| Final Fantasy XIV: Stormblood | |
|---|---|
 Collector's edition cover art depicting Lyse | |
| Developer | Square Enix Business Division 5[a] |
| Publisher | Square Enix |
| Director | Naoki Yoshida |
| Producer | Naoki Yoshida |
| Designers |
|
| Programmer | Kiyotaka Akaza |
| Artists |
|
| Writers |
|
| Composer | Masayoshi Soken |
| Series | Final Fantasy |
| Platforms | |
| Release | June 20, 2017 |
| Genre | MMORPG |
| Mode | Multiplayer |
Final Fantasy XIV: Stormblood[d] is the secondexpansion pack toFinal Fantasy XIV: A Realm Reborn, amassively multiplayer online role-playing game (MMORPG) developed and published bySquare Enix formacOS,PlayStation 4, andWindows, then later onPlayStation 5 andXbox Series X/S. It was released on June 20, 2017, just under two years afterHeavensward, the previous expansion. Like for its predecessor,Naoki Yoshida served as director and producer andMasayoshi Soken composed the soundtrack, withNobuo Uematsu contributing the theme song. The expansion pack was released as a standalone product for current players; for new players, the "Complete Edition" ofFinal Fantasy XIV that originally launched withHeavensward was updated to include both expansions. In order to make necessary engine improvements, service for thePlayStation 3 game client was terminated with the expansion's early access period. A special upgrade campaign allowed affected players to obtain the PlayStation 4 version for free.
Stormblood marks a shift in the ongoing conflict with the Garlean Empire. Players lead rebellions in the imperial provinces of Ala Mhigo, an Eorzean city-state conquered twenty years ago, and Doma, aFar Eastern nation with a proudninja tradition. These regions are administered by the emperor's son, Zenos yae Galvus, whose brutal oppression of the conquered imperial subjects impels the player to act. Traveling these diverse lands, players join forces with the Ala Mhigan Resistance and the deposed Crown Prince of Doma. In addition to adding new areas, the expansion pack increases thelevel cap, adds two newcharacter classes, revamps the battle system for existing combat classes, and introduces swimming gameplay.
Stormblood was well received upon release and earned nominations for "Expansion of the Year". By August 2017, the title had reached a cumulative total of 10 million accounts.[1] As with its predecessors, major content patches were scheduled for every three months. The first one—"The Legend Returns"—was released on October 10, and premieres a storyline written byYasumi Matsuno that features his signatureIvalice setting, as well as a special "Ultimate" difficulty battle, designed to be the most challenging content in the game.
The gameplay and quest structure ofStormblood largely match that of its base game. As with many MMORPGs, players interact with each other in apersistent world that responds to their actions. A dramatic overhaul of the battle system accompanies thelevel cap increase to level 70.[2] The changes fall into three broad categories.[3] First, battle abilities were redesigned to eliminate redundant actions and improve the flow of combat. Second, a new set of "role actions" ensures that all players can access critical abilities to their role—tank,healer, or damage dealer. Finally, all classes gained a "Job Gauge" that displays all class-relevant information in a more visually distinct way.[3][4] Two new job classes were introduced as well—the katana-wielding Samurai and the versatile Red Mage, both damage-dealing classes.[5] These jobs begin at level 50 with their own storylines connected to the new settings. UnlikeHeavensward, they are accessible to any player with a level 50 class, regardless of story progress.[5]
In addition to new dungeons and raids,Stormblood introduces a newplayer versus player (PvP) mode called Rival Wings. Two teams of 24 players face off ingoblin-runwar games. Points are earned by destroying opposing bases and robot minions. Players are able to call down and pilot giantmecha after achieving certain objectives. The mode has been compared tomultiplayer online battle arena (MOBA) games.[6]
