I can tell you my main issues with SB were somewhat because of pacing. In addition, Lyse's development felt a bit undercooked, if that makes any sense. Other than that, it was a really good expansion. The fact that ShB was the successor, and HW was the predecessor puts it in an awkward spot where while it is a damn fine game on its own, it feels a bit weaker than those. Which is not a bad thing, really. Being in 3rd place after Usain Bolt and a Lamborghini is an excellent result.
When the FFXIV Sub-a-thon goal was revealed, this was the video that I wanted to see, and the one I was most afraid I wouldn't get to. I absolutely love, and feel immensely honored that I get to watch this journey through a new MMO experience that I absolutely know will forever alter Mike's perspective going forward. It allows me to externally appreciate the same journey that I went through, and helps inform my own view of how FFXIV has impacted my own perspective of what can be done with story in a game. In regards to FFXIV itself and the extreme competence that YoshiP and his crew demonstrate, I think what hits me the most is how so damn thorough they are. You can really see this in the care and effort they apply to constantly updating the idle text (and physical location) in characters around you. It is overwhelming to consider, and that is with non-MSQ content considerations. That they take the time to address such a breadth of threads, even when it boils down the the fate of a minor or incidental character that you encounter in the MSQ, is mind blowing. That they have the balls to let that thread sit for one (or more) expansions so that it appears forgotten, is masterful.
I remember rolling my eyes when the Warriors of Darkness were introduced, but I feel completely differently about them now. I'm looking forward to hearing your thoughts on Stormblood, but I am especially excited to hear your thoughts on Shadowbringers.
I felt the same, was kinda curious where/why they came outta nowhere, and then got gut-punched by the "we did everything right" speech. The VA did a great job on it omg. Then I spent the next however many years wondering wtf happened to them. >.>;
Preach i think you realize why some of the community wants people to play through MSQ i think other games have given people the wrong mindset about story usually thinking its not important waste of time.. If people take there time through FFXIV MSQ i believe it will pay off i honestly love seeing gamers genuinely enjoying FFXIV to see them feeling connected to certain characters..
Having watch you play through RPG Feb on stream, having experienced Chrono Trigger and Divinity some years beforehand...it's been a pleasure watching you discover this path. I finished 5.4 last month and think it might just be my #1 video game story of all time! Let the tears flow, Mr Preacher. The best is yet to come.
A perfect example of the devs taking their time and how long into the future they plan for the story: At the recent kupocon, one of the VAs (not saying who to avoid possible spoilers for some players) was asked about something they talked about at one of the previous kupocons, which is, back before Heavensword, this VA was told about a huge story moment for their character, to help the VA understand their character and how they should act that character over time for future expansions. Well, that VA said that they still haven’t recorded the lines for that arc, and that's including for Endwalker….. In other words, the devs have had something planned for a character and the overall story since before Heavensward, which began development in 2013-2014, and we still aren’t at that point and won't see that until after Endwalker. And that’s just one character and one plot point, who knows what the story team has planned besides that. So when Yoshi-P recently talked about how they have been planning for the next 10 years, he meant that very literally. These devs are on another level!
Keep plugging along, i loved your advice about letting it breathe. it took me the better part of the year to progress slowly through the game. Certainly not because I couldn't play it but more for the joy of the story itself, I wanted to take it in fully and immerse myself in it. A small word of advice for your future endeavors, one adventurer to another, pack a box of tissues for Shadowbringers. You'll thank me later. Happy travels mate!
Okay so i skipped the text boxes, but watched the cutscenes or the voiced dialogues when i first played heavensward way back when, watching you voice everything actually made me realise that there is so much more attention to detail than i first thought.
I'm so excited FOR YOU, Mike, to be experiencing this fully. I spent about 14 years years playing WOW-- it's heartbreaking to see what became of it. But... like you, playing and experiencing FFXIV... man, it just makes me smile. When you've finished it all, I'll share a fan-made video that's amazing and wraps up ARR through ShB.... but after so nothing is ruined. I sincerely believe after Shadowbringer, you'll be saying IT is the best MMO story you've experienced, the whole of it. And I'm thrilled you're taking your time, not rushing. Like opening a fine bottle, you're letting it breathe. Well done!
Right, I've only just finished going through all expacs... But bloody hell the story is so, so good. Can't wait until you get to the end of Shadowbringers so I can see your reaction to that!
most impressive about the later stories is that everything leading up to that point, somehow has an impact and the people in it have believable relations to it. As a lover of rpg you simply cant skip this, its world class.
Mike, you better have a box of tissues ready for the Sorrow of Werlyt questline in Shadowbringers. Hands down, the best story telling I've ever seen in any video game. It left me shook to say the least. Please make a note to make a video after you complete this one. The fights are excellent too, but the story... omg.
I tried playing ff14 2 times and just could not get through the not voice acted cutscenes. I just gave up. Wasn't for me. Then I saw Preach stream the game and 'voice act' the cut scenes. Hey, now I know the story, now I can play the game. And now my summoner is level 52 and going strong. So, thanks for that. :D
It's a meme that Heavensward is absolutely amazing. I figured they meant it was really good, similar to other big name RPGs... And that its reputation was inflated and over-hyped. I just finished Heavensward today. The story was incredible. When I look back at how other games tell story, it's unforgivable now that I've seen how well it CAN be done. They built a big but somehow simple story that had so much punch and power. I have an emotional response for almsot every single character in it. I care when things happen to them. People start getting developed who were overlooked in ARR. Don't skip it. It's worth putting the time aside and playing the story.
I'm so glad you're enjoying the story Preach, I'm about half way through Heavenward myself, just finished the Vault dungeon and I just can't get into it, I hope the second half is able to capture me because I so want to enjoy this story with everyone else.
I hope that you can go into Stormblood with as open a mind as possible. The community likes to talk it down, but there are many fantastic elements to it and I think it suffers from the fact that people insist on ranking things.
