Ok I am really going to need the lowdown on what makes the stories in FF14 so good. Is it like, good in the way 7-9 were? What's the balance on overwrought but fun anime-ish nonsense vs actual coherent characterization and satisfying themes?
Not being aggressive, want a good reason to plop 200 plus hours and a hundred dollars (at least) on this game. It's a big hole in my FF history.
Little to no instances of irritating anime-ish nonsense. (Outside of some silly sidequests like Hildebrand, that are actually great)
Much of the writing is very grounded, tonally written in a more haughty but focused dialect. It over-exerts itself to explain the tangled web of politics, struggles, mysteries, etc... possibly to a fault as the prose can feel overbearing if consumed in long sustained sessions.
But hey it is a legible narrative. Editors actually felt like they had input on this script. Many likely!
it's solid. Yes, ARR is padded to force you to visit the various zones of the world and take down large monster bosses and deal with fishmen, beastmen, an evil empire, etc... it's somewhat cliche and preductable at times but this is far from recent FF fodder. It's well presented and flows naturally.
You are provided context and your NPC companions that make regular cameos are both well developed and mysterious.
Great payoffs as the scenario writers developed lore that feels both fresh and very familiar to Past classic games. Cameos and references are woven intelligently into the scenario in surprising ways. Especially the farther in you play.
Longtime fans will appreciate it. Newcomers may be turned off at how precious the writing can feel at times and may skip cutscenes to avoid lotsa exposition but even still, it's not hard to follow and when Heavensward gets going...woo.
