They say music is the perfect catalyst for feelings, and while different people are more or less sensitive to it, the concert was truly an emotional journey for the thousands of Warriors of Light sitting in the audience. We don’t cry when we remember Haurchefant and Ysayle just because they were compelling characters (and they certainly were), but because they were our friends.Īll of those emotions found their climax for me a few days ago, when I attended the first Final Fantasy XIV Orchestra Concert at the Tokyo International Forum in Japan. We were there, standing side by side, until the last moment. We don’t cry when we think about the battle of Cartenau because it was particularly moving on its own, but because it’s part of our own journey. Their stories don’t exist only in our minds, but unfold in a world that has presence. This is ultimately the mysterious power of MMORPGs: creating our own characters and sharing them in worlds populated by millions of others contribute to make them feel more real and present. Characters made only of pixels became friends and enemies, whether they were driven by other players or simply by the brilliant minds of Square Enix’s writers. Together we finally pushed the Garlean Empire beyond our borders, we faced intrigue and murder, we fled past the gates of Ishgard as the world turned against us, and we returned heroes once more after fighting and triumphing in the Dragonsong War.Īfterwards, we turned East, finally driving the liberation of Ala Migho and Doma, fulfilling another promise made seven years ago, and living one of the best stories that the Final Fantasy series ever delivered.ĭuring these seven year, the emotional connection with the world of Final Fantasy XIV has grown stronger and stronger, making it feel nearly a real part of our lives. While the first version of the game, which many call “1.0,” was rough and released way before it was ready, I still connected with it, and enjoyed it in my own way. I met characters and friends (both players and NPCs) that are still by my side today, and many that are now long gone.Īs the realms of Eorzea rallied and fought against the Garlean Empire, as Dalamud appeared in the sky and started becoming bigger, signalling the impending catastrophe, as we fought Nael van Darnus, the story weaved itself into our souls. In the meanwhile, Abriael struggled and grew. In the first day, without even taking more than an hour to level up a bit, he walked all the way to the northern land of Cohertas, avoiding hundreds of monsters along the way that would kill him in one hit, just to be among the first to stand in front of the gates of Ishgard.Īt that time, those gates were firmly closed, like a promise that remained unfulfilled until they finally opened five years later, with the release of the first expansion, Heavensward. Abriael was a brave lad since the very beginning.