This past Sunday, Square Enix released the benchmark for the upcoming Final Fantasy XIV expansion, Endwalker.
The benchmark contains the character creator which allows you to create characters which can be used in the main game when the expansion launches on November 23rd including the new Male Viera race.
Square Enix also published the video of the benchmark which shows landmarks, characters, spells, and more which feature in the expansion.
My result. This would be a couple of hundred points of the ‘Maximum’ tier of 15000+. I could probably improve this with a better hardware and optimisation but I am not going to worry about it.
Over the last 10 or more years, I discovered a Japanese band that I fell in love with, and something that I have never highlighted ever on The Jukebox and while I will doing a featured special about them one day, today, I wish to introduce to you all, my 2nd favourite Japanese band.
Background
The GazettE were formed in 2002 featuring the band members: Ruki, Uruha, Aoi, Reita and Kai. I have a hard enough time trying to keep track as to who is who in the Japanese Visual Kei and Rock genre.
The GazettE band members
STACKED RUBBISH is the bands 3rd studio album which released in 2007 which reached 3rd in the Oricon album charts (Oricon is similar to the Billboard in the US or IMRO in Ireland)
On May 26th 2021, the band released their 10th studio album titled: “Mass”
While this album has some greats tracks, the first one that I want to highlight is their 5th track, Ganjisuni Akai Bara.
YouTube & Spotify
Lyrics
When speaking figuratively you seem to be A crow that wanted to dive on the water’s surface with spread wings What are the eyes seeing that pretend to be innocent?
Please give ease to the girl who’s thin hands are pointing to the sky…
A rosary made of brass hangs around your neck And was replaced by a light brown leather rope The hymn mixed with a smile is interrupted and at the same time you lose your footing
While watching the trembling shadow, rationality is mutilated Understanding has no meaning in this scattered cult like the tone of a bell that’s ringing coldly
February is decorated in taciturnity, palms put together in a deep prayer To God, unable to save, please answer me…
Experiencing life’s value in death, this death lets the flowers of life bloom A colorless God and a sleeping withered rose I hold onto the drowning you, let’s face the beautiful darkness
In order for wax to melt, it’s shape was taken When tomorrow is left without shadows, what is there more than reality?
I want to aknowledge you, please don’t be sad, even if there’s nothing reflected in these eyes anymore
February is decorated in taciturnity, palms put together in a deep prayer
To God, unable to save, please answer me… Experiencing life’s value in death, this death lets the flowers of life bloom I’m singing those deserted words
Your birthday is decorated in taciturnity, no matter how many times the celebrating of this day was continued You were born and raised here, at the place you loved
Weakly it continues trembling and flowing, this eternal sleep in beauty. Your journey was decorated by red roses.
What I asked peacefully is to never entrust the language of emotions Can you laugh from your heart, I wonder if there is any happiness?
Naoki Yoshida, Director and Producer of Final Fantasy XIV, took to stage in a closed location and revealed information regarding the new Final Fantasy XIV expansion, Endwalker.
Opening with Trailer
Scythes confirmed!
Fall 2021 release
Yoshida is dressed as the new job wielding a Scythe
New Jobs
Zenos has changed jobs to the new job
New Job: Reaper
New Job original to FFXIV
Showing a trailer demonstrating job abilities
About Reaper
Role: Melee DPS
Shares gear with DRG
Weapon: Scythe (Two-handed)
No required class
Must have Endwalker and have 1 job at Level 70.
Starting: Level 70
Concept
Welds a scythe for dynamic close-quarter combat
Calls upon an avatar from the void to join the battle
Can serve as a host for their avatar
Job Quests are planned to start in Ul’dah
More information about Reaper RPR(?) at a later date
Story
The story will wrap up in Patch 6.0
There is a LOT of content in Patch 6.0
6.1 will start a brand new story
We will be going to the Moon… but before that, we will be going to Old Sharlayan
This will serve as the ‘Hub city’ simialar Crystarium, Idyllshire, Rhalgr’s Reach.
They show a trailer of Old Sharlayan
This city has VERY important since the early days of Final Fantasy XIV developement
There was supposed to be 6 starting cities in FFXIV 1.0 – (The other 3 were Ishgard, Ala Mhigo and Sharlayan)
This was cut to 3 and the ARR rebuild retained this.
Very important to the story.
Main theme for Endwalker
About 3 to 4 days to come up with the lyrics for the Endwalker theme.
Sophia theme (Containment Bay P1T6) was created in 2 hours.
Amanda Achen also sang the ‘Tomorrow & Tomorrow’ song
The main vocals were by Sam Carter from Architects
Song contains elements from the Stormblood theme and the Heavensward theme
The trailer is already available on YouTube.
Characters from the trailer
Estinen
He will appear in the Main Story and can be used as a Trust in dunegons.
Vydra
Name Unknown
Very important role in the Endwalker story
You will find out more about him in Patch 5.5 – Death Until Dawn – Part 2
Readers of the Encycolopedia Eorzea books may know who he knows.
Massive New Areas
Same amount of areas being added as previous expansions
Shows trailer
Labyrinthos
It’s an underground area with a domain lit by an artifical light.
Why you need to go there will be uncovered in the expansion.
Thavnair area & Radz-at-Han city
Shows trailer of Thavnair
Very colourful
Showing trailer of Radz-at-Han city
The sky may not be blue in-game
New area – No information about it at this time
Garlemald
The Moon – Mare Lamentorum
Will not say how you will get to the Moon.
Music is very simialar to The Tempest
Air and gravity present (This will be explained in the story)
Mare Lamentorum is just one area of The Moon, not the entire Moon itself.
On a closed theatre set in Tokyo, FFXIV Director Naoki Yoshida, Lead Translator Michael Christopher Koji-Fox brings to us a “Final Fantasy XIV Announcement Showcase”
This was supposed to take place at the Final Fantasy Fan Festivals but due to the pandemic, this didn’t happen. An online-only Fan Fest will be taking place on May 15th & May 16th with more information about the upcoming expansion to the game.
![[The Jukebox] #64 – The GazettE – Ganjisuni Akai Bara](https://padraig.blog/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/stackedrubbish.jpg)
