I lasted less than a week in the original version of this game in 2010 and wrote it off as a lost cause. A little over a year ago, I started hearing good things about the new director that SE had put in charge of the game and found out they were planning to completely revamp FFXIV. On a whim I applied for Alpha access and was lucky enough to start dabbling in a Realm Reborn during that stage.
You could see immediately that the game was completely new, and I was surprised at how polished it was for an Alpha and also how much fun I was having - the complete opposite of my experience in version 1.0. It still had some issues, but it was easy to see even at that stage that there was something special going on there. I began more closely following the developments for the game at that stage and have to say it has been refreshing to see Square Enix finally becoming much more in touch with their fan base. They are actively seeking and listening to player feedback and making changes to the game experience based on this feedback all along the way. I think this is most largely attributed to the new director, Naoki Yoshida, who is a true MMO fan and experienced player and has done a fantastic job of translating this passion into the FFXIV relaunch.
I've been lucky enough to get in plenty of game time since the early access started last week and have quite simply had a blast. From varied melee and magic classes, to engaging crafting and gathering, to absolutely breathtaking visuals and music the game is entrancing. They have done a great job of giving the game that "Final Fantasy" atmosphere and feel, with many hat tips to previous games in the series (and from what I have read, they are planning on continuing to develop nostalgia FF content!) I also have to mention that the main story line so far has been the best I have experienced since FFXI Chains of Promathia, and from what I hear from players further along than myself, it just keeps getting better.
There have been server issues (as with most MMO launches) but SE has been very active in addressing these and communicating with the player base. There might still be a week or two of hiccups ahead, but it is well worth the wait! The director has outlined plans to release major new content patches every 3 months, so hopefully the technical frustrations of the first few days will be easily forgotten in the months/ years to come.
For the "casuals" - don't be afraid! I'm at a stage in life where I don't have more than a few hours a week to put into gaming, but the game really is designed well to accommodate at all levels. There is a wealth of available solo content, but there is also a built in grouping mechanic that can automatically match you up with other players from across all servers/ regions to accomplish group tasks. The tutorials in game do a great job of explaining all of this (and other game mechanics) so even if you don't have the time or have not experienced similar content in other MMOs, there is no need to stress about figuring it out here.
FFXIV A Realm Reborn is beautiful, accessible and fun! Whether you are a long time MMO vet or have never taken the MMO plunge, there is a very good chance you will find something wonderful here.
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Reviewed in the United States on August 28, 2013
Platform For Display: PlayStation 3Edition: Collector'sVerified Purchase
Reviewed in the United States on November 12, 2013
Platform For Display: PlayStation 3Edition: Collector'sVerified Purchase
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Kevin Pashkewicz
RPG MMO
Reviewed in Canada on December 1, 2018Platform For Display: PlayStation 3Edition: Collector'sVerified Purchase
