XVI and XIV implications

[R041]

It's weird to say, but I would almost prefer the smaller chunked XVI type maps over what we have in XIV now. It's clear they know how to make a visually stunning game with great mid-sized areas. Give me more of that in XIV.

XVI gutted a lot of what we expect from FF games in general, and that alone scares me for both future FF games, and XIV. It did introduce some sick boss fights, so if we ever keep anything from CBU:III I want it to be some form of boss DDR combat.

[Shougun]

It's weird to say, but I would almost prefer the smaller chunked XVI type maps over what we have in XIV now. It's clear they know how to make a visually stunning game with great mid-sized areas. Give me more of that in XIV.

XVI gutted a lot of what we expect from FF games in general, and that alone scares me for both future FF games, and XIV. It did introduce some sick boss fights, so if we ever keep anything from CBU:III I want it to be some form of boss DDR combat.

I just want to toss out a game like Ghost of Tsushima where exploration in an open space was done very well. Given all the sounds, visuals, and mechanics going on.. exploration was so seamless it disturbed me that it was one of the first times I felt it to that tier. Like, sure I play GoW and I know it's a good game with a lot of polish, but playing GoT was like "this exploration is good enough it bothers me". I think in part it helped there was so many things of value not of check boxes. Say ubisoft is the king of checkboxes. Plz staph that. FFXVI hardly had 'valuable' exploration or 'useless value' exploration, thankfully they designed their game knowing that wasn't something they were selling lol (the maps are simple and nothing is really hidden), it would have been nice though, still, if they could refine that.

Even IF they were going to keep really linear maps* I would hope they can improve their side rewards, like side quests and reducing the number of items on the map (but making them more valuable to offset that). The quests that did things like give you more potions, or stronger potions, was nice and I wish they can think of more "oh, cool!" rewards (something GoT did well, as they were usually glamour or actual things you'd be using for important value that was pretty obvious- unlike say FFXVI which is like "we gave you crafting material!! you wont know it but it will be helpful / IF / you decide to go new game +).

*(that are not really 'clever', that doesn't mean 'bad', just.. say a GoW linear map unfurls itself in puzzles, /fun/ backtracks, and overlaying, vs like a corridor you run down that is very pretty with some fights in it.. like we talked about in some DMC games)


Ultimately I wouldn't agree that I want zones like FFXVI if we are talking gameplay, because I didn't particularly think they were very interesting in terms of gameplay level design, but if you meant visually then yeah well I think the game is very pretty and that includes how they showed the world. World is purty, the level design allows the world to look purty, which is a good thing that doesn't just 'happen', buuuuuuuuuuuut the reward structures and interactions mechanically, gameplay wise, were lacking (imo). Which ranges from rewards, to just how you have to navigate the space mentally (as a puzzle), to the sheer movement itself (like a few times I was looking at a 2 ft barrier that made me go 100 ft in another direction cause my chocobo and bro-man couldn't jump, or swim, it).

I also think FFXIV could use improved exploration mechanics too though lol (and to your point FFXIV's dungeons are very pretty and are more similar to FFXVI's design style, they clearly know how to make a corridor exceptionally good looking). I have made posts on exploration ideas a few times.. and I have a promise to someone I need to fulfil to make a post on it.. Just got back into the states though (don't really like saying "I don't like something" without saying what I think would be examples of it doing better- lazily / real quick I'd mention GW2 but I'd hope to make a better post than that).