Final Fantasy XIV Online: A Realm Reborn

 PC
User Score
7.8

Generally favorable reviews- based on 2236 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 1,673 out of 2236
  2. Mixed: 169 out of 2236
  3. Negative: 394 out of 2236
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  1. Dashuto
    Sep 2, 2013
    10
    Despite a crowded launch, the game has made absolutely massive improvements. To see a game transformed as this one has, has never been done. The developers directly ask users regularly what they wish to see in the game, and content is massive compared to before, with many additions on the horizon. Gameplay is solid, and hardware usage was updated. The community is fairly strong withDespite a crowded launch, the game has made absolutely massive improvements. To see a game transformed as this one has, has never been done. The developers directly ask users regularly what they wish to see in the game, and content is massive compared to before, with many additions on the horizon. Gameplay is solid, and hardware usage was updated. The community is fairly strong with committed players, a good investment for a gamer who has time on his hands.… Expand
  2. Poisonthemonkey
    Aug 27, 2013
    10
    Tried this out for the first time this weekend, and found that many of the complaints I'd read on forums/etc were unfounded or exaggerated. Our household decided to pre-order the game and try it on a whim, since it looked fun and was on sale. None of us really had high expectations, and we're all MMO vets so none of us are stupid enough to be shocked by a few server troubles (which haveTried this out for the first time this weekend, and found that many of the complaints I'd read on forums/etc were unfounded or exaggerated. Our household decided to pre-order the game and try it on a whim, since it looked fun and was on sale. None of us really had high expectations, and we're all MMO vets so none of us are stupid enough to be shocked by a few server troubles (which have been blown out of proportion). We've gotten a lot of play time in and have all had a grand old time. It's great to feel excited to rush home and level again, and to explore beautifully crafted worlds. The combat is very fun, though not as action MMO-y as more recent games like TERA or GW2--but this is balanced by the depth of the combat and the depth of the content available.

    Definitely going to be playing this for a while.    … Expand
  3. Trade60
    Feb 21, 2014
    10
    FF14:ARR has a lot to offer in an MMORPG. I played FF11 and the original version of FF14 witch sucked really bad. FF14:ARR has amazing graphics, huge game world, ground mount customization, great story, and so much more. I played just about every MMO out there and only a few held my attention, this is by far one of the better MMO's I had a chance to play. You can make one character andFF14:ARR has a lot to offer in an MMORPG. I played FF11 and the original version of FF14 witch sucked really bad. FF14:ARR has amazing graphics, huge game world, ground mount customization, great story, and so much more. I played just about every MMO out there and only a few held my attention, this is by far one of the better MMO's I had a chance to play. You can make one character and play and level every class in the game with the ONE character, much like FF11.
    The things I was not a huge fan of, that some MMO's like SWTOR have that FF14:ARR doesn't, you have to read the quests, or not read them, but they don't have voice actors, at least not on all of the quests, some of the main story quests have voice actors reading to you, and the cut scenes are amazing and also have voice acting. The choices you make don't feel like they really matter very much while questing, where games like SWTOR and ESO both have a really cool way about doing quests. In some ways it almost feels like an adult version of old school WoW.
    FF14:ARR runs so smooth, I am running the game max settings with 60 fps and the game handles great, even in high travel areas like city's, even on low settings the graphics are still great. The game does have zoning, but when the game loads the first time, any load screen after is very short. Most of the time it doesn't even feel like you zoned into a new area, the transition between zones is smooth, and you can still chat with your friends.
    Games like WoW on max settings have massive frame drop in load zones and/or city's, dungeons, raids going from 60 fps to 40 fps witch is very noticeable.    … Expand
  4. KrispyKleen
    Sep 5, 2013
    10
    Truly a masterpiece. If you did not play beyond level 10 or 15, you know nothing about this game and it would be unfair for you to write any type of review. Everything about this game is amazing, you can really see the time and effort put into it. I love A Realm Reborn. It is amazing.
  5. Belly
    Oct 30, 2013
    10
    This game has renewed my faith in the MMO genre, it's a very refreshing experience that brings a lot of good stuff to the table. It has a good fluent combat, a 'very' in depth class system where you can mix and match abilities across different classes and a huge world to explore and enjoy, it has everything for both the casual and the hardcore. Not to mention the graphics are gorgeous toThis game has renewed my faith in the MMO genre, it's a very refreshing experience that brings a lot of good stuff to the table. It has a good fluent combat, a 'very' in depth class system where you can mix and match abilities across different classes and a huge world to explore and enjoy, it has everything for both the casual and the hardcore. Not to mention the graphics are gorgeous to boot haha.… Expand
  6. Scruffybub
    Aug 27, 2013
    10
    First of all, most of the negative reviews are from the server issues the game had during the early access weekend prior to launch. This is not indicative of the final product.

