Newest Alpha Video has just been released. 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_N4G854ANo0&feature=g-all-u

Hmm, I have really mixed feelings about this.

The Good

UI - I really like how polished the UI looks. That is important to me.  It looks a lot like the Aion UI which I really liked.

Quest Item Usage - I like how the player could use quest items from the UI.  It's a small but really nice quality of life feature.

Graphics - Probably not a shocker, but the game world is beautiful.  I would have to see more of how the npcs act and interact and how towns and outposts are constructed, but the quality of graphics even at this point is worth a 10 in my book.

Quest Rewards - It looked like the selection of rewards was decent with 3 types of rewards in the examples.

The Bad

Combat - This could be a gray area, but not for me.  The combat is static.  The player just stood there while giant boars hit her.  When I saw "Dodge" text flow up I thought, "But she didn't dodge.  She just stood there."  That is a huge negative for me now.  Combat doesn't have to be total action like TERA or RaiderZ, but at least a hybrid like GW2 - a mix of action bar skills, soft-lock targetting, and active dodging.  It just feels like they polished a really nice version of 5 - 7 year old combat.  It's a step backwards for me.

Quest Text - Even the player in the video didn't stop to read the text and what little I could glance seemed rote with the stand prosaic blah blah blah.

Quest Rewards - Yeah, this gets a good and bad.  This is another boring throwback - run quest, click through text, grab reward.  Boring.

Overall, this isn't what I was expecting to see out of a reboot.  I've been watching this game for a long time now (since version 1) and it just feels dated and done, even though the graphics look new and beautiful.  It doesn't look and feel like Final Fantasy to me either but that's just me stuck back in some old nostalgic console experience.  I could easily get past that if the game didn't look very bland.  I could replace that footage with rift, wow, eq2, etc.  The main difference from this video seems to be the graphics.  Are they going to sell it on the graphics alone?

I'll keep watching though.  It's only one video and it's early.  That was just my initial reaction.

I've played Guild Wars 2 Combat, I enjoyed it a great deal --- but that doesn't mean I'm going to expect it from every game I play. Heck I love Monster Hunter, but most games don't seem to want to play as fluidly as that game does.

Currently this version of Final Fantasy XIV looks like it throws much more back to FFXI and its turned based roots. Yes you stand still, but that doesn't shock me a bunch. If you noticed the spells, the caster was ROOTED to the ground during the casting. So that alone will tell you exactly what kind of game this is supposed to be.

I'm a fan of subtly myself, and I can live it with because the spell casting animations are actually pretty solid. I was displeased with the Lancer, because too much FLASHY FLASH and I couldn't see what was going on.

Additionally, I like some of the new stuff. Like Water is an instant cast with a MASSIVE knock back. I hope that stays in.

Originally posted by azzamasin
WOW, not to sound a complete idiot but who in there right mind could endure such pathetic combat.  I thought Vanguard was slow when I tried it a few months ago but this takes the frikken cake.  Sure the scenery and gfx look amazing and the UI 'isn't half bad, but that combat is lets jsut say........the worse thing I have ever seen in an MMO.  It may as well go complete turn base liek the old FF games.

WOW, blah blah blah i like action combat. Ok we get it you want action combat and thats your opinion, but some of us like the tactic style combat so we are nutty not your game move on. lol 

Originally posted by ironhelix
 it looks like FFXI with updated graphics, which is EXACTLY what everyone wanted in the first place.

Exacly why I'm going to give this one a go, because the combat looks like Final Fantasy XI, which I enjoyed a great deal.

Originally posted by azzamasin
WOW, not to sound a complete idiot but who in there right mind could endure such pathetic combat.  I thought Vanguard was slow when I tried it a few months ago but this takes the frikken cake.  Sure the scenery and gfx look amazing and the UI 'isn't half bad, but that combat is lets jsut say........the worse thing I have ever seen in an MMO.  It may as well go complete turn base liek the old FF games.

 

The Bad

Combat - This could be a gray area, but not for me.  The combat is static.  The player just stood there while giant boars hit her.  When I saw "Dodge" text flow up I thought, "But she didn't dodge.  She just stood there."  That is a huge negative for me now.  Combat doesn't have to be total action like TERA or RaiderZ, but at least a hybrid like GW2 - a mix of action bar skills, soft-lock targetting, and active dodging.  It just feels like they polished a really nice 

I play the alpha beta and I agree that some small problems with the combat system, but not much.

This person who did this clip eh not very good at using the game's combat system. He stands there and just press buttons. You can stun the target and go behind the monsters and use an lethal attack and he does not use any skillchains which you also can use. So yes, more is useless clip in combat but shows anyway how to do quest.

But i wouldent call worst ihave seen alot worse alot. Iwould call it more most normal combat system out there already.

But this is still an alpha test and developer teams are constantly working to improve the game so what you see on this clip may not be the 100% finished version.

I play archer and there it happens that you see an animation dodge an attack.

Yes think the animation will get better but we'll see, but it's like nothing I disturbs me in exactly. I want a game that you can play and enjoy. I played FFXI for 6 years and since there has not been an end online games that yes been able to play more than 2

years.

