Out with the OLD, IN with The NEW -- A Look Back to Epicness

[ExHeroKid]

i disagree with the people saying it's nostalgia or that it was your first mmo. my first MMO was Asheron's Call. i really enjoyed it but dont place it on a high pedastool. the fact of the matter is that FFXI zones were just better designed and more interesting. i mean beadraux alone is probally more interesting than any beastman stronghold in ARR...i mean you ctually see huts the qudav would of lived in. same goes for the orc stronghold. http://youtu.be/yDOADCy7o24?t=3m29s

I somewhat agree, while it is somewhat to do with Nostalgia, it's a bit more than JUST Nostalgia.
To quote the other thread of the 'JP Player's view on ARR'
“I was just playing with my friends and before I realized it years have gone by”

I find that because ARR is INSTANCED based it lacks the sort of 'Adventure' we all experienced in FFXI's Open World (I stopped @WoTG btw so idk anything afterwards)
I mean DF, you do instance, win and everyone leaves without a word to each other sometimes other than the 'Hello!' at the beginning.
That time sink you spent into XPing is what made some friendships, static XP parties, there was always a bit more communication during that 1-6+ hours you spend in an xp session

Also scripted fights, less interesting than reactive ones in FFXI, OR
the COMEBACK from RDM Chainspell + Raising people as the Tank kites the mob for 5-10 minutes while everyone else is getting raised and waiting for weakness to wear off and buffs to be replaced and holding your breath all the while now THAT was epic. Sure you can healer LB3 but even if you do, a wipe mechanic is still a wipe mechanic and there is no comeback.

Most area designs are boring, background scenery is nice but that's all there is to it, there is no depth, no sense for exploration nothing it's relatively flat (with some cliffs in Coerthas or Thanalan yeah yeah blah blah) there are areas in the zone that you have no need to ever visit unless its for: Hunts/Challenge log but that's it you go there once and never go back.

And yes some of those zones are indeed much more interesting, one of my favorites will always be Castle Zvahl Bailey (SP LOL BEEN TOO LONG) even though navigating it was hell.