Revelations from Eden [Spoilers]

[Theodric]

I figured it'd be worth making a separate thread for Eden related discussion.

So, thoughts and theories on the new raid?

Story:

After the MSQ's being very heavy in the emotional department it was pleasant to learn that there's hope for the territory beyond Norvrandt and that in due time the land can recover. It's too early to say for certain how everything will play out but the revelation that there's an Oracle of Darkness made for a decent cliffhanger. Of course we have to wait until 5.2 for the Eden story to continue which is quite a way off. Thancred, Urianger and Ryne make for a refreshing change of pace to Cid being along for the ride and I look forward to seeing how the Oracle of Darkness ties into it all.

I'm also crossing my fingers for an Ultimecia fight, somehow, to really play up the references to FF8. I look forward to seeing more Primals though!

Music:

Although it isn't my favourite of the main titles I do not hate FF8 and as such I appreciated the fanservice tracks. I liked Titan's theme more than Leviathan's them but I wouldn't consider either to be bad.

Fights:

Impressive. I like that they all have bite to them. Lots of movement too to keep everybody on their toes...when they're not knocked off of a platform, at any rate. Seeing Leviathan and Titan in a new light was great and I like to see it as a re-imagining of what those fights would have been like if ARR was as in-depth as the game has become in later expansion.

[JeanneOrnitier]

Story and /10char

Very cool setup, probably the most interested I've been in the story of the 8-man series since Coils. I expected the Empty to basically be like the Burn on the larger scale, but it's not despite looking similar: where the Burn straight up had no aether, the Empty's aether is aspected so much toward umbral/light that it's basically asleep. It's good to know that means it's reversible.

With what we have so far, I'd wager a guess that the girl (most likely Gaia) is Minfilia/Ryne's soul split from the Thirteenth, if we assume that everyone with the Echo is a reincarnated Ancient and so has soul splits. Besides Gaia what I'd most like to know is how Eden is the origin of the Flood of Light when the Flood was triggered by Ardbert's gang.

I am super hyped for the inevitable Oblivion remix once we fight Shiva to repair the ice aether.

[Sorimachi87]

Disclaimer: These are only my thoughts and opinions over the raid.

Hi eorzeans,

just finished the eden raid series 1-4 and just wanted to spout out some thoughts and my opinion on it.

1. Story

After our MSQ "soul trial" with the light essence, i was thinking okay this can't get worse then that right? Personally i would say there weren't any issues with the story. You had clearer goals this time and you kind of knew what was coming. Except Turn 1 and 2. I've been reading in the lore forums (maybe this should have been put there idk) that this raid series is there, to unlock the avatars creation potential tied to the ancients. Just sad to see it going by offscreen. And our 2nd fight seems to be Gaia from the promo pictures about eden. So i really wonder how this is gonna go along. We'll see soon i guess (probably not this year... XD)

2. Music

Nothing else to say there. Wow and what the heck is this and okay i am really getting hyped now! Especially before fighting third and fourth boss. I just love this part of music.

3. Fights

I honestly expected it to be worse. Yeah i died. A lot. But thats simply because not knowing mechanics. If it was due to not being able to keep up with the constant battering of boss casts and dancing around the platforms i would have been more worried tbh. Nonetheless for progress content (non-savage) i'd say its more then enough difficulty.
I know some of you will eat me alive for this. But yeah. I am just a casual like many others here.. :3

4. Conclusion

Thank you dev team for a, in my opinion, very solid start of the eden series. I hope it gets more epic in the next turns :3
Personally i can't wait for the air part as it is my favorite element.
Also the fact that we got, again, plenty multiple choice answers really brightened my mood on the series.

Once again. Thank you. Please, if time and health allows: Keep. Up. This. Awesome. Work!

Disclaimer: These are only my thoughts and opinions over the raid.

[Zohar_Lahar]

There is one thing I did not understand...

Why did Leviathan have two heads? Seriously, what was up with that? I understand the Shinryu fight elements, but seriously.....why did it have two heads? Was it a stray thought about the legend of Thalos and Perykon?

[Lunafreya]

There is one thing I did not understand...

Why did Leviathan have two heads? Seriously, what was up with that? I understand the Shinryu fight elements, but seriously.....why did it have two heads? Was it a stray thought about the legend of Thalos and Perykon?

Because in the original you target the head and tail.

[Cilia]

Story

While the setup is interesting, I was a bit disappointed it didn't go terribly far. Board Eden, fend off a Keyblade Knight (who is totally not Gaia), then fight Leviathan and Titan 2.0 to restore those elements to the Empty.

The first bit is usually the slowest, but... we'll get there, I guess.

Battles

The large number of ring-out mechanics got a bit frustrating, and I died. A lot. Still, the fights are interesting, and the bosses' relatively large HP pools right now helps you feel like you're learning as the fight goes on. Titan and his little car are particularly annoying, and make sure not to use your gap closer when Leviathan splits the stage!

Nomura's designs are also pretty cool...

Music

Nostalgic VIII music beside intense techno remixes of Titan and Leviathan's themes. Couldn't ask for better.

Future

Given there are six elements and we've already restored two, that leaves four battles unaccounted for. I wonder what they'll be...

[Iscah]

Interesting that we have Urianger playing what is basically Cid's role as technical support for setting up the raid - with arcane magicks instead of technology this time, but the effect is the same.

(I think someone suggested this could be a role for him way back when it first looked like he was going to get more story involvement, so good guesswork, whoever you were.)

This does raise the question of what they'll be doing during 5.X MSQ though - since being tied up in side stories usually means they're out of MSQ involvement for that plot segment.

[Dualblade]

Interesting that we have Urianger playing what is basically Cid's role as technical support for setting up the raid - with arcane magicks instead of technology this time, but the effect is the same.

(I think someone suggested this could be a role for him way back when it first looked like he was going to get more story involvement, so good guesswork, whoever you were.)

This does raise the question of what they'll be doing during 5.X MSQ though - since being tied up in side stories usually means they're out of MSQ involvement for that plot segment.

Not always, Y'shtola was a part of the Alexander storyline yet also still played a part in the 3.X MSQ. The bigger worry to have here is that Thancred and Urianger being part of the raid might mean it'll turn out they can't return to the Source. Though it could also mean that a way for the Scions to go between Source and First will be found just as the WoL/D can.

[Rannie]

I'm stuck on the fact that Urianger is keeping secrets again... didnt he learn last time not to tick off the WoL with lieing/omitting certain truths. Especially ones that can be harmful...

[Brightamethyst]

This does raise the question of what they'll be doing during 5.X MSQ though - since being tied up in side stories usually means they're out of MSQ involvement for that plot segment.

Urianger warned us not to tell anyone, even the other Scions about this. "Because I don't want to tell anyone until we know more", he says, but it's probably just an excuse to let Thancred, Ryne, and Urianger be in both MSQ and sidequest with no conflict.