29 thoughts on “We Brought the Shadows – 5.3 | FFXIV Shadowbringers”
I was more emotional over Elidibus. He was a villain and didn't even remember *why*. At least Emet knew why he was doing it. And I felt no real victory when we defeated him, poor villainous baby.
Sort of fun fact about the trial music when fighting elidibus…Soken wrote it while in the hospital with cancer and going through treatment. None of his staff new, he only told Yoshi P.
If we were to consider 5.3's denouement as the ending of a video game, it'd easily be the most satisfying one I've experienced, and I've been playing games since '87.
Something I found out from an interview about "To the Edge" is that Soken Wrote it in hospital while battling Cancer. Adds a real extra dimension to it.
My First time fighting Elidibus and having emmit save us…I could barely function for the rest of the fight. I was full ugly crying, and trying to beat his. And then to see that he was a child when he offered his self up to Zodiarc…more tears. And then Seto…and then seeing Graha awake and part of the scions…more tears, happy ones this time.
To the edge has kind of overridden every version of that motif. I can't hear the Amaurot theme without singing to myself, "in monochrome memories our tears are painted in red ♫"
Herein I commit the chronicle of the traveler. Shepherd to the stars in the dark. Though the world be sundered and our souls set adrift, where you walk, my dearest friend, fate shall surely follow. For yours is the Fourteenth seat—the seat of Azem.
Now did anyone in the stream tell them about this magnum opus of Shadowbringers was written while Soken was secretly in the hospital working on the music to meet patch deadlines while battling cancer?
I feel everyone who loves the game should watch that Fan Fest moment to truly grasp the passion this team has for the game and for us.
The thing about FFXIV's graphics is that, in terms of geometry and scale and stuff they are actually pretty good (and certainly as good as WoW), but the "problem" is that the actual art style and scene direction asks too much of the engine at times. But when everything comes together well, the game can look amazing for a MMO – and that is increasingly the case in later expansions.
My hope going forward is that they put more man power towards custom rigged animations and more VA, because the game's cutscenes (like the last one of 5.3) really come to life when they take the time to do real performance capture and stuff instead of text boxes and models cycling through canned emotes. This stuff has also improved as the expansions have gone on, but I'd like them to really take it to the next level.
The small Easter Eggs I really love from the Seat of Sacrifice are that A) The "Warriors of Light" Elidibus calls upon are all references to various party members from FFIV (The Black Mage and White Mage are Palom and Porom, the Summoner is Rydia, the Archer is Rosa, the Ninja is Edge, the Warrior is Cid, and the Dark Knight is Cecil).
and B) the moment when all of the spectral WoLs pose behind Elidibus is a direct reference to the FFXIV logo itself.
you've probably already been told this, but that song for seat of sacrifice hits even harder when you realize Soken wrote in while he was literally fighting for his life in a hospital room getting treated for cancer.
but yeah, i love this game for the shameless cheese of it. They spend a lot of time hitting you in the feels and there's absolutely no apologies for it, it's an epic fantasy and they revel in everything that implies. It's the kind of thing you can just enjoy nerding out over.
LOL THE ZOOM IN ON PAPALYMO xD I knew it was coming because you mentioned it on stream today but it still got me. [edit] I can usually hold myself together during all the good bye cutscenes, but then the final one with Lyna where she says "and that if he should ever find himself reminiscing on the past with a smile, we shall be smiling with him" i just break down. Gets me every time.
Shadowbringers & Endwalker are th e same to me as Infinity War & Endgame. Yes, Infinity War is "objectively" better, but Endgame was for the fans. The callbacks, the fan service, and a beautifully wrapped ending.
One of my favorite things about Phase 3 of the Seat of Sacrifice (which we got to see several times) is that they synced up the timing of Elidibus saying "Salvation" with the lyrics, so it magnifies it when it's said. Additionally, as a tank main, I will say that I haven't missed a tank LB3 … since the last time it was required in MSQ …
I think the Elidibus thing isn't an Ascian going crazy… but an Ascian succumbing to dementia and an entity that powerful must be put down before they do real damage. It can be argued whether or not Emet Selch or Elidibus is the more tragic death.
