What's unique about FFXIV:ARR?

[ClausL]

What separates it from other MMORPGs besides Final Fantasy characters (Moogles, Chocobos, etc.)?

[Nuinn]

It's fun ^ ^

If we put lore and visual identity aside, most MMORPGs look alike. But let's face it, lore and style are the first things that drew any of us here anyway.

[Spy]

Where to begin: (Keep in mind, some of this is my own guess of what's to come seeing as ARR hasn't been released yet, but it's what I'm theorizing what we'll be experiencing.)

• I, personally think the biggest aspect of this game that I enjoy is the community. Players tend to work together to come up with particular strategies for defeating particular enemies, instead of just bum rushing and spamming abilities. (At least I hope this is still possible with the direction the battle system seems to has taken) As well as having enemies that display particular behaviors during battle.
  
  
  
• Players in the FF online titles I've played (This one and XI of course) tend to be a lot more helpful when it comes to advice and helping players out. (Though I'm not saying there aren't still elitist a-holes that play, but for the most part I haven't had many problems with these communities)
  
  
  
• In a way, though I haven't played ARR yet of course, I think that even though there are very familiar qualities that Square is taking from other large mmos (Including their own), I see it as taking all the good qualities of those games and putting it in one nice little package. Such as the minions, the FATE, the dungeons (though those have always been there), the pvp (I'm interested to see how it works in this game that's primary focus is PVE), housing (which was in FFXI), the companies, chocobo raising/racing, etc.
  
  
  
• I'm excited to have the housing system that I can build to show off my game achievements, instead of just "mounts" and gear, like WoW or other mmo's have. I wonder how customizable it'll be? I doubt it'll be as customizable as Rift's...but in a way, a little bit of restrictions might be nice. Depending on how it's done.
  
  
  
• The Gold Saucer may in and of itself be a very unique element to this mmo title. Though yes, you have games like WoW that have their festivals and stuff with mini games, I wonder how the Gold Saucer will be done. Obviously it can't be exactly like FFVII's...that might be hard to put into an mmo. But who knows. Wonder if the Gold Saucer will be available all year long, or maybe have a few months of being open...though I don't see why it'd only be open for a limited time every year.
  
  
  
• Day/night cycles are a nice touch (Tera doesn't have it), as well as elemental days being added from FFXI that add additional enemies that are available for players to interact with.
  
  
  
• Personally, even though I'm not much of a crafter/gatherer, it does make me happy to have these classes available to players to further enhance the game's economy. And the fact that these classes receive a lot more attention than most mmo's is a nice touch for the players that enjoy them.
  
  
  
• The story of FF has always been memorable, as well as it's NPC's. Players playing ARR (Especially those who were able to experience 1.0) will usually feel a deeper attachment to the game because they were part of that game's lore history. I personally love that I can look back and say I was there when Dalamud descended. One of the game's biggest historical events. That I was a part of that.
  
  
  
• Gear is more realistic in terms of protection and portraying the FF world that we all know and love. None of this, "Look like a clown until max lvl" *coughwowcough* or "gear so skimpy you wonder how the hell it even stays on" *coughteracough*
  
  
  
• Also, this may be presumptuous of me but, this just being a FF title allows players who love the series to simply get together and experience a similar world that we are all familiar with and love. With our chocobos, our moogles, our Cid's.
  
  
  
• The graphics are beautiful as well. There are other mmo's that have lovely graphics, but some of them tend to try too hard, and I tend to lose any sort of attachment to the world. Where this game has some consistency, while still maintaining enough change to keep the environments from becoming dull. (Though I wont lie...I wasn't happy with the copy pasta technique they had used in 1.0...I'm glad that will be gone though)
  
  
  
• I'm glad you only need one character if you wish to perform several different classes. And this is coming from someone who loves creating alts.
  
  
• and I forgot one of the most important parts....cat people and lalafells.

I could go on, and perhaps I will later...but honestly getting tired of typing atm lol. Now, I know some of my points could be argued, and that's perfectly fine, just remember that this is all my personal opinion, not fact, and simply the reason why I'm attached to this game as opposed to other mmos. I've tried several, I just can't seem to get commited to them like I could with FF Online.

[Orophin]

What is with the focus on games being so different from everything else lately? I realize people don't want a WoW clone, but there are proven systems that work, so what's so wrong about including them? I'm confident SE will be able to give their own spin on familiar systems used in other MMOs.

[Kallera]

I'd say the materia system adds a level of customization that most MMOs do not get into without costing money. The Crafting professions actually feel like important roles in the game, and not just something to complement combat, or busywork for some achievements. The community certainly, though it remains to be seen PVPs role. Finally, Limit Breaks requiring diversity in parties and providing new methods in carrying the day through teamwork and strategy instead of fillling the party with "that one class" and a healer.

[Spy]

Oh yeah! The limit break system and the materia system. I had forgotten about that! lol how did I forget about that?

[Abriael]

What Spy said, but even more so...

... The lengths some would go in order to try and troll it.

[Twiddle]

What's unique about FFXIV:ARR?

Nothing, that's why it will be good... SE is NOT trying to reinvent the wheel, they took 100 people told them to play 10 MMO's and took whats good from each one and compiled it... Don't expect SE to reinvent anything, they tried you guys hated it (1.0). Expect to see things you have seen and liked in a wide swath of game's, don't expect "never seen before".
GW2 did that, is was trash... with ARR SE with give you things you like, not new stuff you will hate.

[nibelunc]

Nothing, that's why it will be good... SE is NOT trying to reinvent the wheel, they took 100 people told them to play 10 MMO's and took whats good from each one and compiled it... Don't expect SE to reinvent anything, they tried you guys hated it (1.0). Expect to see things you have seen and liked in a wide swath of game's, don't expect "never seen before".
GW2 did that, is was trash... with ARR SE with give you things you like, not new stuff you will hate.

Exactly this is the reason why SE isn't creating unique or innovative games anymore imo.
They should be unique and set a new level. Go a different way.

Quote from Spy:
Gear is more realistic in terms of protection and portraying the FF world that we all know and love. None of this, "Look like a clown until max lvl" *coughwowcough* or "gear so skimpy you wonder how the hell it even stays on" *coughteracough*

Invalid point. We are getting vanity slots.

[Twiddle]

Exactly this is the reason why SE isn't creating unique or innovative games anymore imo.
They should be unique and set a new level. Go a different way.

You don't get it do you? People do not like change, as much as they deny it, we love to find a branch with bananas like a monkey would. And as long as the bananas don't run out, they see no reason to change. This is a mentality, a cultural problem. Were new, unique, innovative, are concepts, but when you get down to it, and start implementing people do a 180 and "why fix what worked 150 years ago?" is on the lips.

It's the same, no matter were you look, any industry. My job for example is a link in the chain from start to finish 15 links exist to get the product out. With the tech we can upgrade to from 15 we can cut the links to 5. Will we? No. Should we? no question about it yes. Same with gaming, can they stand apart from the crowd fighting for pie? Yes. Will they? No, because then you get none of the pie.