    This game is nothing short of spectacular. The fact that the development team took a failing game, and made it what it is today in only 2 years is a miracle. The graphics are by far the best in the genre, the    First of all, most of the negative reviews are from the server issues the game had during the early access weekend prior to launch. This is not indicative of the final product.

    This game is nothing short of spectacular. The fact that the development team took a failing game, and made it what it is today in only 2 years is a miracle. The graphics are by far the best in the genre, the world design is among the best in any game, period, the sound design is something you must hear to believe, and the writing is phenomenal. This game deserves more than its tainted name allows it. On top of everything I've listed, the game is just plain fun. This game must be experienced to be fully appreciated. This is how Final Fantasy used to be, not what it currently is. This game is a love letter to the entire series. It has characters, monsters, equipment and activities from many numbered Final Fantasy games, and they're only adding more. This will be one of the only MMOs out right now still being played in 10 years.    … Expand
  7. Loigan
    Aug 27, 2013
    10
    Fantastic Game. Great class system. Great graphics. Multiple subscription options for those who are power users or casual users.

    I highly recommend this to any gamer who enjoys great graphics and a great story.

    It's true they are having server load issues at the moment, but that doesn't change the quality of the game itself.
  8. Shinebox
    Aug 27, 2013
    10
    Been playing since Alpha. I must say that everything about this game is excellent. The combat took sometime to get comfortable with. It is unfortunate that this game will receive bad reviews because of the login problems but a majority of those have already been addressed. This is your standard MMO launch. There are plenty of options for jobs to play, engaging storyline, the graphics areBeen playing since Alpha. I must say that everything about this game is excellent. The combat took sometime to get comfortable with. It is unfortunate that this game will receive bad reviews because of the login problems but a majority of those have already been addressed. This is your standard MMO launch. There are plenty of options for jobs to play, engaging storyline, the graphics are above average for an MMO. A Final Fantasy every FF fan must play.… Expand
  9. vandana
    Sep 17, 2013
    10
    Not being a huge fan of Final Fantasy, I came to the world of Eorzea without huge expectations. More from curiosity and boredom with other MMOs then anything. All I expected was another generic MMO, which is doomed to go free-to-play in 6 months. God, was I wrong! Final Fantasy is a great piece of craftsmanship and a result of blending together of features invented over the years ofNot being a huge fan of Final Fantasy, I came to the world of Eorzea without huge expectations. More from curiosity and boredom with other MMOs then anything. All I expected was another generic MMO, which is doomed to go free-to-play in 6 months. God, was I wrong! Final Fantasy is a great piece of craftsmanship and a result of blending together of features invented over the years of development of modern MMOs. That has been done in a way that actually works, and all the pieces together make this game incredibly fun to play. With plenty of content added to the equation, this actually puts FF14 as a frontrunner in MMO world, quite unexpectedly. The positive effect is of course amplified by the fact that version 1.0 sucked, however that doesn't matter to a player like me, who never played 1.0 (that being said, I very much applaud the courage to go ahead with the reboot, which is an example to the whole industry how to deal with failure, and give justice to legendary franchises) But I judge this game on its own merit, without any reference to its predecessor. And the judgment can be only one: this is the best MMO that I can remember, and one that is full of hope that it won't actually go f2p/maintenance mode anytime soon, because of how good the engine is, how it gives the game a base on which it can add to its already stunning amount of content. i can see myself playing this game for years to come, and seeing how cleverly designed it is, I am certain that the game is managed by people who know what they are doing and has bright future ahead of it. Square Enix just acquired a loyal customer, and I doubt they will do anything to loose him. My score is 8/10, however to offset the 0 scores given for issues that no longer exist I give 0.

