Square Enix and the Final Fantasy XIV dev team have no shame when it comes to digging up popular Final Fantasy features and enemies and retooling them for their flagship MMORPG. It’d be depressing if they butchered it, but so far it’s been awesome!
While this has been done pretty frequently since the relaunch of the game, it seems like the newest update, Before the Fall Part 1 (patches 2.5 and 2.51), is finally saying f*** it and going all out. While patch 2.5 is out today, you’ll have to wait a few more weeks for the 2.51 content (read: Golden Saucer stuff). Either way though, here’s a look at some of your favorite things about Final Fantasy REBORN in FFXIV.
The (Manderville) Golden Saucer (FFVII)
The Manderville Golden Saucer is going to be the best thing ever. It just is. Just watch the new trailer starting here and try not to get hyped. It features a remixed version of the original FFVII tune, which is just awesome, multiple carnival games, and it’s shaping up to be the ultimate hub for awesome classic Final Fantasy mini games (which we’ll get to in a second). Hopefully they keep adding to it and we see even more fun features get added in the future.
Triple Triad (FFVIII)
Yessssssssss. Just yesssssssss. If Square Enix plays its CARDS right, Triple Triad in FFXIV could be an amazing game within a game. First featured in FFVIII, it’s one of the series’ most popular minigames and like many other Final Fantasy minigames, it’s pretty fleshed out and well made in its own right. Expansions, PvP tournaments, the possibilities are endless. Square Enix has been great as far as regular support and updates of FFXIV go, so if you can dream it, it’s possible.
Chocobo Racing (Various)
Final Fantasy XI gave us Chocobo Racing, but it was weak and boring since all you could do was watch. FFXIV Chocobo Racing is shaping up to be the real deal; what players have dreamed about for years. Full on no holds barred player vs. player chocobo racing.
You’ll be able to train and race against other opponents in tracks that look like they came straight out of Mario Kart. Again if we get some longterm support, this could be an amazing game within an already amazing MMORPG.
Crystal Tower and World of Darkness (FFIII)
Okay it’s not all fun and games. The conclusion of the classic Final Fantasy III final dungeon, World of Darkness is on the way to FFXIV. So far, it looks to be everything you could ever hope and dream of in terms of bringing old school areas into the next generation. Better yet, it’s considered intermediate content. In other words, you won’t have to be max ilvl and have crazy expert skills in order to enjoy it.
While FFXIV doesn’t try to recreate things exactly and are more inspired by old Final Fantasy games, so far World of Darkness looks great. Hopefully the showdown against the Cloud of Darkness is every bit as memorable as it was in FFIII.
Even More Classic Bosses (Odin and Gilgamesh)
Oh the new Cloud of Darkness fight and the already existing battles against the likes of Titan, Ifrit, and Shiva aren’t enough for you? Okay how about a new fight against series staple Odin and the true version of Gilgamesh?
Gilgamesh is part of the hilarious Hildebrand side quests and based on the previous fights (including the classic battle on the big bridge), will be something that everyone can participate in. Odin on the other hand will probably be more of a hardcore fight on par with the other challenging battles aganist the extreme primals.
And this is ONLY in Patches 2.5 and 2.51. This doesn’t even include all the wonderful throwbacks such as Alexander, that are going to be featured in the new expansion, Final Fantasy XIV: Heavensward.
Yes, the subscription fee is a deal breaker for many, but if you’re a Final Fantasy fan, interested in MMOs and can afford the price of admission, FFXIV really is a must try for the throwbacks alone.
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