Final Fantasy XIV found itself languishing back during its original release only weeks after its inception. The juggernaut Final Fantasy XI
grew into was a tough act to follow, but no one predicted such a
spectacular failure. Square Enix took note and responsibility and made a
resolution to learn from its past mistakes, releasing Final Fantasy
XIV: A Realm Reborn as a "rebirth" of sorts for the massively
multiplayer online role-playing game that could. It has used its own
personal Phoenix Down to come back fully revitalized, and the gorgeous
new MMORPG is now a bustling world filled with curious players ready to
get lost in it.
Where previously version 1.0 of Final
Fantasy XIV suffered from a dearth of content, A Realm Reborn flourishes
with a brand-new graphics engine, revised gameplay, and the ability to
handle a much heavier server load than ever before. Though the
PlayStation 3 edition was a serviceable test run for the new and
improved Final Fantasy XIV, it was still plagued with usability issues
and interface problems that made it an exercise in frustration,
especially when it came to presentation and aesthetic quality.
The PlayStation 4 edition has solved nearly all the existing
issues with previous versions and can hold its own as a companion to
the PC edition, running at a smooth 1080p and rivaling even top-tier
graphics on PC editions at the highest video settings. Noticeably
improved draw distance is one major reason to upgrade to the PS4
edition, because it resolves previous frustrations with keeping up with
your combatants onscreen as well as what's coming up in the overworld. A
markedly improved UI makes it simpler to track the action onscreen, and
only minor frame rate drops mar the overall experience. When large
groups of players are gathered in one area at the same time, there is a
bit of slowdown, but it's barely noticeable when it does happen.
The
PS4's controller feels fantastic, with functional control mapping and
the crossbar, which allows you to use L2, R2, the D-pad, and face
buttons to issue commands similar to how you do in the PS3 version. The
touchpad has been smartly implemented as well; you can use it as though
it were a mouse cursor to toggle between menus and choices. Possibly the
most notable and useful addition to the PS4 version of A Realm Reborn,
however, is the ability to use Remote Play with your Vita. Taking your
Vita to bed to cuddle up with it and get some grinding in feels
spectacular, like a history-defining moment. How joyous of an occasion
would it have been to be able to play Final Fantasy XI in such a
fashion? Remote Play works beautifully for FFXIV, so well that it's hard
to imagine any future PS4 MMOGs not including the option.
And what of Eorzea itself? The world of Final Fantasy XIV is humongous
and rife with treasures, terrifying bosses, and surprises at every turn.
A gorgeous expository cutscene sets the stage for the advanced Garlean
Empire to invade the realm of Eorzea from the north, while city-states
known as grand companies band together to combat the new threat. Crooked
Garlean Imperial has other ideas about settling the score, however, and
plans out Project Meteor to summon the moon Dalamud, which wipes out
all traces of life outside of those on Eorzea.
As Dalamud falls to Eorzea, Bahamut escapes from thousands of years of
imprisonment and is finally sealed away by a powerful scholar. The
scholar sends all available survivors to a rift in time, and that's
where you come in--waiting for the time to arise when you can return to
your home and restore it to its former glory. While it's not a narrative
that brings any feeling of immediacy to the table, it's meaty enough to
make you feel as though your actions can and do matter.
Deep character customization is a boon right off the bat,
with new races to experiment with, classes to align yourself with, and
options to settle on. There's so much to choose from, in fact, that it
can become intimidating. It's prudent to spend a good 15 to 20 minutes
studying which race and class best fit your play style before taking the
plunge.
There are five races to choose from: the Hyur
are similar to the Hume from Final Fantasy XI, while the Elezen are an
elf-like race. You've got the Miqo'te, who resemble Mithra, and the
Roegadyn are the orc analogue, though they're much better looking than
your typical orc. Last but not least are the Lalafell, who are tiny
adorable dwarven folk, clearly channeling some Tarutaru for the sake of
cuteness. All these races begin with varying attributes, but by the
endgame, those variances don't tend to matter, when you've got hundreds
of points in each stat. Race is mostly cosmetic in this game--choosing a
class and eventual job are more important tasks, and doing so can be
difficult if you jump into it blind.
