The first tests and impressions of Final Fantasy XIV Stormblood are here. Fans and critics are initially enthusiastic.
MMORPG tests are time-consuming. An expansion like Stormblood offers well over 50 hours of gameplay content. For a final evaluation, one must delve deep into the endgame and add another 50 hours.
Stormblood has only been playable since June 16 in early access, and there were problems at launch – so those aren’t many hours that can theoretically be played. Nevertheless, the first fans and testers have already gone through Stormblood for days. They haven’t taken a break and have devoured the second expansion of Final Fantasy XIV.
In tests, features, and on the review platform Metacritic, fans and critics share their first impressions. And the majority of the impressions are exceptionally positive, almost enthusiastic.
Dualshockers: Best story of all Final Fantasy games
So writes on Dualshockers the MMO expert of the site, that the story of Final Fantasy XIV is the best of all Final Fantasy games. The author has been following the MMORPG since 1.0 and witnessed the end of the first version.
For him, the story of Stormblood maintains the high standard of Heavensward. The story grabbed him and didn’t let go. He laughed, he cried, and in the end, he let out a victory cry.
He now feels connected to the characters of Final Fantasy XIV and their story. The author wonders how Square Enix plans to surpass this.
Destructoid: Everything is good, except for the water issue
A positive review can be found on the site Destructoid. There, Stormblood is rated nine out of ten possible points.
Destructoid attests that the team at Square Enix knows what they’re doing. The story is as strong as in the single-player entries of the Final Fantasy franchise.
This time there are no slip-ups with the instances; you can easily find groups, and the instances are exciting. Numerous “quality-of-life improvements” such as the larger inventory, a better world map, and easier tracking of the main quest are highlighted positively in the review.
Square Enix has fixed so many issues that you can feel the overall pleasant experience.
New classes successful
Additionally, the two new classes Red Mage and Samurai are successful. The Red Mage is one of the most active classes in any MMO, and the Samurai offers variety for melee DPS fans.
Destructoid notes a problem: Swimming and diving feel half-hearted and play no significant role.
The tester notes after three years of Final Fantasy XIV that the expansions of Final Fantasy XIV have their pros and cons. They are “very good”, but then tend to fall into a routine.
User ratings on Meta-Critic and Steam for Final Fantasy XIV Stormblood
The first user ratings on Meta-Critic and Steam convey a positive message:
- Thus, the PC version of Final Fantasy XIV Stormblood is at 8.2 out of 10.
- The PS4 version is even at 8.9.
- On Steam, 85% of reviews are positive, with 38 positives to 8 negatives. The negative comments revolve around the login problems at launch and the fact that you must purchase the DLC since the old content becomes irrelevant. One criticism laments what has been done to the gathering professions with Stormblood.
We will share our impressions of Stormblood with you at Mein MMO! Until then, we will support you with guides to help you make your own experiences in Stormblood.
Feel free to let us know in the comments how you experienced the first hours in Final Fantasy XIV Stormblood.
Interesting: Final Fantasy XIV Stormblood: How to become Samurai or Red Mage
