Word: This Last Fantasy XIV Dawntrail evaluation is an in progress one which will probably be up to date with the ultimate rating after I’ve performed extra of the growth and have examined some extra of the sooner raids with the brand new graphics replace on Steam Deck OLED..
Again in Could, I wrote about Last Fantasy XIV on Steam Deck protecting how one can get it operating, the way it performs, my ideas on the sport on the time, why it’s value enjoying, and extra forward of the massive 7.0 graphics replace and Last Fantasy XIV: Dawntrail. Quick ahead to in the present day, Last Fantasy XIV: Dawntrail has been out there for a couple of week, and I’ve been enjoying it on each Steam Deck and Xbox Sequence X (together with distant enjoying it on my iPhone), and I’m very impressed with the visible enhancements and the growth up to now. Word that I’ve not completed Last Fantasy XIV: Dawntrail but, so it is a evaluation in progress that can cowl the primary dozen or so hours of the growth and extra of the sooner areas I examined with the graphics replace.
I’m approaching this Last Fantasy XIV: Dawntrail Steam Deck evaluation in two elements. The primary half will cowl how the graphics replace runs, seems, and feels on Steam Deck OLED. The second half will cowl my ideas on Last Fantasy XIV: Dawntrail itself and the way it appears like the right summer time trip that I wanted. There will probably be no story spoilers for Last Fantasy XIV: Dawntrail or prior expansions, however I’m protecting the NieR: Automata raid for my stress take a look at so maintain that in thoughts if you happen to’re avoiding all issues Last Fantasy XIV: Shadowbringers as properly.
Last Fantasy XIV Dawntrail Steam Deck efficiency and settings
In the event you learn my unique Last Fantasy XIV Steam Deck article, you noticed how properly the sport ran again then. With the Last Fantasy XIV: Dawntrail launch and seven.0 graphics replace, Last Fantasy XIV seems higher than ever earlier than throughout the board, however efficiency has taken a success. On comparable settings, the sport can now drop to 30fps throughout busy boss fights, and through a stress take a look at transferring into first individual even resulted in sub 30fps. Having turned down shadows a bit extra, it holds the 30fps or larger goal properly. That is with dynamic decision enabled.
I opted to play the sport with a 45fps at 90hz goal. The busier cities nonetheless drop to the 30s usually once they was within the excessive 40s at worst earlier than this graphics replace. I particularly needed to do as a lot stress testing as attainable flying round within the new Last Fantasy XIV: Dawntrail zones, trying out raids, and doing FATEs with plenty of particle results except for simply attending to dense cities. If it solely dropped under 30fps in first individual mode in a raid and held 30fps or above outdoors, issues are trying good. I must do a bit extra testing, however I feel I’ll have the ability to get Last Fantasy XIV: Dawntrail to round 45fps for that candy spot of 45fps at 90hz. Word that I performed at 800p for all this testing and used GE Proton 9-9. There was no outdoors device or mod used to play. I uncapped the body fee from 45fps to see how excessive it might, however caught to enjoying at 45fps at 90hz after I was enjoying it outdoors testing for this evaluation.
Last Fantasy XIV Dawntrail graphics settings
I used a customized preset with LOD on, real-time reflections on customary, FXAA, regular lighting and grass high quality, excessive parallax occlusion, excessive tessellation, glare off, all shadows being displayed, shadow decision (1024p or 512p (higher)), regular shadow cascading, strongest shadow softening, forged shadows set to minimal, 16x AF, regular texture decision, and dynamic decision. I haven’t had time to do the same raids with the decrease presets to see how they give the impression of being, however I used to be pleased with the picture high quality right here for the 30-45fps within the dozen hours I’ve spent with the growth and a dozen or so extra revisiting prior areas and content material.
