Mid-game impressions of Final Fantasy XIV: A Realm Reborn

It has been a week since I wrote about my first impressions of Final Fantasy XIV: A Realm Reborn, and after spending more time with the game, I’m ready to talk more about the later stages of the game. If you haven’t read my first impressions of Final Fantasy XIV: A Realm Reborn, I highly recommend reading that first.

An epic storyline

Final Fantasy XIV: A Realm Reborn has accomplished something that very few MMORPGs have ever accomplished, and that is having an epic main storyline. The story is rarely the most important aspect of an MMO, and it’s common to see MMORPG developers hiring subpar scriptwriters whose work isn’t integrated well into the gameplay. Case in point: think of the instances in games where defeating a dragon that has terrorised townsfolk for hundreds of years nets you the same amount of experience as a love letter delivery for a shy young farmhand.

Rest in peace, my dear..

Final Fantasy XIV: A Realm Reborn puts you in the shoes of a new adventurer who recently arrived in Eorzea. Eorzea has just experienced a catastrophe caused by a powerful primal. As you progress in the game, you will realize that you possess a hidden power that ordinary adventurers don’t. As the adage goes, with great power comes with great responsibility, and you’ll find yourself battling demi-Godlike monsters in previously uncharted lands.

Along the way you find many allies who will assist you, and as time passes you’ll find yourself growing attached to these people. There will be many times when they assist you like true brothers in battle, healing you where possible and relying on you to carry out the deeds that they are incapable of. Final Fantasy XIV: A Realm Reborn is the very first time I’ve become attached to an MMORPG character.

Compulsory group dungeons

Much like its RPG cousins, FFXIV:ARR’s quest lines are pretty linear. However Square Enix, for some frustrating reason, decided to include group dungeons in the main quest. Players are unable to progress until they complete these dungeons, and they proved to be a huge hindrance to my progress.

Just because you’re taller doesn’t mean I’m afraid of you!

Even on a high-population server, my wait for the dungeon to pop took over an hour, and I was unable to progress until then. If you ever thought being in a high pop server meant you were safe from waiting for a group, think again. The game is facing issues with its instances and players in some of the overpopulated servers have trouble entering dungeons even with a full party because the maximum number of instance slots in the server have been filled.

Well, okay.. I’m scared this time.

While there are still many players new to the game, as well as hardcore players levelling their alts, I worry about how things will work once the game’s initial player boom dies down. A lack of dungeon groups will definitely lead to a halt in character progression, and I’m hoping that the system will be changed eventually to allow players to get into these dungeons raids without long waits. Being able to move quickly through the main quest is key, as many features remain locked until you complete a particular quest.