I went into stormblood blind not knowing or hearing anything about it. I do think that Heavensward just set the bar so high, that by the time I got to Stormblood it felt underwhelming. Even the trailer felt very underwhelming, I remember finishing Heavensward and then watching the stormblood trailer. I didn’t feel as hyped as I did when I watched the trailer for Heavensward the first time. That in itself set the tone for me of how that expansion would be. I went in blind with not biased or anything. Stormblood really does shine in Doma and the patches for sure tho, it was just getting out of ala mhigo (which I consider, the not that great part)
I like that Preach is going for a more complete approach to the game instead of just rushing through the MSQ. Something I’ve noticed from many recent streamers who seem to Zerg the MSQ really fast is that they don’t remember a lot of the nuance things presented and thus miss out on many connection points to the overall story and the world. Just like with any great story, sometimes you’ve gotta let it digest and maybe talk about it with others before you flood your brain with new information. The side content also helps to further the overall story of the world and is often referenced in other content if you’ve completed it.
Stormblood has some pacing issues in the base expansion but is still a good story, it just takes a while for it to get its act together. But after you hit the patch content it's just a rollercoaster ride until the end of Shadowbringers. Enjoy Preach, it makes me happy seeing a behemoth in the WoW community discovering this game just like I did years ago.
If we're talking about video games that moved us: for all it's technical blunders, I found Cyberpunk's stories very strong emotionally. At the end of my ~100% 120 hours playthrough, that's a world I was genuinely sad to leave, a journey I felt very sad to end, and characters I felt very sad to say goodbye to.
the joy I feel from hearing a fellow gamer appreciate the same mind blowing experience I did, can't express fully. It's hard to not almost be mad people are missing this. Not that it's for everyone obviously, but damn. For an MMORPG even, just unreal. It's not perfect, but it certainly raises the bar, right? I have friends who are huge FF or RPG fans that refuse to play this, so watching you go through it has filled that void of enjoying it with someone who shares my passion. Thanks for that :D
Yeah I think it suffers from that but its also a different type of story that is more political, it plays out like a journey which is visualised on the map every time you move to a new location, if people approach it with that mindset I think its quite fun following that path and dealing with issues in each zone, pay off is definetly great as well :)
It's good that Mike is going through the whole experience of FFXIV. The game really highlights the importance of the journey, and teaches a great lesson in story telling.
To think this was our YEARS AGO when we were suffering through and bitching about WoW. I don’t regret many of my EARLIER (keyphrase xD) years with WoW, but I imagine this was really incredible to the folks experiencing it as it was being released.
Eh experiencing on release is fine and all but the game has huge content draughts. As a new player you won't know until you experience it in endwalker. I think a lot of people will be surprised. As a veteran player I sometimes leave the game for a few months and come back to do the story patches in one go. Waiting for each gets boring fast.
@@TheSilverwing999 Fair point. However, even the content droughts have seasonal events and repeating collabs to keep things interesting. The nicest thing about FFXIV as a game is actually that you can leave for a few months and comeback without feeling like you missed out, or lost progress.
@@iraqiwalker1436 Yoshi-P has actually said that's how he hopes people play FF: play up until you don't want to do anything else, then go play something else. It's the healthiest attitude for an MMO dev to have. Blizzard, naturally, bucks that trend and fights tooth and nail to create endless systems that it forces players to run through every week so that they don't fall behind, just to keep people subbed.
I started playing around mid ARR, and in my opinion, anyone who started in SB and later had a much better time of it haha. The content is all the same, but the way the game actually plays is drastically different now than it was back then. They’ve made so many system improvements and quality of life additions since then. I typically compare Stormblood to BC and Heavensward to Wrath. Stormblood was a huge leap in gameplay and overall playability of the game, whereas Heavensward had the stronger setting and story.
It has been refreshing to see you smile when talking about video games again.... just wanted to put that out there. It was very hard to stay subscribed for a while there when things were really rough with WoW. I felt it too! I had to unsub for awhile because it was all just too much. I have fallen in love with FFIXV, but here is the crazy thing... I love it and play it, but I am also playing Civ 6 allot! Too much actually, LOL! I also have gotten back into some shows on tv at night with my wife instead of 'working' on my toon in WoW. So glad I moved on. I am enjoying other video games, and spending more time with my wife to boot! Anyway, so glad to see you smile about a video game again, just have fun!
You can do it! Remember, you can take the journey at your own pace so if you need a break, take it! The story will be waiting for you. I will say that once you hit the end, it picks up tremendously, so I hope you enjoy!
Once I was through with Heavensward I decide that FFXIV was the best RPG I have ever played..and believe me, I have played A LOT of them. Stormblood and Shadowbringers of course just solidifies that belief for me. Shadowbringers was SO good. So good, in fact, I struggle to think of even *how* can a story be better than it? Guess we’ll found out in Endwalker
I feel like this where the New Game+ feature shines the most, for players who have skipped story and are interested in it later. You can replay through any point of the MSQ and re-experience just the story itself with your current gear and level! (Though you will be sync'd down for lower level MSQ) So awesome to see you enjoying your journey, hope you will continue explore and enjoy the lore of the game as it comes! Take care!
something you could say to your friends who are only into endgame is that you dont have to shoot to max level to take part in the endgame. explain how much fun you had with ramuh ex. and then tell em to let it breathe like you said.
This dude really thinking Heavensward is the best thing ever when Shadowbringers exists. And you know what, I hope Endwalker emotionally obliterates me.
I started in May and just finished up to current. All I’ll say is just wait until you finish Shadowbringers and then watch that endwalker trailer that was released a few months back. Absolutely incredible one of the best trailers I’ve ever seen when knowing all the context.
The one thing I appreciate the most about FFXIV is the story. I’ve never been an mmo player even tho those games always intrigued me and I’ve tried out several, but I have no friends who are interested in playing with me. The fact that I can play FFXIV solo and enjoy this story is the reason I stuck with the game all the way to Shadowbringers.
I will say being a dragoon main during heavansward was an amazing treat. The few extra dialogs you get just makes you feel better but man. Heavansward is amazing.
Preach, so glad you are enjoying the game. I don't want to spoil things, but you are spot on that all the threads remain and get better. Stormblood is also good, but you are absolutely going to love Shadowbringers.
If you think heavens ward was that good, wait for shadowbringers. Shadowbringers raises the bar so God damn high because of how good it is, I can't imagine how they gona surpass with endwalker.
@@xXAkirhaXx Worried? Makes me excited because I know its going to be better than Endwalker. This is the most hyped I've been since I was kid and that is impressive in its own right lol.
