Final Fantasy XIV Online: A Realm Reborn Reviews
But it's beyond clear that Final Fantasy XIV has, in fact, been reborn. This is everything players wanted the original game to be--it might avoid pushing the boundaries, but it provides hours upon hours of well-designed quest sequences, breathtaking graphics, and a gripping plot. At last, we have a modern MMO worthy of the Final Fantasy name.
A Realm Reborn is such a substantial change from the original game that it merits a second look if you hated the first release. So much has changed for the better, and it has resulted in one of the most polished MMORPGs out there today.
FFXIV: A Realm Reborn is truly a new and improved MMORPG. It takes all the best features from MMOs and Final Fantasy games and combines them in this fantastic package. The PS4 is its ideal platform - this is the Final Fantasy game that I've been waiting for.
Square has proudly shaken off the ragged cloak of embarrassment that Final Fantasy XIV 1.0 draped over this storied franchise, and with A Realm Reborn has revealed the finest MMO to be released this year and has truly crafted a game worthy of the title Final Fantasy.
Final Fantasy 14 redeems the series' greatest disaster
Final Fantasy XIV is reborn on the PlayStation 4, rife with new features and gorgeous visuals that will tempt PC and PlayStation 3 players all over again.
Square Enix's Final Fantasy-themed MMO doesn't get everything right, even on PS4, but the things it does well outweigh those it doesn't, and the end result is a fun and engaging open world RPG with some great multiplayer options that don't really come into their own until end-game.
Offering a polished, content-heavy MMO experience, Final Fantasy XIV: A Realm Reborn will please anybody who enjoys the genre, and maybe even charm those who typically don't.
The completionist in me is nearly overwhelmed with the sheer amount of things to do in A Realm Reborn. Square Enix really do deserve praise for not only fixing the issues of the original game, but far exceeding their goal.
While it isn't perfect, A Realm Reborn is an important first step towards Final Fantasy meaning "day-one purchase" once again.
Final Fantasy XIV: A Realm Reborn is a great introduction to the world of Final Fantasy for both new and old fans of the series, as well as people looking for a new or different MMO to play. While still having a lot of the standard tropes that an MMO does have, along with a lot of ones from the Final Fantasy series, the combination of both are a breath of fresh air for those people who have been stuck inhaling the stench of World of Warcraft for over a decade.
This mixture makes it one of my favourite MMOs of the last couple of years and one that certainly goes into my top three of all time.
The reasoning for such high praise of Final Fantasy XIV: A Realm Reborn should be obvious. At the end of the day, the simple fact is that Square Enix actually put in effort and care and managed to craft something that truly is Final Fantasy through and through. It would have been so easy to declare this game a lost cause or just do the minimal amount of work to make it viable, but, instead, the developers dedicated themselves to turning this MMO on its head - and they succeeded.
If you are a super fan of Japanese or Asian culture, it is worth a try for this unique MMORPG.
Structural innovations and strong presentation, held back by grind and an old-fashioned business model.
A Realm Reborn fits well into the scene of MMORPG's today while still retaining its identity as a Final Fantasy entry. Even so, while it does have a few genuinely novel features, it fails to add much to an already stagnant genre. If you like MMO's and are looking for that next fix, then I suggest A Realm Reborn over its competitors, but if you have the means, then I'd say you should pick up the PC version of the game.
As it stands now, A Realm Reborn vastly improves on its predecessor and delivers a wonderful fantasy world to spend countless hours in. It has its fair share of flaws, especially in regard to the quest structure, but I imagine fans of the genre will enjoy their time with the game regardless.