A great game for those looking for a slower paced, more challenging, and relaxing MMORPG.
Now, I will start by saying that this game is not for anyone looking for a quick fix. Nothing in this game is quick, with the exception of the occasional levequest. This is a game of long processes. However, this is part of it's charm. Taking an hour to get from one city to another or spending the time to craft a truly excellent piece of equipment is part of the enjoyment of the game. It also makes getting to the end game that much more of a journey. Unlike so many other MMO's that you can breeze through, FFXIV is not one of them, and this is something I am thankful for. Of course, if you're looking for a quick fix, you're looking in the wrong place.
FFXIV is also a challenge. Yes, you have to figure things out, but it's not impossible, nor is it improbable. It took me a good two hours to figure out how things work, but once you know how they work, it can be quite an enjoyable game. This is part of the fun of the game. I'm still learning new things. It keeps the game fresh, challenging, and full of things to do. My biggest problem with most MMO's is that, once you've done everything, you get into a steady pattern of doing the same activities over and again, and FFXIV does a good job of keep things from becoming stale by always giving you a new and fresh challenge or activity to take on.
I don't even need to talk about how beautiful the game is, but I will talk about the class system, the best part about the game. Here is where the balance between casual and hardcore gamers comes in. Classes can be switched out at any time, with the right tools. So, if you get tired of being a Gladiator, equip a fishing pole and give fishing a try. And you actually play these classes, as opposed to just target and click. There's something like a dozen classes, with more to come later on, so the game should stay pretty fun as long as you can be whatever you want at anytime. Hardcore players can level each class, one at a time, while casual players can level classes at a slower pace, and yet still achieve decent levels to play with other groups. It's really a brilliant system, and it is one of the things that has kept me so interested and invested in the game.
That's not to say that everything about the game is sparkling. The combat is a bit uninspired and typical. Stacking skills is fairly nifty and provides for some quick and gritty battles, but otherwise, it's typical of most MMO's. By far, the worst quality of the game is it's economy. The game pretty much requires that, if you want any new equipment, you have to make it yourself or get someone to do so for you, and generally you have to provide materials for them to do so. Crafting is a chore and isn't very fun. Collecting is different, as it is a minigame of sorts. Crafting, however, is no real game at all. On top of this, you have to start small and work your way up to the good stuff. Luckily, the equipment you start with is typically good enough as you grow as a character, so having to work to make new equipment isn't a huge deal.
It's easy to see why FFXIV is getting such a bad rap. It's a slow, challenging MMO that requires its players to do much of the work. In a genre dominated by WoW and everyone trying to make the next clone, it's hard to enjoy a game like FFXIV. However, for a guy like me, someone who often gives up on MMO's due to being bored of the content and repetitive nature, FFXIV is a welcome breath of fresh air. I will gladly be in the minority if that means that I can enjoy something other than WoW or Aion.