    P.S. People who come to Metacritic on day 1, and give a game a 0, because of login issues, should rethink their lives. There was an MMO that had 120 servers at launch, look where it is now.    … Expand
  10. jcobb2006
    Aug 27, 2013
    10
    I have played this game through beta, early access, and now launch. The game is beautiful, has a good storyline (if you like Final Fantasy stories), and has a much more active battle system that becomes more intuitive and complex as you level. Many people have commented on the server issue; however, the development team has announced as of today that the server capacity will be increasedI have played this game through beta, early access, and now launch. The game is beautiful, has a good storyline (if you like Final Fantasy stories), and has a much more active battle system that becomes more intuitive and complex as you level. Many people have commented on the server issue; however, the development team has announced as of today that the server capacity will be increased and the restrictions will be lifted for all servers (not just Japan).… Expand
  11. Veimi
    Aug 27, 2013
    10
    Despite the early access problems I've had the most fun here since WoW 1.0-1.5. There's just so much to do and probably the first time ever I don't feel like I have to level my main class or job to 50 to play the game to it's fullest. I've spent countless of hours crafting and fishing because it's just so entertaining by itself. Ok, you have your basic quests of kill/fetch or stuff likeDespite the early access problems I've had the most fun here since WoW 1.0-1.5. There's just so much to do and probably the first time ever I don't feel like I have to level my main class or job to 50 to play the game to it's fullest. I've spent countless of hours crafting and fishing because it's just so entertaining by itself. Ok, you have your basic quests of kill/fetch or stuff like that but it doesn't diminish the full experience. Additional ways to gain experience are introduced all the time and generally only a small portion of my experience comes from the basic questing.

    If you are having a hard time to decide whether to try it, I strongly recommend you do. It's just 20 euros and by that price it's a steal. Best MMO of the decade.    … Expand
  12. AliceKaye
    Aug 28, 2013
    10
    As a 1.0 player I am blown away by how wonderfully Yoshida-san and his team were able to turn this game around. It's absolutely fantastic. Aside from the server issues at launch (which I view as a good thing, as it means that the game was an overwhelming success in terms of purchases) the game is far and away better than anything else out on the market currently.

    The graphics are    As a 1.0 player I am blown away by how wonderfully Yoshida-san and his team were able to turn this game around. It's absolutely fantastic. Aside from the server issues at launch (which I view as a good thing, as it means that the game was an overwhelming success in terms of purchases) the game is far and away better than anything else out on the market currently.

    The graphics are fantastic, the music/sounds are terrific and the game play/storyline is riveting and keeps me coming back for more.

    My advice to any who are turned off by the negative comments, is to take them with a grain of salt. Many have been spurned by the server troubles so they're taking it out on the score of the game, which is sad because people should give an honest opinion, rather than trying to throw it under the bus for issues darn near every launch has.

    Either way, give the game a go for yourself and make up your own mind! I'm fairly sure you won't be disappointed.    … Expand
  13. azurekuhn
    Sep 7, 2013
    10
    We're skipping the first week's server difficulties as those are resolved and shouldn't factor into the long-term game review. Logging in is just fine now, so ignore any of those reviews.

    Look, overall the game is amazing. It has a bug here and there, but its just launched and has promises of fantastic content which Yoshi-P has shown he's not just bragging and he can actually deliver.    We're skipping the first week's server difficulties as those are resolved and shouldn't factor into the long-term game review. Logging in is just fine now, so ignore any of those reviews.

    Look, overall the game is amazing. It has a bug here and there, but its just launched and has promises of fantastic content which Yoshi-P has shown he's not just bragging and he can actually deliver. There's challenges, there's relaxation, there's a ton of content, the learning curve is very forgiving which is good for new players.

    Big mention: Crafting. It's real, honest to God, good crafting. Not half assed SWTOR style, not a giant RNG style, but a large portion of skill and time combined with a small amount of controlled RNG to keep it fresh but also not frustrating. As a crafter, I've been enamored with the system.