Finally, a new area called "The Forbidden Land, Eureka" debuted with Patch 4.2. Its gameplay is inspired by "old school" MMORPGs, includingFinal Fantasy XI and others.[7][4] In Eureka, players must use an elemental wheel to exploit monsters' weaknesses and increase their own Elemental level. Unlike the rest of the game, players loseexperience points if defeated and can even "Level Down".[8] Later sections of Eureka permit the use of Logos Actions, which are unique spells and abilities that players craft using materials found in the zone.[9] Eureka culminates in a high tier raid called the Baldesion Arsenal that challenges 56 players to work together to overcome it.[10]
Stormblood occurs on three main continents of Hydaelyn, a fictional planet with diverse Earth-like climates, focused on the Garlean imperial provinces of Ala Mhigo and Doma. The Empire seeks to eliminate "primals" - summoned beings shaped like deities which deplete the land of life - but chooses brutal expansionism and religious persecution to stop summons. Found at the eastern edge of Eorzea, the focus region of previous expansions, the city-state of Ala Mhigo rules over the arid Gyr Abania region. Itsland bridge to the other continents acts as abuffer state to Eorzea.[11] Twenty years before Stormblood, the Empire conquered Ala Mhigo in the wake of a popular uprising against the monarchy. Gaius van Baelsar, thelegatus leading the invasion, had intended to conquer all of Eorzea, but stalled in the face of Eorzean and dragon resistance. He instead builds Baelsar's Wall at the Ala Mhigan border, waiting for an opportunity. Further, he established the Crania Lupi ("Wolves' Skulls"), a native Ala Mhiganirregular unit offering citizenship for service. After Gaius' defeat inA Realm Reborn, the new Emperor Varis zos Galvus made his son, Zenos yae Galvus, imperialviceroy. Zenos' harsh and sadistic tyranny contrasts with Gaius' egalitarian, meritocratic policies, and he whiles away his time seeking worthy opponents for lethal combat.
Doma, in the far East, is a previous conquest of Zenos. Formerly a proud martial kingdom, Imperial occupation has sent rightful Prince Hien into hiding and broken the peoples' spirits. Leaving for Ala Mhigo, Zenos promotes Yotsuyu goe Brutus, a Doman turncoat who hates her countrymen, to acting viceroy. Doma takes inspiration from the cultures of ancient China and Japan.[12][13]: 0:27:17 The Azim Steppe, north of Doma, houses numerous nomadic Au Ra tribes, who hold an annualNaadam as their leadership competition, based on the Mongolian Naadam festival.[12][13]: 0:27:17 Hingashi, an isolationist island nation, lies eastward across the Ruby Sea. Only the port city Kugane lies open to foreign trade, with Hingashi proper off-limits, acting as pastiches ofEdo-era Japan andNagasaki, respectively.[12] In the Ruby Sea reside turtle-like Kojin tribes, and the Confederacy, a loose pirate coalition and protection racket. While Gridania, Ishgard, and Limsa Lominsa remain involved, of the Eorzean Alliance states, only Ul'dah plays a major role inStormblood, due to Flame General Raubahn Aldynn being an Ala Mhigan refugee.
Immediately prior toStormblood, an Ala Mhigan Resistance faction makes afalse flag attack on Baelsar's Wall in Eorzean Alliance uniforms, hoping to restart the war. The player character, named the Warrior of Light for defeating Gaius, and their peacekeeping allies the Scions of the Seventh Dawn, arrive to restore order, but one Scion, Papalymo, sacrifices himself in the process. His travelling companion, an Ala Mhigan orphan named Lyse who had posed as her elder sister Yda, is inspired anew to throw off the Garlean occupation. The twins Alphinaud and Alisaie, and the Scions' coinkeeper Tataru, aid her. The Alliance ultimately captures the Wall and fortifies, expecting imperial retaliation. Meanwhile, Gosetsu, one of Hien's retainers, comes to recall Yugiri and able-bodied Doman refugees. The Alliance contacts the main Resistance force across the Wall, led by Conrad and his lieutenant M'naago, while Zenos moves to crush the rebellion, aided by the Skulls' commander, Fordola.
