Final Fantasy XIV
Final Fantasy XIV’s tale of failure and redemption is an inspiring reminder of change and improvement. Though it landed in 2010 with an impressive soundtrack from none other than Nobuo Uematsu, one of the finest composers of our era, that was about, uh, all it had going for it.
On arrival, the game was a fraking disaster. Buggy, overly grindy, and simply miserable to play, the only thing that would save the world of Eorzea, much like our own reality, would be a giant meteor to snuff it out of its miserable existence. And hey, that happened! Since then, XIV’s relaunch as A Realm Reborn has been one of the greatest comebacks in gaming history.
Each expansion feels better than the last. And though I’ve struggled to get enough playtime with the main story myself, I’ve never met a single person who’s played it and hasn’t sung its praises. The game now feels wonderful to play and packs a rewarding experience if you’re willing to sink the time and money into it.
If you’re interested in the inside story of this redemption arc, Noclip has an excellent multi-part series documenting the entire ride.
