FFXIV VS. WoW: Clash of the Titans

There are tons of new FFXIV videos showcasing graphics, combat, and quests. I guess no one is taking the NDA too seriously.

I was planning on trying Cataclysm while I waited for FFXIV(seeing as I'm just a lowly PS3 player), but the more I learn about FFXIV, the more apathetic I get about Cataclysm. Maybe it's because I've always felt more connected to Final Fantasy lore than Warcraft lore. Maybe it's because Blizzard withholds so much information about their products that it's hard to get excited about something I know so little about. Then again, maybe it's because DC Universe Online is being released on November 2, and I'm thinking of making that my new "waiting for FFXIV MMORPG." Seriously, I think there's even less known about DC Universe Online than Cataclysm, but SOE still managed to give a release date. Throw me a bone, Blizzard.

More likely, it's because I'm just so sick of the WoW phenomenon. I'm sick of it being everywhere; I'm sick of how everyone flocks to it like sheep; I'm sick of Mr. T. WoW has made me hate Mr. T. That's an unholy sin.

I have nothing against the game itself. The community is a cesspool of human excrement, but the game itself is uncomplicated, addictive fun accompanied by a decent narrative. Yes, it's very streamlined. What isn't these days? Even FFXIV is getting this treatment. The difference is that FFXIV looks like it will keep that feeling of grand adventure thanks to it pushing the graphics envelop and naturally coaxing the community to pull together to overcome obstacles with its more cooperative gameplay rather than pitting everyone against each other over Chuck Norris jokes(Again, not WoW's fault, the community's).

And now, the real reason I put "Clash of the Titans" in the title of this post: to tear down the bull shit movie of the same name that claims to be a remake of the 1981 classic.

Besides this movie not being able to hold a candle to the old "Clash of the Titans," it barely has any legs to stand on as its own movie, let alone defend itself for all its discrepancies.

The acting is flat and the characters themselves are completely uninteresting. They are introduced in a way that makes them seem like they'll be significant and are either killed off ten minutes later or left hanging with no development. This eventually leads to one of the most trite Hollywood love plots ever seen in a movie.

The editing is an absolute nightmare, making violent cuts that constantly throw the characters in a new location. It doesn't even feel like the characters are traveling.

Evidently, parts of this movie were filmed in Wales and Spain. For what purpose? There's hardly any scenery in this movie; the characters just “teleport” to a new location. Cut, scene change, boom, we're there. The few nice images are computer generated. This movie could have been shot in a closet that had a green screen.

Honestly, I could have forgiven the bland characters and story and all the changes they made to them. I went into this movie just expecting to have some fun with crazy fight scenes and adventure that take advantage of good CGI, and it doesn't even do that.

All I wanted was a basic summer-action flick, but the fight scenes are few and aren't even impressive compared to what I was expecting. This movie is nothing but a clip show of scenes from the original "Clash of the Titans" replaced with bad actors, CGI, and a forced, anti-climatic ending. Aside from the Kraken, the only impressive thing in the movie, everything is a soulless copy of its former self.

The World is a Vampire

Wow, long time. Last time I posted was Christmas, huh? Well, with so many other blogs, websites, and wikis covering FFXIV, I was growing bored with merely keeping up with the trickle of information that was coming in. Also, my desktop of eight years finally crapped out on me. I type you this message from my new laptop. I never thought I'd become a massive tool and buy one of these things, yet here I am.

Anyway, with the official website now full of information, many new videos circulating, the beta underway, and the release date(for the PC version) announced, I actually feel out of the loop now. People are talking about the classes, playing the beta, complaining about how the PS3 version won't be released for another six months after the PC version. Seriously, folks, it's never fun when you find out a game you really want to play isn't coming out for a long time, and I know SE were real douches hyping up the PS3 version and saying it would be a simultaneous release with the PC version, but life goes on. As someone who was planning on playing the PS3 version, I'm bummed, too, but there will be other games between now and FFXIV:

Ahem, among other things, of course. To be perfectly blunt, I am in the camp of people who think SE's rather sudden announcement of the PC version release is an attempt to compete for shelf space with Cataclysm. SE has acknowledged World of Warcraft's success and have been saying that Final Fantasy XIV will be competition for WoW. It makes sense; I just have a feeling the PC version is being rushed and will be extremely lacking at first(you know, like Wings of the Goddess was) and I will be glad I waited the extra time to play the PS3 version when it's more of a complete game.

Or in an ironic twist, the game will rock right out of the box, and I will be left whimpering like a puppy and wishing I'd shelled out the extra 200 bucks for a better graphics card for this laptop so I could play it. Maybe then I wouldn't have spilled a glass a water on this thing a mere month after buying it and had to pay 160 dollars to repair it, thus losing the very 200 dollars I wished to save. Yeah, my cup runneth over(Hey, that was a good one.).

Patience is not something I'm normally good with, but with the extra FFXI content, Cataclysm on the way(hopefully), Trauma Team still left to be "XS'd", Rock Band 3 and Fallout: New Vegas coming out this fall, and a Mortal Kombat remake on the horizon, I won't be bored. That's not to mention my backlog, but hey, I should be talking about FFXIV, right?

This game continues to astound me graphically. I know I've been saying this from the beginning, but graphics are not something I usually geek out over. FFXIV is the most visually impressive game I've seen. I guess I shouldn't be surprised. If Final Fantasy is nothing else, it's good looking.

As a non-beta player, it's still hard for me to formulate an opinion on gameplay. All I have to go on are videos and the vague testimonials of the beta players. Combat sounds like a good time, but I haven't heard anything mind blowing. What I've been hoping for with all the emphasis that's being put on the four disciplines is that every job has something to contribute to the fight.

If you look at the official site, you'll see Blacksmith and Miner have the ability to weaken certain types of enemies. I looked through the other classes in the Disciplines of "Land" and "Hand" but didn't see anything similar for them. It may just be that it's too early to post everything about the classes.

It'd be nice if even the crafting classes could at least play a support role in parties. One of the things that always irritated me about FFXI was how out-of-the-way crafting felt. Having to stop to fish to make gil felt like I was putting the really fun things on hold to go play a lame mini-game. Hopefully, the crafting jobs in FFXIV will make me feel more involved in the "main game." How about a Miner weakening an enemies' defense with his pick axe? Why not a Culinarian on the sidelines keeping the other party members fed? Whatever. Anything. Just don't make me feel like I'm taking a time out to go craft.

So far, I've not heard anything of this sort. Seems like combat is still combat and crafting is still crafting. It's just a hell of a lot more convenient since you can switch among the four disciplines on the fly. I guess I'll have to wait for more information to surface. I'm sure everyone is too busy playing the game to write anything about it. I should be so lucky... Damn you, PC gamers!