In its fifth major expansion, Dawntrail, Final Fantasy XIV is facing its biggest existential crisis yet: where does your story go now that the 10-year plot has ended? Dawntrail moves forward with a delightful summer adventure in the land of Tural, doubling as a Trojan horse for what the future of the MMO’s long history holds. Dawntrail doesn’t match the narrative highs of the previous pair of expansions, and it’s flawed in some ways, but its themes of heritage, the importance of culture, and the responsible use of technology resonate throughout.
Feeling more like a Shonen anime than a fantasy epic of past expansions, Dawntrail has a completely different feel than the hundreds of hours I’ve poured into FFXIV thus far. It begins with a tournament of sorts, where four pretenders are vying for the title of Servant of the Dawn, replacing the beloved retired ruler of the new continent of Tural. Instead of being the center of attention, I’m helping the main character of this expansion, the energetic and passionate Wuk Lamat, in her quest to ascend to ruler of her people, competing in a succession rite ending the evidence.
Rather than fueled by conflict, these refreshing trials are lessons in leadership, testing each contestant’s worthiness for the throne of Dawn. I wish the act of completing these quests was more than a menial task, but Dawntrail’s masterful world-building far outweighs my boredom at the lack of action in the early hours. At the core of each trial are fascinating lessons about Tural’s different cultures and regions based on Latin American countries. I am amazed at how much I connected with the trade-centered Pelupelu and found joy in reconnecting the colorful bird people called the Hanuhanu with the significance and magic of their harvest rituals. Making me care about the people of Tural goes a long way towards strengthening my desire to make things right for them when things inevitably go south later in the expansion.
Despite its simple premise, Dawntrail tackles some heavy themes within the legacy rite and beyond. Wuk Lamat aims to take the throne to maintain the current peace her father has built for Tural over many decades. However, she is not the only one competing for the title of Servant of the Dawn. Her brother Koana favors improving society with foreign science. Another brother wants to seize peace by conquering everything, while the powerful and ruthless Bakool Ja Ja foresees a return to the old ways where the strongest rule and the weak beneath them. Through each of their actions, Dawntrail explores how we deal with grief, the legacy we leave when our time on this mortal coil ends, and the perversion of the natural order using advanced technology. The deeper the philosophical rabbit hole Dawntrail went, the more invested I became and the more forgiving I became of some of the awkward tone shifts and occasional character inconsistencies.
While I love her anime main character energy, sometimes it’s hard to get Wuk Lamat’s back as an ideal ruler of her nation. Her passion is infectious, and her curiosity and willingness to listen and learn are admirable, but her actions often conflict with her pious beliefs. While striving to be a beacon for justice and peace, Wuk Lamat sometimes sacrifices her convictions and sweeps under the rug large enough atrocities that she would otherwise hold accountable. It’s disappointing that these aren’t the moments from which she learns her biggest lessons, but rather the breaking points, taking away from the intriguing and complex interactions that should have been explored.
Dawntrail’s dungeons and trials are consistently a delight, serving up great combat scenarios paired with the best tunes on the expansion’s catchy soundtrack. Each boss fight has unique mechanics that are intuitive to learn and build upon each other, forming complex combat puzzles that are satisfying to solve if you’re paying attention. After playing an MMO for hundreds of hours, it’s nice to have challenging content that tests what I’ve learned and introduces new ways to keep me on my toes.
Dawntrail doesn’t reach the heights of Final Fantasy XIV’s previous expansions, but its path is different. Its mission is to start a grand new tale, and it absolutely succeeds in laying the threads for the future while weaving an effective story of legacy and loss. Although I have complaints about the pacing of the quest and the contradictory actions of the main character, I have enjoyed my time exploring Tural and look forward to seeing what the next chapter of the story brings.