TL:DR: This game is great, it offers a lot of content IMO but others may digress in their own manner but I as still basically a new player with only 1k hours and stepping foot into maybe only like... 50% of the content have very much enjoyed my time thus far and will continue to do so. If you want to try ff14 it offers a free trial with unlimited playtime albeit restrictions that allows you to play the base game + 2 DLCs and up to level 70 for all the jobs without spending a dime. If you don't like what they offer thus far you lose nothing but time you're willing to give it. I'd very much say its the worth the shot even if you think you may not like it because again.... you lose nothing! So take the leap of faith and see if you're willing to fall into the rabbit hole that is this game, I know I have.

So what about the MEAT? The FULL breakdown? Well here it is:

I never been a *huge* fan of MMORPG's only playing very little WoW and remember trying this game a long time ago but of a bygone era not ever remembering my experience. I'm very much of the Destiny 2 to FF14 pipeline type of player after Destiny having neared the end of its journey and while I enjoy the game decisions and constant issues plaguing the game among other things slowly started seeping and while I'll still enjoy destiny time to time it as my full-time game has neared its end.

The free trial 14 offers is so mind boggling honestly it is a steal. I was eventually coerced into trying the game because I learnt of the free trial from other fellow D2 friends that played 14 actively and while I'd known about it from marketing the fanbase does the very idea they are willing to make DLCs free over time and add it to a free trial that people can enjoy with restrictions but with UNLIMITED PLAY TIME was such a breathe of fresh air. I felt like this game truly said "Even if you don't enjoy your experience we value your time so do what you will with the time you're willing to give" and it was so nice knowing I could REALLY put in the grit if I wanted to see if I enjoyed this game before spending money and man... they got me alright.

Playing 14 has been a.... weird perspective to step into with its gameplay style revolving in the simpliest form of "Pressing buttons" but more in-depth with its GCD/OGCD and 2 minute burst window. Originally I didn't think I'd be a fan of this gameplay style since well... between Destiny 2 and this its QUITE the jump but I've grown fond of the gameplay style and find it satisfying after never really experiencing its type of gameplay style before and while I know many people voice their concern revolving around the 2 minute window and its inherent problems I personally still enjoy the system but too would like to see if they could try mixing things up just to see where they could go.

The story was very engaging obviously having its low points but there were SO MANY high points at every other turn you tend to forget about the low points until you really sit and go "Man... this part kinda sucked" (looking at you later half of heavensward with griffith IMO). The characters you're introduced to overtime while you obviously have your one and done characters you can't help but sometimes grow a connection with a lot of the characters with them all having their own memorable personalities or quirks that make you go "Wow... I really connect or get this character" or think "Hey this character is pretty fun" and etc. A lot of the BBEG you face too are VERY MEMORABLE having either own things that make them stick and just go "Wow this villain pretty well written" and it just kinda sticks with you, Obviously they have the same one offs villains being very forgettable but I can easily name of a lot of the main ones still because they just had THAT much memorability to them.

Content wise its honestly really hard to probably really put it in standardized list and me personally only scratching the surface. You have your main activites such as Dungeons which are four-man activities if you running through an area full of enemies sometimes puzzles/mechanics and bosses to kill with loot scattered around or a chest spawning after meaningful encounters that can last about maybe 10+ minutes or more. There are also Raids/Normal raids which are usually pretty quick 8 man activites which is usually you and 7 other players fighting against a villian of sorts and then being done and getting loot just a simple You VS Me encounter straight-foward. There are also the Alliance raids which are 24 player activites which are a mix of Dungeons/Raids with multiple enemies puzzles/mechanics and boss encounters throughout until the end being one giant boss fight with mechanics. Theres also side activities such as Deep-dungeons. Criterion dungeons, Field Operations which are akin I'd personally say to sort of the patrol zone in Destiny with their own story/gear with "Public events" you can join and participate and probably even more content I just don't know about or are forgetting about. There's even classes for fishing/mining/blacksmithing/crafting if you find yourself the type of player that likes to do those sort of things.

