Final Fantasy 14 Is Still Around, And Ageing Gracefully

Final Fantasy 14: A Realm Reborn has been a huge part of my life since the Playstation 3 beta released in 2013. Since then, it’s undergone an impressive transformation, with the developers at Square Enix working tirelessly to address player feedback and make significant improvements across all aspects of the game. Today, it’s a more immersive and visually stunning MMO than ever, with new expansions introducing compelling storylines, new playable races, challenging raids, and a wealth of diverse content.

So to celebrate the game’s longevity, we’re putting the game through the DualShockers re-review mixer, charting its journey, growth, expansions and evolution to assess where the game is at today. Let’s begin.

Since its release, Final Fantasy 14 has had four expansions, each bringing changes to the game’s classes. The latest, Endwalker, came out in 2021, and is no exception. It streamlines the once-awkward Summoner class for a start, turning the Summoner into one of the easiest Damage-per-second (DPS) classes to play. Generally, the rotation involves summoning very flashy, robust Egis to the combat stage, nuking trash pulls, and looking powerful. This has become a point of contention between players, as there are those like me who found the changes welcoming, while some fans are upset that the rotations have become over-simplified.

Over the years, Final Fantasy 14 has introduced new classes and jobs (strict upgrade to the classes), each bringing something exciting and versatile. For example, the Blue Mage, with its potential to learn monster skills, allows it to be a tank, DPS, or healer. Additionally, each of the classes has their own unique story and lore behind them.

Endwalker introduces several improvements to the combat system. One notable addition is the new job actions and abilities. Sage, the most recent healer class, has diversified the role by emphasizing DPS over healing. A number of the abilities are powered by your ability to deal damage, which heals the other members of the party.

Existing jobs have been balanced and refined over the years, addressing community feedback. To offset the ‘Button bloat’ concern that comes with each expansion, a number of different abilities have either been combined or eliminated entirely. Going back to Summoner as an example: the class used to manage DOTs in order to keep damage up, but the job now focuses on direct damage, creating much more punchy rotations.

Final Fantasy 14’s combat system is a hybrid of tab-targeting and action-based combat. Each class and job has a unique playstyle and ability. A major focus of the combat is strategic positioning, executing combos, and managing resources like MP and cooldowns.

There are limitations to tab-targeting; it lacks the fluidity and responsiveness of a fully action-based combat system, and when playing on a controller, getting the rotations right requires a certain amount of memory. As I play on console with a controller, I’ve either learned how to play without using certain abilities, or I’ve resorted to using simple macros to combine certain buttons. Despite this limitation, FF14’s combat system remains engaging, with a nice difficulty curve that’s forgiving at the beginning of your journey before gradually increasing in complexity.

Related: Final Fantasy 14 Zodiac Weapon Guide

The world of Eorzea is brimming with unique environments. Throughout the most recent expansion, the landscapes progress from grasslands, deserts, underwater, and icy landscapes to otherworldly, uncanny lands devoid of life (Endwalker even takes you to the moon!). These locations offer memorable experiences through story-based side quests, which are split into side-quests and side-stories.

Side quests are more self-contained and are your typical fetch quests that expand the lore of the land. The side stories, on the other hand, are amazing and offer a personal look into NPC lives and the conflicts not focused on in the main story. One notable example is a series of quests that follow Hildibrand Manderville, an eccentric detective, and his comical investigations. Updates for the side story began in A Realm Reborn and continue in Endwalker. It runs parallel to the main narrative, giving many cheeky nods to the Warrior of Light’s journey.

Final Fantasy 14 is way more story-centric than other MMOs. Since A Realm Reborn in 2013, the narrative has focused on the character-created Warrior of Light as they become the hero of Eorzea. The political intrigue, plot twists, and character development are fantastic, and each expansion features a full game-length narrative of 50+ hours. The main quest is mostly a single-player affair with dungeons (four people) and trials (eight people) peppered between the bigger story beats. You’ll spend a lot of time getting to know your NPC counterparts.

Progressing through the main story is a fundamental aspect of Final Fantasy 14. The Duty Support system allows you to complete the main story dungeons with the help of NPCs. You should manage your expectations regarding the story’s pacing, however; playing story quests from A Realm Reborn all the way to Endwalker will easily net you over 200 hours of gameplay. A good chunk of that time is spent in well crafted cinematics and dialogue-heavy cutscenes. New players who are willing to immerse themselves in it will be rewarded. Those who want to immediately jump into multiplayer, however, may find the high narrative demand frustrating. There is a skip button, but I would recommend against missing out on this grand narrative.

Once you’ve finished the main scenario, or if you want a break from it, there’s plenty to do. Hunt infamous enemies, discover treasure maps, and participate in FATEs (Full Active Time Events), which are open-world events that occur spontaneously throughout the game’s various regions, involving large-scale battles, quests, or objectives that encourage cooperative play.

The questing and leveling system are based on the traditional MMORPG formula. To level up, you complete main story quests, side-quests, and various activities. A sense of progression and accomplishment is provided by the quests, which mix storytelling, world-building, and combat encounters. You’ll find out about the origins of some of the main cast on your journey, or meet the relatives of characters who die in the main quest. Over the years, the game’s developers have continued to deliver well voiced cutscenes in the main scenario, and well written stories found in side content as well. You definitely get your money’s worth experiencing these narratives.

