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Completely dead-on and objective beta review, just like all the other 100% true reviews!
MMO.Maverick
Member CommonPosts: 7,619
With the reviews some other posters gave from their quick tour in FFXIV's Eorzea, I thought I'd post some (p)review too, to balance them out/add to the pile, however someone likes to see it.
Or better said, profit from the hard thinking and work from others (yes, I'm lazy plus I don't have a beta key).
So, here it goes, what are other people who wandered in FFXIV and who're not from the legendary/infamous (again, opt your choice) mmorpg.com site saying?
In addition to excellent music, FFXIV has high-quality graphics like mainstream 3D MMOs. Certainly, high system requirements are needed to give full play to the best graphical effects. The game is more flexible and diversified with the use of various classes and the brand-new battle TP system. Nevertheless, in terms of quests and storyline, few details have been known.
Game Graphics: (9.5) Although I use a low-end computer, the game graphics still look extremely exquisite. It can be imagined how wonderful if a high-end computer is used.
Game System: (8.5) There are abundant classes and a seamless transition system, but no creative content. Perhaps it hasn't been released in the beta test. Additionally, the game city is very large, as the game doesn't offer an auto-trace or direction function, players have to be careful when finding a NPC.
Game Feature: (9.0) The game's background music can be considered as the sound from heaven.
Interfaces and Controls: (8.0) The game is easy to play with simple controls and clear interfaces. owever, its newbie tutorials should be improved. Generally, Japanese MMOs don't do well in point of this aspect.
Final Score: 8.7
As I mentioned in the outset, several aspects set Final Fantasy XIV apart from other MMOs. Mechanics, particularly the controls, may act as a hurdle to the mildly interested gamer who tried to pick up the game and jump right into play. The reward for learning a unique system is high for players who want an engaging story from a game that values player skill over time spent online.
So for the last 10 days ive been playing the FFXIV Open Beta... im doing a review on how i feel so far.
Everything is on a scale of 1-10
Graphics -- 9
Pros: Ok so this game as im sure most of you know is B-E-A-U-T-I-F-U-L. Even on the "Low graphics settings, this game looks better than any other MMO (Much better than Aion in my optinion)
Cons: Well, if you want to experience these stunning graphics, your going to need a computer that can handle it. you dont need a "supercomputer" but a cheap rig wont get you far.
User Interface (UI) -- 6
Pros: at least is has a UI
Cons: Every game has its flaws, and for FFXIV, this is a big one. The locked software cursor (ive heard you can get a hardware cursor running but i dont understand the process of doing that =/) the clunky, laggy menu system that seems to take forever to get anything done, and just an unpleaseant experience...but its not all horrible, because i hear that the UI is semi-playable if you use a gamepad or controller, so there is kinda a pro, but if you using the Mouse+Keyboard, it will give you headaches.
Gameplay -- 8
Pros: The game has some great features, like Leves. (quests that you can take to get money and experience, sometimes items). Another pro, is actually getting experience for leveling a crafting job. I felt like if i crafted, i would get more than just a maple plank, but i advanced in the craft, and as a character.
Cons: The combat is a different syle than what i am used to in MMOs... choosing a command for every attack is a good idea in my opinion, but the abilities dont always respond. For example, you might think you hit 1, but you sit there wondering when your going to attack, then realize it didnt register. not a game breaker though, just a slight annoyance. The class changing is not my favorite, there is not official way to "change class" once you change your weapon, boom instat class change. that would be alright for Combat -- Crafting/Gathering but not Combat -- Combat.
Community -- 7
Pros: Now i know its beta, andthis kind of thing wouldnt develope, but im noticing that the majority of the playebase are mature players (Not 11 y/o kids looking to intimidate you with their trashtalk). Every MMO has them, but for the most part, mature and decent people, and the friends list is easy to work with
Cons: Like EVERY MMO, there are gold farmers who spam the shoutbox. Linkshells are great, but when you make a linkshell, you have a VERY limited choice of guild seals... (i have seen the same seal for about 3 different linkshells so far) again, nothing TOO serious here.
Character Creation -- 8
Pros: One of the biggest thing about an MMO, making the character you are going to explore with. There are several hairstyles, colors, face styles, features to mix and match to make a character that fits what you want. Its not SUPER in detail, but its a big step up from other games like WOW or FFXI.
Cons: Not sure if im just incompitant and missed the box, but when making a new character, theres no was to start from scratch. i have to select one of the characters i saved and backtrack through the whole process to get to the beginning, please correct me if im wrong. 