Stormblood opens with sympathetic Alliance leaders hoping to aid Ala Mhigo. Raubahn dispatches the Warrior of Light, Lyse, and the Scions to meet the Ala Mhigan Resistance, seeking support for an Alliance incursion. Conrad, a major Resistance leader, gladly accepts their aid. However, Fordola rem Lupis, a Garlean loyalist, devastates the resistance headquarters in a surprise attack. Garlean Prince Zenos yae Galvus joins, easily outmatching even the Warrior. Unimpressed, he withdraws, leaving survivors to rebuild. Unable to confront the Garleans head-on, the Scions follow Alphinaud's suggestion to foment revolution in Doma, Zenos' other province headed by the cruel Yotsuyu goe Brutus, to divide the Imperials' forces.
The group sails for the Far East. In Kugane, they reunite with Gosetsu, crossing the Ruby Sea, aided by Blue Kojin traders. They also convince the Confederacy to drive out the Empire by breaking its contract with the Red Kojin mercenaries and defeating their primal, Susano. They find Yugiri in Doma, whom Prince Hien has asked to measure his peoples' will—if they desire freedom, he will return from exile to lead; if not, he will surrender himself to Garlemald to ease his people's suffering. When Zenos arrive in Doma for an inspection, the Warrior attempts to assassinate him but is again defeated. Zenos, intrigued, spares the Warrior, seeking a future, more intense conflict. Villagers previously rescued by Yugiri rally and drive off the Imperial retinue.
Inspired by their spirit, the Scions travel to the Azim Steppe seeking Hien. He lives among the Mol, who nursed him to health after a previous failed rebellion. Planning to win the upcoming Naadam for the Mol, he hopes to lead the Steppe's warriors to bolster the liberation army. After passing Steppe initiation trials, Hien and the Scions gain the Mol elder's blessing to participate. The Warrior secures victory for the Mol, and the Steppe's warriors eagerly join Hien's cause. Returning to Doma, Alphinaud presents Hien with a Far Eastern Alliance: the Confederacy, Doma, the Blue Kojin tribe, and now the Azim Steppe tribes. They assault Doma Castle, defeating Yotsuyu's forces. Defiant, she collapses the castle atop them, but Gosetsu holds the ceiling up for the others to escape; both he and Yotsuyu are presumed dead. Hien reclaims his kingdom and pledges to aid Ala Mhigo in kind.
On returning west, word spreads of Doma's freedom; numerous Imperial provinces go into open rebellion, stretching their forces thin. The Ala Mhigandiaspora and liberated labor-camp workers swell the Resistance's ranks. Raubahn and Conrad press the advantage, taking a key bridge on the route to the capital, opening access to Gyr Abania proper. The Warrior and Lyse also defeat the primal Lakshmi to clear the way. In the next battle, Fordola sends artillery fire against a Garlean watchtower on Zenos' orders, killing its defenders and mortally wounding Conrad. His last request makes Lyse leader of the Resistance.
The liberators push into the Lochs surrounding the capital, building aforward operating base. The Scions infiltrate a Garlean base and extract their comrade Krile, whom Garlean scientists had experimented on to replicate her Echo. Fordola has become their prototype "Resonant" and Zenos receives the perfected version.[14] The Scions capture Fordola through trickery to fool this ability. With air support from Hien, the Alliance storms the capital. The Warrior faces Zenos a third time, finally overpowering him. Zenos retreats, unveiling the primal Shinryu, captured byOmega above Baelsar's Wall. Using his Resonant powers, Zenos fuses with Shinryu and battles the Warrior. Zenos and Nidhogg's eyes are ejected from Shinryu upon its death; Zenos commits suicide, completing Ala Mhigo's liberation, while Estinien later arrives and destroys the eyes. In post-credit scenes, Lyse amiably resigns from the Scions to focus on rebuilding Ala Mhigo; Emperor Varis (Zenos' father) is visited by Elidibus; and Gosetsu and Yotsuyu are revealed to have survived.
