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An outsider's view
Kakusareta
Member Posts: 45
Keep in mind that I have not played any betas nor have I read much other than posts on this forum and watched some videos on youtube. I have played FFXI which I think, but may be wrong, gives me a bit of insight into how the developers have worked in the past and how this game may be. Highest level I have obtained in FFXI is 10 Monk/10 Thef. Not far but you'll see what that little bit of experience has granted me.
1) Combat: I keep hearing that the combat is slow but improved from FFXI in the sense that you have to hit more buttons than you did in XI. Well this is fine but I don't see anyone saying that they are enjoying the combat. In a PVE game this should really be the main draw to the game. Exciting combat. Yes you can RP and you can craft and oh no... you can't PVP but you can do the other things. But... where is the carrot on the stick? If I have seen no one saying that the combat in a PVE game is really exciting and considering that is what I'm going to be doing for the entire game, then why should I be interested? Part of the joy of combat is seeing something awesome that compels you to keep fighting. Like stated in my initial paragraph, I have not played the game so if you can logically justify why the PVE is exciting to you, then I may change my opinion. I'm open to suggestions. Once again this is not an attempt to flame. I was sold on this game for a long time but am now beginning to have some honest doubts.
2) Terrain: In FFXI the environments are pretty terrible. No doubt the game is old as Moses but my point is... There is not much that separates South Bastok from North Bastok and so on. In games like SWG you had several planets and each one though very, very open (which I hear and SEE that FFXIV isn't so open) had landmarks in them. Certain things that were only on/in that planet/zone that drew you there to explore. Every planet had numerous things you wanted to visit. I'm not hearing anything about these different zones having anything that implores you to explore. Instead I'm hearing they are very bland with copy pasted landscape squares. In summation... the world just seems bland and lifeless.
3) Story: In a game that I'm mostly interested in for the chance to RP and explore while feeling like I have a purpose (see both 1, 2, and a few other posts). I get that the storyline doesn't really draw you in. Is this true? With this game I intend on reading the quest descriptions like I have in other games. The question is.. will it be any different than most other mmorpgs boring quest lines?
4) Interface: I dont' mind an awkward interface. FFXI I had no problems with their UI. However... I'm hearing and have seen in some beta videos, that the interface in this game requires numerous confirmations and just several unnecessary steps that while being different, just create a hassle. Rob with his mention of his experience mining for ore was a bit of a turnoff.
5) Time consumption. I remember reading in Game Informer that the developers were making this game more casual friendly. Actually... I have the issue. Give me a second here and I'll find the exact quotes...
Here it is for what it is worth: http://www.ffxivcore.com/blog/103/entry-299-gameinformers-thoughts-on-ffxiv-alpha/
I have played WoW and I have enjoyed it. I don't mind the asshat community, I can make friends and form a guild of like-minded players. I don't mind FFXI other than the obvious griefs I have with the game listed above. I love the community. I dont' mind the lack of direction (though you can get direction if needed by talking to certain guards in your home nation). I also don't mind SWG with its skill based progression and grinding (which BTW showed you that carrot you were chasing subconsciously). I don't mind Aion with it's grind and lackluster PVP. I am very open-minded with games. I just would like to see someone respond that can help me get out of this rut of doubt I have recently about FFXIV.
I would like to see this game do exceptionally well. The genre needs some diversity thrown in it. Unfortunately this game is no doubt a niche title and I don't see it causing much commotion. So if anyone can help me change my mind I'd greatly appreciate it. Please keep your comments focused on the questions/issues I have and not epeen swordfighting with fanbois, haters/trolls, and people who just don't like the game for whatever reason they don't like the game.
Comments
This game will do as well as 11.
Wasn't my taste in an mmo and i'm not desperate enough to keep trucking with this game.
I can't stand the combat so I don't really see a point in staying with it even if I do like other aspects of the game.
Well while not quite elaborate as I wanted, I can see your point. The videos I've seen just really make the combat look more like a hassle than any fun. I love RPGs and don't mind a menu based combat system. This game has an action bar to simplify things further and possibly correct the issues with XI. I just am not hearing anything good about the combat system at all. Which bothers me. FFXI is really rather boring. If hitting skills to replace an auto-attack (which still doesn't seem very engaging) is not cutting it for a lot of people then maybe this game just isn't for me. Aion as dull as it was did have some pretty decent combat. At least more engaging than what I've seen in FFXIV. Destiny Rose with her use of skills seemed no more effective than XI with it's auto-attack and once and a while weapon skill/ job ability.
Just enter the Open Beta and see for yourself. A lot of people are enjoying FFXIV, and a lot of people are not.
1:I haven't heard much issues about the Combat, and personally I like it.
2:Terrain, the world is pretty and all, as far as copy+paste or not, I can't confirm or deny this as my memories of FFXI are far too vague.
3:The storyline has been greatly limited in FFXIV for the purpose of Open Beta. Players complain that they don't get to complete the story but they forget that SE has aimed this Beta at actually Stress-Testing their game and greatly limited to content so that players don't see too much of the game. It's not your typical "OB" promotion-tool by no mean and SE has been released patches for fixes on near daily basis to improve the game.
4:UI is a major issue for many players. It's definitively not intuitive, annoying that you can't open more than 1 window, etc. I got used to it, but some parts of the UI still bother me. Definitively one of the biggest (and valid) issues that players have been encountering with the game.
5: It's casual-friendly because you can log in on a Saturday and complete many Leve quest and definitively have improved your character (at least based on the lower levels). Wether it will be casual-friendly or not later on, I don't know. But definitively, FFXIV will be a lot more party-based than most MMOs.