Endgame wise there's unique tailored difficulties in the form of Extreme, Savage, and the tip top being Ultimate's. Extremes usually being raids you have experienced through the game but with a bit of spice adding or introducing new mechanics for you to solve that will either kill you or wipe as a party that you must solve in a specific manner. Most are simply blown out of the water due to the level difference but there are still modern ones offered that are to par with the current level and do require proper-team work to clear but these can be pretty easy to learn if you wanted to dip your toes of what the endgame can offer. Savages are alike to Extreme and very much are the same spice of adding new mechanics you must resolve otherwise resulting in a self or party wipe with these offering gear pieces with some modern ones giving the Best In Slot gear pieces and mounts. These usually very much require proper teamwork to a greater degree with a lot of people given more specific roles to resolve the mechanics but still also just boil down to you do X because are Y role. Ultimates are long encounter gauntlets, requiring EVERY person to be very well-tuned to the mechanics of the fight, their role, and other things. These fights are not very lenient with sometimes one person dying can very much result in a wipe putting you back to the very beginning with most ultimate being 5-8 encounters long with EVERY encounter having their own mechanics you must be weary of. These fights are VERY much a test of how good you are at the game but the loot for these however are among "some" of the best looking opting you to acquire weapons with cool aura effects as well as titles from each the weapons themselves also looking very cool.

Also, god. The music. Man. The music in this game during some of the story beats or just content is.... so.... ♥♥♥♥♥♥♥... good. I feel bad saying GOOD but like... i just can't put it properly how amazing some of the music is. Answers, Dragonsong, Rise, To the Edge, Close in the distance, Shadowbringers, With Hearts Aligned, Revenge Twofold, eScape, Endwalker, Footfalls, just... so many memorable songs that I now listen to on a daily basis.

I think that's all I have to write for this review. I don't think i've enjoyed a game this much since I started playing Destiny 2 originally back in 2018 when they made it free on battle net or even starting Destiny 1 back in 2016 with the launch of Rise of Iron. This is definitely one of my favorite games of all time now and I think it'll stay that way for a very long time. If you're on the edge of giving this game your time, do it. The free trial is right there and you can give as much time as you want. Just don't expect to crawl out the hole anytime soon once you fall in.

