Ok! I've just finished the base Dawntrail expansion.
Here are some bullet points:
1. Graphics: Dam! The upgrade in the environments are BAUTIFUL! New zones and cities look especially good. Upgraded textures and object density.
Some new areas and fights you can tell they were flexing the new effects/Lighting,ect
Older content will be upgraded piece by piece. So a bit of a wait there.
2. Combat: The new dungeons are pretty fun. Quite a few new mechanics and changed old ones. There's even a BUFF flexing cactuar boss. lol
The 8 player trials..wow...WOW!!! From the incredible effects, to fun mechanics.
Enjoyed all 3 of them.
3. Music: Soken and his sound team did incredible work here. From the dungeons themes to the cities and zones. There's everything from Metal, solo guitar, lofi jazz,ect. One trial music sounded like something right out of Doom 2016 mixed with Shin megami tensei.
I still pull of a playlist on youtube to listen to the songs often after experiencing it in game.
4. Story I know people are unhappy the first half is very slow and lore heavy.
But it has to serve an ARR purpose. We're on a new continent. Full of people and races we've never met. Lore we had no idea about,ect It serves as a setup.
We've journeyed to Tural. A western continent to help Wuk Lamat in a contest to win the throne. As you travel the lands she learns more about the people, cultures, ect So do you.
In true FF tradition things are never what they seem in the 2nd half. And they ramp up dramatically.
Also, any FF9 lovers will LOVE this expansion!!
My only issues are that the pacing felt off and could have trimmed the fat a bit so to speak. And some jobs needed more changes and new skills.
My current score 8/10
Looking forward to seeing things go in the patches.
Launch trailer