Amazing game all around but HORRIBLE map system

[Eltaire]

Square-Enix employees painstakingly and lovingly put in text that directs you where to go every step of the way throughout your adventure of the main scenario of A Realm Reborn.

If people choose to skip cutscenes, click through text without reading it, or ignore what the NPCs say, it doesn't make the mapping system horrible. It makes the person playing not respectful of the time placed into creating the dialogue for the diegesis of the world of Eorzea. In your example, the person that couldn't find their way would know that they had to take an airship, and where it left from had they read the text.

The map exists as an aide-de-camp of sorts to your exploration. As to your example of someone dying because they ran into level 30 monsters - the logical thing would be to not go that way again, because why would the game direct you through an area that you're not even geared for?

If you grew up in the late 80s, early 90s, you would definitely be whinging about not having any guides to where to go, as there were none. Period. People now aday have it so much easier with the linearity of games. A Ream Reborn is no exception.

[Dagger_32]

*Snip*

BWHAHAHAHA! I cannot take you seriously. I grew up in the 80's & 90's I remember how gaming was back then. What that has to do with THIS game, I have NO IDEA. No one is disrespecting the game by pointing out that the map COULD be better. It could. It's cluncky and the controls do not well work on the PS3. I don't know how well it works or does not work on the PC but on the PS3 it is a mess.

It doesn't mean people are not playing the game to your high standards. It doesn't mean they do not respect the game and it's makers. Holy over-exaggeration Batman! IT'S A MAP!

[Eltaire]

It doesn't mean people are not playing the game to your high standards.

I fail to see where I stated that I am an elitist, or have high standards. However, if that is what you wish, this would be akin to a Monatarist and a refugee with you obviously being the refugee.

I'll crush you beneath my golden foot. *squish*

[Dagger_32]

I fail to see where I stated that I am an elitist, or have high standards. However, if that is what you wish, this would be akin to a Monatarist and a refugee with you obviously being the refugee.

I'll crush you beneath my golden foot. *squish*

Way to lose all credibility with a single post!

Also, it's "Monetarist."

[Eltaire]

Way to lose all credibility with a single post!

Last I checked, I wasn't seeking credibility, or your validation. Shame for you.

[Grenwal]

I fail to see where I stated that I am an elitist, or have high standards.

Are you guys serious? You want to be spoon fed every part of the game?

This post starts off as pretentious and snarky, you are generalizing everyone who posted in this thread, even though the majority are here to help. You don't seem like a troll or flamer, so it may not have been intentional but sarcasm has a hard time translating through writing. The attitude portrayed in the opening lines has a feeling of elitism: the fact that we are beneath you because we want to be led or told where to go. When in fact, the op was just trying to express his/her concerns with the map from a beginner's perspective.

I'll reiterate myself, I enjoy the feeling of discovery. It's one of the things that holds my interest in a game. When there are darkened or missing areas on a map, I want to unlock what's there; to see what I'm missing. To each their own.

Whether or not you intended to belittle others, your words came across that way.

[The_Last_Dragoon]

No one is disrespecting the game by pointing out that the map COULD be better. It could. It's cluncky and the controls do not well work on the PS3. I don't know how well it works or does not work on the PC but on the PS3 it is a mess.

The map itself is literally LEAGUES better than the 1.0 version though, and while there are still a few cities that are confusing your first time around, for the most part it was a big improvement when ARR came out.

In terms of the PS3 though, I have to say that the controls are also extremely fluent and natural to someone who knows their way around the Dualshock controller scheme. The only real downfall on the PS3 is having to try and type out a custom conversation that you wouldn't be able to create via the international word data bank, but that's mainly a PS3 UI problem and isn't something that square-enix would be able to fix (Using a USB keyboard fixes this issue).

[Dagger_32]

*snip*.

I have trouble with the zoom in and out (L1 and R Analog). My instinct is to use the L Analog to look around the map, which causes my character to to move. Then I have to "select" my way to the map. I am not used to using the "select" button for everything, but it is becoming more natural. I am sure over time I will forget how much I stumbled in the beginning but it has taken some time for the controls to "click."

Side note: Your little Lightning bard is awesome looking! Hahahaha!

[Sethb78]

If people choose to skip cutscenes, click through text without reading it, or ignore what the NPCs say, it doesn't make the mapping system horrible. It makes the person playing not respectful of the time placed into creating the dialogue for the diegesis of the world of Eorzea.
If you grew up in the late 80s, early 90s, you would definitely be whinging about not having any guides to where to go, as there were none. Period. People now aday have it so much easier with the linearity of games. A Ream Reborn is no exception.

What a load of "word of the day calendar" garbage. While I'm sure that we all appreciate you coming unselfishly down from your ivory tower to bless the common-folk with your pearls of wisdom, I don't think you are actually trying to help anyone or anything in this case.

[Tsuga]

It really bothers me that people can't make criticisms of systems in this game without somebody swooping in to defend a flawed design choice, or berate those who have issues with it simply because they did not have, or chose to overlook the same experience.

It's not unreasonable to ask for a more concise map system.

I've been playing since the first day of 1.0, and I also find the map system to be a bit wonky in this game. I did not have much trouble with it personally, but after reading the OP I can see where they are coming from. It is pretty easy to see how a new player who is not familiar with where "Thanalan" is or whether or not "Limsa Lominsa" is in walking distance from Gridania would be confused by the current world map, and the fact that maps are obscured until locations are discovered compounds that confusion.

The maps should function like they do in nearly every other MMO - where regions are shown much like a real life world map, as part of a continent/island with zone boundaries indicated by borders. The way it is now there is no perspective for how these regions connect, only names on a map with lines connecting them, and the camera is so zoomed in on the map that you have to scroll to find connecting regions, which makes being thrown into the world map through the quest log even more disorienting.

The maps aren't unreadable, but they aren't as good as they could be.