Remember - you cannot review an MMO until 6 months after it's launch - which is today

[Betelgeuzah]

It is fair to review an MMO after release, after three months and after 6 months. What are you people smoking?

XIV wasn't a good game at the time of release. It isn't a good game now. It may be a good game in 6 months or not. All we can do is wait or not give a crap (like the most). Reasons for the slow dev cycle are simple, and clear. Not excusable, but all you can do is deal with it or move on.

[Evovenom]

I will rate the game when it's finished!!!!

Same, I'll wait until Square Enix says it's ready.

[NoMX]

Actually, for what it is I'd say FF14 is a pretty good game. Lets think about it... How many good free to play games are there out there? And what is there to do in them?

-Grind
-Craft
-Usually PvP

Those are pretty much the only three things you can do in any free game. Final Fantasy XIV has the grind, and the crafting, and a bit of story (yes, we know, it isn't complete yet and they are expanding on it. It's the same way FF11 went... It took what, 2 or 3 years for them to finish updating WoTG story?). It sacrifices PvP but it brings that story telling aspect to the table. The missions are crazy easy and lack any real excitement from start to finish so far, but we're not that far into the game yet. They did a really good job on the cinematics, imo though.

Comparing FFXIV to other F2P games, I'd give it an 8.5/10.
Comparing FFXIV to the best retail P2P games (WoW and FFXI), I'd give it a 5.5/10

You can say it's not F2P because you bought the disc, but all those "F2P" games have micro-transactions that ruin the game completely and promote spontaneous expenditures. At one point on Rappelz, the average player spent $57 a month on the game's cash shop.

[whoopeeragon]

Hmm...a sensible topic with a sensible OP. I applaud you, BelgianRofl. -claps-

Fanboys are oblivious to anything but their own realities...they're probably the reason how FFXIV landed on the shelves in this state. If the fans in Japan would shut up and stop demanding impossible things, perhaps XIV would have been in development longer, the developers will realise something was wrong, and not have to suffer the response it has. So for now, I blame two major parties for this: the developers themselves, and the fans.

I have to agree with Rofl's review this time, though lasting appeal was probably crapped down just a bit too much...the game is still not viable as a truly enjoyable game. At the current stage at most, I'll rate it a 7.5 out of 10, and that's pushing it a bit to the optimistic side...they haven't really changed much in terms of presentation nor graphics. It's mainly gameplay which got played around with, especially UI.

And I haven't heard of the 6-month review rule before...probably some fangroup acting up again.


Presentation - 5.5-6/10

Much like Rolf said, the back-bones there, the potential's there, though perhaps I'm more intrigued than the average person by the lore which pops up from time to time, hence the higher score. But too little content, general lack of classes (I'm was actually disappointed at the lack of mage classes...5 melee classes and 2 mage ones? Really?), lack of means to navigate the global world...definitely needs work.

Graphics - 8-8.5/10

I play on probably one of the combinations of low settings, seeing as my PC is comparatively old, however, from what I can see, the graphics already blow most of the other MMO's graphics into dust. Water - fine, but a bit of reflection around the puddle would be nice. What really bit me was the endless copy-paste (does that go into graphics? Need confirmation), especially in the BS. Otherwise, everything is fine.

Gameplay - 6.5-7/10

Sorry, Rofl, but I have to pull at your review a bit. Battles may feel like a 1-fest, but there's still some semblance of tactical battle - resisting the urge to mash enter/1 so you can place yourself away from the enemy during attacks or not miss a chance to use a TP move, Battle Regimen with a party which actually knows how to use it, buffs and nerfs at right times etc... This doesn't mean that the battle system is optimum; it can be fixed heavily, but it's not as bad as a 1-mash fest.

Crafting/gathering depends on the player; if you like crafting, then you'll find nothing wrong with 'banging on an anvil' all day long. As someone who finds crafting rather enjoyable, gathering a chance to run around, and finds a grim pleasure in clothes and leathers exploding in my hands or someone's face, it places highly in my standards.

Market Wards - fine, though a bit of socialising would be nice...it does what it's meant to do without too much fuss.

