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I’m Fling Blingus, and Fling Blingus is me. That is the title of my Eorzean Miqo’te cat boy and Ultimate 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 eternally. 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 learn how to play most of it. The mechanics are overbearing, you’re not clearly informed 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 activity.
So why on earth am I obsessive about a blue-haired cat boy known 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 house, 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 growth 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 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 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 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 every little thing from dungeons, PvP, the Golden Saucer, housing, and raids is secondary to the story for brand spanking new gamers anyway. I’ve been capable of decide 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 foremost concern with MMOs.
I’ve been enjoying 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 all the 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 cut up between jobs and courses needlessly complicated, the precise implementation of the fight selections is excellent. After determining that jobs and courses are mainly the identical factor, and realizing that every has its personal stage and you’ll swap between them by merely altering your weapon, the inventive experimentation in FF14 takes heart 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 fully totally different playstyles on the go, and use your favorites everytime you please.
Not being locked into a selected 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 suits in to) all have different methods to play to maintain issues recent, however it additionally allowed me to simply discover a model that works for me and keep on with it, constructing out the category and seeing it progress extra as I play.
Having the ability to flit between courses marries exceptionally nicely 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 good points for all courses as much as stage 30, I can use meals for small bonuses, I’m in a most well-liked 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 needs you to stage quick in FF14, and there are myriad methods for brand spanking 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 very well.
The truth that FF14 offers you extra XP rewards for not enjoying 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 stress off, which I at all times felt would weigh me down in different MMOs. You’ll be able to nonetheless do every day duties for rewards, however having these at the side of an AFK reward compensates for each varieties of gamers, making FF14 extremely approachable.
All of that is helped by how pleasant the FF14 neighborhood is. After all, 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 learn how to use my abilities. Everybody has been so welcoming, and whereas the prospect of a 24-person raid presently fills me with existential dread, I can relaxation straightforward figuring out that veteran gamers will gladly lend me a serving to hand.
Two of us from PCGamesN even waited in Ul’dah – one among 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 have been all doing in-game emotes, leaping round, and finally gathered a small crowd after we determined to sit down in a circle. These are the varieties of interactions Ultimate Fantasy 14 thrives on, and I’m certain 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 certain, however the give attention to story, class freedom, rewarding new gamers, and never trying to dominate my life has made each session extra pleasurable than the final.
So should you see a cat boy named Fling Blingus chopping about Eorzea make sure you say hi there; he’s very happy to cease for a minute to talk.
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