On my journey to replay this massive story of a game, A Realm Reborn and Heavensward were the two parts of the story that I hadn't grasped well due to various reasons. Stormblood is different in this story. It's the expansion that made me see what could be great about Final Fantasy XIV and convinced me to fully focus and try to appreciate its story.

In comparison to Heavensward, there's a few things that do feel like a bit of a step down as a lot of Stormblood is incredibly backloaded and doesn't give you the same consistensies that Heavensward did throughout its entire runtime. It's not as tight and at times is more sluggish in direct contrast, but it still dripfeeds enough information and character moments to still be great.

Though the political landscape of Stormblood doesn't feel as strong as Heavensward, it still served the characters that are in the middle of said politics well enough to make them shine and very interesting and entertaining. Almost every character involved is great, but only a few are real stars within this expansion.

The character work for Yotsuyu in particular has been fantastic. With a newfound love for her character, I've grown to like the things I criticized her for previously and now think she's incredibly strong in the base game and only becomes stronger in Post-Stormblood. A tragic character who seemingly dies with a ton of regret, but at the very least cursing one of Hien's most important men to die with her. However, the curse she inflicted on him was not one of death, but to live with a lost child in the shape of hers. With her memory wiped clean, Gosetsu is burdened with his own kindness to take care of this new person he finds in her. Through him, she's able to learn of the kindness of the world, while her old self was only shown its cruelness. Shocked at the person people saw her as, Tsuyu was shunned and scared of the world, once again facing that same cruelness. But here her new relationship with Gosetsu taught her that it is not all so bad. He was kind to her, she wanted to be kind to him. What they had became important to her. Even when she regained her self, Gosetsu's kind deeds stayed with her, despite rediscovering her truth of the world. Vowing to kill her enemies to save the ones she has learned to hold dear now, Yotsuyu goes down with her dearest brother. She is tragic, she has learned kindness, yet is never redeemed. She's simply human.

She would've never been able to learn of this if it wasn't for Gosetsu traveling with the Warrior of Light, learning of the new lands he hadn't seen prior along with Hien and his other companions. Learning of the new cultures in the Azim Steppe and their unique beliefs. A journey to unlearn his ignorance and be taught that the world is so much more than what he knows. Through this acceptance of the world and its differences, Gosetsu is able to cast aside his animosity for Yotsuyu and see something greater in this opportunity. Though it isn't easy and it was never going to be easy. As much as he has learned, he is still challenged by having to care for the one who made him and so many of his people suffer so much. She has to suffer his kindness, while he has to suffer hers. Their relationship is beautifully tragic, changing the two in ways they didn't foresee before.

And the one to ruin it all, Yotsuyu's dear brother, Asahi. Who didn't get thrown away by their parents, treated like scum. Yet he never got the adoration and attention he wanted from the one he truly admired and loved. Zenos made Yotsuyu the viceroy, recognized her abilities to govern over Doma and her hatred for their own people. Asahi was never even seen, much less acknowledged. He never saw the tragedy of Yotsuyu, he only saw what she got that he didn't. Blinded with hatred and resentment, he plotted against Doma and his own sister with whom he thought was Zenos. Yet his own blindness could not even recognize the one he loved most. He says the light of the Warrior of Light will never be brighter than his radiance, yet he's not able to see he's just being used as a pawn by the Ascian that wears his skin.

Yet Zenos still lives on. Starting with his hunt for something equal, something greater and finding that in the Warrior of Light, there is a profound loneliness within Zenos, who is by far the best character in Stormblood. Never could anyone live up to his potential, everyone boring him. Nobody can live up to his standard and his life is filled with constant, consistent disappointment. He has no true enemies, no friends. So finding that in the Warrior of Light, seeing the potential they hold, he lives for them and them alone. Engaging in battle throughout Stormblood, testing their abilities until they are equal to his own, he yearns for a battle that leaves him happy. Something that satiate that hunger. Seeing the Warrior of Light rise in strength and get stronger at every turn is fuel for Zenos to get stronger himself as well, seeking new power like the artificial echo and Shinryu's capabilities. Being able to live purely for this battle and wanting to rise even higher than he ever did before reveals that tragic, lonely side of his. From a young age, Zenos learned that nobody could match him and that has been his truth for over a decade. And now that he finally reached a new height that he never saw before and still got bested, he is satisfied with his life. He knows he will never get that again and chooses to end it there. They call him a coward, but they couldn't possibly understand the bond he and the Warrior of Light shared in that moment. It can't be replicated. So he says goodbye. To his first friend, his enemy.
But much to his surprise, his soul lives on, finding an Ascian in his body and the hunt for the Warrior of Light, not over.

Charms you immediately with a simple, yet beautiful artstyle that fits the style and atmosphere A Short Hike is going for perfectly. Through very charming dialogue, we get to know the protagonist, Claire. She's waiting for a phone call, bothered that she doesn't have any cell phone reception, because this apparent thing is very important to her. Her aunt tells her that she should take a hike, literally, and that she might even get reception on top of the mountain, setting a clear goal and believable motivation for Claire.

As you begin your trek through the island, upwards to the mountain, you meet a bunch of cute, charming and funny characters that give you mundane tasks to do to help them out. A lot of the time, you will get something out of it, but it's not always a guarantee, yet it simply feels good to help out these folks that need your help. If you don't end up with a reward, you will at least get to feel their gratitude in most cases, giving a lot of life to these little characters that you sometimes don't even know the names of.

Through the tools and help that you gather around the island, you are able to start the real hike to the top. These mundane tasks done prior have a real weight to them when you consider that a lot of these characters indirectly help you in your hike as much as you helped them. Getting running shoes, golden feathers, a bucket, a compass, etc. will all help you get towards your eventual goal. But in the end, you have to make it yourself.

Reaching the top, you're able to enjoy the view and even witness an aurora borealis. You feel at peace, having made it this far. But then you get a call, like your aunt told you, there is reception up this peak. Through the phone call, you learn that Claire was stressed about the surgery of her mom. Her mom, in all familiarity, tells her not to worry and that she's proud of Claire for making it to the top. In an emotional climax, the two exchange loved words before a rare updraft bursts out of the lake at the peak. Claire's mom encourages her to ride the updraft while she still can and Claire, albeit nervously, takes the plunge. Soaring through the sky, going down all the way whence you came is an emotional and uplifting experience. You're able to pick up some tasks that you have yet to complete, but in the end, you go back to your aunt and tell her about your experience. Before taking a nap, Claire tells her aunt she's glad she came here, and so am I.