Yes, but the differences are very subtle to the point it's not that different -- Compare their last FF MMO, even though it's different games, they've proven they have it in them to make it even more varied and unique per race per gender.
Seems to me like they decided on the emote route because its easier to do. lol
Though this was always XIV's problem, from copypasta landscape, hard to miss graphical glitches, client crashes, semi-identical animations, lack of "cool" gear at start, screwy untested battle/class mechanics etc etc.
basically there was alot of corner cutting.
While I do completely understand that SE is trying to rush and focus on the major changes in the game for ARR/2.0, which inevitably means that they'll have to cut corners on "less important" aspects of the game, I'm just kind of worried that XIV will never receive the same kind of love and attention XI did when it comes to those little things everybody takes for granted.
Like for instance, go on your monk and try all your fist abilities and you'll find that there is no elemental effect on your hits! you'd think that with "Fists of Fire" you'd see fire when you hit a mob, no?
FFXI had that.
So, I'll say it again... XIV needs to do everything XI did and it has to do it better.
Well now... that's horribly disappointing. I was hoping 2.0 would fix the bland indifference between the races but instead it's just being hand-waved away. I guess having any real cultural heritage or uniqueness among them would just be too much effort. I for one cannot wait to play a bland mid-sized grey doll that has no representation in the world or where it belongs with.
At the very least, please let us have much more varied character creation features.
No new race animations make me sad! whats the point of being a mammoth beast if i swing my blade same as you tiny folk!
I really hope they at least change the standard casting animation. Holding your weapon to your face with a glow effect around your character is kind of boring.
I really miss the FFXI casting animations, they were my favorite of any MMO I can recall playing. Black magic for example seemed like it really required a lot of effort and concentration to cast, and it gave the spell in question visual emphasis. White magic was gentle, almost serene, very much in line with the spells tied to the animation.
Either way, the current casting effects are lacking in visual distinction, all we have is a color swap - and they seem to be a step back in regards to creativity when what we should have gotten with XIV was a step forward.
Although I am sad about no race-specific stances, I hope to god they do something about the magic casting animations (and magic animations in general). This is one of those things I think FFXI nailed and should just be adopted outright.
To be honest here... I kind of forgot that there were different race animations in FFXI. I'm more glad about the weapon skill animations. Job animations are really nice, I must give the team kudos for that one. :)