How do you design a DLC for a recreation? With Stranger of Paradise: Last Fantasy Origin, it seems like that ought to have been a simple process; some further story, some new ranges impressed by different Last Fantasy video games of the previous (maybe some spinoffs, this time round?) alongside a number of new boss fights, and a brand new class or two. On paper, DLC #1 for the sport – Trials of the Dragon King – delivers on these concepts, which is why it’s so astonishing how off the mark the entire expertise feels, really enjoying via it.
Notably, one of many highlights of Stranger of Paradise’s launch was the inclusion of a number of problem modes – guaranteeing that anybody, no matter their talent stage, may ultimately beat the sport. This additionally meant that gamers that wished to problem themselves may proceed to take action, particularly upon finishing the sport’s marketing campaign and unlocking the extra Chaos problem.
But, whereas I loved Stranger of Paradise’s gameplay fairly a bit – I’ve to say I used to be much more enamored with the story on the coronary heart of all of it. Jack’s story definitely didn’t resonate with everybody that performed the sport, however it completely hit the mark with me – and I used to be removed from the one one to seek out the story endearing. So when the trailer for Trials of the Dragon King overvalued story content material following the ending of the sport, I used to be past excited.
Even earlier than the DLC’s launch Sq. Enix detailed that the DLC would include a further problem mode above Chaos, however most gamers assumed that it could merely be an alternative choice for gamers to tinker with – particularly seeing as how Group Ninja’s different latest releases utilizing a lot of the identical framework, Nioh and Nioh 2, did one thing fairly related with their DLC releases. As a substitute, the way in which that issues hash out with Stranger of Paradise is fairly unusual. Put merely, the brand new Bahamut problem shouldn’t be merely an choice, however fairly a requirement with the intention to entry the brand new story content material of the DLC. No matter when you got here to the DLC for the story having performed the unique recreation on the best problem, you might be pressured to have interaction with the sport at its hardest with the intention to progress to the content material that was so prominently displayed within the advertising.
Now, I don’t have something in opposition to tough video games, however it’s arduous to grapple with the concept that an organization would add further content material to a recreation that was by no means actually about its problem, simply to lock it behind a brand new, extremely harsh problem modifier. It’s not even that it is advisable to be enjoying on this problem to unlock the brand new content material – which you do, in fact – but in addition that unlocking the brand new content material requires gamers to replay base recreation missions, maybe with some modifiers hooked up, with the intention to grind an arbitrary forex with the intention to unlock piecemeal dialogue that can ultimately hand out the content material you basically paid for.
Nearly like a foul joke, it feels just like the builders themselves even realized that the present system was a foul thought, making it in order that the gear grind is minimized on the prospect {that a} participant hadn’t engaged with Chaos Problem at any level following the video games’ launch; the primary mission of the DLC renders Jack fully immortal, by no means permitting him to drop lifeless, irrespective of how a lot harm he takes. Upon completion, gamers are awarded practically a full set of stage 200 gear, with the intention to assist slingshot you into the merchandise stage which Bahamut problem is balanced for. This doesn’t do something about Job ranges, which you would need to grind out upgrades to via particular Chaos problem missions – however it’s nonetheless a transparent signal that the builders understood that a lot of their gamers might need had no need to have interaction with the endgame, and purely wished to see the brand new content material included with the DLC.
On the opposite finish of the spectrum is “Further Mode”, which massively boosts Jack’s energy stage, and items him infinite MP. On this mode, you’re unable to earn the “Dragon Treasures” which you can spend for sure upgrades, however you’ll nonetheless be logged for having earned them, permitting you to progress the little story that’s included with the DLC. Whereas this “fixes” the foremost problem with the DLC, I’d argue that its existence feels extra like a band-aid resolution; there rightfully ought to have been a center floor the place gamers may very well be engaged with the sport on the problem that they’d already grown accustomed to, with out having to resort to cheesing every part of their path.
Assuming gamers do choose to aim the DLC “on the extent”, the problem spike that Bahamut brings is greater than slightly ridiculous. Even with a gaggle of gamers that have been all 50~ ranges in regards to the really helpful merchandise stage for a Bahamut problem mission, we have been nonetheless repeatedly getting one-shot by a boss’s assaults – and the quantity of HP felt massively inflated, besides. I’m certain that there are many builds that may provide help to get via this DLC, however it’s arduous to shake the sensation that major story content material ought to have by no means been locked behind such a requirement within the first place.
Commercial. Maintain scrolling for extra
On the intense aspect, since launch Stranger of Paradise has seen quite a lot of optimization patches on console, and the sport because it stands now each seems to be and runs considerably higher than how issues have been at launch. Which is all nicely and good; it hurts having to speak about how a lot the DLC in the end dissatisfied me, contemplating how a lot I beloved the bottom recreation at launch. For those who haven’t performed the sport but, I can’t advocate it sufficient – simply perhaps skip on the Season Go till we discover out what the remainder of the DLC will appear like. Because it stands now, I can’t advocate it to anybody however probably the most devoted endgame grinders.
