Predicting mass server outages and connection errors the FFXIV player base was proven pessimistic when it’s first expansion Heavensward released this summer. Players were met with a smooth early access and launch with a handful of hotfixes patching various balance and bug issues. The story successfully delivers a single player JRPG type experience much improved over A Realm Reborn’s early 2.0 content. As always FFXIV gives it’s share of Final Fantasy fan service but more importantly it manages to make it it’s own and very natural in the Eorzean universe.
Learning from their experience with it’s beta and early access of A Realm Reborn, Yoshida’s team implemented temporary instances in high traffic zones to help deal with the teeming mass of dragon girls (Au Ra new playable race) clogging it’s quest NPCs. While some of the player base were torn on the idea of instances most agree it’s for the greater good. Meanwhile some more nefarious users take advantage of multiple instances and hunt named monsters for their precious gear upgrading currency. Not all went perfectly though, with a level cap increase to 60, three new jobs, and some changes to old skills and stats players were met with some challenge. Bard in particular, and by extension Machinist, were unhappy about their new skills and playstyle. Being a class that is first mobile before anything being hampered by Minuet and Gauss Barrel had players up in arms. Yoshida acknowledged the issues players had on a Live Letter and even before then patches were made to further adjust said skills. Most of these type of issues get smoothed over in time, so it’s kind of a non issue. Personally I enjoy the excitement and sense of discovery in figuring things out with other players but the few misgivings of Heavensward launch could have been avoided with beta tests and such. Overall it was clockwork and a majority of players had a smooth experience. Except Mac users. They ded.
Something that was much improved in Heavensward is it’s main story quest design. In a Realm Reborn the story was decent but hampered by a lot of busy work not befitting your character or what is taking place. In Heavensward however the main story quests are streamlined and a majority of it advances the story in meaningful ways, provides exposition, or plain old character development which every JRPG should strive for. More importantly they manage to give the sense of a party not that unlike a single player experience. Your character groups up with NPCs to face many challenges all the while learning about your allies personally and watching them develop. It delivers everything your mind's eye sees in a good Final Fantasy game in spades. Well, the voice actors can be hit or miss. I’m looking at you Yugiri. You may question how one levels with the lack of filler quests in the main story. Rest assured that the lazy moogles in Churning Mists have got your back.
Somehow FFXIV continues to deliver fan service while making it part of it’s own universe. Of course there are the low hanging fruits like adding Terra’s theme to magitek mounts. My personal favorite is Tactics Ogre armor drops in the new lvl 60 dungeons. That's a deep pull yo. A large portion of it though is well done with respect and love to it’s inspirations. Without spoiling much of the fun, anyone that enjoyed Final Fantasy in general will have an emotion well up inside of them from a time when they may have been less cynical. To Reach these high points players will need to complete A Realm Reborn content, but all of that has pay off in Heavensward.
Heavensward is an excellent experience and has already seen the first of it's many rapid content updates with Alexander. Still lacking in better PVP options and execution it's not a perfect MMO package, but being a well polished and highly detailed in other respects makes up for it. A narrative minded person can enjoy the game and then return when the next Main Scenario patch hits to continue it. The hardcore can torture them selves in challenging end game content and the penny pinchers can become wealthy with their dedicated crafting and gathering jobs. FFXIV continues to create content for it's users at many levels and I look forward to it's future content.