CBU3 Excellence – Holistic Review

[aveyond-dreams]

It has been some time since I stepped away from the forums, but as this is generally the best place to leave feedback on CBU3 projects I have decided to return to use this as a vehicle to voice my thoughts on their latest venture, one inspired by all the elements that first drew me to and helped me find a home in FFXIV. FFXVI, which I can assuredly say has displaced all other the titles to claim for itself the position as my all-time favourite Final Fantasy game.

I am quite deep into my playthrough, and will try to keep things as spoiler free as possible to avoid having to use spoiler text drop boxes. Generally speaking, despite my apprehensions given my experience with Endwalker, I was pleasantly blown away by not only the strong start in the demo but the consistency in the storytelling of the full game. Holding back no punches, establishing and building upon strong world lore, and a cast of characters that invoke the meaning of fantasy in its truest, most beautiful forms in terms of both triumph and tragedy struck me to the core.

Whereas the scions of FFXIV were ultimately too clad in plot armor by journey’s end to even pretend to be relatable, the same so far is not true of the protagonist faction of FFXVI. This doesn’t even begin to touch on the many contrasts between well written heroines such as Jill, and ones that are utterly lacking such as Y’shtola. To express devotion rather than to demean. To move the action forward rather than be used as a tool to explain lore for 5 minutes straight. All I can say is well done to Maehiro regarding Jill – a queen of a character in all but name, and makes me wonder all that could have been for the female cast of FFXIV.

I could go on at length about the remainder of FFXVI’s cast but I firmly believe the stories of characters like Dion, Hugo, and Benedikta deserve to be experienced firsthand rather than having a 3rd party like myself make allusions to them further. Overall, I feel like most of the game’s characters so far have been handled in a mature, satisfying manner. It very much goes along with the sort of vibe we had in Heavensward where there was a level of intrigue intertwined with the magic of the world we were playing in. I am sad to say that is no longer the case for FFXIV given the obliteration of major factions such as the Garlean empire despite the value of its continued existence in potential future storylines, which as of yet makes me question where the game can go next to deliver on what has semblance of a compelling plot told in a world that makes me go, “Wow I want to see and know more about this place.”

In the end, I have my victory in seeing all my woes with present-day FFXIV rectified in the game I found in FFXVI, from world, to characters, and the strength with which themes and messages truly touch my heart. Here the full force of CBU3’s excellence has shone with pure brilliance, and I am very much looking forward to seeing new stories told both in Valisthea and ones in entirely new projects that take after the many successes FFXVI has delivered on. I would very much like for FFXIV to take after FFXVI in these regards, and bring me back to the sense of home that I’ve now found again in FFXVI.

In two words, well done. Thank you again for the Final Fantasy of my dreams.

[TheDecay]

Sorry, no, a video game is more than its story and lore.

FF16 Story - 9/10
Lore - 10/10
Combat - 8/10 (too dumbed down for an action game)
Gameplay design (like dungeons) - 6/10 or even 5/10 (it literally feels like doing expert roulette)
RPG elements (like gearing) - 4/10

Ultimately, FF16 is a project better suited to be a TV series. Not a video game. It's an enjoyable TV show but a disappointing video game.

That being said, yes, FF14 would do well to go back its roots and go back to FF16-style storytelling (which has the original ARR/HW ethos)

[Zanarkand-Ronso]

2 different games, 2 different stories, 2 different worlds.
FFXIV, is not gonna become FFXVI. Even with YoshiP as the Game Director.

All the same, Im glad you are enjoying the game, as much as you hoped for and pinned for.

[VelKallor]

Lemme get this straight.

You loudly declare that you will be gone unless 7.0 "meets your lofty standards"..then after only a short time, you log onto the FF 14 forums ( an MMO ) to sing the praises of FF 16 ( a single player game ).

This is like walking onto an Italian restaurant you declare you will never visit again, to tell the people there how much you like the Greek restaurant three doors down.

but as this is generally the best place to leave feedback on CBU3 projects

..or you could have sent them an email.

[AwesomeJr44]

I've been hearing a lot of good things about FFXVI, so I'll probably pick it up and give it a try once it gets a PC port. Glad to hear you're enjoying it though, gives me something to look forward to.

This is like walking onto an Italian restaurant you declare you will never visit again, to tell the people there how much you like the Greek restaurant three doors down.

It's more like walking into an Italian restaurant that you don't go to anymore but is owned by the same person that runs a Greek restaurant that you really like, telling the owner that you really liked his Greek restaurant after you started going there, and that you wish that certain aspects of it could be implemented into the Italian one.

[VelKallor]

I've been hearing a lot of good things about FFXVI, so I'll probably pick it up and give it a try once it gets a PC port. Glad to hear you're enjoying it though, gives me something to look forward to.

It's more like walking into an Italian restaurant that you don't go to anymore but is owned by the same person that runs a Greek restaurant that you really like, telling the owner that you really liked his Greek restaurant after you started going there, and that you wish that certain aspects of it could be implemented into the Italian one.

At which point, said owner will quietly and emphatically tell you that when he wants, or needs, your opinion, he will ask you for it...or if he has that many issues, he can go open his own restaurant and see how that goes.

Bad analogy, mate, in case it had escaped you, no business owner anywhere likes it when someone he doesnt know or care for has the chutzpah to tell him how to run his business.

[AwesomeJr44]

At which point, said owner will quietly and emphatically tell you that when he wants, or needs your opinion, he will ask you for it

And both said owner and SE have the right to do so when receiving feedback. It's not as good of a business strategy as simply nodding and letting the feedback go in one ear and out the other (or dare I say, actually listening to it), but they can respond that way if they want to. My analogy is still closer to what this thread is, whatever response SE has to this thread has nothing to do with that.

[Shinkuno]

at when he wants, or needs, your opinion, he will ask you for it....

How to out yourself as a terminally online basement dweller. Contrary to the regularly-meltdown having twitter crowd, many people are able to take criticism, especially in a professional envoirment. If you give a chef feedback on their food, theyll appreciate it.

Newsflash:Blizzard were doing a fine job making a total dogs breakfast of the game all on their own and needed no help from me. Or anyone else for that matter.

.

Funny you call WoW a dogs breakfast, because a FF14 content patch has as much content as a dogs breakfast and is consumed just as quickly. Well, for people that actually do content that is. Not for you ofcourse who spends all their time in the forums telling people everything is perfect.

[VelKallor]

How to out yourself as a terminally online basement dweller. Contrary to the regularly-meltdown having twitter crowd, many people are able to take criticism, especially in a professional envoirment. If you give a chef feedback on their food, theyll appreciate it.

Reread the post and the actual commentary. Swing and a miss.

PS. Aus doesnt HAVE basements in residential buildings. Business, yes, for parking, residential, no.

[BaconBits]

I'm torn between letting Vel cook or calling them out for going on the offensive against aveyond for the heinous crime of saying FF16 made them happy lmao.

What to do, what to do?