Lyse calls a constitutional conference of local and tribal leaders. One Ananta tribe summons their primal, Lakshmi, pushing Lyse to call on Fordola's Resonant resistance. Together, she and the Warrior defeat Lakshmi, and the conference begins drafting for aparliamentary republic. Meanwhile, sultana Nanamo pursues repatriation of Ala Mhigan refugees, via rebuilding theSaltery, producing jobs and valuable resources. With an emotional farewell, she persuades Raubahn to return to his homeland, promoting his son Pipin to Flame Marshal.
The Warrior and Yugiri find Gosetsu and atotally amnesiac Yotsuyu. Hien, heeding Gosetsu, commutes her sentencefor mental incompetence. However, the arrival of her stepbrother and Garlean ambassador, Asahi sas Brutus, complicates matters. Claiming to represent thereformistPopulares party, which opposes Garlean expansionism, Asahi suggests a prisoner exchange: Domanconscripts for Garlean prisoners of war, including Yotsuyu. His only demand is that Doma prevent any summonings in its territory. Hien readily agrees, but due to Yotsuyu's condition, denies her status as a Garlean citizen: if she regains her memories, she may join the exchange, otherwise she will remain. Asahi returns with the conscripts and his parents; the shock of seeing them rekindles Yotsuyu's childhood memories of abuse and being sold into prostitution. Armed by Asahi, she murders them and returns to him. He manipulates her into summoning the primal Tsukuyomi during the exchange, breaking the treaty as he intended. The Warrior defeats her, but as she dies, she avenges herself by killing Asahi as well.
Afterward, the Warrior learns Asahi acted on orders from Zenos, who has mysteriously survived his suicide, to discredit the Populares and promote the warmongeringOptimates faction.[15] The exchange completes under Maxima quo Priscus, Asahi's lieutenant and a loyal Populares member; he promises to carry Doma's peace treaty faithfully to the capital. Alphinaud joins him, hoping to survey Garlean politics. Zenos' personal guard downs their airship mid-flight, but a Garlean calling himself Shadowhunter rescues them. The other Scions seek Zenos' grave, finding it empty, and suspect an Ascian has possessed his corpse. Eorzean Alliance leaders meet in Ala Mhigo to invite it to join, and to debate their next move. A psychic disturbance afflicts the Scions, seeking to "throw wide the gates", leaving Thancred, and later Y'shtola and Urianger,comatose. In Garlemald, a revived Solus zos Galvus, in truth an Ascian, reminds his grandson Emperor Varis that Solus founded the Garlean Empire "solely to spread the seeds of chaos".
Maxima, and many Populares, defect to Ala Mhigo. Alphinaud has stayed with Shadowhunter to investigate Ascian activity, while the Empire mobilizes to retake Ala Mhigo. Meanwhile, Hien assembles a Far Eastern Alliance of Doma, local tribes, Steppe warriors, the Confederacy, and nearby provincial rebels. They re-purpose ancient Allagan technology, erecting a massive energy barrier against Garlean air attack, which blocks the Shadowhunter's vessel. He brings Alphinaud, who has also fallen comatose. The Warrior identifies the Shadowhunter as Gaius Baelsar, who survivedthe destruction of the Ultima Weapon. He has discarded his title of "van", focusing only on slaying Ascians.[16] He reveals the Emperor has begun producing the chemical weapon Black Rose and mobilized the provinces, under command of Elidibus possessing Zenos' body. Further, Lahabrea's death has left Elidibus and the mysterious Emet-Selch as the last Ascian leaders. Gaius departs for Garlemald, harrying Black Rose production; while Hien leaves for Ala Mhigo, joining the Warrior of Light and the Alliance leaders toparley with Varis before the ground invasion.