What brings it down is mainly user difficulty. I would like to toggle through my linkshells, crafting options, easy-access to repairing gear without having to equip the tool and go to the inventory and press 'repair'. Lag still isn't fully gone, glitches are amusing but not so much when you land in an area where you get 1-hit KOed, the camera still gets frozen at times. The list of things they could fix goes on, but suffice to say, it's not ready to be called 'playable in full'.

Sound - 9/10

Music tracks - love it; perhaps a touch too much on the bombastic side. Even without the orchestra, NU still managed to pull off marvelous pieces. The only qualm I have is that it doesn't fit well with some places aka. Thanalan. There's nothing that really pulls at the sighing quality of the track in the desolate wasteland.

Voices - good. Though there's one mi'qote laugh which really really scares me.

Lasting Appeal - 7/10

I don't know about others, but I feel myself drawn in; there's just something that compels me to play. Perhaps it's just my unknown fanboy side, perhaps it's just my appreciation of the game, but nonetheless, I don't find it easy to discard. The backbone's there, the potential to grow is huge, it's just up to SE to water it properly and draw more people in.

Final Verdict - 7.5/10

[TessaJalloh]

i'll go with this, here's my review.

Graphics: 7/10, there's real quality to the visuals, and when thrown into a good cutscene, there's some serious eyecandy to be had, however, minor graphical issues marr the experience a little bit. Not enough to really affect gameplay, but enough to be noted here.

Sound: 9/10, every footstep sounds solid, every clink of chain, and creak of leather, it cannot be said that FFXIV is not a very atmospheric game when it comes to it's soundtrack, the music is superb, though perhaps not particularly fitting to the game itself some times. A few more classical themes would go a long way compared to the guitar anthems put up for every fight.

Gameplay: 5/10, Whilst sitting on the groundwork of possibly one of those friendliest mmorpg combat systems, FFXIV falls short due to two simple matters, there is very little (currently) to do outside of increase your level, which can be said of many MMO games. However, with promised content patched carefully in, on a rather regular basis, it's getting toward the point where it could increase this score a little.

(important mmo scores next)

Community: 7/10, the community in FFXIV is amazing, people communicate, stop to aid you if they see you in trouble, help newer players with free items simply because they saw that they were a little under equipped, repair things without truly needing to be asked. Enhance this with a linkshell, your own personal family, you find people to be open and friendly with nearly every aspect. However, when they aren't helpful, boy are they ever hateful, your usual flavour of troll exists here, the person who will harrass you for existing just so they can cause trouble, complaining about every aspect of the game in order to aggrovate, even when they have no intent of quitting. This is not restricted to your standard 'not enough WoW' troll.

Interface: 5/10, could use some work, and some more points that take advantage of the PC platform, however, the interface works, it is usable, and since patches to adress it, quite responsive. Whilst not quite on par just yet with other titles, bear in mind this is build for the later PS3 release, and does definately make using a controller much easier than adding controller support to a mouse and keyboard centric UI.

Combat: 7/10, Combat is as interesting as you make it, you can just spam one attack all day and struggle through battles, however, with the battle regiment system, and an organised group, you can chain your abilities together to create interesting buffs and debuffs, increase damage potentional far beyond normal, and really shine at your various class roles. Many people refuse to get into the more complex nature of the battle system, as it is set out open enough for someone to jump in to and perform mediocre, and still come out on top.

Final Opinion: FFXIV is not a terrible game, it lacks substance currently, but has seen major improvements to it's basic groundwork since it's release last year, even if you don't immediately notice it, simple things like improved responsiveness in the interface, and consolidation of windows to make things easier to read through definately improve what was a very sluggish and infuriating system. It needs time to tune itself, and whilst people may complain, they still log in and play, and still give their opinions, showing people truly care about this game.

From me, Final Fantasy XIV, gains a generous, 6/10 rating. Which for me, is an above average rating. It's got a way to go, but if you give it a chance, and really explore it's systems with an open view, you'll find a lot of fun to be had here if you let it be had.

[OminousAnonymous]

this still describes every mmo pretty much

1) Spam your strongest attacks in sequence until mob dies
2) If mob attacks a certain spot, dont stand there if it can be helped
3) Continue til it dies or you do.

