Final Fantasy XIV Hands-On
We get our first look and a 3D tech demo of Square Enix's upcoming massively multiplayer online game.
It's a given that Final Fantasy XIV is going to look fantastic, but it looks even better in 3D, which we found out during a tech demo at the Electronic Entertainment Expo. Even though some of us may be wondering why Square Enix decided to go with another massive multiplayer online game, producer Hiromichi Tanaka told us that Final Fantasy XI's graphics were a bit out of date, so it was time to upgrade. FFXI players should know that Square Enix does intend to keep the servers running as long as people are still playing.
The tech demo showed us what the game could potentially look like. Square Enix hasn't made any announcement that the game would actually come out in 3D. We began our demo in the port city of Limsa Lominsa, a pirate town that is conveniently perched on a cliff, so we were able to stop at several vista points to take in the view. As we watched the sun set below the horizon and the light reflect off the crystal blue waters, it was quite a sight to see. There's definitely a distinct FFXI feel to the city, as the world is populated with races that are similar to FFXI. The decision behind this was to build a familiar world for FFXI players who want to make a switch.
When it came time to do a proper gameplay demo, we were transported into a cave where we were about to join something called a guildleve. We were invited by another player to join this small quest where our goal was to kill a couple of giant crabs. The purpose of the guildleve is for you to set off on lesser quests and complete them quickly and effectively. We were controlling a Miqo'te (mithra-like) thaumaturge, a sorcerer who had a selection of spells and abilities already available. We were told that leveling works differently in this game and that you don't gain experience points anymore to level; it's a skill-based progression instead. No more farming for that expensive scroll anymore!
The job system, which is also known as the armory system, is now closely linked with crafting. Your role depends on what weapons you're using, and by crafting the weapons that you need, that will direct you down the path of one of four disciplines. The purpose of our demo was on combat, but we'll be sure to provide more details on how the job system works when we get the opportunity to experiment with it more.
When exploring the world, you can be in a passive stance, which will allow you to regenerate health and run faster. By pulling out your weapon and being in an active stance, you won't be able to regenerate, and you'll run slower. Switching between the two depends on the situation, but you obviously need to be active in order to engage an enemy. By using a controller while playing on the PC, we were able to easily pull up a menu and toggle between the different spells at our disposal. There's a stamina bar that is divided into two parts. The bar will replenish over time, and as long as it stays mostly full, you can continue spamming skills. But if it dips below a certain threshold, you'll have to wait before you can use another skill.
Our demo ended rather quickly, and we spent a good amount of time running around the cave because the crabs kept taking off. Because we were playing as a thaumaturge, there was more of navigating the menu rather than physically clobbering the crustacean. It also didn't help that we caught the attention of some spirits who then proceeded to chase us through the cave, and because we wandered away from our party, it was difficult to fend them off solo.
In 2D, Final Fantasy XIV does look and feel similar to FFXI, but when the 3D glasses went on, everything felt more alive. When we walked into the cooking guild, we watched the non-player characters chop veggies, flip patties, and do other things around the kitchen to make our mouths water. The steam from the stew helped make it seem more appetizing. After running around the city for several minutes, our eyes did start to feel tired, but how a person reacts to 3D glasses depends entirely on that individual.
No release date has been announced for Final Fantasy XIV yet, but Tanaka did tell us that Square Enix would like to ship it sometime in 2010. We'll be sure to keep you posted with more information as soon as it becomes available.
142 comments
Awwww this looks so good too. Why are there so many awesome mmo's coming out that cost $15 per month. I can only afford one, and I want them all ='(. This looks great anyways, hope it works well.
a controller is the best way to go on ffxi. keyboards for macros period! i can tell you played because all ffxi people quote they have played for X amount of years,it's like some mad quote that people use to make out there pro's. funny thing is people can run round for 5 years on ffxi and go backwards! ive been playing years and i still play lol. x4 level 80 jobs and nothing under 50
btw does the ce get the garland googles and the egg helm? cos it seems strange they would give the normal edition the googles and not include it on the collectors edition..
@ronson12 i played ffxi for 5 years and only used the keyboard :p but i dont really care if the controls are changed.
I agree. many people often immediately dismiss all facts and potential to the contrary to justify the superiority of another title. I've played many mmorpgs and I gotta say, even the lesser free titles that I found lacking in overall content still possessed some prominent elements of their own which made for a unique and enjoyable experience. (though I favored FFXI, that is simply my preference. nothing more.) As for XIV, from what I read so far they are moving to right all the wrongs in XI; its good to see they continue to evolve; as a developer which observes problems of the past and approaches them with such an effective solution, but still continues to expand the scope of their mmorpg. XI was a very memorable and lasting experience for me; as I played for around seven years, but there were some flaws; as with all games. A strong emphasis on team work was the foundation for the game which both elevated/dampened the experience, encouraging player interaction and rewarding cooperation, but also brutally limiting the potential of small groups and often leaving cooperative players at the discretion of selfish players. I only hope that XIV successfully retains the unique experience which XI carried so well throughout the ages. I favor their willingness to accept inspiration from other titles; though I also fear they may take 'too much' inspiration... Here is hoping for the best.
Games are not going to go back in time and repeat over and over again, as much as I love the older version of the FF series and would love that to happen, it ain't gonna! Great technology has taken the focal point away from gameplay, not all titles and companies, but most. You can either dream and drool about the good ole days or you can adapt to find the good in the new. "Omnia mutantur, nos et mutamur in illis!"
