Shadowbringers 5.3 is incredible | First Reactions 

My primary hobby has become watching people cry at Final Fantasy XIV.

I want to just take a moment and remind everyone of the stupidest thing the Exarch ever said. "Your journey will go on, by my role in it will scarcely be remembered." as if we could ever have forgotten all he's done for us, then or now.

Don't worry, Ryne. We'll see you again in 6.0 when you find a way to come to the Source to help us in our hour of need... ...right? Right? ;_; (another great video Bree!!)

If you haven't yet you should do the Eden raids, lots of development with and regarding Ryne!

If you've ever had a pet you've loved at any point, the Seto scene absolutely destroys you entirely.

The writing and voice actor for Elidibus is so good. How can seven lines of dialogue takes you from the elation of defeating an arrogant villain to shedding tears for him😢😢. not to mention getting you to cry while talking to a bird 😥

Imagine having a dog, who is your best friend and companion. Then you die and become a ghost. Years later you watch as your old friend learns to talk, and tells everyone how much they miss you and how much you mean to them 😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭

2:17:52 That flower that Runar is holding is the same kind Y'shtola is holding in A Realm Reborn - A New Beginning cutscene.

It was probably the 3rd watch of this patch that I realized that when you are entering the Crystal Tower with the Crystal that contains G' Raha Tia's memories, he isn't speaking to you. He is speaking to his younger self. It is his last memory as Crystal Exarch etched into the crystal. "Here at Memory's End." I cried harder when I realized this.

Poor Alphinaud, the Chais are better parents to him than his actual parents..

Hythlodaeus is the key to the whole puzzle. It basically revealed that everything that happened once you set foot onto Amaurot is a setup by Emet to save your butt.

Wow! 1:42:40 Bree was the farthest person from the tank which means the tank LB fell off her last and managed to be the only survivor! That's pretty nuts!

“The rains have ceased, and we have been graced with another beautiful day. But you are not here to see it.” 😢💔

I know we all love Emet-Selch but Elidibus' story is so tragic and well written. And really endeared him to me. They essentially took a juvenile or child Ancient and made them become the heart of a Primal. Forsaking all of their original personality/sentience and just turned into an instrument of a God's will. An individual that once revered Azem/the Warrior of Light, so much so that they couldn't even see the person they were fighting WAS Azem and is the Warrior of Light. From one of the short stories we saw that the original child that becomes Elidibus genuinely loved and idolized the rest of the Convocation. I'm sad we never learned what Elidibus' actual name is. But I guess that's poetic, he was so lost at this point that he didn't even have his own personality any more. At least not until the moments right before his final death. A child with no actual friends who just wanted to save everyone. It also makes way more sense why Elidibus ended up saving Unukalhai from the Thirteenth now, knowing he was just a child himself. Yes, Elidibus wanted to keep around a hero of the Thirteenth and try to convince them to his way of thinking, but even from a more basic sense, he wanted to save someone like himself. A child powerless to save his friends and lost it all.

This is harsh, you need game money, sub money and tissue money

An interesting parallel. When you are running towards the Crystal Tower, that part of the forest is the same part you entered when you STARTED in 5.0. G'raha and Beq Lugg are lying in the same clearing you met the trader. You're even stopped at the Exarch Gate by Lyna JUST like the first time and leave in the presence of the Exarch...

It's fine, I didn't need to sleep anyways

Shadowbringers, in its entirety, is a masterpiece.

5.0 and 5.3 feels are way too strong. I never thought something would surpass 3.3 for me but goddamn. Elidibus and Emet's goodbye always break me. This game is just so damn good & beautiful. And the fact that Emet made our/Azem's crystal in secret. He was our best friend. :') BTW Elidibus summoned the main cast of FFIV from other reflections.

Neat little trivia Bree, that pose Elidibus did with the other Warriors of Light is supposed to be a reference to the original FF14 logo

The realization that Elidibus was a child compared to the others made this hit harder when I rewatched it. He’s just a bit taller than a female au ra, and in all the cutscenes from his pov the other ancients are looking down at him. For a society like theirs having a younger member to help “reconcile” disputes would help break older members from any of their ways they might have been set in and to reintroduce new ideas would make sense

Ah, poor Fandaniel. He just _had_ to pick the most _punchable_ face in the entire Source. We finally get a chance to destroy Asahi's body ourselves >:D

Day: Saturday Schedule: Cleared Snack and Drinks: Available Tissues: In abundant Supply Ok, I'm ready for 5.3 Feelsbringers reactions

The Spectral thief was Locke from FF6. The Dark Knight and Dragoon summoned to fight alongside Elidibus were Cecil and Kain from FF4. And of course Eldi is OG WoL from FF1

Emet making the crystal for his dearest friend azem so he could use his own personal magic again, he made it as he knew that the convocation wouldn't make the defectors, azem remained neutral and didn't join in either hydaelyn or zodiark, makes me feel kinda sad that we as his closest friend had to kill him

The rains have ceased and it's another beautiful day...but you are not here to see it. Destroys me every single time.

