I’m Fling Blingus, and Fling Blingus is me. That is the identify of my Eorzean Miqo’te cat boy and Ultimate Fantasy 14 character. And whereas I’ll have named and created his look on a whim, my time in FF14 has modified how I take a look at him, myself, and the style of MMORPGs without end. In brief: Oh no, I’m obsessed. Somebody assist.
I’m not an MMORPG man. Even after beating the principle FF14 A Realm Reborn story and spending over 100 hours inside the land of Eorzea, I nonetheless don’t perceive how you can play most of it. The mechanics are overbearing, you’re not clearly instructed how a lot of the recreation really works, and determining what to do exterior of the principle situation quest is an extremely daunting process.
So why on earth am I obsessive about a blue-haired cat boy referred to as Fling Blingus, and why can’t I cease enjoying Ultimate Fantasy 14?
It began with the FF14 London Fanfest. Whereas protecting the brand new Viper job and watching the Naoki Yoshida-helmed keynote from dwelling, I used to be thrust right into a world I knew little about however discovered effortlessly alluring. I don’t even like fantasy video games that a lot (I’m extra into sci-fi), however all this discuss of upcoming content material, crossovers with Clive and Torgal from Ultimate Fantasy 16, new methods to play, and a tropical vacation enlargement in Dawntrail had me curious. Then I noticed this trailer.
One thing had its hooks in me and I needed to attempt the MMO earlier than the FF14 Dawntrail launch date subsequent summer season. This fascination alone isn’t what saved me going for 100 hours although, or the truth that the free trial means I haven’t spent a single penny on the sport but; it’s FF14’s willingness to champion the RPG in MMORPG, and the way a lot I’ve been allowed to expertise earlier than having to fret about any month-to-month prices.
FF14 can also be extra of an RPGMMO than an MMORPG, and whereas a lot of what Sq. Enix does with the sport is overwhelming for brand spanking new gamers like me, the deal with easing you into the fight and letting the story, world, and characters draw you in first is what makes all of it work.
It’s nonetheless overwhelming, so having both a good friend or a flurry of YouTube movies information you thru makes all of it a lot simpler. However the whole lot from dungeons, PvP, the Golden Saucer, housing, and raids is secondary to the story for brand spanking new gamers anyway. I’ve been in a position to choose and select what I would like from the sport with out feeling like I’m lacking out on something, which has at all times been my fundamental concern with MMOs.
I’ve been enjoying the FF14 Fall Guys occasion, doing the occasional dungeon, exploring the facet actions at my very own leisure, playing within the Golden Saucer, and comfortably switching between the entire totally different in-game courses too. Every part else performs second fiddle to the story – till you end it and get to the endgame – which helps FF14 really feel extra purposeful than I ever thought it might have earlier than enjoying.
Talking of FF14 courses, whereas I discovered the archaic break up between jobs and courses needlessly complicated, the precise implementation of the fight selections is great. After determining that jobs and courses are mainly the identical factor, and realizing that every has its personal stage and you may swap between them by merely altering your weapon, the artistic experimentation in FF14 takes middle stage. When you do have roles, which solely actually come into play in dungeons with different group content material, you possibly can simply have a number of fully totally different playstyles on the go, and use your favorites everytime you please.
Not being locked into a particular class and simply having the ability to choose up new ones is actually what’s made FF14 so interesting. Not solely do tank, DPS, and healer (the three roles every job suits in to) all have diversified methods to play to maintain issues contemporary, but it surely additionally allowed me to simply discover a fashion that works for me and follow it, constructing out the category and seeing it progress extra as I play.
Having the ability to flit between courses marries exceptionally properly with the way in which that Sq. Enix actively encourages new gamers with an overabundance of XP. I’ve been given a hoop that will increase XP positive aspects for all courses as much as stage 30, I can use meals for small bonuses, I’m in a most popular world server that awards double XP as much as stage 80 (for a time), and each participant even will get XP rewards for not enjoying the sport and coming again to it.
Sq. Enix desires you to stage quick in FF14, and there are myriad methods for brand spanking new gamers to capitalize on this. A few of the most impactful strategies are a lot much less useful to long-time gamers on busy servers, however by that time, you gained’t want all the additional XP, so it really works out very well.
The truth that FF14 offers you extra XP rewards for not enjoying might be my favourite factor concerning the recreation, too. Being rewarded for taking a break, as I’m whereas I slowly get by way of the A Realm Reborn post-game forward of the primary enlargement, takes a lot stress off, which I at all times felt would weigh me down in different MMOs. You’ll be able to nonetheless do day by day duties for rewards, however having these along with an AFK reward compensates for each kinds of gamers, making FF14 extremely approachable.
All of that is helped by how pleasant the FF14 neighborhood is. In fact, there are cheaters and different dangerous apples, however I’ve already had so many small moments with passing gamers and been helpfully guided by way of dungeons and how you can use my abilities. Everybody has been so welcoming, and whereas the prospect of a 24-person raid at the moment fills me with existential dread, I can relaxation straightforward realizing that veteran gamers will gladly lend me a serving to hand.
Two of us from PCGamesN even waited in Ul’dah – considered one of FF14’s beginning cities – for an additional author right here to complete the tutorial after we satisfied them to play, and after we all got here collectively it was essentially the most healthful videogame expertise I’ve ever had. We had been all doing in-game emotes, leaping round, and ultimately gathered a small crowd after we determined to sit down in a circle. These are the kinds of interactions Ultimate Fantasy 14 thrives on, and I’m positive there are going to be many extra to come back.
FF14 has its hooks in me as a result of it refuses to play by any preconceived notions I had about MMOs. It’s undoubtedly nonetheless an MMO, that’s for positive, however the deal with story, class freedom, rewarding new gamers, and never making an attempt to dominate my life has made each session extra pleasing than the final.
So if you happen to see a cat boy named Fling Blingus slicing about Eorzea make sure you say howdy; he’s very happy to cease for a minute to speak.