The World -- 9
Pros: When i fist started playing (Limsa Lominsa) i looked at the map and was thinking to myself (wow this is a small zone!) then i learned how to move the map ( I, J, K, L ) and i almost flipped out... The size of the zones is immense, and with the great graphics i truly feel like im wandering through the world. Another pro is the uniqueness of the different zones. The island of La Noscea, the desert of Thanaland, the MAZE of gridanias starting land (forgot the name =X) the Evil Aggro Hell of Mor Dhona, and the highlands of Coerthas. None of these zones felt like oh look its another forest, or oh another desert, they all felt like a unique place in the world, and it is a ton of fun to explore.
Cons: Some of the features like caves or geographical features tend to repeat themselves, like Copy --> paste, and it IS fairly noticable in certain areas.
Final thoughts:
Overall i think that this game is going to do quite well. Is it a WOW killer? no. I think some people will play this game until a bigger, better game comes out, but people like myself and so many others will play this game like they did FFXI (spend forever trying to get to a certain goal lol =P) however, if SE wants this game to be a hit, they had better fix up some problems or a lot of their playerbase is going to be missing at release.
Im going to say a sturdy 8/10 for this one, and i cant wait until Sept 22nd to start rockin it.
So here you are. Some more informative previews added to mmorpg.com for those who are interested in (p)reviews to learn more about several aspects of the game FFXIV.
The ACTUAL size of MMORPG worlds: a comparison list between MMO's
The ease with which predictions are made on these forums:
Fratman: "I'm saying Spring 2012 at the earliest [for TOR release]. Anyone still clinging to 2011 is deluding themself at this point."
Comments
Interesting that the critics are giving it generally positive reviews. I guess they've faith the GUI lag issues will be worked out at or near release.
Well since SE has been releasing patches to fix overall performance over the past week or so and that there has been a noticeable increase in performance for many players, I'd also have faith in SE to fix this lag.
----
On topic, I'm really starting to think MMORPG.com's Community is the problem here. Just looking around other sites, there are tons of great reviews for FFXIV, but for MMORPG.com....pretty much every MMO thread is camped by the "This game sux" crowd. Sad, really.
This review must all be bought only 100% accurate trollpo... uhm user opinion on this page are true this game is totally doomed, do not be tricked by this false buisness reviews...
On a more serious note it is nice to read something more positive at this place in a while but I bet the thread will sadly go down thanks to all the other "important" reviews.
If I've learned anything by reading these "review" threads on the general discussion board here at MMORPG.com, it's do not read the review threads on discussion boards, because apparently most posters lack the skills to write truly unbiased, comprehensive reviews and there's no authority on a message board preventing player-written reviews from being anything other than complete and utter balderdash reviews.
what the OP doesnt tell us is that all those 8's and 9s were on a scale of 1 to 900,000!
RIP Ribbitribbitt you are missed, kid.
Currently Playing EVE, ESO
Every gun that is made, every warship launched, every rocket fired signifies, in the final sense, a theft from those who hunger and are not fed, those who are cold and not clothed.
Dwight D Eisenhower
My optimism wears heavy boots and is loud.
Henry Rollins
Haha, that was funny. I laughed out loud. You must not have tried Mortal Online....that is if you could stay logged in for more than 5 minutes. This may not be your cup of tea, but it is far from the worst mmo in the history of mmo. I've been playing them for over 10 years. Yes, the UI is 110% horrible. and lag has been an issue. I'll stop there though, because I still intend to try it out for a few months.
Make a balanced and referenced presentation and get 15 pages of unsubstantiated mud-slinging.
Forum PVP FTW! Its entertaining, but fankly I doubt anything I read on MMORPG.com.
Well, except for that little frog guy. He seems sincere.
Core i5 13600KF, BeQuiet Pure Loop FX 360, 32gb DDR5-6000 XPG, WD SN850 NVMe ,PNY 3090 XLR8, Asus Prime Z790-A, Lian-Li O11 PCMR case (limited ed 1045/2000), 32" LG Ultragear 4k Monitor, Logitech G560 LightSync Sound, Razer Deathadder V2 and Razer Blackwidow V3 Keyboard
Awww, whats wrong, don't like that somebody has a different Unbias opinion.
Core i5 13600KF, BeQuiet Pure Loop FX 360, 32gb DDR5-6000 XPG, WD SN850 NVMe ,PNY 3090 XLR8, Asus Prime Z790-A, Lian-Li O11 PCMR case (limited ed 1045/2000), 32" LG Ultragear 4k Monitor, Logitech G560 LightSync Sound, Razer Deathadder V2 and Razer Blackwidow V3 Keyboard
I hate to break it to oyu, but mmosite and TenTonHammr aren't exactly such big names in reviews that they'd be worth throwing money at.
Oh great review! It must be true! Greatness!!!!
To think like that yes you only need an half brain... Dont know what you have done with your other half..
I'm guessing the sarcasm went over some people's heads.
