Square Enix has really annoyed Final Fantasy fans with their latest MMO iteration of the series. The PC version of the game launched in late September, with the PS3 version set to arrive in March 2011.
The later PS3 release date was attributed to having to adapt the game to system memory limitations on the PS3, an adaptation that took longer than planned.
One of the main controversies was the experience gain limiting system. The whole system is rather complicated, with experience earning thresholds in place that will gradually see players earning less experience over time, eventually reaching zero. This is reset once per week, counted from the moment the first experience points of the week are earned. This only applies to each character class at a time, so swapping out classes frequently is a work-around.
Square Enix explains that this is a balancing mechanic that should help keep the playing field level among players with varying degrees of free time. The problem is that telling gamers who are paying a monthly fee to play a game that they cannot earn the maximum amount of experience possible for lengthy periods of play time does not go down well.
Then there was another set of debacles, along the lines of ‘the game was made in China,’ ‘catering to casual players’ and ‘renaming Chocobo’s to Horsebirds.’ Square Enix has had a bad run leading up to release.
Although the game has been available to the public for close on three weeks now, there are few gaming press reviews available. This is likely due to a polite request from Square Enix for publications to hold off on their reviews for at least three to four weeks until after the game’s launch – giving it time to evolve as more players join in the online gaming world.
This hasn’t stopped users from posting their own reviews however, and so far things aren’t looking good. As reported by Sankaku Complex (WARNING: highly NSFW site), Japanese gamers have been panning the title, which sits with an average score of 38% on a Japanese review aggregation website, based on over 160 (and counting) user ratings.
Likewise, the Japanese version of Amazon is rating the game at just 1.5 stars based on 89 (and counting) user reviews. Amazon.com is slightly better, with 23 reviews (and counting) rating the game at 2.5 stars.
MetaCritic tells a similar tale of woe – FF XIV is receiving a user review thrashing with an average user score of 49% based on 98 ratings. Is it possible that all of these user reviewers have a personal vendetta against FF XIV, or could the game really just be this bad?
Still, FF XIV should be given the benefit of the doubt until professional industry reviews come in once the game has been given a fair run in the online realm. Keep an eye out for MyGaming’s own take on the title.
Discuss the Final Fantasy XIV user review scores on the MyGaming forum.
