What's your story?

[Reefs]

As an intrepid Final Fantasy follower, I have always found the Final Fantasy series having a deep and meaning story to tell. Whether this is the favorite, Cloud's selfish trek to better understand himself and his history, Tidus's ignorant misunderstanding to his existance or Lightning's personal vendetta, there has always been a journey. This journey, has always been full of spiritual guidance and an element of wisdom and appreciation of your elders.

I appreciate in the realms of MMORPG's, this is no longer a single protagonist, but an open world with many characters playing centre stage, and this was well addressed in FFXI.

There is so much attention to detail to FFXIV that I often feel the heart of Final Fantasy has taken a back stage to the emensely gorgeous detail that is spectacuar graphics, a hugely customisable avatar and an immense inventory of items and equipment.

So, I ask where is the Journey? Where is the fundamental plotline that keeps us on the edge of our seats, asking what happens next? I'm sure I speak for many FF fans when I say we need moments when we fall off our seats because "Oh my god, Aerith is dead, have they really just done that!"

Development is going in the right direction, we now have Ifrit and Grand Companies, but does the plot lines run deep enough? We have a number of quests to partake, but will there be the deep and satisfying Journey with it's core story and additional sidelines that make you feel you are 'playing' a good novel and not just taking part in a few interesting quests?