I’m Fling Blingus, and Fling Blingus is me. That is the identify of my Eorzean Miqo’te cat boy and Remaining Fantasy 14 character. And whereas I could have named and created his look on a whim, my time in FF14 has modified how I have a look at him, myself, and the style of MMORPGs ceaselessly. In brief: Oh no, I’m obsessed. Somebody assist.
I’m not an MMORPG man. Even after beating the primary FF14 A Realm Reborn story and spending over 100 hours throughout the land of Eorzea, I nonetheless don’t perceive the best way to play most of it. The mechanics are overbearing, you’re not clearly advised how a lot of the sport really works, and determining what to do exterior of the primary state of affairs quest is an extremely daunting process.
So why on earth am I obsessive about a blue-haired cat boy known as Fling Blingus, and why can’t I cease taking part in Remaining Fantasy 14?
It began with the FF14 London Fanfest. Whereas protecting the brand new Viper job and watching the Naoki Yoshida-helmed keynote from residence, 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 speak of upcoming content material, crossovers with Clive and Torgal from Remaining Fantasy 16, new methods to play, and a tropical vacation growth in Dawntrail had me curious. Then I noticed this trailer.
One thing had its hooks in me and I needed to strive the MMO earlier than the FF14 Dawntrail launch date subsequent summer season. This fascination alone isn’t what stored 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 be extra of an RPGMMO than an MMORPG, and whereas a lot of what Sq. Enix does with the sport is overwhelming for brand new gamers like me, the give attention to 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 new gamers anyway. I’ve been in a position to decide and select what I need from the sport with out feeling like I’m lacking out on something, which has all the time been my predominant worry with MMOs.
I’ve been taking part in the FF14 Fall Guys occasion, doing the occasional dungeon, exploring the aspect actions at my very own leisure, playing within the Golden Saucer, and comfortably switching between the entire completely different in-game courses too. All the pieces 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 taking part in.
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 principally the identical factor, and realizing that every has its personal degree and you may swap between them by merely altering your weapon, the inventive experimentation in FF14 takes middle stage. Whilst you do have roles, which solely actually come into play in dungeons with different group content material, you may simply have a number of utterly completely different playstyles on the go, and use your favorites everytime you please.
Not being locked into a particular class and simply with the ability to decide up new ones is truthfully what’s made FF14 so interesting. Not solely do tank, DPS, and healer (the three roles every job matches in to) all have assorted methods to play to maintain issues contemporary, nevertheless it additionally allowed me to simply discover a model that works for me and stick with it, constructing out the category and seeing it progress extra as I play.
With the ability to flit between courses marries exceptionally nicely with the best way that Sq. Enix actively encourages new gamers with an overabundance of XP. I’ve been given a hoop that will increase XP features for all courses as much as degree 30, I can use meals for small bonuses, I’m in a most well-liked world server that awards double XP as much as degree 80 (for a time), and each participant even will get XP rewards for not taking part in the sport and coming again to it.
Sq. Enix needs you to degree quick in FF14, and there are myriad methods for brand new gamers to capitalize on this. Among the most impactful strategies are a lot much less helpful to long-time gamers on busy servers, however by that time, you received’t want all the additional XP, so it really works out rather well.
The truth that FF14 provides you extra XP rewards for not taking part in might be my favourite factor concerning the sport, too. Being rewarded for taking a break, as I’m whereas I slowly get via the A Realm Reborn post-game forward of the primary growth, takes a lot strain off, which I all the time felt would weigh me down in different MMOs. You possibly can nonetheless do day by day duties for rewards, however having these at the side of an AFK reward compensates for each sorts of gamers, making FF14 extremely approachable.
All of that is helped by how pleasant the FF14 group 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 via dungeons and the best way to 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 simple figuring out that veteran gamers will gladly lend me a serving to hand.
Two of us from PCGamesN even waited in Ul’dah – one in every of FF14’s beginning cities – for one more author right here to complete the tutorial after we satisfied them to play, and after we all got here collectively it was probably the most healthful videogame expertise I’ve ever had. We have 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 sorts of interactions Remaining Fantasy 14 thrives on, and I’m positive there are going to be many extra to return.
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 give attention to story, class freedom, rewarding new gamers, and never trying to dominate my life has made each session extra pleasing than the final.
So for those who see a cat boy named Fling Blingus chopping about Eorzea be sure you say hiya; he’s more than pleased to cease for a minute to talk.
