Final Fantasy XIV - the Road to Rebirth

There is always something to be said about a compelling story in Final Fantasy XIV. The tale of Final Fantasy XIV's lifecycle is a very dramatic one, to be sure, with the hype and subsequent letdown that caused many people around the world to cry in frustration at the seeming demise of the Final Fantasy brand.

Ruin as the Road to Rebirth
The in-game story of FFXIV is one of the more intriguing aspects of the game, by virtue of its ending being a foregone conclusion ever since A Realm Reborn was made known. It's also intriguing because that same story acts as a sort of allegorical parallel to the troubled history of the game itself with FFXIV power leveling.

In the story for FFXIV, there is a cycle of apocalyptic proportions going on: there have been six "umbral eras" for the world of Eorzea: giant cataclysmic events that resulted in the death of every civilization preceding this story. The story goes that there were supposed to be no more umbral eras past the sixth one, ushering in an untold time of growth and prosperity for the world, except for one thing: the recent prophecy of a seventh umbral era that supposedly can be prevented by worthy heroes.

The story of Final Fantasy XIV in its current state is tragic, because heroes (players) did come and take arms to defend Eorzea from beastmen and the Garlean army, but nothing could prevent them from really taking on one of the world's moons from crashing into the planet and ending all life, even after the formation of the Grand Company storyline and the defeat of endgame bosses with FFXIV power leveling.

The world of Final Fantasy XIV, as a story that was told, will fall under a crushing, immense weight that could not be stopped despite ill portents. Final Fantasy XIV, as a game that was developed, was nearly crushed by seemingly antiquated game design choices and the displeased fanbase of the game and the Final Fantasy brand, which left in droves after being disillusioned.

The Cautious Process
One of the main reasons why you should not discount Final Fantasy XIV: A Realm Reborn is due to the cautious, yet open, discussion Naoki Yoshida and the development team has had with the MMORPG community.

In addition to numerous Letters from the Producer that has detailed many aspects of the development process with the community, the FFXIV: ARR team has also produced live video discussions addressing questions sent in by people regarding the direction of the game. The most important letter they've come out with was probably the one from September 27 (Letter from the producer LIVE Part III) which came with a lot of clarifications regarding the development of A Realm Reborn.

Yoshida and company wanted to explain what was already being developed and what was in the pipeline or set aside for later development, and so most of the above-linked video and translation is careful in informing people of the realistic limitations their already-stressed development team is managing, as well as tidbits regarding what's being focused on and actual concept art for their creations.

All in all, unlike the early advertisements made for the game and the attempts to explain away the necessity of things like the levequest fatigue system and the rehashing of map assets that created a bland-seeming game world, this lack of PR speak and hype for a major brand-name game from a large gaming company is immensely satisfying to see with FFX14 power leveling.

History in the Making
At this point in time, when no one outside of Square Enix's employ has really tried A Realm Reborn, speculation exists that FFXIV: ARR will essentially be World of Warcraft with the Final Fantasy universe.

Why? Because it's a momentous occasion for gamers and for Square Enix.
The momentous occasion of FFXIV: A Realm Reborn lies in its potential: the potential this game has to revitalize a flagging brand known as Final Fantasy or destroy the possibility of Square Enix, a significant player in the worldwide gaming industry, ever releasing an MMORPG ever again.

That's a momentous occasion that should make any gamer quiver with excitement: A Realm Reborn may very well be a defining moment in the history of MMO with FFXIV power leveling and game development. It's history in the making, and it all depends on whether or not we give it a chance and decide its future fairly.