Recent reviews by Erinkaze

On the 3rd February, 2025, in the newest newsletter Gaijin introduced an auction system where players can bid GJN (Gaijin Coin) on virtually limited tank and jet skins. (1GJN = 1$ basically). It sets out an horrible precedent where in the future they could start selling Rare, removed from the game or OP vehicles for exorbitant prices (As in 70$ jets weren't expensive enough). If this system isn't criticized by the community at large, the rare vehicle scenario might actually happen knowing how greedy Gaijin is.

Vote with your wallet and remember - Every negative review matters.

EDIT - 07.02.2025: Today a Gaijin added a response to my review and while I understand some of the points - I've decided to keep this review around. Game is suffering from a lot of smaller to bigger problems, from weak battle passes, balancing, bugs, grinding, and me (As well as a good chunk of community) doesn't exactly trust the company for a lot of good reasons. There has to be a visible, continuous change for the better for that to change.

Needs more time in the oven.

Expansion that's thankfully carried by practically everything but the story. If you rate Dawntrail on the basis of Zones, Music, Dungeons/Trials/ETC - It's an phenomenal expansion.

With a story? . . . Oh well. I'd still recommend it but seemingly mismatched intentions, lackluster writing and pushing certain characters in every crevice will disappoint a lot of MSQ oriented players.



I'd like to keep it brief as with everything you should experience the Expansion by yourself. This review isn't supposed to steer you towards buying it (or not) but mostly as an recollection and subjective opinion. If you're an active XIV player it's simply impossible to partake in the game without latest expansion so hey - At least you'll know what you're getting into.

First six hours is a slog, which mostly consist of you walking, talking to people and exploring the extremely well crafted areas. In fact - You basically encounter minimal fighting before the first dungeon, which is a precedent for the entire MSQ. I daresay that it was as bad as pre-nerfed ARR wine arc which should tell you exactly everything. Instead of sense of adventure and exploring new continent like trailer would like you to imagine It's more akin watching an youtube vlogger visiting those places themselves. Extremely annoying vlogger.

And her name is Wuk Lamat

I really, really tried to like Wuk Lamat, throughout my entire experience and I have to say that towards the end she wasn't horrible. Just bad. (Or maybe it's the Stockholm syndrome from spending so much time with her?). Her entire presence is so overwhelming that besides being tedium to you, she actively makes all other characters worse. Really. It feels like writers made her important to the point of others not receiving proper development. Especially after halfway point a lot of those you meet have seemingly really interesting baselines that are sadly not explored or developed. Why? Because Wuk Lamat. A lot of story beats could be way better without her, especially right at the end.

I'm not saying that she's the worst character in the expansion (Because certain red head is) but considering that more than 90% of quests include her. . . she'll get tiresome extremely quickly.

Nevertheless I liked some bits of the story and ending was nice. It would be nicer without her though! Eh . . . Yeah.

Erenville and S. deserved way better.


Now. Everything else. Zones? Great. Music? Phenomenal. Dungeons and Trial? Phenomenal.
Two hub cities are distinct and different from each other and offer something fresh compared to everything we've seen so far. One nitpick I have is that second one is tad too spread out. But sights are great.

Both dungeons and Trials aren't too easy and aren't too hard either giving a fair difficulty. If you die it's mostly skill issue, and not the design of the encounter. Not much I can say without spoiler territory but I can assure you those are the best encounters in entire XIV.

Pictomancer and Viper from my limited experience are fun classes. Viper especially so, with given challenge of learning and "busyness" (which is getting adjusted, for some reason) and should be easy to pick up.

Overall - Everything that's not MSQ Story is great. I'm sure people who don't care about it and skip everything will have swell time - They'll have to skip a lot though lmao.

If I'd have to rate entire expansion without Story - Easy 9/10. Great. Amazing. Problem is - You cannot. And I just cannot think of proper score for it overall. What's fair? How you should weight different elements? I leave that, my dear viewer - To you.

Thanks for reading!

I'm currently going through the Netherlands as my main campaign - While skimming over other new additions and I gotta say. I am so so surprised that EU4 ended up being the one with the good DLC's in the end - Considering all the turmoil and other game expansions being reviewed horrible (for a right reason).

If that's an last one I'd say it's an amazing send off - Rounding up Europe, adding much needed stuff in Americas and so forth.

Great work o7

After newest patch I cannot really recommend the game, especially if you're playing 8-9 difficulty. Punishing only viable way to play at max difficulty is a horrible idea.

It's my go to Relax game. Put on some podcast/music and drive around the Europe - You'll have genuinely calming experience that way.

"There’s no good time to increase prices, and we have not taken this step lightly. However, this is the business reality of supporting WARHAMMER III and ensuring we’re able to offer the years of extra content that are currently planned."

And the actual reality of the situation is that you've burned last bits of community goodwill you've had.

EDIT 25.12.24: It seems that CA and TWW3 is heading in a better direction overall and hope is on the horizon. DLC system seems to be better as well with updates although implementation of factions could be better. Thus it's time to change the rating to the positive one.

We were promised better Project Reality and instead we've been given a slew of promises that were never delivered, delayed roadmap and fortnite style monetization.

Rock and Stone.

I very much like it. Solid, even if small upgrade over the original version makes it best and most pleasant way to do some walking and listen to some nice music in the meantime.