Varis reveals to the Alliance that the Ascians created the Empire to sow discord and bring Calamity, and explains that they seek to undo the planet's sundering; their Calamities merge Shards back into the Source. He offers an alliance: permit Calamities to continue, until the reunited souls of mankind are strong enough to fight the Ascians directly. Disgusted, the Alliance unanimously refuses, and battle commences. Alisaie falls comatose soon after the successful first engagement. The Warrior drives off Elidibus, but nearly succumbs to the disturbance, leaving a stalemate. The speaker gives instructions: seek abeacon at the Crystal Tower to avert a ruinous future. Meanwhile, the real Zenos, who had cheated death by using the Echo to switch bodies, sets out towards Garlemald to reclaim his body.
Planning forStormblood began well over a year prior to its announcement with a "scriptwriting retreat" involving producer and director Naoki Yoshida and the main scenario writers.[4] Full development began in October 2016 with the team size ultimately reaching over 250.[12] The process for developing an expansion involves laying out the progression from main game to expansion in detail, and categorizing these elements so that developers would not get confused between patch content and expansion content which were being created simultaneously.[17] Yoshida emphasized in his design philosophy that an expansion to a MMORPG should have as much content as the base game.[18] Having explored the skies in the previous expansion,Heavensward, Yoshida made the seas a focus of this expansion and included swimming gameplay.[19][20] For the setting, Yoshida felt that players would expect Ala Mhigo based on the direction of the story so the designers pushed to include an entirely new area to surprise them.[21] The art team deliberately drew a contrast between two different types of Japanese aesthetic for Doma and Hingashi, rather than simply replicating the Edo Japan of the popular imagination.[4] The expansion was announced at the Las Vegas segment ofFinal Fantasy XIV Fan Festival 2016, which took place in October of that year.[22] Further details about the expansion were released at the Tokyo and Frankfurt events, including the release date, new jobs, locations, and raids.[23][24]
"Story skip" and "level boost" items debuted with the launch ofStormblood.[25] These were created in response to complaints about the long story questline that might be daunting and inhibiting to new players. Yoshida explained that they were deliberately priced to be as expensive as the game itself to discourage players from using them too freely, instead urging prospective players to experience the story from the beginning.[25] The developers responded to criticism of the PvP system by dramatically overhauling it inStormblood. All jobs gained dedicated PvP actions that arebalanced separately from the rest of the game.[26] The changes were aimed at paring down the number of actions to produce a smoother experience.[27] They are also designed to support a potential PvP tournament scene, including the "Feast Regional Championship" series which was held as a part ofFinal Fantasy XIV Fan Festival 2018.[28][29]
Yoshida brought onYasumi Matsuno, director ofFinal Fantasy Tactics and otherIvalice games, as a guest collaborator to work on a series of large-scale raids for the expansion.[30] Yoshida met Matsuno, an avid player ofFinal Fantasy XIV, at a work dinner and was surprised by his request to be allowed to write something for the game.[31][32] Matsuno wrote the scenario for the "Return to Ivalice" raids, which involve uncovering the ruins of the ancient Ivalician civilization and exposing the truth about theZodiac Brave Story, based on the fable of the same name inFinal Fantasy Tactics. He made an effort to integrate the story into the existingXIV setting and ensure that players who were not familiar with previous games set in Ivalice could still enjoy it.[30] When Matsuno saw how enthusiastic the development team was about the first part of Return to Ivalice, he felt compelled to expand the story and design for the later parts.[31]Keita Amemiya, creator and character designer ofGaro, was invited to contribute monster designs for these raids.[33][34] In exchange, armor and weapons fromGaro were added to the game as part of a collaboration event.[35]
