FFXIV made it onto a list of healthiest live MMORPGs at the end of 2019

[tinythinker]

FFXIV made it onto a list of healthiest live MMORPGs at the end of 2019

2. Final Fantasy XIV
One brings shadow, one brings the light…

Despite the title of the expansion portending a year of darkness, this has been a great year for Final Fantasy XIV. The MMO’s third expansion, Shadowbringers, launched to rave reviews, players are happy and excited, and even the missteps don’t stop people from being enthusiastic about the game and its overall direction. It feels like a steady climb upward, the sort of growth that makes you wonder when it’s going to fall apart even as you enjoy the sheer acumen on display.

I certainly didn’t expect how solid everything this year would wind up being for my personal favorite title on the list. But when it’s going well, you don’t need to fake it, and so it goes in Eorzea and other environs. I wonder what this year’s expansion announcement will be?

[Noitems]

It also won the award for Best Ongoing Game of 2019 from IGN. Good stuff on SE.

[MOZZYSTAR]

i'm not sure how I feel about this... Are they out of touch with the forums? Even Japan's forum voiced how unhappy they were with some major things. xD
I mean, it's not totally inaccurate. We're still paying our subs. #cashcowlife

But I will say, story-wise, it definitely was the best expansion (in my opinion at least. I know others have different opinions). I was very, very happy with the story. Could not put down the controller. I'm really tempted to go back and replay it. (^///^)

(Edit: despite the crapshow that happened throughout this expansion, FFXIV is still the best MMO imo. I've tried so many others and like... none compare for me. So, they're doing something right even if they drive me batty with some other things...)

[Vahlnir]

I have my gripes with the game but nothing is perfect. Regardless it has definitely earned at least some of the praise it is getting.

[LeoLupinos]

There's nothing more effective to value the greatness of FF than to play other MMOs and running back to FF while crying.

[Silverquick]

But I will say, story-wise, it definitely was the best expansion (in my opinion at least. I know others have different opinions). I was very, very happy with the story. Could not put down the controller. I'm really tempted to go back and replay it. (^///^)

I really cannot deny that, I got to the end and the story is just staggeringly good. And its all the way through.

Originally I would have ranked MSQs like this...
1. Heavensward
2. ARR
3. Stormblood

Now...
1. Shadowbringers
2. Heavensward
3. ARR
4. Stormblood

But after this one I have to slide it in at the top... Even though Heavenward is my personal favorite, I cannot deny the story in Shadowbringer is that good.

[Vahlnir]

There's nothing more effective to value the greatness of FF than to play other MMOs and running back to FF while crying.

I used to be subbed to WoW and FF XIV regularly. Nowadays WoW is one of those games that I play when I'm bored of everything else. FF XIV is running circles around WoW even if it doesn't have the numbers WoW does. I might not agree with all the decisions this dev team makes, but they still make better decisions than the WoW devs do most of the time.

[DumdogsWorld]

i'm not sure how I feel about this... Are they out of touch with the forums?

The forums are only a fraction of the overall player base. It would be foolish to just cater to the forum users.

[MrKusakabe]

I wish the day comes when Square Enix raises the funds by just 10%. How much would that help this game? And a new producer. The game is stable and safe now, but now let the 30 mph cruise control Yoshida get off of the driver's seat..

The game is still lacking in many departments. To me XIV has low soul. It's a big chunk fan service (granted, Red Mage is, too, but now and finally perfected after 3 decades) and more and more external influneces, "cross-over events", are watering down the brand even more. What is special to XIV that makes your mind connect to it? I dislike the lack of passionate background writers. I brought it up in the past, but I will say it again: The Asura in Guild Wars are so fledged out and every species in that realm has weaknesses and strength, and despite permanent bickering, they need each other. It's well interwoven. Here? We all just exist. The lore changes back and forth and stays dumb and flat because Yoshida would have to deliver (e.g. male bunnies), so it's a decision not for the health and quality of the game, but done by the suits that are usually never gamers, but former business college students. Hence the cash shop, the housing desasters (houses randomly collapsing when you don't log in as if this is Detroit) and ridiculously overpriced merchandise shop (taking shipping cost several times of what Fedex would want to keep the surplus money etc.)

FFXIV is something very charming and a great engine running in the back. I remember having 1080p@60fps on my GTX670 from 2012... Now I have 1440p@90fps with a GTX1080.

The PlayStation-caused annoying loading screens are annoying, but the loading is then again also quick. It's really Red Mage and the Lalafell that is the reason why I am here and not on my Asura Deadeye.



The communities are both great. FFXIV's is warmer, but also more mentally fragile people than in GW. If the funds we invest would go into the game here, I'd not be so negative, but right now am not super happy. Also, there is a lack of "competition" within a group. You know, an official parser that shows me how I compared as in a tally screen AFTER the dungeon. It all feels so meaningless in the end which is the reason why I come back every 3 days only. Daily gameplay would be too "meh".


Sincerely,

[Shougun]

Makes sense, especially after ShB.

Issues here and there, some of them a bigger thorn than others (housing system would be mine, not the objects/visual, just system limitations), but even still FFXIV is a great mmo with awesome presentation, music, interesting dungeons, and FF fun content like the must have job system (I don't really want to play an mmo without one to be honest lol), with a very consistent content schedule (which is nice). Makes for a good combo set :3.