A Grittier world then FXI?

Uronksur

I'm just curious what you all think. I myself am looking forward to FFXIV. But one thing that I really hope to see is something of a darker setting this time around.

 

One of the things that really turned me off when I tried FFXI was Vana'diel was when I came in as a new player it seemed far too bright and happy. The player nations were all at peace with each other, and instead of fighting for land and warring occasionally, they had these (in my opinion) bizarrely set-up PvP competitions with events like "Ballista" and competed to collect crystals or something.....    And I'm not even into PvP.

 

This is just an aesthetics issue really, an a matter of personal preference.... But really, I couldn't stand things like the Taru-Taru, everything just looked too bright and nice. I would like some realism along the lines of seeing an occasional beggar, or some garbage rotting in the gutter, just for realism. There just seemed to be a lot of things in the game that could only be described as "cute".

I understand that I'll probably take a lot of flak for this, but really, I'm hoping for a somewhat darker and grittier world in FFXIV.

Gameslave

Did you even play XI, I mean, past the introduction to the citty?

The nations were only at peace with each other because they had already endured the Crystal War, and there was more at stake than the pride of any singular nation. I wouldn't say it was a particularly "dark" world, but certain areas and storylines definitely were. It also helped if you chose a "dark" job type, like black mage or dark night or blue mage that had very dark elements within their development. The players did indeed fight to claim land that benfited their nation and influenced their shops. Your allegiance mattered. And the scariest evil is of course the kind you cannot see.

I could stand to see a more 'maturely themed' world, particularly in the character models and emotes. But Tarus are like moogles. They're cute. Don't ask why. Don't hate them for it. Not all of them talked like 2-year olds and not all of them were happy-go-lucky. A lot of them, sure, but not all of them. If you want to see the entire world change as you progress you'll have to play something like Oblivion or Fallout 3. Speaking of which, Bethesda is long overdue for an MMORPG. But until then an ever-changing world just can't happen. I think they tried that in one game, and a player character killed an important quest-giving NPC, which they made into a joke so they could change the world, but that kind of constant change is almost impossible, for now, to pull of long-term in a game.

And it would have to be that way, because I'd find an all "dark-themed" world to get just as boring twice as fast as a "normal" world where you might not always be aware of the dark things are happening. Otherwise it's all over the top cliches...

Uronksur

I will confess I didn't get very far... But I did get through the introduction lol.

I know the plot line got darker, and that there is sorta a hidden evil, and I like that concept. What bugged me was more the aesthetics. Everything just looked so shiny, pretty, bright and cute.

And yes, the Taru Taru scare me. I can't stand them... I can accept Moogles, they're kinda a Final Fantasy staple like Chocobos, airships, and Cid.... but the Taru Taru just look like demented children.

I do suppose you have a point about PvP.

 

I'm not sure I'm doing a good job of explaining myself.... but really, I think I could come to even accept the Taru Taru and everything in a world that wasn't so nauseatingly shiny, cute and happy looking (on the surface anyway). As you said, I'd LOVE to see some maturely designed environments and character models.

Gameslave

I kinda get what you're saying, I think. I never cared for the "toon" world of WoW either. I liked the realism in FFXI - then again, how real is this world where nothing is ever dingy or dirty? Even the rocks were clean, I'll give you that. The giant crags and dragon spines all over the world were pure white. Trees were lusciously plumed. Stone walks and castle walls were perfectly cut and sand and snow were blinding. Night was nothing but a cloudy sky. I don't remember any "scary" places that gave me chills really. It was just "man, it's gonna suck if I die and lose EXP against these" rather than "Man, this place gives me the creeps". Like the bloodstained walls in MGSX before fighting Gray Fox Ninja. Or all the eerie settings of all the Resident Evils. Not even the spooks in FFXI were very spooky. I think the only thing I was ever actually scared of were the Tonberries, which for once weren't cute, only they didn't have their trademark KARMA kill. It was some weird bird-thing.

Uronksur

Yeah, I would like to see someone like Maester Seymour from FFX, because when we first meet him we immediately pin him as a evil creeper who wants to get in Yuna's pants (er, skirt, whatever)....

 

I hope the monsters are more something like Sin from FFXI, which we knew immediately was evil. Mainly because it looked like something out of Cthulhu and had lots of eyes that were constantly freaking out. And it would change shape every time you saw it. Seeing Sin was a "What the F#*$ is that?!" experience, especially the first time playing the game. There wasn't anything like that playing FFXI.

 

 

And I formatted my post really weird, I don't know how.

Cavall

The actual tomb area of King Ranperre's tomb was pretty spooky...always felt jittery in there whenever I went deep inside that place. Castle Zvahl was creepy, too. The majority of the world was quite "clean-cut" since SE has a commitment to quality, and story-wise the world was created by a giant, sentient crystal. I'd say that just by looking at it you could tell that it was created, rather than just "there."

zaylin

I hope they expand apon the races/add more because so far it looks like there just revamping the ones from FF11,and I know theres a lot of info NOT released so {crosses fingers for new races}. As for FF14 being a little more gritty,would be cool. But from the sound of it what ever they are planning I think will come out great honestly can you think of one FF game that has bombed,I cant at the moment.

Cavall

I saw Gria in the drawings on the official websites. They're my favorite race from FFTA2 and looks like XIV will have them as well, as far as new races go. Maybe we'll see Bangaa and Nu Mou as well? Possibly PC moogles?

Dewm

 

I wouldn't mind if they made some part a little "darker" but honestly I don't like games where it is really dark (some raids in WoW, gears of war, zombie games esc....)

Its hard to see alot of the times, (Yeah I play on a 37' LCD in a fairly dark room) But still, I enjoy light settings also. So I think a good 50/50 mix would be nice.

natuxatu

Well it sounds like you'll get your wish... if not darker at least more intense with the character development focus and higher fantasy setting that they talked abou in interviews... it gives them a lot more to work with... plus I agree FFXI had some spooky areas for sure  

Rajen

 You know to be honest I'm going to have to agree about making a darker game in terms of maturity.

 

Don't get me wrong I love the FF series whether it be the darker games or the friendlier games and I am sure I am going to love FF14. I mean I haven't ever really been disappointed with an FF game so I'm going in with pretty high hopes and like everything I hear so far.

 

I don't really think the game will be dark though since the younger audience probably wouldn't play it, seems MMOs are made for all ages. But if it is thats cool, if it isn't thats cool too

radfreak

I guess you didn't try those "empty" quests... I mean those ones that you have to go inside of teleport ruins....

Man... first time i got there, it was 2  in the morning and of course, i was in the room by myself with lights off... brrr...

and the music is brrr...

 

That's some darkness...

 

For PvP wise, FFXI is not the PvP-centric game... it's more like group of players vs. a single mob  game

 

Bellarion

A deeper, thorough, playing of FF11 would show you all the dark and mature themes that were written into gameplay. The same will be in FF14 Im sure. I think topically FF11 was exactly what its developers wanted; beautiful on the outside and mysteriously dark and powerful on the inside. 

Gorakkh

I personally like bright, colorful and happy worlds. In fact I found FFXI wasn't bright and happy enough for me to some extent. I'm hoping for the opposite heh. Dark settings and worlds just don't do it for me.