Stormblood also featurescollaboration events withMonster Hunter: World andFinal Fantasy XV. The seeds of the former were planted during the development ofA Realm Reborn in 2011.[36] When Yoshida took the job as producer and director of the redevelopment efforts, his friend andMonster Hunter series producer Ryozo Tsujimoto tried to warn him away from the project, fearing for his career trajectory. When Yoshida persisted, Tsujimoto offered assistance fromCapcom andMonster Hunter to promote the game. Yoshida declined this as well, wantingFinal Fantasy XIV to succeed on its own merits. Remembering this gesture, Yoshida and Tsujimoto reconvened during the development ofMonster Hunter: World to finally make good on the latter's suggestion with the goal of celebratingMonster Hunter's newfound global audience.[36] The collaboration consists of a boss battle against Rathalos inStormblood and a Behemoth hunt inMonster Hunter: World.[37][38] The collaboration withFinal Fantasy XV was also long in the making. In the run-up to its release in 2016,Final Fantasy XV directorHajime Tabata and Yoshida discussed working together but wanted to wait for the right time in their respective content schedules.[39] In both games' events, players battle the other title's version ofGaruda to win new outfits andmounts.[40]
Support forPlayStation 3 (PS3) ended with the release ofStormblood. The change allowed developers to increase the speed of loadingnon-player characters, as the PS3 had limitedinput/output capacity, which in turn permitted faster travel speeds for mounts.[41] A special upgrade campaign allowed affected PS3 players to obtain the PlayStation 4 version for free.[42]Stormblood also updates the game for compatibility withPlayStation 4 Pro. Two modes are available, one focusing on framerate and game performance and the other focusing on graphical resolution.[43] Acompanion app for mobile phones was released in August 2018.[44] It allows players to chat with friends, schedule events, manage inventory, and sell items using the in-game Market Board.[45]
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The development team schedules the release of a major update approximately every three months. Each of these free content patches includes a continuation of the main scenario as well as new raids, features, trials, and dungeons. Minor patches that come in between major updates focus on quality of life improvements. WithStormblood, Yoshida reallocated resources to facilitate the development of new types of content (e.g. Eureka, Ultimate raids) by reducing the number of dungeons added during odd-numbered patches.[46] As with previous expansions, Square Enix released five major patches forStormblood over the course of its two-year content cycle.[47]
| Patches and expansions | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Patch | Title | Release date | Notes |
| 4.0 | Stormblood | June 20, 2017 | The Omega: Deltascape raid debuted two weeks post-launch with a Savage difficulty mode released two weeks after. Aided by a cartoonishChocobo called Alpha, the player is challenged by Omega, a biomechanical reality-altering alien, in a tournament of creatures it has fabricated by observing this new planet. |
| 4.1 | "The Legend Returns"[48] | October 10, 2017 | This patch begins the "Return toIvalice" 24-player raid series. Players travel to the Royal City of Rabanastre in search of Jenomis, a Garlean playwright who has gone missing. This update also premieres the first "Ultimate" difficulty battle, called the Unending Coil of Bahamut. Other features include an Extreme trial against Shinryu, a new PvP mode called Rival Wings, the ability to challenge dungeons withAI-controlled Adventurer Squadrons, and player housing in Kugane. |
| 4.2 | "Rise of a New Sun"[49] | January 30, 2018 | In Omega: Sigmascape, the player challenges more of Omega's creations, including a mad clown namedKefka. In the trial series, Genbu, one of theFour Lords, employs the player to quell the raging energy of his fellow Lords so they have the strength to renew the seal of an ancient monster, starting with Byakko. The first area of Eureka, Anemos, debuted in this update, as well as a new map for the Feast PvP arena. |
| 4.3 | "Under the Moonlight"[50] | May 22, 2018 | This patch continues Return to Ivalice with the Ridorana Lighthouse, where players defeat the dragon Yiazmat. Doman Restoration sees players aiding in the country's reconstruction efforts. This update also introduces another Ultimate trial, The Weapon's Refrain; a venture into the next area of Eureka, Pagos; and a new 100-floor Deep Dungeon called Heaven-on-High. Finally, by popular demand, the "bunny suit" costume was made wearable by male characters.[51] |