Slowly plugging away at MSQ during my free trial that ends here soon. Been loving everything I've done thus far! Your content helped make the jump. Looking forward to the story going forward.
Sir Aymeric triggers that part of my manly heart that knows a good leader and a good man when it sees one. It makes me understand how men before the time of corporations and crooked politicians could have loyalty for a leader, trusting their choices to be just and good. Also, you think the Warriors of Darkness story was sad before, lol.
i recommend ff9, story is soulcrushing and touches themes like the meaning of life, even doe is the most goofy looking ff it seems to be the deepest when it comes to story, ending is wholesome and sad at the same time.
The storytelling just gets better. I've already logged over 375 hours in the game and it has been a glorious adventure. Preach, go ye forth and drink from the cup of this game at your leisure.
Love the video, Preach! I wouldn't mind if you wanted to do a spoiler section in these videos with warnings at some point, I'm sure there's plenty of us who would love to hear the full-spoiler thoughts. I'm glad you're having a good time with it all! Welcome to Eorzea!
You summed up exactly how I started, coming from wow with no patience for dialogue, getting absorbed into the story before realising I had learned to love storytelling again
I KNEW IT HAHA. I totally called it in a past video. I knew Preach was going to LOVE Heavensward, specially the story and how it's presented. I bet he's gonna like it more than Stormblood, too.
Damn... I never thought baldness was relevant in any sort of way, but coming back here after months... Preach looks so much better holy fucking shit. Grats dude.
The surprising part is Heavensward story is even better than just the MSQ, the firmament quests are great, the custom delivery story lines are superb. Those little side quests nobody does have excellent text / world building in places. The fricken crafting quests there show a sensible extension of the world, and have some serious depth in places. Alexanders story is excellent etc. And it's the smallest things later on that bring it all back, the warcrys of support troops that rally to your side saying "Ishgard remembers". Or even the fact you occasionally run into Aymeric basically by accident and he stops what he's doing to say hi to an old friend.
The way he talks about trust in the story and the devs resonates so much with me. It’s true. They earn your trust that they will pay off story beats and take the plot in interesting directions, and they’ve never let me down. Even in Shadowbringers, where I felt like they were setting themselves up in ways that really could have backfired, they delivered, and it made me excited and hopeful for the next stage. I worry sometimes that we overhype this story, but it always meets expectations, which in itself feels so impressive to me.
![Why Heavensward's Story Is So AMAZING! [Spoiler Talk]](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/uPPfgtLCY5s/mqdefault.jpg)
Can we all have a moment of silence for the editors being spoiled on the story purely because it's their job, F.
Indeed Chris is a champ. I can do a full spoiler talk when he’s done because there are segments I really want to discuss with people.
@@Preachgaming Yes please.
@@Preachgaming Can't wait! Glad you are having a good time!
@@masterpain7742 This copium always brighten my day ♥ Keep it coming
@@MrCarlWax I wonder what copium smells like. I'm thinking stale beef for some reason
I really thought that Heavensward would be the pinnacle of storytelling for the game, and that nothing would ever top it.
Then I reached Shadowbringers.
Having just started 5.3 today: I agree with you. and I hear 5.3 is insane so i am prepared to lose my mind tonight.
@@Revima no spoilers but it’s one of the greatest moments in any game I’ve ever played
@@Revima if you want a bit of a braingasm, understand that there are actual lines of dialogue foretold in 4.0 MSQ that directly references events and dialogue in 5.3 (keeping away from spoilers, but pay attention in the Steppes).
Ishikawa was foreshadowing events that far ahead (even more-so if you consider she also wrote the Crystal Tower series), and that is amazing.
@@Revima May God have mercy on your soul ...
It was baffling too.
I still can't believe somehow heavensward story pales in comparison to how good shadowbringers was.
HOW?! How did they top heavensward?
So it has been said, so it shall be: Either quit in ARR, or become a walking advertisement for the game after Heavensward
Yeah I've had many WoW guildies go into ARR with the mentality of "fine I'll try it, now IMPRESS ME GAME". That isn't the mindset you need to stick with them game. You have to want something new and be prepared to absorb the journey.
I feel this so hard =)) , like I'm down to buy my friends the pack (arr->shadowbringers) if they would play it just so they can experience it :))
This is the way
Quite the case. Also, I've been viewing Preach's videos for quite some time and I've never heard him speak about wow in such a praising way. Usually it is systems discussions or broken stuff or "this is fun but i hope they wont ruin it." , like when he tried Torghast on PTR.
I'm one of those who quit in ARR because of how slow and tedious it was, then covid came and i went back to playing it. What really hooked me into the game was the shiva fight, god that was a really cool fight.
If you go to Azys Lla after Estinien walks out with flowers for Ysayle, you can find a spot where his bouquet is resting.
I didn’t know that! Where is it?
@@Ellyll8T IIRC it's on the ground near the landing area where you first fly into Azys Lla, with the rotating rings in the background. There's a quest available outside Fortemps Manor called 'The Paths We Walk' that should lead to the exact spot as well, can't remember if the quest is required to see the flowers or not though. Hope that helps!
:(
There's actually a questline that starts in the Fortemps Manor from the manservent that takes you there and to other places. Most people miss it, it's worth looking into.
@@janedoe885 Thanks! I'd done that, but I don't remember that part. I'll go look! Oh - damn. I guess it goes after you complete the quest, which I suppose I did years ago. off to see if it's in my journal! (it is not)
Well this meme continues to hold true: you either quit during ARR or you become a walking advertisement for FFXIV by the end of Heavensward
They knew exactly what they were doing by making the free trial include heavensward specifically
@@JackgarPrime Straight up, I would not have bought the full game if ARR was where I had to stop. I was invested pretty soon after Heavensward starts and was a for-lifer by the end of Alexander
ARR?
@@samtemdo8 A Realm Reborn, the base game
To hear Preach talk about the WoD. He's in for a treat.
I'm like near the end of 5.0 and I'm just like....oh....oh he's going to love this. It's insane too cuz they had this story in their bank for like what 2-3 years?
@@Soress9 SE plans stories upwards of 4-6 years ahead. You can see that with ilberd and the 2.0-4.0 storylines
@@enyaliosares4301 You definitely feel it. I also really like their transitions with going into the next expansion the X.5 patch just unloading mayhem on you in preparation for the next expansion really feels well done to me.