There have been improvements made to the questing and leveling mechanics in Endwalker, streamlining the experience and reducing the amount of “filler” quests, which FF14’s first expansion, A Realm Reborn, was criticized for.

Your character’s progression is guided by the Main Story Quest. In it, you learn more about the game’s world, captivating lore, and significant events, like your connection to Hydaelyn, the Mothercrystal. Main story progression unlocks new areas, dungeons, and exciting features, as well as generous XP rewards.

Related: Final Fantasy 14 Best Jobs for Beginners Ranked

Both casual and hardcore raiding are available. Alliance Raids are large-scale encounters involving three parties of eight players each. Crystal Tower, Shadow of Mhach, and Return to Ivalice all feature unique storylines and areas. Normal Raids, on the other hand, are smaller-scale encounters requiring a single party of 8 players, featuring distinct mechanics and boss battles. Hardcore players will find plenty of challenges in the Savage and Ultimate raids.

The boss fights are wonderfully designed, requiring players to strategize, coordinate, and execute their abilities effectively. Take, for example, the showdown with the boss Brute Justice, an imposing mechanical construct that unleashes devastating attacks and transitions between different forms, each with their own mechanics. My encounter with him fed my inner Transformers nerd. You fight the different parts of him until they all combine into Brute Justice. His mechanics forced me to pay attention to when I needed to group up with my party members or step away, especially if he chose me to do his Super Jump on, which would stun anyone else caught in the AOE.

In the main storyline, you encounter the primal, Titan—a powerful being summoned forth by the fervent prayers of the Kobolds, who launches powerful ground-shaking attacks, forcing you to navigate treacherous arenas as you fight him. The Omega: Alphascape raid pits you against Suzaku, who introduces intricate dance mechanics, with you following specific patterns and avoiding lethal areas. The boss fights are visually spectacular, and reward you for mastering the mechanics and working together as a team. These fights continue to be a staple of the Final Fantasy 14 experience.

After all these years, it’s inevitable that the game’s graphics are starting to show their age, though playing on PS5 does render some minor differences, with dynamic 4K resolution resulting in sharper and more detailed graphics on compatible displays. The PS5 version benefits from improved lighting, shadows, and particle effects too, but the game still has a dated look.

This is especially true when looking at the close-ups of characters. Hair textures are blurred and overly simple, and the pixel count on many armor pieces is noticeably lower. Square Enix knows this and announced that they’re implementing a graphical upgrade in the 7.0 patch which will come with the next major expansion. In its defence, Final Fantasy 14 has a gorgeous art style that transcends graphical limitations, particularly in cinematic sequences and the mesmerizing spell effects.

Final Fantasy 14 can be daunting for new players. Even though I recommend patiently progress through each expansion’s story, there is a way for you to skip most of it. Level skips and expansion skips are available. It is possible to level up any class or job to any level instantly through the Level Skip feature. Level Skip items can be purchased from the official online store. Scenario Skip and Jump Potions allow you to skip the main story of previous expansions and begin directly in a later expansion.

The game runs on a subscription-based model, where you pay a monthly fee to access the game and all its expansions, including the latest updates. There’s an Entry Tier monthly subscription for $13 as well as a Standard Tier, which is $15 a month. The Standard subscription allows up to eight characters per world (server) and a total of 40 characters, ideal for extensive character options and playing across data centers. The Entry subscription enables one character per world (server) and up to eight total, which generally suitable for most players unless extensive character creation or discounted long-term plans are needed. Currently, you can purchase the game in two editions: Final Fantasy 14 Standard Edition for $20 and the Complete Edition (which contains all the previous expansions, including the latest Endwalker) for $40. [what about the other 3 expansions?] You can also test drive the game with the ability to level up to level 60 in the Free Trial version.

While the combination of a subscription fee and upfront cost may seem substantial for a modern MMO, the game’s expansive world, frequent content updates, and dedicated fan base contribute to its enduring popularity. I personally prefer the subscription model because I know what I’m paying for and the high quality content that Square Enix has continued to bring out proves that admission is worth the price.

As for microtransactions, Final Fantasy 14 offers cosmetic items and mounts. Thankfully, in terms of gameplay balance and progression, microtransactions are not necessary. That said, things can get pricey. Outfits can cost up to $22, and an eight-player mount is $42. These prices dwarf even the cosmetics that Diablo 4’s been criticised for, though I stress again that it’s all cosmetic and therefore entirely optional.

Camaraderie and community are key parts to most MMOs, and Final Fantasy 14 delivers on this front too. Group activities are the main focus for post-main story quests, and joining groups and discovering guilds is easily accessible through the in-game system. Engage with Free Companies (the game’s guilds system) for a sense of belonging, with social hubs, chat channels, and activities. Connect with players across servers through the “Cross-World Linkshell” feature, expanding your network and fostering connections. Final Fantasy 14 offers a convenient experience for group joining, guild finding, and social interactions, enabling you to embrace the vibrant community.

So is Final Fantasy 14 worth playing in 2023? Yes! The game has continuously evolved and improved. Its compelling story, diverse gameplay mechanics, and rewarding endgame content set it apart from other modern MMORPGs. In spite of its limitations, such as an aged graphics engine and occasional visual constraints, Final Fantasy 14’s world of Eorzea (and beyond), is still a hotbed of incredible adventures for those in search of them.

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