    The world detail is AMAZING. The localization team has done a fantastic job from translating humor, to making puns, to making the world a lively and memorable place. The NPCs move and look like they're doing everyday life things, the scenery is beautiful, the music is fantastic. If you enjoy the little things, ARR has them in spades.

    Like I said, severs are up and running, they provided free time and are working on offering server transfers as well, patch 2.1 looks great, there's no shortage of things to do, so 10/10.    … Expand
  14. Yoshihito
    Aug 27, 2013
    10
    This game has come a long way from the fiasco that was version 1.0. Overall, Square Enix has done a great job completely remaking the game and optimizing everything that failed in the first. And aside from the server issues during Early Access and the 1017 errors as of launch this game couldn't be any better.

    You can call me a fanboy or just not agree with what I'm saying, that's fine.    This game has come a long way from the fiasco that was version 1.0. Overall, Square Enix has done a great job completely remaking the game and optimizing everything that failed in the first. And aside from the server issues during Early Access and the 1017 errors as of launch this game couldn't be any better.

    You can call me a fanboy or just not agree with what I'm saying, that's fine. Everyone is entitled to their own opinion and this happens to be mine. I've been playing since 1.0 but didn't play it for long because it did suck big time. When I heard about FFXIV:ARR I was excited and hoped they would do a better job this time around. They have.

    The game is better in almost every way. The graphics are almost as good and don't kill your system like 1.0 did. Most people couldn't run the old game. The optimizations have worked out wonderfully. I can safely say that it's one of the besting looking MMORPG's out. People seem to mistake that for best looking game but that's not the case. This is right up there with TERA in terms of beautiful MMO graphics. By the way, I am running on maximum settings with 60+ fps. Perks of building your own extreme gaming PC.

    The quest system is much improved and everything just feels more fluid. There is a lot of text to read but that's pretty standard. They do a pretty good job of defining what you need to do and it all isn't just fetch or kill quests. I think the most a quest has ever had me kill is 5 of a particular monster. I'm currently a 26 Marauder. My only gripe is I wish all the dialogue was all voice acted but as it stands only select in game cutscenes are voice acted. The ones that are are pretty well done too, some of the voices fit the characters while there are others that don't.

    Things to do are plentiful in this game. Want to quest, sure, go ahead. Want to craft? You can do it all on one character. FATE's are frequent and award nice experience and GC seals when you get that far. Leves are a fun diversion though I wish you weren't restricted to the allowance you're given. And you only gain 3 every 12 hours real life time. The story missions have been great too. Lot's of lore and character development to discover. Another great diversion are the Logs you have access to. Hunting Logs have you kill monsters for super bonus experience. It's all a nice way to help you level up.

