cashew | Wednesday, June 22nd, 2022

So, Wooden Potatoes covered a pretty good amount of the pros and cons of each game, but I have a few nitpicks here.

Story of A Realm Reborn: I'm going to go against the tide here and say that I'm actually enjoying A Realm Reborn's story? Like, yeah, this isn't one of the most engaging RPG story's I've been thrust into (FF7 has everyone beat on that front), but for an MMO? This story is not afraid to basically ask your player character to play second fiddle to the main NPC cast and that's a great idea. (Also, who doesn't love Y'shtola? You monster. There's a reason she's the representative for FF14 in the Dissidia games.)

( Lots more blabbing about story structure and building up and pay off )

( And some stuff about the mechanics. I thought this was going to be short, but it became much longer than intended. So, click for all the rest of the blabbing. )

In summary, I think the problem with GW2 is that it literally punishes you for investing. If you become emotionally invested in NPCs, good luck hoping for satisfaction to how their character growth ties up. If you get attached to a profession, it's probably going to get outclassed by whatever new elite spec comes along. If you liked your old build, a new set of stats will make it obsolete. If you like a particular movement mechanic, it's probably going to be replaced or not usable in the next expansion. Oh, and also you literally pay less for more game if you start later. And all those in-game skins you earn are going to look dull and drab compared to the new skins in the cash shop.

Meanwhile, FF14 treats NPCs with care and won't fridge them. If they die, there's going to be a damn good reason and the death will be felt through the rest of the story. You will not be allowed to forget important NPCs. Tearing down a political structure has consequences. If you invest in a job, it will not suddenly become useless in the next iteration, because trinity system means your role will always be necessary. Crafting is meaningful and can get BiS without dungeon grinding. Investment in FF14 is never invalidated by later expansions.