I think what hit me the hardest was when you realize that Elidibus was originally just a CHILD. Makes the concept and execution of him being so so lost in his own memories and objective a bit more heart breaking.
But wait, Shadowbringers isn't done until the last content of 5.5 is completed. You've still got Nier, Sorrows of Werelyt, and Eden to complete. When you rate this expansion, do it like we do which is base + .X MSQ content + 8 man raid series + 24 man raid series + trial series. You do it that way, and you'll understand why Shadowbringers is the apex of the expansions thus far with the jury out on EW cause it's not done yet.
Patch 5.3 really made me feel for Elidibus. Never thought a ton of him before, but they way they explained his character, how broken he was, how he couldn't remember anything except for his duty…. and then after you beat him when he repeats the words that Lahabrea and Igyeorm said to him about the rains ceasing… but with the final "But you are not here to see it." It msde me realize that Ishikawa knows how to properly develop a character in a short time frame and make you feel for them.
Those "nerd chills" and "adrenaline rushes in your spine" actually has a term: frisson – it's a physiological response to audio and visual stimuli, and it's a huge reason why Japanese story tellers tell stories the way that they do – they have worked to get as many people as they can to all feel frisson. There's a video on here called "Why Anime Makes You Emotional" by Kinda Neet that talks about this in greater detail.
I was more emotional over Elidibus. He was a villain and didn't even remember *why*. At least Emet knew why he was doing it. And I felt no real victory when we defeated him, poor villainous baby.
Ah, yes, 5.3, the Crying Patch.
Hell yeah, 30k subs! I definitely wouldn't mind an art nerd video about the ending cutscenes of 5.3, you know!
Sort of fun fact about the trial music when fighting elidibus…Soken wrote it while in the hospital with cancer and going through treatment. None of his staff new, he only told Yoshi P.
If we were to consider 5.3's denouement as the ending of a video game, it'd easily be the most satisfying one I've experienced, and I've been playing games since '87.
Something I found out from an interview about "To the Edge" is that Soken Wrote it in hospital while battling Cancer. Adds a real extra dimension to it.
My First time fighting Elidibus and having emmit save us…I could barely function for the rest of the fight. I was full ugly crying, and trying to beat his. And then to see that he was a child when he offered his self up to Zodiarc…more tears. And then Seto…and then seeing Graha awake and part of the scions…more tears, happy ones this time.
If they'd decided to end the game with 5.3 I would've been completely satisfied.
To the edge has kind of overridden every version of that motif. I can't hear the Amaurot theme without singing to myself, "in monochrome memories our tears are painted in red ♫"
Herein I commit the chronicle of the traveler. Shepherd to the stars in the dark. Though the world be sundered and our souls set adrift, where you walk, my dearest friend, fate shall surely follow. For yours is the Fourteenth seat—the seat of Azem.
you're welcome for the sharlayan bread
Now did anyone in the stream tell them about this magnum opus of Shadowbringers was written while Soken was secretly in the hospital working on the music to meet patch deadlines while battling cancer?
I feel everyone who loves the game should watch that Fan Fest moment to truly grasp the passion this team has for the game and for us.
But… but seto tho 😢
The thing about FFXIV's graphics is that, in terms of geometry and scale and stuff they are actually pretty good (and certainly as good as WoW), but the "problem" is that the actual art style and scene direction asks too much of the engine at times. But when everything comes together well, the game can look amazing for a MMO – and that is increasingly the case in later expansions.
My hope going forward is that they put more man power towards custom rigged animations and more VA, because the game's cutscenes (like the last one of 5.3) really come to life when they take the time to do real performance capture and stuff instead of text boxes and models cycling through canned emotes. This stuff has also improved as the expansions have gone on, but I'd like them to really take it to the next level.