    The only real issue I've had with the game so far is just the server issues which are doing much better than they were at the start of Early Access. Despite those issues I have given this game a 10/10 because it is everything I wanted and more. And the beauty is that it can only get better from here! They have so many wonderful plans for the future and even near future! So stick with it guys, I will, and I guarantee it will be a blast!    … Expand
  15. HexSCTV
    Sep 22, 2013
    10
    What an improvement! best MMO I've played in years. They really pulled this one out of the fire. It's addictive, entertaining, and a fresh look on the older systems. It's very streamlined and things, such as crafting, are actually entertaining/difficult and fun. Definitely worth checking out.
  16. Bastrion
    Aug 28, 2013
    10
    A veritable phoenix risen from the ashes of a terrible initial game. This game is excellent, and once the login issues are resolved, hopefully everyone can begin to enjoy it
  17. Artanisx
    Aug 31, 2013
    10
    This game is really really good. I played the 1.0 version of the game, a grand total of 30 minutes (Open Beta) before uninstalling it. It was HORRIBLE.
    But A Realm Reborn is really another game. It's fun, it's complete, it's full of features, the class system is fantastic, the gathering and crafting is similar to Star Wars Galaxies (the best Crafting system ever made), the music is    This game is really really good. I played the 1.0 version of the game, a grand total of 30 minutes (Open Beta) before uninstalling it. It was HORRIBLE.
    But A Realm Reborn is really another game. It's fun, it's complete, it's full of features, the class system is fantastic, the gathering and crafting is similar to Star Wars Galaxies (the best Crafting system ever made), the music is outstanding, the graphics are great.
    I'm just having tons of fun, and while the endgame has yet to be tested (I'm level 29 with my highest class, though I have over 150 levels if I sum all my classes), for the moment I'd say this is a gem and while it has a couple of flaws, those are not severe and don't reduce the experience in any tangible way.    … Expand
  18. Aquilla
    Aug 28, 2013
    10
    The negative reviews about server outages have been written literally 24 HOURS after release. It's obvious that some people are seriously damn impatient.
    As to the game: It's AMAZING. the graphics are great. the story is engaging, immersive, and hands-down the best story offered in a MMO recently. The gameplay is miles away from 1.0. The dungeons are well-designed, the bosses interesting,    The negative reviews about server outages have been written literally 24 HOURS after release. It's obvious that some people are seriously damn impatient.
    As to the game: It's AMAZING. the graphics are great. the story is engaging, immersive, and hands-down the best story offered in a MMO recently. The gameplay is miles away from 1.0. The dungeons are well-designed, the bosses interesting, and the difficulty curve expertly designed it starts out easy enough, but gets hard. I can imagine no better MMO to spend money on.    … Expand
  19. bobbyman46
    Aug 27, 2013
    10
    I have been playing this non stop since I got the early access. This game is incredibly fun, addictive, the scenery is beautiful and the gameplay is fantastic. The servers may be full at times but you gotta keep trying to get in and when you do, it'll be one of the best experiences ever. All in all, get this game.
  20. Ezekius
    Aug 30, 2013
    10
    The change from 1.0 to 2.0 is unbelievable. The game is just great now, it's smooth and runs fantastic. Combat is actually fun, quests are actually fun, guildleves and dungeons are actually fun. I just can't believe how much of a difference has been made to the game. It's fantastic.
  21. Khronikos
    Sep 6, 2013
    10
    Fantastic game. Utterly amazing what they have done in the last couple years. It went from crap to diamonds. The worlds are huge, the systems are amazing, and there is so much to do. Sure, it has a lot of fetchy stuff but they have worked their ass off to make this a great game living up to the legacy of FF. I'd honestly take these idiotic negative reviews with a grain of coarse salt. ThisFantastic game. Utterly amazing what they have done in the last couple years. It went from crap to diamonds. The worlds are huge, the systems are amazing, and there is so much to do. Sure, it has a lot of fetchy stuff but they have worked their ass off to make this a great game living up to the legacy of FF. I'd honestly take these idiotic negative reviews with a grain of coarse salt. This is easily one of the best looking RPGs I have ever played with full settings and SGSSAA on PC at 1080p 60FPS. Do yourself a favor and try it out.… Expand
  22. heatbr
    Dec 19, 2013
    10
    The game brings all loved features that a mmo need and go though. The game has a deep story, good customization and it made you addicted for it.
    One the most important for me is the multi-class and mastered classes. I don't need create a new char to start a new class and they combination the skills.
    Fight against the Primal, the quest/duty/fate system and the progression are very    The game brings all loved features that a mmo need and go though. The game has a deep story, good customization and it made you addicted for it.
    One the most important for me is the multi-class and mastered classes. I don't need create a new char to start a new class and they combination the skills.
    Fight against the Primal, the quest/duty/fate system and the progression are very balanced and the square heard theirs customers. Glade to see this piece of art game.    … Expand
  23. bigmorningwood
    Mar 15, 2014
    10
    Boring story, slow painful start (Lv.1-15 are REALLY boring on every class), invisible walls, useless crafting classes, weekly cap in endgame content. Ignore this and, sadly, you have the best MMORPG in the market right now. Gorgeous graphics, superb combat (when you have all your abilities), you only need ONE character to enjoy everything there is in the game, endgame provides a goodBoring story, slow painful start (Lv.1-15 are REALLY boring on every class), invisible walls, useless crafting classes, weekly cap in endgame content. Ignore this and, sadly, you have the best MMORPG in the market right now. Gorgeous graphics, superb combat (when you have all your abilities), you only need ONE character to enjoy everything there is in the game, endgame provides a good enough challenge, most of the community is helpful, cheerful and well mannered, every class is balanced and has a unique playstyle, and every 2-3 months there's a big patch with lots of content (SquareEnix is doing a really good job this time). For today's standards, this is THE MMO everyone should be playing right now.… Expand
  24. judgemagister
    Feb 12, 2022
    10
    The creators of this game have very high attention to detail & the quality control is on point. You can at all times feel their love for the game that they've created. I was particularly impressed by the character animations, music, writing, and English localization. The graphics are hit-or-miss; sometimes the vistas are breathtaking, and at other times the shading looks a bit off. I loveThe creators of this game have very high attention to detail & the quality control is on point. You can at all times feel their love for the game that they've created. I was particularly impressed by the character animations, music, writing, and English localization. The graphics are hit-or-miss; sometimes the vistas are breathtaking, and at other times the shading looks a bit off. I love how they've made crafting and gathering into a game, and even though crafting/gathering isn't the most riveting experience, you can still tell that the effort was made to make it immersive and complex. There is also comedic relief in some parts of the game which is genuinely funny. Overall, this has been one of my favorite gaming experiences ever, and I'm currently completing side content after doing the entire Heavensward MSQ. If there was one game I could play for the rest of my life, it would probably be this!… Expand
  25. BrinZalazar
    Sep 5, 2013
    10
    Quite possibly the greatest Final Fantasy game release so far. The story, music, battle system, and visuals impress at every turn. Fans of the series should be sure to pick up this title and enjoy the world reborn. This is the final fantasy game players have been asking for. For those who are worried about a subscription fee, I'd say pick up this game anyway, and you will be able toQuite possibly the greatest Final Fantasy game release so far. The story, music, battle system, and visuals impress at every turn. Fans of the series should be sure to pick up this title and enjoy the world reborn. This is the final fantasy game players have been asking for. For those who are worried about a subscription fee, I'd say pick up this game anyway, and you will be able to complete the main story line within the free 30 days of game time. The game will only get better as time moves forward, so their is no reason to miss out on this amazing game.… Expand
  26. Hexxus
    Aug 28, 2013
    10
    Excellent game. Perhaps not as deep as FFXI or as action packed as WoW, but it offers a happy medium that I think people are really going to enjoy for years. This is the first time I've truly been excited for an MMO since vanilla WoW's release. There are some server troubles at the moment because I don't believe Square thought the game would be this popular.

