I never played vanilla and I found that music moving. I think they design using prinicples intended to bring out certain emotions in a large part of the audience. That obviously doesn’t touch everybody.
There are people who will continue to play despite weak gameplay because they find the art and music to be their hook, and others who will not. I think Blizzard has been trying for years to find out what is the bare minimum needed to keep the “I love the art and music so much!” crowd playing, while putting little thought into people who accept the art and music but really want a game with fun gameplay, a game that you can play as much or as little as you want and feel your time wasn’t wasted.
I think that’s a more important topic for discussion than yet another “WoW vs FFXIV” thread.
I agree about the graphics, they are simple with big bold strokes that make the style very unique and flavorful. In some ways FF14 might have “better” graphics in that they are a tad more “realistic” if that’s a thing, but overall I don’t like them as much. They lack style in other words, for a long time the final fantasy series has had an art style that I call “everyone’s a supermodel.” But it really just ensures that everyone looks the same. Even intentionally ugly races (like whatever the orc analog is) are often too pretty to me. I don’t hate it, but it’s no WoW.
The music is up and down with me. I love some of the stuff that’s been in since day one like the haunting music of Zoram Strand or the beautiful elven music in ashenvale and places like that. A lot of it is really good, even in later expansions.
Thing is, I tend to tune it down so I can listen to podcasts while I play. This isn’t so much knocking it as just maximizing my time.
Kind of wild that there are people in this thread saying that FFXIV’s music is nothing but rock and pop music with no good background music. What an absolutely absurd, factually wrong, laughable thing to believe. Just off the top of my head:
Sure, the boss themes have exciting and action-y tones, but like, yeah. They’re bosses. The fight is supposed to be climactic and engaging, and the music helps set the tone. It helps that many bosses have their own unique themes that no other boss has, which makes them stand out.
Like I get that FFXIV might not be everyone’s cup of tea, but lets not pretend that it has bad music or that WoW’s is somehow better across the board. It says a lot about the quality of WoW’s music that people’s favorite tracks that they always list off when asked are mostly the ones that came out 10+ years ago. I could list a dozen or more tracks from FFXIV’s two most recent expansions that are as good or better than anything WoW has put out in it’s entire history.
But while we’re talking about good music in MMO’s, here’s the real classic theme everyone should be bowing down to:
i don’t think their artists are cream of the crop anymore OP. i think they have a faily younger art team now as many of their best ones left.
virtual art i’d say the same thing - i’ve seen blizzard get destroyed by fan artists for like 2 years in this game now. especially when it comes to their recent tier set ideas and armor/weapons - i’d say they have lost their touch.
Music team is def S tier…I didn’t like the Shadowlands soundtrack too much (but i’m not much of an undead fantasy person). I loved the BFA music - especially Boralus
When you go from calming winter to an Alexander raid, the music slaps you in the face. You’re in this serene environment, and them wam, random anime-rock music.
That’s my only gripe with FF14’s music. Shadowbringers aggravated me so much with the battle transition. I know you can disable it, but it ruined that “emersion” plenty of folks have mentioned here.
I’ll be completely honest with you, I’ve never had the music on anywhere except for the first time in the Zone, then I turn that shizz off and listen to Spotify cause I wanna chill and game.
I haven’t had music on for WoW since MoP. This is one of the few games where I can listen to my podcasts while playing because the music and sound are just so terrible.
Warframes easily does both. Hell, Warframes is unmatched in my mind for the storyline and themes, artwork, smooth gameplay and excellent graphics… it’s truly an excellent game. But uh, WoW transmogs pale in comparison to ones in other games, like FF online and some other Korean games I’ve seen (don’t recall the names for them though.)
WoW definitely has some excellent music and some cool artwork, but it’s not the best there is at all.
Disagree, we get homeless encampments for towns and villages now and no more weather changes like back in the day, also no day to night changes anymore either.
You haven’t seen FFXIV art and music then They put WoW TO SHAME. Their music alone is 20/10 GOD tier. Their boss art designs are also all very different and off the charts insane.
They put WoW TO SHAME. Their music alone is 20/10 GOD tier. Their boss art designs are also all very different and off the charts insane.