FFXIV has the means, but not the necessity to have the socialization that FFXI offered. I can solo everything, so far, and so I don't really need to make friends. I do, anyway, because as far as gears go, it really helps to be able to trade materials.
I'm disappointed by the lack of awe the game inspires when exploring areas. But it could simply be me, and that I'm used to it by now. But I'll never forget how cool it was to leave West Ronfaure and enter LaTheine Plateau, to see that vast, expansive zone, and the Crag of Holla. I wondered about what it was, where it came from, etc. And lo and behold, there was a STORY behind its existence, there were plot quests and missions that brought the world and NPCs to life. FFXIV lacks them- but this, I believe, is because of how new it is. I'm only partway done with the current story quests, but it does look like there will be some depth and story and /purpose/ to our adventures in Eorzea. So I'm content to game casually, grind casually, and craft casually, until there's more of this. Then I'll play like a crack addict. /goodbye dear wife XD
FFXIV Hot Read Thursday
Check out the hottest topics from the past week of the FFXIV general forum.
"I wanna love you, but I better not touch. I wanna hold you, but my senses tell me to stop."
I bet a lot of Final Fantasy XIV players would agree with Alice Cooper. The prevailing attitude on the FFXIV General Forum has been much more positive since the first of two large version updates to wrap up 2010. However, there is still plenty of room for criticism of Final Fantasy XIV, especially considering that most updates to this game have simply dealt with fixing the controls (and still, not all the controls are fixed). The flaws discussed in this week's Hot Thursday threads are more cerebral than Xs and Os. I'm talking about flaws that leave us wanting to socialize, desiring a tighter community and yearning for days long gone.
Here are the links (protip: for the desired effect, listen to "November Rain" while reading these):
Thread #1: What is keeping you from playing FFXIV
What do you do when you want to love a game, but you just can't? This thread reads like it's written from someone who really wants to love Final Fantasy XIV, but there are too many flaws to overlook. The OP then asks others who aren't playing to elaborate on the factors holding them back (oddly enough, "I only own a PS3" was never given as an answer). I guess it's true that every rose has its thorn.
Thread #2: Auto-attack and Socializing
Remember the good old days when you could play Final Fantasy XI and not have to pay attention to what you were doing? The days when you could get up and make a sammich while tanking Fafnir, or when you could randomly hit your refresh macro while meleeing away on your red mage? With a club? Seems like only yesterday, I know, and this OP agrees with me. Perhaps if there were an auto-attack feature in Final Fantasy XIV, we could enjoy a return to the glory days. They'll pass you by, those glory days.
Thread #3: Am I getting old or...?
Yes you are. And soon you'll be as old as I am, and you'll wake up every morning and count the new gray hairs growing around your temples, and you'll be amazed that you were alive long enough to play the original Final Fantasy at launch. And yes, I agree that FFXIV lacks the magic that the other titles seemed to have, but it's way too early in this game's life to compare it against the titles of our childhood. Have hope for Eorzea. Don't stop believin'... hold on to that feelin'!
Tags: FinalFantasyXIV, News