It's fine, I've cried so many times to 5.3, one more..will be fine.. I also hope you try out the Eden raid storylines! It's a really good side story on Ryne's part.

Bree, I love your reactions.

1:38:04 is not the first time that question has been asked after the fight with king thordan, he says, when the lights fade out, "who...what are you?" and yes, the seat of azem the 14th member of the convocation is you, emet selch was the friend who made this crystal for azem, that was his voice speaking when the crystal came to life

It's remarkable that the world map theme, "Etermal Wind" by legendary Final Fantasy composer Nobuo Uematsu, from the original Final Fantasy III game in 1990 - which has been used many times since then in the Final Fantasy franchise, including as the basis for the theme song, "Zephyr Memories - Legend of the Eternal Wind," heard during the Final Fantasy III 3D Remake opening movie in its release on the Nintendo DS in 2006 and its subsequent releases on other platforms - became the G'raha Tia/Crystal Exarch theme under Masayoshi Soken's sound direction in Final Fantasy XIV, including its solo piano version 7:55, and as part of the Shadowbringers trailer and opening movie theme. If your player character is male, then Hythlodaeus refers to the 14th member who defected from the Convocation as "he," "his," and "him." If your player character is female, then Hythlodaeus refers to the 14th member who defected from the Convocation as "she," "her," and "her." With this knowledge, it can't get any clearer who you were back then, Hythlodaeus's "new old friend."

1:42:40 LOL when everybody died to LB4 except you xD Congratulations on saving the First! Welcome back home :)

I'll not lie... When I got to the Urianger part myself my heart sank the moment he mentioned the crystal. I felt like marching to doom when he told me to go bring it. I ugly cried at Seto. The entire scene made me feel at once all the happy-sadness remembering those I've lost myself. I was honestly shook for a short bit. And I STILL cry every time I see someone else play through it.

Shadowbringers couldn't have had a more perfect conclusion. We all cryin' here.

I can’t put into words how amazing this patch is. The cutscene after the Seat of Sacrifice is the second time I have cried to this game (first being 3.3).

"Longest Video yet at almost 3 hours (Sorry)" Jokes on you, I've got three hours.

I do love that the Zenos he creates in the walk down memory lane becomes self aware and decides he is bored...

Also it's kinda sad that elidibus picked up the crystals of emet and lahabrea, elidibus was the youngest of the 14 and looked upto azem, he wasn't a child but a young man

I remember during my own playthrough of this part, I started bawling when Hythlodaeus said "...how else will you keep your promise to Emet-Selch?" and had to stop for a while. Thank you so much for sharing your journey, Bree; it's been so wonderful. I continue to look forward to your future videos, and can't wait to see your inevitable Endwalker vids when they come out! ^_^

You Know when a game makes you ugly cry, over and over.... That it's a masterpiece.... Gahh we're glad you're awake, Soken! And you Ishikawa!!!

"Promise me you'll take me on your next adventure" This destroyed me, I cried harder than I can remember.

So this song for the trial is one that soken worked on while in the hospital when he had cancer. The rains have cease line hits me so hard. So just assuming you got extremely lucky with server tick and being the last one the tank LB hit. so you were the last one it hit, causing yours to fall off just a milisecond after elidibus/WoLs ult attack. I know cause it happened to me while I was a Rdm, so i know that panic. If you didnt survive it would have started from the very beginning. Surviving ultimate is a checkpoint for second phase.

Zepla put it well - it's easy for media to make people cry out of sadness, but it's hard to make people cry from happiness. It was quite a journey going from your Shiva phase change reaction to here! Thanks for uploading and sharing your experience!

I'm glad you love Graha as much as I do. I mean, who doesn't love Graha? I love your reactions Bree, but on a side note I recommend going over the ascian lore again as there was stuff I missed the first time that I only picked up on subsequent watches of other streamer playthroughs of SHB and FFXIV as a whole. Anyways, I look forward to seeing your reactions to the rest of Shadowbringers as it continues to ramp up towards Endwalker! -Tenacious_Gamer_

The fact that Elidibus was literally just a child who wanted to be a hero destroys me... Fuck this game.

I've got to stop watching those videos. Every time Bree starts crying, it starts me up too

I laughed when Y’shtola winked at Runar at least there’s some comedy in this tear ridden patch

The VA for Elidibus nailed that final line. You can genuinely feel the pain and suffering in his voice.

