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I think it's because the levels lack structure, when I go outside I feel like I'm standing on a giant blob of land with texture added to it and an occasional patch of trees. For example black shroud is supposedly a forest, but instead u get trench warfare with trees on top. The caves feel like a gopher hole it's just one big tunnel. A forest needs to look like a forest and a cave like a cave.
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I agree, the FFXI have less pixels, but much more charm compared. FFXIV need:
+ characteristic landmarks
+ some few people that you can interact with
+ good spots for party battles