What 1.0 and Tanaka did good

[Dannythm]

So now as this version is near to a close, and we've all seen all the negativity, I'd like to take some time and revisit 1.0 and think what we liked about the game, and would/were sad to see go, even if it wasn't as well implemented as we expected.

I, for once, loved the concept of a different physical level from the class/job/weapon or skill you were using. It was a powerful concept but sadly it didn't catch and to be honest, wasn't as polished as it should have been. I liked it because, how many times during FFXI didn't we wondered "if I'm a warrior lvl 75 why the same character starts as a lvl 1 thf/monk/whatever, now I'm welding a different weapon and suddenly I'm weaker?" I understand that Tanaka asked himself the same and that's why he tried to do that distinction in FFXIV.

Crafting and gathering as a full fledged jobs/classes rather than sub-professions. It goes without sayign that this concept hasn't been fully explored well, and I'm glad it persists and I have high hopes in 2.0 to see how Yoshida explores it.

Classes and interchangeable skills. This is so powerful that I cannot even start to imagine the possibilities it holds in the hands of a good designer. For now it's been phased out because of the jobs, but I really really think the core of FFXIV is here and I hope Yoshi don't disregard this aspect of the game and leave it as a curiosity, and improves upon it and gives more class content and depth to the system. It also tied really well with the distinction of a class/physical level, so I guess we'll just have to wait and see what the future holds.

Slow paced, positioned combat. This comes from FFXI, and it's here as well, but I think it's one of the things I like more, to have to move and dance around the mobs and bosses as a melee DD having to time and position correctly for my attacks to have full effect. I hope they keep this feature and expand on it with the limit system so the whole party is involved, not just skill chaining with ourselves.

Aesthetics and art direction. True that some maps were copy/pasted and are repetitive and dull, but the cities and general design idea of the world of Haydelin is gorgeous. For me every other game now looks way more boring and bland compared to FFXIV, and I think it's one of the things that kept me here and will keep me for a long time.

Final Fantasy themes. Going hand to hand with the aesthetics point, I loved how this game is a Final Fantasy to the core, with all the great elements in it: The music, the crystals and it's influence on the world mechanics and structure, the evil guys that in truth may be not so evil, the characters and story lines, chocobos, the steampunk feel to the technology, mixing a science fiction with a medieval fantasy feel perfectly, it's just great and it's all I ever wanted in a Final Fantasy game.

I know a lot is changing in 2.0, and I'm sad I had to see the physical level/class level go, but I hope to see all the things that 1.0 did right stay and get better and better.

How about the rest of you? What did 1.0/Tanaka did right for you?