LogFAQs > #970204591

https://gamefaqs.gamespot.com/a/user_image/7/5/1/AAQPQsAAD_zH.jpg
pictured: Mog King commands thee kneel

Trust-ing Yoshi P: Playing Final Fantasy XIV: A Realm Reborn Despite Hating MMO's

Perhaps a Final Fantasy XIV post will spark some comments. After a fairly quick FFXV speedrun, FFXIV came next in reverse chronological order. I dreaded it actually. I had previously tried getting into the game in 2021, and after the help of several of Board 8's most vocal FFXIV fans I eventually got to a point where I felt capable playing the game on my PS5.

I felt capable, but never exactly comfortable. I truly hate playing with online randos, because I always feel as though I am doing a bad job/am far less experienced than they are... which is certainly the case. In hindsight then, it was a bad idea for me to start as a tank.People have almost always been friendly and supportive, but even still I just dislike the feeling of being rushed through dungeons.

The patch adding single-player support to A Realm Reborn was just what the doctor ordered. I could actually take my time going through the creepy house dungeon. I didn't have to worry if I didn't aggro perfectly. I could completely ignore the chat window. For me, the Trust system finally made me able to appreciate the game and what is does well. So I honestly can't wait for the Shadowbringers patch. (When does this come out, anyone?)

That being said, this is a multiplayer game. It is meant to be played as such. If you grade FFXIV:ARR as a single player experience it is below average at best. The story is extremely basic evil empire stuff with enough Final Fantasy references /lore sprinkled in to reward long-time fans. The basic gameplay loop is to conduct a series of fetch quests / NPC discussions that lead to a dungeon, rinse, repeat. A cynical person might say that this is the basis of all FF games and that FFXIV just makes this more transparent - they're not wrong, but ARR overdoes it on the backtracking/fast travel/speaking to random NPC's.

Yes, I know I need to keep playing, because apparently I'm now almost at the point where it "gets good"... more than a hundred hours in. Sheesh. Well, it's not happening until I can do it in a strictly anti-social manner.