Hey, folks. This time I didn't write a review, but a guide. I can already tell you that Final Fantasy XIV: A Realm Reborn is a great MMO, so I won't waste your time nitpicking at it. This is a guide for the people who don't know which version they'd like to pick up. If you're one of those people, feel free to read on and choose in confidence!
Okay, so you've seen all the previews, reviews, and hype
surrounding Final Fantasy XIV: A Realm Reborn. You have at least
one of those "friends" who won't shut up about it since he got
into the alpha so many months ago. You've seen all the youtube
videos, streams, and E3/Tokyo Game Show videos that exist on the
internet. You've resigned yourself to your fate, and decided to be
assimilated into the hive mind. Good for you! Welcome to the fold,
brother/sister!
But wait! There's TWO versions, you say? A PS3 AND a PC version?
Well, how do you decide which one to play? You could ask your
friends, but you know how biased they are. The PC gamer friend
says "Duh, PC games are superior because I said so and I'm the
absolute authority on games!", while your console buddy says "Duh,
PS3 version, because everyone knows that console games are
superior!"
Silly, useless, lovable friends.
Well, fear not, because whether this is your first foray into MMO
gaming or if you're a seasoned veteran, this brief, handy guide
will give you a quick look at the ups and downs of each version,
so you can decide for yourself at a glance. Have a look, and
choose wisely.
PC
Pros:
-Graphically superior
-Plenty of customization options
-Familiar MMO controls
-Hotkeys and custom macros put more power into your hands
-New engine means even some lower-spec systems can run it fairly
decently
Cons:
-Controls are more complex
-May need to upgrade system or buy a new one to play, making the
choice potentially more expensive
-You can't modify the size of most UI elements like you can on PS3
-You need a really good system in order to run it on high settings
-Customizing everything to your liking can be a time-consuming
chore
PS3
Pros:
-Simple and intuitive
-Easy to control, once you get the hang of it
-No need for expensive parts or upgrades
-Ability to connect any USB keyboard makes chatting a snap
-Arguably cheaper than PC
-Trophies AND achievements! Double bonus!
Cons:
-Inferior graphics
-Fixed framerate
-Lack of customization options over PC
-Control scheme takes some getting used to
As you can see, your choice here would depend on what kind of
gamer you are, or what kind of experience you're looking to have.
If you prefer a simple, easy-to-control game experience, or if
you're new to MMOs, the PS3 is probably the way to go. The
intuitive controls are perfect for console gamers who have never
played an MMO, and helps them ease into the genre.
On the other hand, if you're a PC gamer, or you're an MMO veteran,
you probably prefer the customization options in the PC version.
The customization options and familiarity of the UI and control
scheme will appeal to those who already know what they're diving
into.
Of course, there's also an argument to be made for getting BOTH
versions. Yes, both. Why choose between one or the other? Final
Fantasy XIV: A Realm Reborn features cross-system compatability,
which allows people who own the PC version can play with the
people playing the PS3 version, and vice versa. So if you make a
character on the PS3 version, you can carry it over to the PC
version, and also vice versa.
On top of that, it's also relatively inexpensive to pick up both
versions. It'll cost around $70 to get both versions, which is
little more than one brand-new console game, assuming you aren't
getting the Collector's Editions for either system. That's a whole
new ball game.
So there you have it, folks. Hopefully this guide has answered
some questions and quelled your fears, giving you more confidence
in your decision.
No comments:
Post a Comment