It's okay, I thought the Emet-Selch Ancient was supposed to be Hythlodeus, lol.

At 18:05, if you chose the kupo option, you would’ve made a moogle/kupo sound. Sometimes the most ridiculous options offer the best response.

So many feels… Especially with the scene with Seto, that one still breaks me

That part with Lyna just tears at my feelings so hard. The idea that your father, the person who raised you, is still going to be alive but forever out of your reach. The idea that the best thing for them is to embrace their life without you, and that they will need to no longer worry about you in order to be happy because they take their responsibilities too seriously. That part hurts, a lot. It's not quite the same as mourning someone who has died, because in death they are either gone or it is a temporary separation before you eventually join them.

been waiting for this one :)

The waiting has ceased, and we have been blessed with another beautifull video, and you are here to see it

OMG, with the Azem crystal, they just made summons across realms cannon!

Now that you have experienced 5.3, especially the music that played during the fight, I recommend looking up "A special message from Masayoshi Soken," or something along those lines as you find out what was going on behind the scenes while he was writing that music track.

I'm glad you enjoyed the feels-rollercoaster that continues to be Shadowbringers. "And you thought you were crying *before* this..." I kid, I kid. Thanks for sharing your experiences with the rest of us.

Ah yes, 5.3, the feelsbringer patch. We are pleased to see yet another soul's offering of tears and feels are sacrificed to it. It shall serve to feed Ishikawa's creativity for many more expansions to come.

Its a big gulf between the portrayals of Emet and Elidibus, and their emotional ranges... and Lahabrea back in 2.0, who only had one note and that was "Muahahaha!"

Welcome Bree, to Final Fantasy XIV. The greatest game ever made. The road to Endwalker has begun. But now, you walk it with G'raha at your side.

I am a 42 year old man, veteran of MMOs since 1998, and 5.3 reduced me to a sobbing, inconsolable mess.

Its funny. Ive watched so many reactions to 5.3, and Ive teared up every time. And this time, Im at home on my PC.. Not watching it on my phone.

That quiet "god damnit" as you start crying again from Dulia Chai? Yeah thats 5.3 in a nutshell. its basically "but I JUST stopped crying damnit!!!!!"

Been waiting for this, love your reactions

i watch these kinds of videos, because i wish i could play it for the first time again.

@1:42:10 I love the confusion when she said, if you answer that with a yeah or no emote you're banded. lol

Facial expressions got so good over the years, I was watching some streamers playing through ARR and there was barely anything and now full expressions :D

I don't trust anyone who dislikes G'raha. Needless to say, I'd trust you with my life

Not going to lie, this single patch of all the patches still makes me cry to this day. Watching it from different streamers and reactions to it has been a blessing and curse. From the amount of disbelief to just gut punching with each moment in the game I can't fathom how much it makes you move. The fact you didn't know it was Emet mid phase was spot on as another didn't catch his hand wave or even his snap. I remembered fighting first time and that snap was all it took for me to realize oh shit! That gave me the shivers he was watching over us still! The patch title of this expansion was truly fitting at the time. Finding out Elidibus was a kid after watching his Echo I found myself in irony because the sheer will of the adults in the room of the convocation was a lot to take but the fact a kid held fast to their beliefs was just as great too. When you get a chance later on to rewatching the scene in Japanese his voice is of like a kid compared to his adult counterpart. It's really sad. The line with, "The rains have ceased..." was used especially when the composer Masayoshi Soken was in the hospital during his cancer treatment. Even the song that was produced in this trial was composed when he was in the hospital bed. Beautiful ending to a wonderful expansion for sure!

This might be the most truest moment you as the player had to live up to the role of Warrior of Darkness. You had to play the role out into its entirety. We already brought back the night, but we also had to fight the embodiment of the Warrior of Light like a parallel of what we did on the Source with the Warriors of Darkness. Also remember what Tesleen said about the story of the Warrior of Darkness? We bring the souls of the dead and dying to a final rest. We have Elidibus the best kindness we could have in that moment despite everything. We did that. We could simultaneously be the greatest of heroes and villains in this incredible story.

And there it was: The Breakdown of Happiness when G'raha reappeared! ^_^ Our truest ally and the best boi. And he FINALLY gets to fulfill his wish of joining us in our adventures!

The feels isn't over yet... Patch 5.5, Bozjan and Eden wait for you ^^

I was fine throughout most of Shadowbringers, but when Seto met Ardbert again I broke down lol

5.3 is so good. Elidibus has been around for the whole game, but in this short time they made me understand him and feel for him. Crazy how some good writing can change a character. I watch all the reactions that pop up on my feed and get the feels every time. I love this game.