Err if read the sources correctly
only tentonhammer could be considered a critic.
the rest just seem to be forum posts
Drop the next-gen marketing and people will argue if the game itself has merit.
You wrong, that honor went to STO.
Yea I was wondering that too.
FFXIV.zam is definitely a forum poster. I have a feeling the others are too. Does anyone know where 'exactly' these reviews are coming from (as there is no link). Are they just the most positive forum poster reviews taken from a couple sites, or are they officially given from the sites themselves. Tentonhammer doesn't even seem to give it a rating, just a general critique.
Like all these other 100% accurate reviews in this forum? Hmmm when tehy all are paid for reviews who than can prove me that all the bad 100% true reviews are not paid as well to create bad credit?
It is a devil circle.
Yeah, they are just fanboi reviews, trying to fight back against the vast majority of negative reviews by other forum members. There's not been any official reviews, other than the odd preview, which haven't exactly been positive. It has also been panned at every show they've demonstated it, and a result has received little media coverage. To be honest while this review is way biased and seems to be ingoring many of the issues (or attempts to brush them under a carpet), its pretty pointless. As its likely most here are already in open beta and already know what the game's like.
Personnally anyone who claims their review is dead on and 100% correct, while implying others are simply wrong, aren't producing quaility reviews. It simply screems its coming from either a fanboi or hater. From just the header I figured it was either going to have unrealistic scores, low or high.
im sure most of you had mmorpg.com minimized on your browser before clicking the FF icon just to be ready to flame a game youre supposed to beta testing. Every one else reviewing the game is getting paid by the company. How pathetic this is....
He that lives upon Hope dies farting.
I think this guy was being sarcastic. Just a lucky guess.
More credible than this hole.... Reviews from real gaming sites...
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Sorcery must persist, the future is the Citadel
Did you notice? Yes, I had the same feeling after a few months visiting here, it isn't only the FFXIV btw, taking a look at the forumsections of WoW, AoC, Aion, STO, MO, SW:TOR and so on you'll catch the same vibe.
The mmorpg.com crowd is a very distinct subset of the overall MMORPG gamer community.
Little frog guy? Please point the way to whom it is, I'm always interested in people who can be sincere without falling into extremes
The ACTUAL size of MMORPG worlds: a comparison list between MMO's
The ease with which predictions are made on these forums:
Fratman: "I'm saying Spring 2012 at the earliest [for TOR release]. Anyone still clinging to 2011 is deluding themself at this point."
Yes it did.
I'm ashamed to say that it went over my head too until I checked your post history, you were very convincing as a flamer/troll
Ah yes, the source: I did what I said in another thread what I'd do, do a quicksearch of a few minutes to see what I could find on other sites outside mmorpg.com with previews/beta reviews/impressions of equal information value as the reviews posted here by mmorpg.com posters. To see what they were saying and to see if there's a difference in tone (yes, there was, point proven)
It's ironic that the FFXIV.zam poster (note that I stated 'poster' at that source in contrast to the other 2) was more informative and detailed in his descriptions than the 'official' other two from MMOsite and TenTonHammer.
Anyway, these were the ones I could find the quickest, I could search even further and longer, but I thought it enough for now for the OP, it's already a long textwall. Maybe I add them later on with shorter quotes, will see.
The ACTUAL size of MMORPG worlds: a comparison list between MMO's
The ease with which predictions are made on these forums:
Fratman: "I'm saying Spring 2012 at the earliest [for TOR release]. Anyone still clinging to 2011 is deluding themself at this point."
Anyone who takes advise from people on this site is either A) new to mmorpg.com, or
an Idiot. EVERY MMO released goes through this on this here. SW:TOR is going to get bashed hard, GW II will get it, even worse because it has to live up to ALL the GW1 fans expectations. TERA is going to get ripped apart, after all its a korean game, that alone will warant 50,000 Korean grinder threads. The forums on this site is nothing but a vile cesspool of worthless info.
Waiting for:EQ-Next, ArcheAge (not so much anymore)
Now Playing: N/A
Worst MMO: FFXIV
Favorite MMO: FFXI
Any review is suspect. They all have a bias, trying to determine what that is can be tricky:)
As to how this site and the opinions of posters here hold up? Well, actually, it is mostly pertty good if you are a "hard core" gamer.
The majority of people here seem to get heavliy into games. And spend quite a bit of hours every week playing. If you keep that in mind as you read any reviews of players here, you can get an idea of the over all game.
If you are a very casual gamer, the reviews here will mean pretty much nothing to how you see the game. A hard core gamer can and will plow through any game in weeks that would take a casual gamer months.
Deciding if a game is worth the cash has a whole different meaning if you are talking of playing a couple weeks or 3-6 months.