| 4.4 | "Prelude in Violet"[52] | September 18, 2018 | The Omega raids conclude in this patch with Omega: Alphascape, where the player defeats Omega. Other features include a new trial against Suzaku, one of the Four Lords, and a new area in Eureka, Pyros. |
| 4.5 | "Requiem for Heroes"[53] | January 8, 2019 | Released in multiple parts, this patch sets up the events ofShadowbringers. The Return to Ivalice storyline concludes with the Orbonne Monastery, where the player enlists the aid of the Dalmascan Resistance to locate and defeat an ancient evil known as Ultima, the High Seraph. The Four Lords storyline culminates in a battle against Seiryu, and the ancient seal is finally repaired. The Eureka series also wraps up in Hydatos with a raid on the Baldesion Arsenal. Other features of this update include a new "Limited" job, Blue Mage;[54] a new map for Rival Wings, the Hidden Gorge; the ability to travel to other servers within a data center using the World Visit system; and the addition ofmahjong as a minigame. |
Masayoshi Soken composed the majority of the expansion's score—over 100 tracks—in addition to his duties as sound director.[55]Nobuo Uematsu composed two vocal tracks, "Stormblood" and "Revolutions"; the former is a collaboration with Soken and the latter serves as the main theme for the game. Susan Calloway returned as the featured vocalist.[56] Soken used "militant advance and invasion" as the central idea to the soundtrack, contrasting between powerful military marches and "those on the receiving end" of this encroachment.[57] An example of this is the Ala Mhigannational anthem, "The Measure of His Reach". It has two versions, the original and a version used under the Garlean occupation that has harsher sound and more violent lyrics.[13]: 0:38:40 The mainmusical phrase of "Stormblood" reappears multiple times throughout the soundtrack with different instrumentation and stylings to match the context.[58] Due to the setting, Soken incorporated Asian instruments into his orchestration and chose to pare down the number used in field tracks, such as the Yanxia theme which had onlyharp andkokyū.[57][58] He is particularly proud of his work on Shinryu's and Tsukuyomi's primal boss battle themes, which include motifs from "Stormblood" and Yanxia's theme respectively.[59] Each phase of the Tsukuyomi battle theme references a different aspect of Yotsuyu's life.[60] This theme, "Wayward Daughter", received the most votes in a player poll to select the track list for a "Best ofFinal Fantasy XIV"compilation album.[61]
Final Fantasy XIV: Stormblood Original Soundtrack collects music from the launch of the expansion pack to Patch 4.3, "Under the Moonlight". The album was released by Square Enix on July 4, 2018, onBlu-ray Disc and includes a code for an exclusive "Wind-up Tsukuyomi" in-game pet.[55] The album earned praise from Harry Gill of Original Sound Version, who appreciated the increased budget and production values afforded with the new expansion. He singled out the Lakshmi battle music, "Beauty's Wicked Wiles", as his favorite primal theme in the entire game and felt the soundtrack overall was stronger than the previous expansion's.[62] Though he felt "Revolutions" was weaker than previous vocal pieces, Greg Fisher of Video Game Music Online was impressed by Soken's ability to maintain a consistent quality over such a large and eclectic score.[63]
| Aggregator | Score |
|---|---|
| Metacritic | PC: 87/100[64] PS4: 89/100[65] |
| OpenCritic | 92%[66] |
| Publication | Score |
|---|---|
| Destructoid | 9/10[67] |
| GameSpot | 8/10[68] |
| GamesRadar+ |   [69] |
| IGN | 9.2/10[70] |
| PC Gamer (US) | 92/100[71] |
| USgamer |  [72] |
Stormblood continued the positive trend set byHeavensward, with many reviewers calling the expansion even stronger than its predecessor.[72][73][74] Reception of the expansion was "generally favorable" for both PC and PlayStation 4 versions, according toreview aggregator websiteMetacritic, based on 21 and 15 reviews, respectively.[64][65] Out of 39 reviews onOpenCritic, 92% recommended the game, with a top critic average score of 88.[66]Stormblood sold 33,000 units across standard and Complete Edition versions in Japan in its first week, making it the best-selling video game of the week in that region.[75] It exceeded the developers' expectations in terms of sales, critical response, and player numbers.[4]
