For the most part, A Realm Reborn is an average Final Fantasy game, for better and worse: the hero chosen by the crystal saves the realm by killing ten purple rats, fetching cheese, fighting the evil empire, and repeatedly murdering gods. There are interesting aspects in the narrative, but most of them go mostly unexplored so far: the blatant racism against the "beast tribes" for one. I am continuously enthralled by the vague borders denying personhood to beastmen, and how that is used as an excuse to nonchalantly renege on treaties, with a mere slap on a ruler's wrist.
Gameplay is weirdly addictive. It's not particularly great, but it is fun in its own, MMO kind of way. Skills, rotations, cooldowns, tanks, healers, and DPSs.
As of 2022, all mandatory online elements for the initial leg of the game can be done alone with a party of NPCs, which is something I'm still on the fence about. As an introvert, I enjoy taking things at my own pace; on the other hand, it feels like a crutch because NPCs are not available to side content that could still interest a casual player.
Gameplay is weirdly addictive. It's not particularly great, but it is fun in its own, MMO kind of way. Skills, rotations, cooldowns, tanks, healers, and DPSs.
As of 2022, all mandatory online elements for the initial leg of the game can be done alone with a party of NPCs, which is something I'm still on the fence about. As an introvert, I enjoy taking things at my own pace; on the other hand, it feels like a crutch because NPCs are not available to side content that could still interest a casual player.