Last Fantasy XIV Dawntrail story and music impressions
I might classify myself as a extra informal Last Fantasy XIV participant proper now. I’ve been enjoying it on and off for years for the story and music in the beginning. All the pieces else is secondary, although I do get pleasure from enjoying with associates when timezones match. Up to now, Last Fantasy XIV: Heavensward stays one in every of my favourite Last Fantasy experiences on the whole, not simply in Last Fantasy XIV. Last Fantasy XIV: Dawntrail appears like a trip not less than within the first dozen hours I’ve put into it exploring, doing the MSQ, and simply testing it on Steam Deck. The brand new characters are colourful, and my solely actual grievance is there not being extra voiced dialog. I really feel like it’s lower than prior expansions and patches. I’ve not tried out the brand new jobs but, and have been specializing in my Marauder playthroughs solely. I will probably be testing them out as a lot as I can after I replace this evaluation sooner or later.
I need to spotlight Soken and Co’s music right here. Last Fantasy XIV has one in every of my favourite soundtracks in gaming, and I feel the Last Fantasy XIV: Dawntrail music is past unbelievable. This may be my favourite regular battle theme in all expansions, and I simply adore the vibe and tradition within the music up to now. I acquired my acoustic guitar right here with me and I’ve been enjoying together with the battle theme at any time when I take heed to it on YouTube or when watching my associates stream. I can’t wait to see the way it evolves by the remaining story content material as I get to it. I’m irritated that I can’t purchase the Last Fantasy XIV: Dawntrail soundtrack on iTunes or on disc already although. Make it occur, Sq. Enix.
Last Fantasy XIV Dawntrail on Xbox Sequence X
With the Last Fantasy XIV: Dawntrail replace, the Xbox Sequence X and PS5 variations now have 120hz assist. That is good as a result of I’ve VRR on Xbox, and will see how diversified the efficiency is with metrics in actual time on my monitor. I normally don’t have a look at these whereas enjoying usually, however since I used to be testing, I made a decision to take a look. I noticed the sport hit above 100hz usually but it surely additionally dropped under 60hz in some elements when operating at 1440p. Operating at 1080p (from in-game) ends in higher efficiency throughout the board. I ended up sticking to this on Xbox Sequence X on my 1440p monitor whereas enjoying. Outdoors that, I really like how attractive the brand new places in Last Fantasy XIV: Dawntrail look. I’m to see how the Xbox handles the precise huge battles within the growth afterward. The screenshot above exhibits how the phrase filter works for Xbox Sequence X for one thing just like the flying Cumulus mount. Nonetheless fairly humorous.
I additionally examined it over Xbox distant play, and I can’t imagine how poorly this runs in comparison with PS5 distant play. I had to ensure I used to be close to my router to have a remotely playable expertise on my cellphone when my console was wired and never wi-fi. I assume this has to do with Xbox distant play working over the web and never domestically regardless of each gadgets being on the identical community, however it’s disappointing to see it not work in addition to PS5 distant play at any time when I take a look at.
The Last Fantasy XIV login must be improved on PC and PS5
This isn’t one thing that impacts the growth or my evaluation a lot, however I needed to make a particular word of it. I seen that Last Fantasy XIV on Xbox helps you to straight launch the sport and login together with your particulars saved. On PS5, it saves your username and password, however it’s good to enter your OTP every time. On PC, it’s good to enter your password and OTP every time. I don’t perceive why all platforms can’t have the identical login methodology. I hope that is fastened as a result of typing out my password and OTP on Steam Deck every time is past annoying. It might be nice if all platforms might have a login system just like the Xbox Sequence X model.
Up to now, Last Fantasy XIV: Dawntrail is the summer time trip all of us wanted after a busy launch season. At the very least I wanted a break after placing in tons of time into Trails by Dawn, Shin Megami Tensei V: Vengeance, and nonetheless enjoying Elden Ring’s Shadow of the Erdtree. Last Fantasy XIV: Dawntrail seems nice on Steam Deck and Xbox, it sounds unbelievable, and I can’t wait to see the place issues go afterward. I simply hope we get extra voiced dialog added.
