For veteran Final Fantasy 14 fans, Shadowbringers may just be the definitive expansion in the long history of that franchise but for newcomers such as myself who have managed to sink many hours into the product, it’s still a daunting road ahead. So daunting in fact, that Square Enix is looking to take its main chunk of opening exposition and quests, squishing them together and creating a far more condensed and streamlined start from A Realm Reborn into Heavensward.

So how does the game handle then for newcomers? With Shadowbringers being recently released, somebody needed to do the legwork and find out if Final Fantasy XIV wasn’t just worth an investment of personal time, but also worthy of the monthly cost that Square Enix charges to play the game in addition to its premium price to hop on in. That man…is somehow me.