Aren't discussion boards and comments great? What the &%#$! Does any give a game a chance anymore or do they just mope and complain about little changes that a feeble brain should be able to comprehend. I mean really, can't you adapt to other buttons beside WSAD, if not, that is simply sad. It's like using a spork, what a joke! On a nother note, I hope this turns out to be really good and last, so as to shut up all the moaners out there!
why is this coming out on pc 6 months earlier than consoles? Also will the consoles and pc players be on the same servers? Will the console players be at a 6 month automatic disadvantage? I've been wanting to try an MMo but I don't wanna try starting one that has been a long time running. I'd get murked constantly .... I've been looking forward to this one for a long time but not if the pc players are on the same servers as consoles and have 6 months to build levels before us on consoles get a chance. I'm a long time FF fan, you let me down wwith 13 ... please don't let me down again SE
@snared04 You can move with WASD in FFXI. You can change the control scheme in config. @Everyone hating on an FF-MMO. Screw you. FFXI was good if you give it the chance. Once you get used to the mechanics of it and meet some more friendly players, its a great game. Whats the point in an MMO being totally solo'able?
Why do these games get to join the official line of final fantasy games. I can understand Squarenix wanting to use the weight of the title but Final Fantasy 11 really wasnt a final fantasy game. Jury is still out for me.
Maybe one day over in Japan they will buy mirrors. On this day they will they will realize they're Asian. Maybe then, and only a maybe, will they make a game that doesn't have an all white cast, and actually includes Asian characters. Unlikely though.
@ XxgunsxX Omg. Please never type anything on any website again. You don't just define ignorance, you surpass it. As to this game, if it were in the same spirit of FF XI, but with a less retarded control scheme, I'm all for it. FF XI is interesting and deep, but the only one that foolishly strayed away from a standard WASD control scheme... Shouldn't have to go to the manual just to see how to move forward. Number pad? WtF?
@ Teckblader I agree. I hate giving credit card info to services that re-occur like games. Its so easy to go over your limit....
I hope the controls feel like FFXII. I liked the feel of movement in 12 a lot. It was easy to move around enemies while fighting and when not fighting. I think 12 is my fave.
The idea of FF14 being F2P is not as distant as it might have been when FF11. The MMORPG market has become highly saturated and publishers/operators need high numbers of subscribers to succeed. WoW and FF11 are unique cases in hand - they both came in just as the MMORPG market took off (in fact, you could argue that WoW kickstarted it) and already have established communities. Most MMORPGs die a natural death, simply because the initial uptake is fairly low, the few players that do take it up disappear after a couple of months because it is simply dull without many players around. FF14 may do well if FF11 players choose to migrate, but if they don't then they may have no choice but to at least offer a F2P option to complete with the likes of Runes of Magic and Silkroad. On a personal note - I do wish they wouldn't use the established numbering system for the MMORPG series - I have all the FF single player games and the number of questions I get from visitors about "where's part 11" is annoying.
There will be monthly subscription pay to play for this game. Stop asking "is this game free to play?" HINT look at FFXI. Its not free to play, so this one wont be either.
I highly doubt that this will be free to play. The cost of keeping servers running is high. It's a dream for it to be f2p, but not a really realistic one. Not alot of high profile MMO's are free to play. Guild Wars is the only one I can think of.
Will this be free to play or will they only release it on playstation plus? Looks great, let's just hope its better than XIII.
Cant wait. I hope you can do everything with one character again like "change jobs" or whatever, and not have to make a new character every time you want to try something new.
hioping its not pay-to-play. if it is im ont getting. if its like playstion home where it has micor transactions. then i mite consider it
Really hope they change the payment to how WoW is i.e. A flat rate for as many characters on as many servers as you like, instead of the quite frankly rubbish a flat rate for one character and an extra charge per extra character like the last online Final Fantasy.
Maybe i overlooked this part, but will pc and ps3 players be on the same server as it was with FFXI?
@tariq393 i don't really take offences by some one trying to df they none cense games have fun with you fantasy game at the end yust a fantasy trash game online lol realy hahahaha
I want to play this game so bad. I loved FFXI, and judging from these graphics and screenshots, FFXIV looks just as enticing, and probably moreso, as FFXI was.
Im serious... the gameplay is slow, the graphics are similar to FFXI. Sure it looks pretty, but this game is just FFXI-2. I'm hoping for something different, but Square is planning to release this end of year so not much will change in terms of looks or gameplay. I'm real disappointed since I played FFXI and was expecting something different.
Fileplanet has the benchmark for this game. If you want to see some video of the game. You can also choose which character you want to use. http://www.fileplanet.com/213527/210000/fileinfo/Final-Fantasy-XIV-Benchmark
I just got a 1080p projector hooked up to my ps3 a month before 3dtv was announced... AuuuuguggughghughughuaganrfparnfoaiujrgpanenvmoiprhvOUIRDHN[O
i hope that using a monocle won't take the head space in equipment. i refer to the "gnome" in the first picture.
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Game Info
- Release Date: Sep 30, 2010 (US)
- ESRB: TTitles rated T (Teen) have content that may be suitable for ages 13 and older.
- Release Date: Canceled (US)
- ESRB: TTitles rated T (Teen) have content that may be suitable for ages 13 and older.
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