Praise for the story was common among reviews. Mike Williams ofUSgamer commended the game's restraint in unfolding the complexity of the narrative and increasing emotional investment into the characters, calling it a "slow burn".[72] Mike Fahey ofKotaku thought the game did a good job of keeping a fast pace and maintaining the player's motivation.[74] Simon Parkin ofEurogamer appreciated the influence Yasumi Matsuno had on the story's tone.[73] Many reviewers singled out the game's themes about thenature of war andcolonialism for particular praise.[68][70][72] Others, including Williams and Sam Prell ofGamesRadar+, noted that the excellent writing for the villains were a boon to the story.[69][72]
Reaction to other aspects of the game's pacing was more mixed. Most critics agreed the new side quests were still lacking, although Fahey acknowledged their variety as an improvement on the previous expansion's.[72][73][74] Because of this, Prell felt the balance of the levelgrind between story missions was off, a criticism also lodged by Leif Johnson ofIGN and Steven Messner ofPC Gamer.[69][70][71] On the other hand, reviewers recommended players to avoid the paid "story skip" and "level boost" items in favor of playing the story for themselves.[69][71][73]
Various aspects of the gameplay and battle system received near universal plaudits. Chris Carter ofDestructoid described battle encounters as "stylish and engaging" and Prell and Messner were impressed by the Susano boss trial, the latter comparing it toMetal Gear Rising.[67][69][71] The system-level changes to combat were also well-received, including the streamlining of role actions and job unlocking,[74] the consolidation of underused stats,[67] and the Job Gauge user interface.[70] Another consistent feature of reviews was praise for the two new job classes, Red Mage and Samurai. Red Mage's interweaving of melee and ranged attacks earned a glowing response, Samurai was lauded for its combo system, and both were commended for providing unique gameplay experiences.[67][68][71][74] Finally, Carter and Messner took time to extol the improvements toPvP, with Messner calling it "one of my favorite activities inStormblood".[67][71]
Reviewers applauded the artistic and environmental design of the expansion.[69][74] Ginny Woo ofGameSpot felt that the Asia-themed zones were "well-integrated" into the story.[68] Johnson saw "new heights of creativity" in the wild plains of the Mongolia-inspired Azim Steppe.[70] Carter noted that the4K resolution mode onPlayStation 4 Pro was an impressive feature.[67] Reception for the addition of swimming gameplay was less enthusiastic. Although Fahey found the underwater environments to be visually appealing, he concluded that it was "woefully underutilized", a sentiment echoed by Carter.[67][70]
Overall, critics praisedStormblood as an improvement overHeavensward.[72][73][74] Fahey observed that the game is "one of the few [MMORPGs] able to maintain a monthly subscription model".[74] Carter concluded that the expansion followed the "same routine as the base game", but admitted "that routine is a winning one".[67] During the 2017 awards cycle, the expansion won "Best MMO" fromGame Informer,[76]Bleeding Cool,[77] andRPGamer.[78] It was also Editor's Choice for "Best Post-Release Content" atPlayStation Blog.[79] In the 2018 cycle, the game won "Best MMO" fromMassively OP.[80]
Zenos: I speak of the Echo, of course. Does it merely render you immune to eikonic influence? [...] But when I read van Baelsar's reports, I immediately saw the boundless potential of the Echo. I saw how it could be instrumental in binding an eikon to one's will. Hence my research and the Resosant - and oh so much more!
Zenos: Once negotiations are underway, you are to locate the acting viceroy. [...] When you have found her, you will initate a ritual to call forth an eikon. [...] The eikon is merely a message. The pacifist teachings of the Populares spread this city like a plague, and I would remind the people of the threat we face.
Gaius: Do you remember how it unfolded? How I was deceived by Lahabrea? [...] The Ascian used me as he used so many others - all to further the restoration of his wretched God. [...] To surrender my life would have been to betray all who died for my cause. It was for them I dragged myself free of the rubble, and swore vengeance of the Ascians.
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