[Jester King]

There are so many problems with the game it's no surprise the game is being bashed from ever direction. A 4/10 score for a Final Fantasy game is frankly unheard of.

The general disregard of North American complaints, and the rushed delivery of the game certainly hasn't benefited to the success of this game. I suppose what's the most frustrating thing to me isn't the lack of features, or the bugs listed above but rather their lack of prioritization on what makes a game fun.

[Aku Hakujin]

I feel like it wasn't a fair score because all scores have to be given context. No MMORPG launch is perfect but as far as MMORPG launches are concerned FFXIV is pretty good. FFXI was historically much worse during it's beta period and the NA version wasn't released until 8 months later. Keep giving out shitty reviews and you can expect SE to not release them early to NA. Just my two cents on the fairness of that score. (I would have given it a 6).

That being said; Slow interface - by far is the worst problem.

[Vann]

Don't think only the US has issues with the game, even the Japanese players are pretty disapointed. It's rated 1.5 out of 5 at Amazon.jp.

Quote

1★

Had this gone well, it could have remained the goose that laid the
golden egg. In this recession, SquareEnix certainly must have
hoped as much.

Every time I play, I ask myself "How did this happen?"

Cheap and shallow game content, with nothing fun to do except
leves. A game with nothing worthy of praise but the graphics.

Even still, before launch and for days afterward, I kept my hopes
up. I'm sure every SquareEnix fan did the same for FF14. But
recently they've put out nothing but trash that doesn't come close
to their earlier masterpieces. We fans know: SquareEnix no
longer exists. Instead we have a company President in Wada who
openly despises his users, and puts the shareholders first. Just
once, I wish they would sincerely listen to their users instead.

Final Fantasy is the public face of SquareEnix, just like Pokemon
and Mario are for Nintendo. That's how you treat official
numbered titles. Every SquareEnix fan should be outraged. Fans
should say it most strongly especially because they're
fans. If we don't make them see, they will never understand.

This game is rife with systems, item names, etc that point squarely
to them cozying up to China in a way that no domestic game should
do. Even when maintenance patch notes are in Japanese to begin
with, they are poorly translated and hard to understand. Is it a
good idea for a Japanese company to be ignoring its Japanese users
at a point in time where games are struggling as an industry in
general?

Finally, it's clear the 10/1 release date was purely because
management said they needed to launch an online title by then. If
you want to play a game that feels so much like the bleak end of
an era, I recommend you go play Fallout 3. I look back on the
SquareEnix of the NES, SNES, and Playstation eras like the ghost
of a bygone age. I'm sure every fan in their 20's and 30's has to
feel the same. Who would have thought 14 could turn out to be the
end of the brand entirely? It's pretty depressing.

I apologize for my poorly-written ramble. I just hope that by
being so blunt, they might eventually listen.

Translated JP Review

[Jester King]

[methyl]

Aku Hakujin, on 07 October 2010 - 04:33 AM, said:

I feel like it wasn't a fair score because all scores have to be given context. No MMORPG launch is perfect but as far as MMORPG launches are concerned FFXIV is pretty good. FFXI was historically much worse during it's beta period and the NA version wasn't released until 8 months later. Keep giving out shitty reviews and you can expect SE to not release them early to NA. Just my two cents on the fairness of that score. (I would have given it a 6).

That being said; Slow interface - by far is the worst problem.

Well in all honestly I It has not been a good launch, You are comparing games with technical bugs and a game with nothing in it. Other mmo's might have a rough start or poor server performance but FFXIV is by far the mmo with the least complete feeling @ launch. I would rather then have added more features and less stable instead of having a game that has nothing it, and just isnt really fun and say "HEY GUYS ITS STABLE". At least then you could see that SE just is not blowing smoke up our asses with a lot of promises. I do not like the ideology that its ok for a big game company to release a half finished game. That shows no respect for their consumer base by SE, if they cared about their fans they would not have released the laughing stock known as ffxiv.

I would rather then just not release it us then release a shitty game not worth of a FF name. Also its not just NA reviews its international reviews. With your logic SE should not have released it early to anyone and actually made a game that is not crap and looks like it took some actual development on the gameplay and not OOOOO SHINY, then I agree with you.

[Vann]

I really hope SE gets the message and decides to fix the issues ASAP. Part of the reason no one is cutting them any slack is because they're not new to the MMO scene. FFXI has been out for almost a decade, this isn't unkown territory for them. It honestly feels like they've been living in a cave for 10 years. I keep hoping these are just small isues that will be ironed out soon. My worst fear is that SE isn't doing shit to fix 'em.

If that's the case I'm not sure how much longer any momentum the game has may last.

[Aku Hakujin]

Fair enough. I wasn't really expecting JP scores to be so low. I just feel it's a much better game then XI was. Not really comparing it to other MMOs.

[methyl]

Aku Hakujin, on 07 October 2010 - 06:15 AM, said:

Fair enough. I wasn't really expecting JP scores to be so low. I just feel it's a much better game in XI was. Not really comparing it to other MMOs.

Sorry if i seem pointed i am just really disappointed in SE. I mean it honestly feels like they spent 4 years developing the game engine, finished up FFXIII, and then they were like ok lets work on ffxiv... oh shit we actually have to make a game not just a cgi movie fest.... fuck well just whip something up really quickly and we will sell it and our gullible fans will buy it while we actually make a real game. And that offends me as a SE fan.

And SE asking people to give them 1-2 months before reviewing the game is like insult to injury. Its like they are admitting the game is shit and are rushing to fix it, when they should have just released it in 1-2 months. I have seem many mmo launches and first impressions stick. " but they updated the game and its alot better now" "lol your an idiot that game was terrible @ launch" case and point Aion vs Aion 2.0.

@ the end of the day they have till December 7th to make this game not suck, if they do not make that date I will be saving the world from Cataclysmic Events.

So GOGO SE!

[Jester King]

I keep pointing this out on other forums, but SE's engine development is only 3-4 years old tops. This is due to the death of the White Engine and the Birth of Crystal Tools. Essentially an Unreal like package that has been developed from scratch and integrated across the entire company. While a great idea, it makes it very clear that actual gameplay development is a year old tops. As for CGI movies, those have been in the budget probably since the beggining so think back to the Rapture trailer.

The upside is that the game's story is without a doubt full of potential and that has always been my driving force to playing these games. Simply put its engaging. Of course the game's bugs will be fixed over time, but an MMO only has one chance to make an impression and the first impression is quickly fading. More then 60% of gamers out there rely on these reviews to push them into one direction or another when it comes to making a purchase and the review certainly didn't lie.

I feel that the final verdict will come around March when the PS3 game releases. If the game doesn't make significant leaps and bounds on the above gameplay mechanics, its name alone will not keep it afloat.

The moment we reach cap (which I estimate should happen towards the end of November) we'll be seriously reevaluating what the game has to offer. In the mean time, lets go kill some leves and make our own fun.

[Lights Reverie]

GameSpot spent the first 3 minutes addressing learning issues that, once learned, aren't more than a minor nuisance occasionally like wasting a few minutes going to the wrong place in the city for a quest, etc. Then he says there are not enough leves to do, but a benefit of playing with others is their leves. The casual player will spend enough time doing all 16 leves in 2 days.

I don't think there are any fundamental problems with gameplay like the review seems to think. FF series has always made the story mysterious at first which slowly unravels with twists and turns. This being a mmo means the story is going to take longer to come about. I'm glad I know there actually will be a good story compared to a lot of other mmos.

I think most reviews poorly represent the game, but the game is definitely not suited for all audiences. I only agree that the game feels like work after a solo play session because there isn't enough variation in content to make it feel like a game of leisure. The game won't be as fun/fulfilling for someone without any interest in crafting since it's a significant aspect of the game.

[eblue99]

Interface speed would be my primary issue.
While I understand that the game is designed to work on a console, I don't believe those playing on a PC should have to suffer through the limitations of a console design. Assign a team to maintain the PC interface and one to maintain the Console interface. I'll point out, my PS3 will work with a keyboard and mouse just fine.

That said, I really enjoy the game. Mind you, I mostly do crafting. If I hit a point where I have to grind mobs, I become disinterested quickly (unless I'm farming for mats).

[Vann]

The interface makes everything take way longer than it should, which is really frustrating. Anything you do is a hassle. That's my major gripe. I can deal with the seemingly random exp and lack of variation in stuff to do, but the basic shit really gets old. It almost feels like they're trying to slow you down intentially so you don't cap too quickly.

If they could just fix these unnecessary interface delays, I think it would do wonders. I don't think people are going to be too sold on the idea of having to wait 6 months for it to happen though.

[Aku Hakujin]

Vann, on 07 October 2010 - 08:52 AM, said:

It almost feels like they're trying to slow you down intentially so you don't cap too quickly.

I'm glad I'm not the only one that feels that way.

[Sensei]

Just finished reading the review and watching the video..and it pains me to say this...but it seems very fair to me at this point in the game....

I am a bit disappointed so far myself as some of you are. Although as said..I play FF games mostly for the stories..which haven't disappointed me yet, so I will continue with it for quite awhile. However I'm finding it harder to motivate myself to log in each day..and thats worrying for me as I should still be in my honeymoon stage.

There were a couple of things that worried me before I bought the game. When I first heard they were using the same races as 11..I was a bit shocked..and my first thought was..is this laziness? They said it was to make the transition easier for FF11 players..but was not comfortable with that reason. But I eventually got over that and gave them the benefit of the doubt.

The other thing was the early release date...when I heard of so many problems during beta I was suprised they were still going to release it this early, and felt that we were being used as an sorta advanced beta testers for their real target, the ps3 users. But again as an SE fan..also gave them the benefit of the doubt that they knew what they were doing.

Now, after playing the game for awhile...the problems that bother me are this....The market wards....this annoys me to no end...its hard for me to sell when I dont know the value of what it is clogging up my inventory...I dont know what is a hot seller and what is not...most times I just want to vendor my items to free up space. The time I waste just trying to find a particular item makes me want to cry....especially when I can spend an hour searching and still not find it.

The 2nd thing that bothers me is that I feel like I spend more time running around to place to place..trying to sell/buy items...rather then actually "playing" the game...leves are over so fast then Im back to running to the next place which takes ages. I wish anima was a fee involved rather then generating at such a slow pace...right now I sometimes feel like not logging on so it can build back up so that when I am on..I'm actually "playing"

I don't have much of a problem with combat ...but I havent partied up much either. It's weired though..the whole game seems more intuitive for a controller...but combat seems it would be more efficient
with a keyboard...?

The slow interface is a slight annoyance...mostly when crafting though.

I never had much of an interest in crafting before...but I liked the crafting in Aion...and i'm liking the crafting system here....just need to be able to auto-sort! and more inventory space wont hurt!...For a game that encourages you to do multiple jobs..it doesnt allow u much space to do it.

Other issues for me seem the be missing features that I cant find a reason for not being there....like seeing the name of the linkshell under a char name or at least when u check them.....seeing the class level of linkshell mates in the window...seeing where they are located...being able to mark maps of good locations you find and want to remember etc etc...things like that...which they had in FF11 not being here...I don't get.


To me..idk..seems like they really spread themselves too thin with making too many games at the same time.... FF12,,13(versus), 14 and maintaining FF11, that they took the quickiest and "safest" route with 14.

Now having said ALL THAT...there are a lot of things I like about this game( like even though I sometimes feel like Im not playing and just running...I do feel more productive each day then FF11) and I see a good future for it and I really want it to do well...as I had an amazing 4 years with FF11. But I just hope they fix these rather simple issues quickly before it turns into an Age of Conan which will just make me sad...Its hard for me to see a FF game getting such a low rating

[Styron]

It was hard to choose one thing, but ultimately I decided on the repair system. Everything degrades too fast, and the only way to repair past 75% is to unequip the item and manually have each item repaired one at the time. Even when using the repair option from the vendor you have to confirm the repair on every single item aside from just having a catch-all. It's just overly obtuse. I know they're trying to promote a player-reliance on pretty much everything in the game, but it's pretty pointlessly obtuse here.

Aku mentioned my strongest complaint with the review. I'm fine with the content and find most all of his points to be valid. But there's no context, and a 4 seems unreasonably harsh. I was anticipating it to score between a 6 and a 7, and I've personally given it a 6.5 when asked.

[Artem]

I still maintain that user interface was designed by a crack addict during his cold turkey rehab period.

I like this game better than ffxi, ffxi was just grind leveling and killing monsters for items, no depth to the game imo.

[Valk]

While I agree with most of what you said, all of you, but it seems i'm the only one liking the game as it is now more than the rest of you, of course I want them to fix all what u mentioned, but i'm not paying attention to any of that, since obviously the real release date will be @ the PS3 version launch, all i'm thinking of is the need to get rich asap hehe...


and,, WHERE ARE MY NPC GOBLINS? o.O

[Valk]

btw, did any of you see beastmen? goblins, orcs...etc. ? or any of FFXI mobs like lizards, crawlers.. I didnt travel a lot in Erozea so i dnt know about many mobs.

[Styron]

Oh, don't get me wrong. I enjoy the game. I just recognize there are flaws.

[methyl]

Vann, on 07 October 2010 - 08:52 AM, said:

The interface makes everything take way longer than it should, which is really frustrating. Anything you do is a hassle. That's my major gripe. I can deal with the seemingly random exp and lack of variation in stuff to do, but the basic shit really gets old. It almost feels like they're trying to slow you down intentially so you don't cap too quickly.

If they could just fix these unnecessary interface delays, I think it would do wonders. I don't think people are going to be too sold on the idea of having to wait 6 months for it to happen though.

Im not going to lie If the UI wasnt 100% total shit I would be ok with everything else. I dont mind grinding or doing 8 quests every 36 hours. I mind when i have the fight the game's poorly made UI rather then Fight mobs in game. But i am spoiled with a 100% totally open 100% customizable UI if you know the depths of a curtain companies API set and LUA, so i doubt i will be 100% happy ever. Though it can be a lot better then it is currently.