While it's easy to recognize MMO mainstays such as the tank, DPS, and
healer, there are other varieties of classes to settle into if you're
looking for something a little different. Classes are divided into
subsets known as "disciples," which are further broken down into
specific classes. For instance, you may choose to play a Hyur who fits
into the "disciples of war" subset. Disciples of war are primarily melee
and ranged classes such as marauders, gladiators, and archers, while
disciples of magic feature conjurers or arcanists.
It's a bit obtuse and a far cry from the job-selection
screen of any typical RPG, especially when you sprinkle the
distinctively Final Fantasy jobs into the mix. You can select a job such
as warrior, dragoon, or white mage, but they require having specific
classes leveled up sufficiently. In this, it's a different system than
Final Fantasy diehards may be used to, but it's a refreshing change,
even if it does take some time to work out on your own if you don't
enlist the help of a guide. Luckily, each class is tied to an individual
experience level, which allows you to pursue class-centric quests and
level up characters independently of each other.
You may
find the first 20 to 30 levels easy to breeze through, hitting your
stride at 40 or 50. Things fall into place quickly when you're facing
off against fantastic bosses and collecting new gear. The dungeons
themselves are varied in that some incorporate puzzles, some require the
designated tank of the party to take control while leading the boss
away from more vulnerable players, and many are middle-of-the-road
affairs you can conquer with little more than your best spells, buffs,
and melee. There's little more rewarding than overcoming, for example,
the level 50 Leviathan trial (new to this update) deep underwater as
you're bombarded by aquatic armaments and enormous tidal waves. Final
Fantasy mainstays make appearances as well, such as Ifrit, Titan, and
the Ultima Weapon, all massive events that require cunning and planning
on your part, as well as competent party members who aren't above a
little support when the game dips beyond typical tank-and-spank
measures.
There's more to Final Fantasy XIV beyond dungeon
exploration, though, and that's a good thing, since grinding to attain
the proper level for boss X or quest Y can become tiresome, especially
if you're playing solo through story quests and events. You aren't
relegated to slashing through bunnies and worms like in the olden days
of Final Fantasy XI, but you need patience and a party to quest with if
you want to quickly rise through the ranks.
Take a break
to craft items if your class allows it, gather materials, or tackle the
quest lines and repeatable levequests of your chosen profession for
daily growth and monetary gain. You need the in-game cash flow if you
wish to take advantage of one of the many boons, such as player housing,
which can become exorbitantly expensive.
Housing is an interesting new addition that's quite a bit of a gil sink,
but it's a rewarding system that you and your guild members will want
to invest in when the money is rolling in. Much like in real life, it
can take time to find an affordable plot of land to build your house on,
but once it's completed and bonuses to experience points and attributes
start rolling in for you and your free company (that is, guild), you'll
be thankful for the investment. It's much more than an aesthetic
update; it's an entirely new venue that serves to enhance the feeling
that you're not just playing a game--you're playing a role. Gardening is
an adjunct to player housing, and is the only way some items can be
obtained. You can also add your own crafting station and place your very
own merchant shop on your property. There has never been a better time
for honest-to-goodness role-playing in A Realm Reborn, especially given
that you can become a homeowner now.
The wealth of content from prior releases is only scratching
the surface, with patches 2.1 and 2.2 adding a plethora of adjustments
to current content as well as additional quests for the main storyline.
The main quest line is extended and provides a hearty amount of endgame
play for those currently at the level cap. Also available are new
endgame side quests specific to player disciplines, and a high number of
item drop adjustments throughout the game as well.
There's
no traditional PVP, and at times the grind can grow tedious, but if you
press on, you find a vast and charming supporting cast, complex classes
with plenty of interesting augmentations along the way, and a reworked
MMORPG that combines new and old elements to weave together a satisfying
and modern Final Fantasy that does its part to cater to longtime
franchise fans and MMO enthusiasts alike. This is an admirable redesign,
especially on the PlayStation 4, which very well may be considered the
best venue to experience the staggering world and cornucopia of
additional content. Even if you're still trekking through Vana'diel,
consider making yourself a new home in Eorzea--we'd love to have you.
Source: amespot.com
Rating: 8