    People will get over    Excellent game. Perhaps not as deep as FFXI or as action packed as WoW, but it offers a happy medium that I think people are really going to enjoy for years. This is the first time I've truly been excited for an MMO since vanilla WoW's release. There are some server troubles at the moment because I don't believe Square thought the game would be this popular.

    People will get over launch issues if the game is good (vanilla WoW had an INCREDIBLY rough start, for example-- rougher even than XIV's release). People will not get over launch issues if the game is shallow/uninteresting/boring (like Diablo 3).    … Expand
  27. Whiskey78
    Aug 28, 2013
    10
    This game is simply better than anything released recently. Combat isn't slow like I thought it might be, graphics are top notch, dungeons are great, and end game looks promising. The game is worth playing! And just a FYI the majority of negative comments so far pertains to not being able to log in consistently due to server over load. They have announced they are increasing the capacityThis game is simply better than anything released recently. Combat isn't slow like I thought it might be, graphics are top notch, dungeons are great, and end game looks promising. The game is worth playing! And just a FYI the majority of negative comments so far pertains to not being able to log in consistently due to server over load. They have announced they are increasing the capacity within the next week to fix this.… Expand
  28. caelix
    Sep 9, 2013
    10
    Simply fantastic. The best iteration of the MMO fantasy genre in a long time, perhaps since world of warcraft. What it lacks in orginiality it more than makes up for in Polish. If you like MMO's, buying this game is a no brainer. And if you are a lifelong Final Fantasy lover as well. Stellar graphics, music, story, solid gameplay. Go for it, you wont regret it.
  29. MikeHenken
    Aug 27, 2013
    10
    I originally bought the collectors edition of 1.0. I was disappointing with the game as I could not really
    "get in" to it. After upgrading various components of my PC (to even play the game), I found it buggy and generally dull.
    I am very happy to say that version 2.0 is quite the surprise. It has the same feel and engagement that I felt in FFXI and is an all around joy to play. The    I originally bought the collectors edition of 1.0. I was disappointing with the game as I could not really
    "get in" to it. After upgrading various components of my PC (to even play the game), I found it buggy and generally dull.