There really isnt an MMo out there that doesnt follow this format. Even the most so called "complex" boss fights in some games are still the same thing.

Dont stand next to the mob or in the path of its attack on killer moves, otherwise, unload on it.

Yet people somehow complain every time a new game comes out for the same reason....when every other game does the same thing, and they justify it with the same excuse "because they do it, but its not the same" which is basicaly saying, that they cant explain it, but they wanna badmouth it anyway

You obviously have not played too many mmo's. I could name a bunch that have complex rotations, priorities, self healing cooldowns, and heavy movement fights ontop of that. (World of warcraft) being one. Just becuase all you've played is games where you stand there and spam 1 till you geta buff or a long cooldown ready, doesn't mean all mmo's are like that.

Infact. Go watch a video of a boss fight like Yogg-saron on WoW, in player perspective. Come back, and compare which is more epic.

[NoMX]

Actually, WOW fights pretty much follow the same formula. WoW is actually one of the biggest rotation-based games out there. You press 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 then repeat... Until you proc a skill then you get to press 6!

And the boss strategies? When they shit on the floor... don't stand in it. The end.

You always used the same tanks... You pretty much always got away with the same DPS members... At least in 11 you had to use different people for different things. Ninjas were better off tanking some things, paladins others... And the DPS strategies on each fight changed slightly as well. On WoW, any class could DPS on any fight... And paladin, warrior, or DK could tank any fight. You never needed any one specific class.

[Neptune]

If you think that the game is just 1 1 1 like he (very wrongly) stated, then I'm afraid you're not nearly performing as well as you should, especially in a group.

This is so true. In wow I do 1 2 9 8 7 6 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 2 3 3 3 3 7 3 3 3 3 5 5 5 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 2 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 6 6 6 6 6 6 6 6 6 6 6 6 2 6 6 6 6 7 6 6 6 6 6 6 6 6 <dead boss!>

You see to have a good game you can't just spam 1.. you have to spam 3, after you press 2 9 8 7 & 6. Why can't you losers get that!

[Neptune]

Well im a mage so i dont even press 1 lol, I run to the tank then wait, when hes low I hit 3, hit enter, and cure him for 700+, then I wait a little more... and a little more, waiting is fun

I Also nuke, so I pressed 5 then pressed enter, then waited some more, had a sip of my tea, sometimes, every 5 minutes THINGS GET INSANE, because people want protect/shell/spikes, so unreal now, i press down, and press 1, 2,3. Woah the excitement is killing me, just thinking about it gives me shivers.

lol .

[OminousAnonymous]

Actually, WOW fights pretty much follow the same formula. WoW is actually one of the biggest rotation-based games out there. You press 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 then repeat... Until you proc a skill then you get to press 6!

And the boss strategies? When they shit on the floor... don't stand in it. The end.

You always used the same tanks... You pretty much always got away with the same DPS members... At least in 11 you had to use different people for different things. Ninjas were better off tanking some things, paladins others... And the DPS strategies on each fight changed slightly as well. On WoW, any class could DPS on any fight... And paladin, warrior, or DK could tank any fight. You never needed any one specific class.

How wrong you guys are is just crazy. Wow was more then 12345. there was dot timers, long and short cd's, usually a couple debuffs you had to keep up, depending on class about 1-3 different abilities you had to rotate etc, not to mention you had to manage 1-2 different resources depending on class. That along with heavier movement,and boss mechanics than ffxi. It just doesn't even compare.

And as for the requiring classes for certain situations, WoW actually used to be like that. But they dropped the idea of requiring classes simple cuase it was stupidly inconvenient when you had to build your group PER dungeon etc. They didn't want to break up groups over stupid shit like that. Although certain classes will be better on different fights. Like ranged will be better on a fight with a teleporting boss, or lots of aoe, and melee will be better on movement, and fights with adds you can cleave on the boss. Also certain tanks CAN be better on different bosses. Dk's and paladins still do the most aoe and solo tanking, whereas warriors and druid have the better oh shit buttons.

Oh and also, People have this thought that a game being more inconvenient, and take more time to be "Hard". Thats just CRUEL. NOT hard.