By now you’ve likely read about Final Fantasy XIV‘s launch, which Square Enix, by extending the free trial period, has effectively admitted to be an unmitigated disaster. But there’s a lot more to FFXIV than its botched start, both good and bad.
FFXIV’s world, Eorzea, is gorgeous and well-realized. Not only is it visually stunning, a lot of effort has obviously gone into crafting the world’s history to enrich the story and general setting. At the beginning of the game, your character has a vision of destruction, awakening a power known as “the Echo,” which allows you to experience the memories of others. Those gifted with the Echo join the Pathwalkers, a mysterious guild determined to use their abilities to unravel the mysteries surrounding Eorzea. While the long-term nature of MMOs makes it impossible to create the structural momentum of a single-player game’s story, the content is nonetheless interesting.