    I am very happy to say that version 2.0 is quite the surprise. It has the same feel and engagement that I felt in FFXI and is an all around joy to play. The story line is engaging and unique, the battle system has been fine tuned and is feels like a FF game. I enjoy the Free Company concept and the new Auction House system is well implemented. But most of all, the community is were the game already shines (at least on my server).    … Expand
  30. Anxa
    Aug 30, 2013
    10
    This game is a masterstroke in experience exactly the way Final Fantasy titles should be.

    The game feels extremely traditional in terms of Final Fantasy the story and game lean heavily towards the Fantasy end of the Fantasy/Sci-Fi spectrum. The combat is slower than other MMOs where trying to watch your character fight is an exercise in the suspension of disbelief. Here, Monks roll    This game is a masterstroke in experience exactly the way Final Fantasy titles should be.

    The game feels extremely traditional in terms of Final Fantasy the story and game lean heavily towards the Fantasy end of the Fantasy/Sci-Fi spectrum. The combat is slower than other MMOs where trying to watch your character fight is an exercise in the suspension of disbelief. Here, Monks roll through complex series of tackles, punches and spinning kicks in a believable sequence while Paladins actually appear to be blocking with their shields.

    The biggest shock here is the total lack of Talent trees. I admit I made it all the way to 50 and didn't even notice until somebody mentioned it in passing in our Free Company's chat. I don't miss it at all.

    The story is unbelievably interwoven into the leveling experience in a way no other MMO has ever achieved. My character was an active participant in gorgeous cutscenes, and she really seemed like a bona-fide hero. The lip service other games pay to the concept of the player as the central hero of the story pales in comparison to FFXIV, where rather than 'oh, and a band of adventurers managed to defeat the firelord,' by the end of the story it's more along the lines of 'oh, holy hell, it's that Hero who is central to the story now.'

    The boss fights are appropriately amazing, with the primal fights rivaling some of the greatest moments from Ulduar and Firelands in WoW. These boss fights are gorgeous, as is the entire game no MMO on the market looks like this.

    Crafting is a huge delight. It starts off nearly as simple as in other MMOs, but by the level cap the sheer number of abilities and choices will lead to desperate struggles to correctly create a +1 piece of max-level gear. These items are easily boss fights for crafters in their own rights, and the complexity of this system is entirely unrivaled in the MMO market.

    This is an experience no gamer should miss. The entire creation is a love letter to Final Fantasy fans and gamers in general. It may not objectively be to some as good an MMO as GWII or WoW, but it has the secret sauce that makes people fall in love with a game.    … Expand
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Awards & Rankings

33
#33 Best PC Game of 2013
19
#19 Most Discussed PC Game of 2013
31
#31 Most Shared PC Game of 2013

Critic Reviews

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Metascore
83

Generally favorable reviews - based on 32 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 29 out of 32
  2. Mixed: 3 out of 32
  3. Negative: 0 out of 32
  1. Hyper Magazine
    Dec 28, 2013
    80
    Full of enough adventure, daring-do and chocobos to make any MMO fan happy. [Jan 2014, p.72]
  2. Gaming Nexus
    Nov 13, 2013
    85
    A Realm Reborn is such a substantial change from the original game that it merits a second look if you hated the first release. So much has changed for the better, and it has resulted in one of the most polished MMORPGs out there today.
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  3. PCGamesN
    Nov 6, 2013
    80
    The completionist in me is nearly overwhelmed with the sheer amount of things to do in A Realm Reborn. Square Enix really do deserve praise for not only fixing the issues of the original game, but far exceeding their goal.
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