The small Easter Eggs I really love from the Seat of Sacrifice are that A) The "Warriors of Light" Elidibus calls upon are all references to various party members from FFIV (The Black Mage and White Mage are Palom and Porom, the Summoner is Rydia, the Archer is Rosa, the Ninja is Edge, the Warrior is Cid, and the Dark Knight is Cecil).
and B) the moment when all of the spectral WoLs pose behind Elidibus is a direct reference to the FFXIV logo itself.
you've probably already been told this, but that song for seat of sacrifice hits even harder when you realize Soken wrote in while he was literally fighting for his life in a hospital room getting treated for cancer.
but yeah, i love this game for the shameless cheese of it. They spend a lot of time hitting you in the feels and there's absolutely no apologies for it, it's an epic fantasy and they revel in everything that implies. It's the kind of thing you can just enjoy nerding out over.
Weren't the actual Amorout ruins (and Emet's recreation) beneath the seas near Eulmore? Is that why that vision appeared there?
LOL THE ZOOM IN ON PAPALYMO xD I knew it was coming because you mentioned it on stream today but it still got me.
[edit] I can usually hold myself together during all the good bye cutscenes, but then the final one with Lyna where she says "and that if he should ever find himself reminiscing on the past with a smile, we shall be smiling with him" i just break down. Gets me every time.
I absolutely HATED Fandaniel. Honestly after how perfect 5.3 could have ended the game (dont bring back zenos) i was horrified of Endwalker.
Trust the writing. I had some reservations on couple moments (small) and as always, trust in FF14 paid off in the end.
Shadowbringers & Endwalker are th e same to me as Infinity War & Endgame. Yes, Infinity War is "objectively" better, but Endgame was for the fans. The callbacks, the fan service, and a beautifully wrapped ending.
Endwalker is the same, and hot damn i cant wait
One of my favorite things about Phase 3 of the Seat of Sacrifice (which we got to see several times) is that they synced up the timing of Elidibus saying "Salvation" with the lyrics, so it magnifies it when it's said.
Additionally, as a tank main, I will say that I haven't missed a tank LB3 … since the last time it was required in MSQ …
That time you streamed FFXIV is/was just trip 😉
I think the Elidibus thing isn't an Ascian going crazy… but an Ascian succumbing to dementia and an entity that powerful must be put down before they do real damage. It can be argued whether or not Emet Selch or Elidibus is the more tragic death.
I think what hit me the hardest was when you realize that Elidibus was originally just a CHILD. Makes the concept and execution of him being so so lost in his own memories and objective a bit more heart breaking.
What a journey! And it continues!
But wait, Shadowbringers isn't done until the last content of 5.5 is completed. You've still got Nier, Sorrows of Werelyt, and Eden to complete. When you rate this expansion, do it like we do which is base + .X MSQ content + 8 man raid series + 24 man raid series + trial series. You do it that way, and you'll understand why Shadowbringers is the apex of the expansions thus far with the jury out on EW cause it's not done yet.
Patch 5.3 really made me feel for Elidibus. Never thought a ton of him before, but they way they explained his character, how broken he was, how he couldn't remember anything except for his duty…. and then after you beat him when he repeats the words that Lahabrea and Igyeorm said to him about the rains ceasing… but with the final "But you are not here to see it." It msde me realize that Ishikawa knows how to properly develop a character in a short time frame and make you feel for them.
Those "nerd chills" and "adrenaline rushes in your spine" actually has a term: frisson – it's a physiological response to audio and visual stimuli, and it's a huge reason why Japanese story tellers tell stories the way that they do – they have worked to get as many people as they can to all feel frisson. There's a video on here called "Why Anime Makes You Emotional" by Kinda Neet that talks about this in greater detail.
The WoL being able to "summon" Elidibus will actually get an explanation in post-Endwalker. Won't say much beyond that. 😏😏