This is less a review and more so a warning for people curious, but don't know what they're in for.
This is video game, like a real video game for real "Gamers". It's design is archaic, the U.I is clunky (even for the time) and it will not respect, or coddle you. The story is great, the characters memorable (Shantotto, my beloved), but, and I have to stress this, if you choose to play this - you're doing it for the gameplay.
You will NEED to have a walkthrough on a second screen at basically all times. You will be confused where to go, what to do, and how to do it - that is part of the charm. If you can climb that hill you will find one of the most engaging RPG experiences out there, with some absolutely wild quest designs that would not fly in the modern gaming landscape. Dungeons that change layout based on the in-game day, bosses that target specific races with debuffs, door switches that are triggered by the combined weight of the races standing on them. Honestly, there are so many little instances that will make you say "wow, that's neat" or "what were they thinking?".
If you're easily put off by a lack of handholding, don't even try this. I can guarantee you will hate it. There is no way around it - its sink or swim. You really need a certain mindset going in to enjoy this game. If you are a XIV player curious about XI, its nothing like that outside of aesthetics. I've met XI players who love XIV, but few who went the other way. This is a time sink, with a harsh opening that only gets easier as you become more accustomed to its design. Your memories will be defined by your personal accomplishments, rather than story moments. Your first trip to Jeuno, climbing Delkfutt Tower, getting lost in the mines in Bastok only to have another player who bought the map guide you out; little things that would be standard in many games feel like triumphs - it's a feeling hard to replicate in modern game design.
I love it, and still recommend it - just don't be surprised that the MMO from 2002 plays like an MMO from 2002. Its harshness is by design, and rewards a mindset that is open to a challenge. There's a reason so many still have fond memories of this game; there's nothing else quite like it.
This is video game, like a real video game for real "Gamers". It's design is archaic, the U.I is clunky (even for the time) and it will not respect, or coddle you. The story is great, the characters memorable (Shantotto, my beloved), but, and I have to stress this, if you choose to play this - you're doing it for the gameplay.
You will NEED to have a walkthrough on a second screen at basically all times. You will be confused where to go, what to do, and how to do it - that is part of the charm. If you can climb that hill you will find one of the most engaging RPG experiences out there, with some absolutely wild quest designs that would not fly in the modern gaming landscape. Dungeons that change layout based on the in-game day, bosses that target specific races with debuffs, door switches that are triggered by the combined weight of the races standing on them. Honestly, there are so many little instances that will make you say "wow, that's neat" or "what were they thinking?".
If you're easily put off by a lack of handholding, don't even try this. I can guarantee you will hate it. There is no way around it - its sink or swim. You really need a certain mindset going in to enjoy this game. If you are a XIV player curious about XI, its nothing like that outside of aesthetics. I've met XI players who love XIV, but few who went the other way. This is a time sink, with a harsh opening that only gets easier as you become more accustomed to its design. Your memories will be defined by your personal accomplishments, rather than story moments. Your first trip to Jeuno, climbing Delkfutt Tower, getting lost in the mines in Bastok only to have another player who bought the map guide you out; little things that would be standard in many games feel like triumphs - it's a feeling hard to replicate in modern game design.
I love it, and still recommend it - just don't be surprised that the MMO from 2002 plays like an MMO from 2002. Its harshness is by design, and rewards a mindset that is open to a challenge. There's a reason so many still have fond memories of this game; there's nothing else quite like it.