They always plan 2 expansions ahead. So with 6.0 just around corner, it means they are well into 7.0 and already started on 8.0.
@@Gofr5 In a recent interview with Famitsu, Yoshida mentioned that they have the groundworks for the next saga of the story worth 10 years more content to come.... Idk what they are planning, but the seeds will apparently be sown for it in Endwalker...
"I really don't want to put any spoilers in the video, because I know a number of people are not up to where I am.."
climax of iceheart's story playing in the background lol
The best story in gaming is the story of Mike's unbaldening. Seriously, it's looking good.
FFXIV has the ability to give people their hair back. Even Asmon is looking better.
@@khinzaw77 say that to Xeno :P
@@slanndermcdannder386 xeno skips story, I'm pretty sure that if he played it he would gain it all back
Calm down, Limit Max
I actually fear that his lightning is kinda causing parts on his left side to fall out again. It looks a bit uneven. ;)
Heavensward was one of the best story telling experiences I’ve ever played.
And then I hit Shadowbringers and proceeded drown my house in tears
I was not ready for the video that followed Legend of the Not So Hidden Temple
I still don't get the hype around Heavensward... it really was a generic anime/game storyline.
You must not play many games.
@@SyndicShadow yeah same. I mean it was good, but it is no where near the 'pinnacle of storytelling'
@@iceman3317 Yeah, not bad but pretty heavy-handed and predictable and I have to say I was mad that they un-assassinated Nanamo and took her death back
We don't lie when we make the memes about the award winning HW and it's FREE!
wish someone would spam that in the Trade chat in WoW
Wait FREE!? But does it have a time limit!?
We should extend the meme to include "After that you pay a sub and play trough the not nearly as much award winning but still good Stormblood and finally you get to Shadowbringers, the one that everybody tells you is better than HW, you won't believe them cause how can anything top that, but when you finish it you will stare in disbelief at the masterpiece you just experienced".
@@yoshiiscool2002 No time limit, you can play ARR and HW in full there are some limitations though like max level is 60 or not being able to use the market board etc.
You mean the award winning MMORPG that gives you forty-five(45) free days of game time just by playing their game?
Love how you put Grim's "I saw you skip the cutscene you little twerp!" in there. I've always agreed, it isn't for everyone, but I'm really glad to hear you've been enjoying it all so far despite the scepticism.
The issue isn’t really skipping, it’s skipping then complaining about being bored, lost, having nothing to do, etc. if you’re just here for the raids and feel like you got your money’s worth that’s fine.
@@jacobb5484 Yeah I don't really care how people play and enjoy the game. I do take issue with people bashing the story when you haven't experienced it.
@@jacobb5484 I still find it silly. you bought the game FULL price but only consume like 30% of it. seems a waste of money to me.
Part of the way through stormblood myself and so far Yotsuyu has been everything that Blizzard wanted Sylvanis to be but Blizzard could never pull it off.
because they never justify or glorify Yotsuyu.
@@keithfilibeck2390 They show you her motives and why she's the way she is. They even made me empathize with her a lot. However, they also show you what she is doing and how awful she is.
@@iraqiwalker1436 This was the Sylvanas of Cataclysm. Yes, Sylvanas did horrible things, so horrible that Garrosh even threatened to kill her if she didn't cease. But no matter how horrible the things she did, it was always shown that she did them for the Forsaken, not for herself. She truly was the morally grey character that Blizzard wished it could have made in BfA.
And you can end up feeling sorry for her, wanting to sit with her as she dies, give her comfort, and yet know she wasn't going to be redeemed. I like that they leave it uneasy, that your character can't always fix things or change things. (the Nier stuff just destroyed me for that, and I loved it so much)
A certain trial related to all of this may have moved me to tears in the middle of my rotation NGL
The fact that Preach is gushing this much over Heavensward makes me even more excited to see his review of Shadowbringers.
Preach ain't ready for 5.0 and 5.3
Lol no one is ever rdy for that
I ugly cry at 5.3. Scenes in that patch are psychologically calculated to push a button lol
I just did 5.3. It's stupendous. Absolutely brilliant!
What is so great about 5.3? Currently doing it and patches 5.1 to 5.3 has been some of the most boring content in the entire game for me
@@TheSilverwing999 I'm not sure whether you ask to be spoiled or you felt like complaining. I'll take it's the latter. Don't worry, your ADHD will settle for a while there.
I love how you pointed out the commonality between Aymeric and Hraesvelgr because that's honestly the crux of Heavensward right there: the conflict between humans and dragons is bridged by two people who have been abused by Thordan's lies and who decide to heal instead of let those wounds fester any longer. Man and dragon are not so different after all. Healing is possible for both sides.
The beauty of Heavensward I think is due to how the game switches the story at the patch quests. For the base expansion, Heavensward was Estinien's story - how he will stop the war and get revenge by killing Nidhogg. But then the story changes and becomes Aymeric's story - how he will rebuild Ishgard and lead this nation into the future. And then the two stories are brought together again in 3.3 in a masterful, emotional way.
What I loved about HW is just how very grey it was morality wise, like no one is entirely correct or wrong on the base scale (of course other than that one guy who was a dick and playing both sides)
The best part is that what the choice they connected on? There are several candidates.
Realizing that they have been through immeasurable hate, and they have to let go of it.
Aemyric realizing "My father must die," and Hraesvalgr realizing "My brother must die."
I liked that after the Warriors of Darkness present themselves and you as a player are thinking that it's kinda cringe, Kryle comes out and says basically that.
kryle has no chill.
ShB spoilers
I also like that even Ardbert later admits that calling their group The Warriors of Darkness was a pretty silly idea.
@@Kramdaddy Given what they thought was to be true at the time, it would only be a fitting name
@@Kramdaddy And yet, throughout that very same expansion that same silly name is turned into a beacon of hope for the world. That is kinda beautiful.
Preach loves Thancred. He knows its his favorite character, he's just in denial. 😊
After Tataru that is.
I like that he cares about Ysayle and Minfilia too. :) Ysayle is generally well-liked but her and Minfilia tend to get overlooked a bit with everything else going on with other characters.