TL:DR: This game is great, it offers a lot of content IMO but others may digress in their own manner but I as still basically a new player with only 1k hours and stepping foot into maybe only like... 50% of the content have very much enjoyed my time thus far and will continue to do so. If you want to try ff14 it offers a free trial with unlimited playtime albeit restrictions that allows you to play the base game + 2 DLCs and up to level 70 for all the jobs without spending a dime. If you don't like what they offer thus far you lose nothing but time you're willing to give it. I'd very much say its the worth the shot even if you think you may not like it because again.... you lose nothing! So take the leap of faith and see if you're willing to fall into the rabbit hole that is this game, I know I have. So what about the MEAT? The FULL breakdown? Well here it is: I never been a *huge* fan of MMORPG's only playing very little WoW and remember trying this game a long time ago but of a bygone era not ever remembering my experience. I'm very much of the Destiny 2 to FF14 pipeline type of player after Destiny having neared the end of its journey and while I enjoy the game decisions and constant issues plaguing the game among other things slowly started seeping and while I'll still enjoy destiny time to time it as my full-time game has neared its end. The free trial 14 offers is so mind boggling honestly it is a steal. I was eventually coerced into trying the game because I learnt of the free trial from other fellow D2 friends that played 14 actively and while I'd known about it from marketing the fanbase does the very idea they are willing to make DLCs free over time and add it to a free trial that people can enjoy with restrictions but with UNLIMITED PLAY TIME was such a breathe of fresh air. I felt like this game truly said "Even if you don't enjoy your experience we value your time so do what you will with the time you're willing to give" and it was so nice knowing I could REALLY put in the grit if I wanted to see if I enjoyed this game before spending money and man... they got me alright. Playing 14 has been a.... weird perspective to step into with its gameplay style revolving in the simpliest form of "Pressing buttons" but more in-depth with its GCD/OGCD and 2 minute burst window. Originally I didn't think I'd be a fan of this gameplay style since well... between Destiny 2 and this its QUITE the jump but I've grown fond of the gameplay style and find it satisfying after never really experiencing its type of gameplay style before and while I know many people voice their concern revolving around the 2 minute window and its inherent problems I personally still enjoy the system but too would like to see if they could try mixing things up just to see where they could go. The story was very engaging obviously having its low points but there were SO MANY high points at every other turn you tend to forget about the low points until you really sit and go "Man... this part kinda sucked" (looking at you later half of heavensward with griffith IMO). The characters you're introduced to overtime while you obviously have your one and done characters you can't help but sometimes grow a connection with a lot of the characters with them all having their own memorable personalities or quirks that make you go "Wow... I really connect or get this character" or think "Hey this character is pretty fun" and etc. A lot of the BBEG you face too are VERY MEMORABLE having either own things that make them stick and just go "Wow this villain pretty well written" and it just kinda sticks with you, Obviously they have the same one offs villains being very forgettable but I can easily name of a lot of the main ones still because they just had THAT much memorability to them. Content wise its honestly really hard to probably really put it in standardized list and me personally only scratching the surface. You have your main activites such as Dungeons which are four-man activities if you running through an area full of enemies sometimes puzzles/mechanics and bosses to kill with loot scattered around or a chest spawning after meaningful encounters that can last about maybe 10+ minutes or more. There are also Raids/Normal raids which are usually pretty quick 8 man activites which is usually you and 7 other players fighting against a villian of sorts and then being done and getting loot just a simple You VS Me encounter straight-foward. There are also the Alliance raids which are 24 player activites which are a mix of Dungeons/Raids with multiple enemies puzzles/mechanics and boss encounters throughout until the end being one giant boss fight with mechanics. Theres also side activities such as Deep-dungeons. Criterion dungeons, Field Operations which are akin I'd personally say to sort of the patrol zone in Destiny with their own story/gear with "Public events" you can join and participate and probably even more content I just don't know about or are forgetting about. There's even classes for fishing/mining/blacksmithing/crafting if you find yourself the type of player that likes to do those sort of things. Endgame wise there's unique tailored difficulties in the form of Extreme, Savage, and the tip top being Ultimate's. Extremes usually being raids you have experienced through the game but with a bit of spice adding or introducing new mechanics for you to solve that will either kill you or wipe as a party that you must solve in a specific manner. Most are simply blown out of the water due to the level difference but there are still modern ones offered that are to par with the current level and do require proper-team work to clear but these can be pretty easy to learn if you wanted to dip your toes of what the endgame can offer. Savages are alike to Extreme and very much are the same spice of adding new mechanics you must resolve otherwise resulting in a self or party wipe with these offering gear pieces with some modern ones giving the Best In Slot gear pieces and mounts. These usually very much require proper teamwork to a greater degree with a lot of people given more specific roles to resolve the mechanics but still also just boil down to you do X because are Y role. Ultimates are long encounter gauntlets, requiring EVERY person to be very well-tuned to the mechanics of the fight, their role, and other things. These fights are not very lenient with sometimes one person dying can very much result in a wipe putting you back to the very beginning with most ultimate being 5-8 encounters long with EVERY encounter having their own mechanics you must be weary of. These fights are VERY much a test of how good you are at the game but the loot for these however are among "some" of the best looking opting you to acquire weapons with cool aura effects as well as titles from each the weapons themselves also looking very cool. Also, god. The music. Man. The music in this game during some of the story beats or just content is.... so.... goddamn... good. I feel bad saying GOOD but like... i just can't put it properly how amazing some of the music is. Answers, Dragonsong, Rise, To the Edge, