I’ll be honest: with the exception of a few MMOs and Portal, I don’t generally like Western video games. I just can’t get behind grizzled military guy #375 and his crew of gnarly, twisted companions.
I was a real believer in FFXI, even if the game was unfriendly towards duo play, which is the only way I’ll tolerate a multiplayer game.
Then FFXIV was announced and I thought this was The One. The MMO that would capture my heart forever. I followed it from the first, hoping they’d improve all of my quibbles with XI. Boy was I wrong.
Yet Square-Enix stood up and admitted they blew it. I admire that. As I began to follow the second iteration, I felt hopeful that they’d learned their lessons, but fearful that the only people who have taken their polls and offered feedback are the XI grindaholic junkies.
The game just won’t succeed if they can’t make it appeal to casual Western gamers.
I liked XIV well enough, for all of its flaws. I enjoyed the fact that, as a female character, I didn’t have to run around in spankies and a middy top. The world was well-realized, the localization was delicious (as always), great music, visuals, etc.
So yes, I’m excited about A Realm Reborn. Lamely, one of the real winning points for me is the addition of the “missing” genders in the races. I can finally ogle a male miqo’te played by my husband! A male miqo’te Dragoon in full regalia. Mmmm.
Anyone else looking forward to it? I don’t need to hear about the flaws of the original version. I’m WELL aware of them.
Do you trust Square to pull it off? What will you play? What are you hoping to see?