He's a tsundere.
Preach, you make a good point about leaving threads from ARR until the end of HW.... but more impressive as you will see is how they leave threads from ARR until the end of Shadowbringers!
@BoothbyTCD He laughed at Warriors of Darkness. Understandable. But those breadcrumbs gonna blow his mind. Lol, I can't wait.
I remember when I first encountered them at the time, and I just thought, 'whatever, filler patch!' And by the end of the Role series in Shb, I would have basically died for them all. Especially Lamitt.
Watching you play and commentate on the shadowbringers narrative experience is literally one of my most anticipated pieces of content on youtube. Yes you've heard it a million times, but one RPG story gamer to another, it really does get even better.
I still cannot believe how much the story affected me, and I can't wait to see him play through it.
as a person who actually enjoyed ARR and thought HW was top 3 stories of all time, looking back yeah, it is baffling how better it got. ShB is special
While Stormblood starts slowly, it is a fantastic expansion in its own right. The dungeons and trials are especially magnificent compared to Heavensward, but the narrative lacks the same mysticism and romance of Heavensward. When you're through it, however, you have Shadowbringers waiting for you and _that_ expansion is the best of the three, for sure.
I think that Stormblood's biggest strength is its worldbuilding. The Azim Steppe section is one of my favorite areas in the entire game. While its story doesn't have quite the same polish as Heavensward, that expansion still has plenty of merit, so I'm glad to see your thoughts on it expressed so well!
A soft spot in my heart exists for Ishgard and Heavensward always, but Shadowbringers is truly the expansion that actually lives up to its hype. It is a story fantastically told and while having its hiccups manages to present a truly moving story. It's got heart, and I'm forever grateful I picked up this game to play it.
One thing I've thought about a lot in the HW vs. SB conversation is how much culture can affect people's experience of it, even subconsciously. HW taps into themes of not trusting the church, lies about your people's origin, and trying to find ways to atone for the mistakes of ancestors. SB taps into being colonized, being part of a diaspora, trying to hold onto your culture/ways when that very act can be seen as rebellion/reason to be punished, colonized people turning against each other out of fear/desire to survive.
As someone who belongd to a historically colonized and oppressed group, there were so many moments in SB that resonated and stuck with me. Those same moments have been labeled "confusing" or "weak" by people with a different experience (see: Lyse's character journey).
One thing I really appreciate about FFXIV is it exploring such different stories and themes. I just wish more players were less militant about "SB is bad" just because it didn't resonant with their own experiences as much.
I will never forget skydiving in the middle of a boss fight. Or dying to Lakshmi’s bosoms.
@@tangentkatz I never gave your point much thought but, wow, I can completely see that in the themes. I have a whole new perspective to approach that expansion with now. Thanks!
@Nalae Ulqiora personally I find stormblood makes you think there will be complex politics happening and then it just doesn't follow through. I don't like Zenos as an antagonist as he doesn't sell himself as a threat to me. And his instances really took me out of it. I think part of the problem lies with the character's goals which are kinda all or nothing which doesn't really mark him as a threat until he actually makes a move.
Expansion content do have a great tragic story though and I think that's the best they have done to tell part of a story during gameplay.
Shadowbringers is absolutely going to destroy him.
I look forward to his run through ShB and then the encore of Sorrow of Werlyt.
Absolutely. Especially after how hard Blizzard tried to call Battle for Azeroth shades of gray.
@@aircraftcarrierwo-class I only just did Werlyt a week or two ago. It's just brutal....
Im in 5.2 and have yet to get destroyed… I’m guessing I’m not there yet?
Can comfirm. Shadowbringers blew my mind. Even in comparisson to other expansions, this is my favorite one.
One of my favorite conversations about the story was when I asked my FC leader about something in the story, and he said “We’ll get an answer in three years, don’t worry”
The best way I can describe it: ARR was good. Stormblood was good.
Heavensward and Shadowbringers both felt the same as a book that I just couldn't put down until I either passed out at 5AM or finished it one.
What a perfect description. I'm still in StB and haven't gotten to ShB yet, but HW was like those books that I would read as a kid with a flashlight under the covers in case my mom came into my room to make sure I was asleep. Couldn't put that shit down until I finished lol
@@FloorTankMain Prepare tissues. 😢
I took me 6 years to realize what Preach has learned in over the months he played. I was a story skipper until I saw shadowbringer trailer. It was then that I gave the game another try and play it properly. I am so glad I did because the game has changed me. It taught me to take my time. The game is not about where you end up, it's the journey itself that's worth it. I am here now kicking myself for skipping story for so long.
I think the shadow bringers trailer is one of the best game trailers of all time easily.
To all those who've played and experienced it for themselves, no, you don't sound like a shill.
Man do you have a good time ahead of you, enjoy it mate!
“The end of [The Warriors of Darkness] story crushed me completely”
🤫
He will be DECIMATED in shadowbringers
@@KutluMizrak "Such devastation! This was fully our intention!" - FFXIV writers.
@@TheTriforceDragon Ishikawa never fucking misses
Would love to see a spoiler-full video from preach on what he thought about the story and what his favorite parts were
Look at him, he's almost a walking advertisement now, just two more expansions lol.
Glad you thoroughly enjoyed the HW story Preach, please keep doing so at your leisure!
I've been watching Preach's streams with a very wary eye, because he always seems so cynical. He makes it very clear that he doesn't like the anime moments, it's just not his thing. And yet, I wanted him to enjoy FF14, because it's just such an enriching experience. I had been waiting for him to finish 3.3, because it is a signature moment in the game, and it would bear the truth of if it's for you. After this big 3.3 battle and cutscene, when he immedietly said it was one of the best story's ever, it was like the tension bubble I had been holding for months finally burst. Glad you're here, Mike!
To be honest though, I'm a weeb and even I don't like the anime moment at the end of Praetorium.
II has been *very* satisfying to see FF cut through many people's deep cynicism. I think it's why I keep following these guys. It's good for my own heart.
just another youtube content farmer. he sued all the content in wow now move to next game
Love how people are seeing how awesome FF14 really is. ARR and Heavensward was out around the same time of WoD and Legion, so remember this is 6-8 year old content. FF14 has always been awesome, just took a while for people to experience it.
