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What it's like to begin playing Final Fantasy XIV later than most people

It's been quite the ride so far, even with huge lines and miles of stuff ahead.

Throughout the holidays, I got up early every day to play a game. While I worked, my avatar would laze about and in the spots I could find, I would sneak in a few missions or simply enjoy the music and the sights and sounds. At last, it took place. I became engrossed in Final Fantasy XIV .

I've heard people discuss Final Fantasy XIV for a longer time than I've even worked in this field professionally. Yes, I have seen the memes referring to its highly regarded growth and free trial. Friends have raved about it to me. In the meanwhile, I was studying all I could about this amazing redemption story, from its original debut to A Realm Reborn and beyond, and I even had to write news pieces about it.

Earlier in 2021, I believed it may be time to play Final Fantasy XIV as I knew the Endwalker expansion was coming. I'm not much of an MMORPG player; I've seen friends play games like Final Fantasy XI and World of Warcraft , and I've even dabbled in a couple like Guild Wars 2, but none of them really stuck.

However, it was becoming more obvious that Final Fantasy XIV was more than simply a solid MMO—rather, it was something that would have a lasting influence on future games—with each passing year and every expansion. That was worth attempting, at least, I thought. I thus made the decision to finally give Final Fantasy XIV a fair go this Christmas season.

And boy, has it been a mistake in judgment.

I was aware that it would be difficult to play with the introduction of a new expansion since Final Fantasy XIV is a very popular game. Even before Endwalker was visible, it was confronting with server congestion. Simply put, I don't believe I understood the significance of it.

Due to my previous establishment of a free trial account, I managed to circumvent Square Enix's (as of this writing) ban on the creation of new accounts. I can at least log in and play A Realm Reborn and continue through Heavensward, the first expansion for Final Fantasy XIV, even if I still can't seem to upgrade my trial to a full account.

There are lines since you are a free trial player, however. Queues, if I'm fortunate. The majority of the time, free trial players are unable to log in if the wait is long enough in order to reduce server congestion and guarantee that only Endwalker owners and paying subscribers may access the new content. I sometimes see a 40–50 person line and am given the all-clear. However, if I attempt to log in right after work during primetime, all I'm seeing is a launcher.

I really have a lot of respect for this system. My attempts to play Final Fantasy XIV serve as evidence that interest in the game hasn't ceased growing recently. It makes sense to restrict trial log-ins and gate off new access so that only those who have paid for the expansion may access it and play.

That does imply that the majority of my fun has taken place during "off-hours," such as late at night or early in the morning. By signing on early, setting up shop someplace, and shaking the mouse sufficiently to avoid getting logged out for being away from the keyboard, I can sometimes guarantee a space in the evening. But apart from the one or two occasions that I've done it, I've often had to play at sunrise or sunset.

The experience of actually being able to play Final Fantasy XIV has been one of either falling in love with it at the time it's released or being able to wait in line for something like new shoes or a graphics card with enough perseverance. However, it is only Final Fantasy XIV's external, client-side aspect. That's me opening the door and turning on the ignition with the keys. What's it like then that I'm in? It's just what people have been saying about it for years, to put it simply.

I should clarify that I'm not an MMORPG fan. I believed for a long time that there were several causes behind this. I find cluttered interfaces annoying; the large amount of text and avatars that were all filling at once simply felt chaotic, which is not something I generally like. But I also had a sense of distance from the world. Never really lived in, but not quite dead either. The tales also seemed far away since they were constantly about other people.

It does take a little time for Final Fantasy XIV to start, but not nearly as long as some people seem to believe. And the universe and its characters are so much of it, for me and for others. It is colorful, but not garishly so. Huge and expansive, but filled with many nooks and crannies where people may relax, socialize, and live.

The political system of Final Fantasy XIV makes it simple to get lost. The narrative is set in a real world that has been literally recreated, with people still trying to recover from a previous disaster. A terrifying incident that really happened in the original Final Fantasy XIV is now considered history, which is a nice addition that further solidifies the world's deep past.

You therefore get to explore while you rebuild. You may see how the turmoil has been handled in these various locations. Early on, I established a rule that said I could only move quickly if my destination was more than a map's distance away. I would make advantage of the convenient teleportation alternatives if I needed to go from the pirate settlement of Limsa Lominsa to the Waking Sands. Otherwise, however, I would walk if I were only going from the Central Shroud to a nearby location. It's fascinating to just wander and take in this planet up close.

Even in comparison to the post-launch patches I'm presently playing, A Realm Reborn's sluggish pacing and sometimes drawn-out quest lines can be considered a low point, but they remain an important part of the experience. The universe of Final Fantasy XIV is enormous and teeming with historical events, names, and locations that you'll need to commit to memory. These missions have the great feature of giving you plenty of time to complete them. I became well acquainted with the design of La Noscea, the many sections of the Shroud, and even Ul’Dah’s market layout over time.

Then, to put it clearly, plot developments that are more relatable reward familiarity. For example, the political intrigue and conflict between the richest merchants and the government of a city-state becomes much more real when you consider these locations and individuals to be more than simply names on a page. I've discovered that Final Fantasy XIV excels at crafting its story from the bottom up. I feel like everything I've done in the numerous dungeons, trials, and missions is connected and significant in some way, which helps me understand the drama when it happens.

Your persona, often known as the Warrior of Light, is at the heart of everything. It doesn't matter whether you choose your own name and place of origin; your avatar still seems vital to the happenings in the world. It feels intimate in a manner that forges real, unexpected bonds between your "WoL" and the other NPCs you encounter while traveling. Characters you're coming to care about require your assistance, even if you're merely racing across a continent to deliver wine and cheese. Having a group like the Scions nearby to share in the cheer makes the shocks and developments that begin to surface strike a bit harder, and the triumphant celebrations a little more euphoric.

In addition to having lengthy wait times and packed servers, gamers have also been very kind to "sprouts," or newbies, like myself. When I was trying to figure out the Return command for a certain dungeon, one party was very kind and patient with me. Others have complimented my efforts, offered kind advice for party activities, or just shared a wave or a dance with passersby. According to the sample size I've seen, this is a pleasant community overall.

I'm just inches into what seems like an ocean, if not a lake, however. I've been speeding through A Realm Reborn's major plot missions and patch material, but I still have a long way to go before I'm anywhere close to where the gamers are right now. There are new jobs to pursue, worldly activities to acquire reputation for, crafting and cultivating to get lost in, and more. There are rumors of a Triple Triad side project that will reportedly take up all of my time. I'm eager to come across it.

It all comes together to create a friendly and appealing MMORPG. I seldom feel totally lost since I always have access to a continual reminder of how to keep going ahead. Even though the plot moves a little slowly at first, it succeeds because it focuses on the interpersonal dynamics between my character and other characters. Yes, I have murdered a few of "gods." However, I've also had some interesting conversations and became engrossed in entertaining side tales. As you advance through the ranks in the job-related endeavors, you may pursue some fascinating and entertaining storylines.

Thus, is now the ideal moment to begin playing Final Fantasy XIV? That is a difficult issue, to be sure. It's not relevant if you haven't created an account at all since you cannot do so at this time. If you already have an account, you're most likely among the several individuals that wait in line throughout the evening.

All I can say is that I regret not starting Final Fantasy XIV sooner, even if the log-in scenario isn't perfect. Realizing that the memes were really true after all this time is strange. Well, they are: Final Fantasy XIV is an enjoyable game, offering a free trial with so much material to go through that it almost seems like stealing. I'm happy I got started at last.

But please, don't reveal anything to me about what transpires. The time for Endwalker is still far off.
 

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