Final Fantasy XIV originally released back in September 22, 2010 but only had a life span of a little over two years due to heavy criticism and little fan support. The game was criticized for having aged user interface, a poorly executed economic system and other problems that made the game a sluggish grind that most players decided wasn't worth their time or money invested. Developer and publisher Square Enix paid attention to the poor reception and even noted the release had badly damaged the reputation of the once great Final Fantasy series. Rather than completely giving up on the new franchise and the world the team had created, Square Enix vowed to bring in a new development team to recreate the game that the original Final Fantasy XIV was supposed to be and release the new version for fans to enjoy in Summer 2013. It's now only a couple of months away from the release of Final Fantasy XIV: A Realm Reborn on August 27, 2013, and it's looking like fans will finally get the game they deserve when the new game releases for PlayStation 3 and PC.
Final Fantasy XIV: A Realm Reborn follows many of the same mechanics that make up the majority of MMORPG titles. Players enter a fantasy setting by creating a character of their own from a selection of races and classes, both of which affect the character's statistics and the fighting style players will want to use in combat. Final Fantasy XIV: A Realm Reborn also allows players to choose a job for a created character that will create a base of attacks or magic spells the character will be able to utilize in battle and includes proficiencies such as Warrior, White Mage and Summoner. One major difference between Final Fantasy XIV: A Realm Reborn and other MMORPG games is obviously the inclusion of Final Fantasy characters and models including chocobos, moogles and more. From the opening moments of the game, Final Fantasy XIV: A Realm Reborn is clearly a notch above its predecessor with a massive open world ready to be explored and expertly designed graphics that Square Enix has always been known for.
As for the problems with the game's user interface, Square Enix has made a much increased focus of the game's development period to ensure the game is one that is easy to pick up and play and adds some new features too. Both the PlayStation 3 and Windows PC version will support keyboard and mouse or gamepad controls. Playing on PC comes with some added benefits that allow players to fully customize the game's controls for the gamepad. Controlling the game is now much easier than before with twin sticks controlling the game's camera and movement, while cycling through targets, friendly or all, can be done with a click of a button. Other actions in the game are just as easy to control, and in-game menus have been dramatically changed to offer less clutter and allow players to perform attacks, equip items and initiate other actions with ease. The game's economy has now been completely overhauled as well and is now player-driven. This means players will be allowed to created items based on the earlier decision of choosing a unique class, and the various wares are then sold to other players in the game for an additional way to earn experience points and as the best way to generate a steady stream of currency.
Early looks at the game looks as though Final Fantasy XIV: A Realm Reborn is ready to once again make a Square Enix MMORPG one of the most played on any platform. The new features added to the game have had a major impact on the focus of the team behind the game, and players will reap the benefits. The game is designed with the player in mind and the result is a game that is more approachable than its predecessor and one that is capable of drawing in more fans than the game has seen yet. Final Fantasy XIV: A Realm Reborn should remain around for a long time, and Square Enix can begin focusing on creating additional content to make the title even better rather than trying to recreate the same world in a new release. If you've yet to experience the fantasy world of Eorzea, you can sign-up for the Final Fantasy XIV: A Realm Reborn beta on the game's official website today to see what the upcoming release is all about, and get ready for the rebirth of one of gaming's greatest franchises in August!
Final Fantasy XIV: A Realm Reborn is now available for preorder from most major retailers for the MSRP of $39.99 on PlayStation 3 and $29.99 on PC and is scheduled to release on August 27, 2013. Final Fantasy XIV: A Realm Reborn is not yet rated. For more information on the game, check out the official Final Fantasy XIV: A Realm Reborn website.
Game Features:
Massively Multiplayer Online
5 Unique Races
5 Different Classes
Choose from 8 Jobs
Trophy Support
Game Information:
Developer & Publisher: Square Enix
Platforms: PlayStation 3 & PC (previewed)
Release Date: August 27, 2013