Really glad you're enjoying it. There is one thing I recommend you do before hitting SB, it's a "generic" (gold) quest chain starting in Fortemps manor called "The Paths We Walk". 5 quests each starting where the other ends, super easy to miss but I'd say very important to a few loose ends from HW. Even has it's own space in the NG+ log.
After watching this... holy shit... Mike might actually really like Stormblood if he's cool with the slow burn.
I'm one of the few crazies that actually preferred it's story to HW (which also fantastic)
Other than the first half of ARR everything has been great for story telling. Job quests as well. Except for Paladin.
They don't have a bad expansion, not a single one. They're all amazing. I was baffled why people dump on SB, granted it is between HW and ShB.
@@anangrydruid6990 What, you don't like lighting braziers?
100% agree. Stormblood overall better than heavensward
@@jeffreysmith1314 Even the people who dump on SB don't call it bad. Just not as good as HW. As someone who felt the same way, I can tell you my main issues with SB were somewhat because of pacing. In addition, Lyse's development felt a bit undercooked, if that makes any sense. Other than that, it was a really good expansion.
The fact that ShB was the successor, and HW was the predecessor puts it in an awkward spot where while it is a damn fine game on its own, it feels a bit weaker than those. Which is not a bad thing, really. Being in 3rd place after Usain Bolt and a Lamborghini is an excellent result.
When the FFXIV Sub-a-thon goal was revealed, this was the video that I wanted to see, and the one I was most afraid I wouldn't get to. I absolutely love, and feel immensely honored that I get to watch this journey through a new MMO experience that I absolutely know will forever alter Mike's perspective going forward. It allows me to externally appreciate the same journey that I went through, and helps inform my own view of how FFXIV has impacted my own perspective of what can be done with story in a game.
In regards to FFXIV itself and the extreme competence that YoshiP and his crew demonstrate, I think what hits me the most is how so damn thorough they are. You can really see this in the care and effort they apply to constantly updating the idle text (and physical location) in characters around you. It is overwhelming to consider, and that is with non-MSQ content considerations. That they take the time to address such a breadth of threads, even when it boils down the the fate of a minor or incidental character that you encounter in the MSQ, is mind blowing. That they have the balls to let that thread sit for one (or more) expansions so that it appears forgotten, is masterful.
Anti-spoiler minfilia is unironically terrifying and stares into my soul.
Bro I can't believe there isn't more people mentioning that it's horrifying LOL
It's the eyes man...
THE EYES...
I remember rolling my eyes when the Warriors of Darkness were introduced, but I feel completely differently about them now. I'm looking forward to hearing your thoughts on Stormblood, but I am especially excited to hear your thoughts on Shadowbringers.
I felt the same, was kinda curious where/why they came outta nowhere, and then got gut-punched by the "we did everything right" speech. The VA did a great job on it omg. Then I spent the next however many years wondering wtf happened to them. >.>;
Preach i think you realize why some of the community wants people to play through MSQ i think other games have given people the wrong mindset about story usually thinking its not important waste of time.. If people take there time through FFXIV MSQ i believe it will pay off i honestly love seeing gamers genuinely enjoying FFXIV to see them feeling connected to certain characters..
Having watch you play through RPG Feb on stream, having experienced Chrono Trigger and Divinity some years beforehand...it's been a pleasure watching you discover this path. I finished 5.4 last month and think it might just be my #1 video game story of all time! Let the tears flow, Mr Preacher. The best is yet to come.
A perfect example of the devs taking their time and how long into the future they plan for the story:
At the recent kupocon, one of the VAs (not saying who to avoid possible spoilers for some players) was asked about something they talked about at one of the previous kupocons, which is, back before Heavensword, this VA was told about a huge story moment for their character, to help the VA understand their character and how they should act that character over time for future expansions.
Well, that VA said that they still haven’t recorded the lines for that arc, and that's including for Endwalker….. In other words, the devs have had something planned for a character and the overall story since before Heavensward, which began development in 2013-2014, and we still aren’t at that point and won't see that until after Endwalker.
And that’s just one character and one plot point, who knows what the story team has planned besides that.
So when Yoshi-P recently talked about how they have been planning for the next 10 years, he meant that very literally. These devs are on another level!
It's amazing to see you happy to play a game. Love the vods and content !
I'm happy to hear that you are appreciating the story Preach. I hope Shadow Bringers blows your expectations away!
Keep plugging along, i loved your advice about letting it breathe. it took me the better part of the year to progress slowly through the game. Certainly not because I couldn't play it but more for the joy of the story itself, I wanted to take it in fully and immerse myself in it. A small word of advice for your future endeavors, one adventurer to another, pack a box of tissues for Shadowbringers. You'll thank me later. Happy travels mate!
Oh boy can't wait for him to get through 5.0 and 5.3
Okay so i skipped the text boxes, but watched the cutscenes or the voiced dialogues when i first played heavensward way back when, watching you voice everything actually made me realise that there is so much more attention to detail than i first thought.
I loved how he had a mini breakdown when he noticed Ardberd story mirrored what was happening with him and the Wow development team
I'm so excited FOR YOU, Mike, to be experiencing this fully. I spent about 14 years years playing WOW-- it's heartbreaking to see what became of it. But... like you, playing and experiencing FFXIV... man, it just makes me smile. When you've finished it all, I'll share a fan-made video that's amazing and wraps up ARR through ShB.... but after so nothing is ruined. I sincerely believe after Shadowbringer, you'll be saying IT is the best MMO story you've experienced, the whole of it. And I'm thrilled you're taking your time, not rushing. Like opening a fine bottle, you're letting it breathe. Well done!
Oh dude, I definitely teared up in The Witcher 3 at that one scene...
Vessamir?
@@jeffreysmith1314 No, with Ciri.
Glad you enjoyed it! Been really enjoying your streams, including the housing contest. They're a lot of fun.
Right, I've only just finished going through all expacs... But bloody hell the story is so, so good. Can't wait until you get to the end of Shadowbringers so I can see your reaction to that!
most impressive about the later stories is that everything leading up to that point, somehow has an impact and the people in it have believable relations to it. As a lover of rpg you simply cant skip this, its world class.
Can't wait to hear your thoughts on 5.3! I am so glad you're enjoying the game :) !