I've been waiting for this oh god it's 3 hours ... fuck yeah it's 3 hours

Eternal Wind + Graha Tia = perfection

Lyna’s part hit really hard for me I remembered how she thought of the Exarch as a grandpa… and how he practically raised her :(

When you think they couldn't get you anymore after the defeat of Emet-Selch, they hit you right back again with a sledgehammer.

Great video! So glad to see you caught up with us. (Looking forward to seeing your Nier raid reaction perhaps even the Bozja storyline?) All I want to say was what struck me the hardest during these scenes when I experienced them first: The convocation sacrificed a freking CHILD to be the hearth of Zodiark. Yes I know people argue that Elidibus technically is not a child but a "Young man" but I personally still going to view him as a child because of his childish stubbornness ("I am good, you are evil! I will fight you. No I don't feel pain YOU fail pain" and such childish remarks) and also because it hits stronger when we glimpse into the desperation of the Ancients that they used whatever and whoever they could to save their world.

Three hour video seems a small price to pay to watch Feelsbringer 5.3 destroy yet another innocent soul. This is a strange amalgamation of the joy of sharing, vicariously reliving through someone else an incredible experience for the first time, and schadenfreude.

This damn game. 😭

the best thing about the heroes gauntlet is it confirmed that everyones hero Hildebrand Manderville is confirmed as a warrior of light :D

What is the best/worst thing about this patch is that you will never not want to see other peoples reactions to it, and it gets more emotional every new watch. I used to get through watching 5.3 reactions pretty fine and nowadays I cry like a baby. This game is honestly just something else.

Imagine a game relaunch and three expacs later and we get a canonical explanation to why everyone is technically the Warrior of Light

5.3 is soo good. Wholesome happy and sad! Thanks for leaving so much in and sharing with us! :3 Edit: only this video i noticed the azem explanation appearently being gendered towards our character, which makes the point of the connection to azem clearer as it already was :o

perfect thumbnail for 5.3 lol

Oh, phew, I wasn't the only one bawling for an hour straight. Thank you for posting all these (with minimal edits)! Sending hugs!

Something you might find helpful: You can button mash Active Time Maneuvers. You don't need to just click the one button.

Not gonna lie, one single manly tear appeared that moment G'raha appeared in our world.

After all these years and three expacs, Elidibus is dead. It's pretty wild.

I have been so damn excited waiting for this video. Cannot wait to your reactions!

20:47 He took what made the "Warrior of Light"( or rather 1:42:25 if he says mankinds first hero it would indicate Azem since it was called "Mankind" even back then and Azem was pretty much THE hero of that time), his aspect and determination so to say, his own so that he is able to carry out his duty. But all the loss of memory over the ages and possibly caused by this action, all the trauma and just being so dedicated and maybe also part of simply being tempered by Zodiark made him forget who he is.. maybe even forget what his original duty as Elidibus was.. and so all that is left is that tempered thought of rejoining. Original Elidibus is gone.. his memories.. It's really sad.. a bit like the Ascian version of Alzheimers but most likely self-induced. In the end he needed Azems determination to carry out his duty?

He said he withdrew himself from Zodiark. The white robe means he also no longer was a member of the convocation of 14.. so took he to do the same as Azem trying to save the world since the creation of Zodiark? Even before the sundering? Its still all not clear to me

The scene where you confront Elidibus on top of the tower and the one after the trial collectively are my favorite moment in the entire game. I still get chills months and months later

This patch. The story. The gameplay. The music. The long wait due to the pandemic. I will never forget this and how it made me feel. Also, when G'Raha says "the final chapter in the tale of this star" it was huge cause at that point there wasn't any 6.0 news to go on. So many speculations on what that meant and where the game would go afterwards!

46:16 a reason why Zodiark might've been so weak in the end.. no souls to pray to him because it was so long ago that most of them have forgotten.. even the ones sacrificed to him.. in the end all they wanted was to let go.. an end.. salvation..

I''m so happy when I see three-hour 5.3 videos, it gives me life. The gamut of emotions we ran was like nothing else and I'm glad you had a good time (even when you were distraught).

fun fact, at 29:20, if you leave Ilberd alive long enough, he'll cast Sanguine Blade, and when he finishes the cast, you guessed it, he says "SLOPPY!".

56:05 oh he acts on his own volition. After Endwalker that is all too clear. He's such a beautiful character.

Eternal Wind

fun fact as to why the crystals have constelations on them the ascians are named after the "esper of light" in the FF tactics universe the espers of darkness some might remember as being enemys in bozja and tge rabanastre raids (hashmalin, bellial etc) the espers numbered 12+1 and are designed after zodiak signs, thus the star motiv the 13th esper being zodiark