It does look pretty bad...

The graphics are obviously great but now it's starting to look like TERA without the awesome combat.

Originally posted by azzamasin
WOW, not to sound a complete idiot but who in there right mind could endure such pathetic combat.  I thought Vanguard was slow when I tried it a few months ago but this takes the frikken cake.  Sure the scenery and gfx look amazing and the UI 'isn't half bad, but that combat is lets jsut say........the worse thing I have ever seen in an MMO.  It may as well go complete turn base liek the old FF games.

I'm assuming you've never played EQ1 or FFXI? Both games are significantly slower in combat. Personally I don't mind. The evolution of combat in the genre doesn't have to be only twitch.

Hell I enjoy twitch combat, but I do miss RPG combat. You know the kind determined by stats, RNG, and tactics. I'm taking a wait and see approach, but I would really love it if they evolve the slower paced RPG style combat.

Originally posted by Torvaldr

Hmm, I have really mixed feelings about this.

 

The Bad

Combat - This could be a gray area, but not for me.  The combat is static.  The player just stood there while giant boars hit her.  When I saw "Dodge" text flow up I thought, "But she didn't dodge.  She just stood there."  That is a huge negative for me now.  

Dodge kicks in based on your stats, vs the lvl of the monster your in combat with.  Pretty much  based on the old dice roll system. If my memory serves me correctly (though i'm sure I'll be corrected), Dexterity will play an intrigual part on how well you dodge aswel as your ability to crit.  Thiefs and Dragoons were primarly Dex based and archers to I think.

Another thing you could do in version 1.0 was the ability to break horns on rams and other limbs, successful break would increase a chance to obtain a rare crafting mat. just thought i would chuck that in for some of you thats interested, hoping they keep that in with version 2.

I'm personally cool with most of the video. However, one question did crop up for me. Is click-targeting the only way to target mobs or are there keyboard shortcuts?

Originally posted by drivendawn

Originally posted by azzamasin
WOW, not to sound a complete idiot but who in there right mind could endure such pathetic combat.  I thought Vanguard was slow when I tried it a few months ago but this takes the frikken cake.  Sure the scenery and gfx look amazing and the UI 'isn't half bad, but that combat is lets jsut say........the worse thing I have ever seen in an MMO.  It may as well go complete turn base liek the old FF games.

WOW, blah blah blah i like action combat. Ok we get it you want action combat and thats your opinion, but some of us like the tactic style combat so we are nutty not your game move on. lol 

Well sad for you because this is not tactic combat because it is still in real time and not turn based. It looks turn based because of how slow and in place it is. But in reality, its not.

This game will be as unpopular as its failed predecessor.

Originally posted by Kuraphimaru

I'm personally cool with most of the video. However, one question did crop up for me. Is click-targeting the only way to target mobs or are there keyboard shortcuts?

Macros should be available to sub target and target nearest, I think you can use the tab key to target nearest. You can also or should be able to macro swap gear and cast spells and create hot keys. Macroing was and is very much required and is encouraged, especially as you have multiple jobs eventually.

You can also play with a PS controller, Some players with pc's play using the controller rather than the KB + mouse.  All down to preference.

Originally posted by ZigZags

Originally posted by drivendawn

Originally posted by azzamasin
WOW, not to sound a complete idiot but who in there right mind could endure such pathetic combat.  I thought Vanguard was slow when I tried it a few months ago but this takes the frikken cake.  Sure the scenery and gfx look amazing and the UI 'isn't half bad, but that combat is lets jsut say........the worse thing I have ever seen in an MMO.  It may as well go complete turn base liek the old FF games.

WOW, blah blah blah i like action combat. Ok we get it you want action combat and thats your opinion, but some of us like the tactic style combat so we are nutty not your game move on. lol 

Well sad for you because this is not tactic combat because it is still in real time and not turn based. It looks turn based because of how slow and in place it is. But in reality, its not.

 

This game will be as unpopular as its failed predecessor.

 

Yes it is just because its not turn baced doesn't mean its not tactical.

Originally posted by drivendawn

Originally posted by ZigZags

Originally posted by drivendawn

Originally posted by azzamasin
WOW, not to sound a complete idiot but who in there right mind could endure such pathetic combat.  I thought Vanguard was slow when I tried it a few months ago but this takes the frikken cake.  Sure the scenery and gfx look amazing and the UI 'isn't half bad, but that combat is lets jsut say........the worse thing I have ever seen in an MMO.  It may as well go complete turn base liek the old FF games.

WOW, blah blah blah i like action combat. Ok we get it you want action combat and thats your opinion, but some of us like the tactic style combat so we are nutty not your game move on. lol 

Well sad for you because this is not tactic combat because it is still in real time and not turn based. It looks turn based because of how slow and in place it is. But in reality, its not.

 

This game will be as unpopular as its failed predecessor.

 

Yes it is just because its not turn baced doesn't mean its not tactical.

If you think that style of combat is tactical I feel for you.  I would take tera's combat over that anyday of the week and twice on Sunday and Its safe to say I am not a fan of Tera's combat.