I Wonder If preach knows any past FF game to get the references of other games from the franchise along the way
Mike, you better have a box of tissues ready for the Sorrow of Werlyt questline in Shadowbringers. Hands down, the best story telling I've ever seen in any video game. It left me shook to say the least. Please make a note to make a video after you complete this one. The fights are excellent too, but the story... omg.
I tried playing ff14 2 times and just could not get through the not voice acted cutscenes. I just gave up. Wasn't for me.
Then I saw Preach stream the game and 'voice act' the cut scenes. Hey, now I know the story, now I can play the game. And now my summoner is level 52 and going strong. So, thanks for that. :D
You could voice act them yourself. Give it a go!
It's a meme that Heavensward is absolutely amazing. I figured they meant it was really good, similar to other big name RPGs... And that its reputation was inflated and over-hyped.
I just finished Heavensward today. The story was incredible. When I look back at how other games tell story, it's unforgivable now that I've seen how well it CAN be done. They built a big but somehow simple story that had so much punch and power. I have an emotional response for almsot every single character in it. I care when things happen to them. People start getting developed who were overlooked in ARR.
Don't skip it. It's worth putting the time aside and playing the story.
I can't play Dragonsong in the car if I'm driving, it makes it so I can't see the road...
I'm so glad you're enjoying the story Preach, I'm about half way through Heavenward myself, just finished the Vault dungeon and I just can't get into it, I hope the second half is able to capture me because I so want to enjoy this story with everyone else.
I hope that you can go into Stormblood with as open a mind as possible. The community likes to talk it down, but there are many fantastic elements to it and I think it suffers from the fact that people insist on ranking things.
I went into stormblood blind not knowing or hearing anything about it. I do think that Heavensward just set the bar so high, that by the time I got to Stormblood it felt underwhelming. Even the trailer felt very underwhelming, I remember finishing Heavensward and then watching the stormblood trailer. I didn’t feel as hyped as I did when I watched the trailer for Heavensward the first time. That in itself set the tone for me of how that expansion would be. I went in blind with not biased or anything. Stormblood really does shine in Doma and the patches for sure tho, it was just getting out of ala mhigo (which I consider, the not that great part)
I completely agree.
I like that Preach is going for a more complete approach to the game instead of just rushing through the MSQ. Something I’ve noticed from many recent streamers who seem to Zerg the MSQ really fast is that they don’t remember a lot of the nuance things presented and thus miss out on many connection points to the overall story and the world. Just like with any great story, sometimes you’ve gotta let it digest and maybe talk about it with others before you flood your brain with new information. The side content also helps to further the overall story of the world and is often referenced in other content if you’ve completed it.
Stormblood has some pacing issues in the base expansion but is still a good story, it just takes a while for it to get its act together. But after you hit the patch content it's just a rollercoaster ride until the end of Shadowbringers. Enjoy Preach, it makes me happy seeing a behemoth in the WoW community discovering this game just like I did years ago.
yea, that is one of my major points of criticism for Stormblood. It just takes so freaking long for the story to kick into gear.
If we're talking about video games that moved us: for all it's technical blunders, I found Cyberpunk's stories very strong emotionally. At the end of my ~100% 120 hours playthrough, that's a world I was genuinely sad to leave, a journey I felt very sad to end, and characters I felt very sad to say goodbye to.
the joy I feel from hearing a fellow gamer appreciate the same mind blowing experience I did, can't express fully. It's hard to not almost be mad people are missing this. Not that it's for everyone obviously, but damn. For an MMORPG even, just unreal. It's not perfect, but it certainly raises the bar, right? I have friends who are huge FF or RPG fans that refuse to play this, so watching you go through it has filled that void of enjoying it with someone who shares my passion. Thanks for that :D
Stormblood is alright, but it's a hard act to follow Heavensward.
Stormblood has a slow start, but it gets good pretty quickly imo.
yeah. I am at about half of SB and it's so boring compared to HW
Yeah I think it suffers from that but its also a different type of story that is more political, it plays out like a journey which is visualised on the map every time you move to a new location, if people approach it with that mindset I think its quite fun following that path and dealing with issues in each zone, pay off is definetly great as well :)
Stormblood's story might be a step down, but I think its raid content was the best the game has done.
it was also just kind of hard LIVING in Stormblood for years, i have no idea what it must feel like playing through it knowing you can just FINISH it
It's good that Mike is going through the whole experience of FFXIV. The game really highlights the importance of the journey, and teaches a great lesson in story telling.
To think this was our YEARS AGO when we were suffering through and bitching about WoW. I don’t regret many of my EARLIER (keyphrase xD) years with WoW, but I imagine this was really incredible to the folks experiencing it as it was being released.
I think HW was during WoD
Eh experiencing on release is fine and all but the game has huge content draughts. As a new player you won't know until you experience it in endwalker. I think a lot of people will be surprised. As a veteran player I sometimes leave the game for a few months and come back to do the story patches in one go. Waiting for each gets boring fast.
@@TheSilverwing999 Fair point. However, even the content droughts have seasonal events and repeating collabs to keep things interesting. The nicest thing about FFXIV as a game is actually that you can leave for a few months and comeback without feeling like you missed out, or lost progress.
@@iraqiwalker1436 Yoshi-P has actually said that's how he hopes people play FF: play up until you don't want to do anything else, then go play something else. It's the healthiest attitude for an MMO dev to have. Blizzard, naturally, bucks that trend and fights tooth and nail to create endless systems that it forces players to run through every week so that they don't fall behind, just to keep people subbed.
I started playing around mid ARR, and in my opinion, anyone who started in SB and later had a much better time of it haha. The content is all the same, but the way the game actually plays is drastically different now than it was back then. They’ve made so many system improvements and quality of life additions since then. I typically compare Stormblood to BC and Heavensward to Wrath. Stormblood was a huge leap in gameplay and overall playability of the game, whereas Heavensward had the stronger setting and story.
It has been refreshing to see you smile when talking about video games again.... just wanted to put that out there.
It was very hard to stay subscribed for a while there when things were really rough with WoW.
I felt it too! I had to unsub for awhile because it was all just too much.
I have fallen in love with FFIXV, but here is the crazy thing... I love it and play it, but I am also playing Civ 6 allot! Too much actually, LOL! I also have gotten back into some shows on tv at night with my wife instead of 'working' on my toon in WoW.
