Now, let me preface this by saying that I just finished it, and haven't got the chance to sleep on it yet.

However, from first impressions, it's... significantly better than everything Dawntrail has delivered so far (Yes, I know the bar was last seen near the implosion site of the Titan, but still-)! The dialogue and overall writing is average, the new villain's motivations make sense, and the characterization exists, for once (How I missed Alisaie).

Plus, we got a surprisingly well-made combat cutscene with creative uses of abilities and fully voice acted. It sounded perfectly fine in JP. And shock of shocks: Wuk Lamat, though still hovering ominously over many a scene, felt less childish and more of an actual adult.

You even get recognized as an Arcadion champion if you've done that questline!

It's sad that I am this glad to receive a simply pretty decent product, yet glad I still am. It's the first time in almost a year that XIV's MSQ hasn't given me conniptions due to characters making nonsensical and braindead decisions just to move the plot along.

I can only hope the recovery of quality continues further, or at the very least, does not regress.