My first experience through Heavensward was one I regret. Because of my initial response with A Realm Reborn, I was less interested in what came after as well. Heavensward didn't manage to grab me as much as I wanted to and as a result I didn't pay a lot of attention to its dialogue and because I initially played it in Japanese, even its voiced acted cutscenes didn't resonate or stay with me. There's key moments I remembered, but also major points that were incredibly important to certain characters or the overall plot that I completely missed.

So now, replaying it after a newfound adoration for A Realm Reborn, I was very excited to get into Heavensward. From the start, benefitting from post-A Realm Reborn's ending, the story kicks off with interesting premise on both a political and personal level. Through the new environment of Ishgard, we get glimpses of its current conflict through Aymeric and House Fortemps that warmly welcomes the Warrior of Light, Alphinaud and Tataru. It's immediately engaging and intrigues the player into the political landscape, while becoming endeared to these new characters with a pre-established warmth through Haurchefant.

The story really kicks off with the introduction of the dragons. Estinien and Ysayle give us two skewed perspectives on the long conflict between man and dragon. Ysayle has a great character arc, letting us empathize with the dragons while having her own journey of self-discovery, but Estinien is the real star of this storyline. A character that has, builds and lost connections with so many of our cast, most important the Warrior of Light, Aymeric and especially Alphinaud. With these connections, Estinien parallels and contrasts one of the most important dragons in this story, Nidhogg. Both lost close ones, dear to them and set out on a path of vengeance, yet Estinien is able to forge bonds with those connections mentioned before, to put him on a path of healing.

While there is a lot of focus on the plot of conflict with dragons, it also serves and interconnects with Ishgard's internal political conflict with Thordan VII. Nidhogg is a more compelling antagonist overall, especially with his ending in Revenge of the Horde, but that doesn't diminish any of Thordan's qualities as another great antagonist of base Heavensward. His determination to keep the peace no matter what, to defeat the Ascians even if it means becoming a primal, he becomes an antagonist you can understand despite flawed measures to get where he got. But without him, Lahabrea wouldn't be defeated.

And despite it being detached from Heavensward's main story, the inclusion of the Warrior of Darkness and his crew was something special. Incredibly efficient with setup starting from As Goes Light, So Goes Darkness and completely focusing on the group in Soul Surrender with some of the most emotional writing and character conclusion thus far.

All of this culminates into a beautiful story that is Heavensward with its patches continuing to build on what the base game set, soaring into higher peaks that make me love the characters I already know so much more. Alphinaud, Estinien, Alisaie and the Warrior of Darkness stand out as some of the best content and characterization.

I'm happy to say that Heavensward is finally part of my huge love for Final Fantasy XIV, as I couldn't wholeheartedly say that in my first, very flawed playthrough.