So glad I moved on. I am enjoying other video games, and spending more time with my wife to boot!
Anyway, so glad to see you smile about a video game again, just have fun!
"I feel like a shill but..." Yup. Sums it up perfectly. I feel like a shill but...it really is that good.
Thanks for this Preach. I’m nearly done with ARR and this will help motivate me to finish up over the weekend and maybe start Heavensward
As someone who quit in the middle of ARR and came back years later, it's so worth it to go through it
You can do it! Remember, you can take the journey at your own pace so if you need a break, take it! The story will be waiting for you. I will say that once you hit the end, it picks up tremendously, so I hope you enjoy!
Once I was through with Heavensward I decide that FFXIV was the best RPG I have ever played..and believe me, I have played A LOT of them. Stormblood and Shadowbringers of course just solidifies that belief for me. Shadowbringers was SO good. So good, in fact, I struggle to think of even *how* can a story be better than it? Guess we’ll found out in Endwalker
I feel like this where the New Game+ feature shines the most, for players who have skipped story and are interested in it later. You can replay through any point of the MSQ and re-experience just the story itself with your current gear and level! (Though you will be sync'd down for lower level MSQ)
So awesome to see you enjoying your journey, hope you will continue explore and enjoy the lore of the game as it comes! Take care!
something you could say to your friends who are only into endgame is that you dont have to shoot to max level to take part in the endgame. explain how much fun you had with ramuh ex. and then tell em to let it breathe like you said.
Preach your hair is out of control man! Looking good dude awesome to see it worked for you :)
This dude really thinking Heavensward is the best thing ever when Shadowbringers exists. And you know what, I hope Endwalker emotionally obliterates me.
I started in May and just finished up to current. All I’ll say is just wait until you finish Shadowbringers and then watch that endwalker trailer that was released a few months back. Absolutely incredible one of the best trailers I’ve ever seen when knowing all the context.
I was honestly expecting Planescape: Torment to be the #1 storytelling game, but Divinity is good too!
The one thing I appreciate the most about FFXIV is the story. I’ve never been an mmo player even tho those games always intrigued me and I’ve tried out several, but I have no friends who are interested in playing with me. The fact that I can play FFXIV solo and enjoy this story is the reason I stuck with the game all the way to Shadowbringers.
I will say being a dragoon main during heavansward was an amazing treat. The few extra dialogs you get just makes you feel better but man. Heavansward is amazing.
Preach, so glad you are enjoying the game. I don't want to spoil things, but you are spot on that all the threads remain and get better. Stormblood is also good, but you are absolutely going to love Shadowbringers.
If you think heavens ward was that good, wait for shadowbringers.
Shadowbringers raises the bar so God damn high because of how good it is, I can't imagine how they gona surpass with endwalker.
Actually makes me worried for EW lol
@@xXAkirhaXx Worried? Makes me excited because I know its going to be better than Endwalker. This is the most hyped I've been since I was kid and that is impressive in its own right lol.
Endwalker could either be great or a huge steaming pile of disappointment. They've set a high bar
Slowly plugging away at MSQ during my free trial that ends here soon. Been loving everything I've done thus far! Your content helped make the jump. Looking forward to the story going forward.
Sir Aymeric triggers that part of my manly heart that knows a good leader and a good man when it sees one. It makes me understand how men before the time of corporations and crooked politicians could have loyalty for a leader, trusting their choices to be just and good.
Also, you think the Warriors of Darkness story was sad before, lol.
That one scene with an ax as a war main...
Glad to see Preach join us in the "Walking advertisement" phase :D
Its a great game
NO ONE SAY ANYTHING ELSE but holy fuck based on what I just watched Shadowbringers is going to crush him in all the best ways.
i recommend ff9, story is soulcrushing and touches themes like the meaning of life, even doe is the most goofy looking ff it seems to be the deepest when it comes to story, ending is wholesome and sad at the same time.
I love this series you're doing, keep it up :)
Dev's ideal takeaway: The long game pays off the most, but requires the most investment.
When Preach hits Shadowbringers...
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Seto is going to destroy him.
The storytelling just gets better. I've already logged over 375 hours in the game and it has been a glorious adventure. Preach, go ye forth and drink from the cup of this game at your leisure.
Waiting for him to call shadowbringers a masterpiece
Love the video, Preach! I wouldn't mind if you wanted to do a spoiler section in these videos with warnings at some point, I'm sure there's plenty of us who would love to hear the full-spoiler thoughts. I'm glad you're having a good time with it all! Welcome to Eorzea!
You summed up exactly how I started, coming from wow with no patience for dialogue, getting absorbed into the story before realising I had learned to love storytelling again
Stoked that Preach is enjoying the game - honestly, so stoked.
I KNEW IT HAHA. I totally called it in a past video. I knew Preach was going to LOVE Heavensward, specially the story and how it's presented. I bet he's gonna like it more than Stormblood, too.
Damn... I never thought baldness was relevant in any sort of way, but coming back here after months... Preach looks so much better holy fucking shit. Grats dude.
The surprising part is Heavensward story is even better than just the MSQ, the firmament quests are great, the custom delivery story lines are superb. Those little side quests nobody does have excellent text / world building in places. The fricken crafting quests there show a sensible extension of the world, and have some serious depth in places. Alexanders story is excellent etc.
And it's the smallest things later on that bring it all back, the warcrys of support troops that rally to your side saying "Ishgard remembers". Or even the fact you occasionally run into Aymeric basically by accident and he stops what he's doing to say hi to an old friend.
This was awesome to see. Glad you’re enjoying it Preach.
"I'm not an heartless soulless cold machine"... that's exactly what an heartless soulless cold machine would say ! **Pikachu face**
The way he talks about trust in the story and the devs resonates so much with me. It’s true. They earn your trust that they will pay off story beats and take the plot in interesting directions, and they’ve never let me down. Even in Shadowbringers, where I felt like they were setting themselves up in ways that really could have backfired, they delivered, and it made me excited and hopeful for the next stage.
I worry sometimes that we overhype this story, but it always meets expectations, which in itself feels so impressive to me.
I can't wait to watch you touch up on this topic again in the later expansions.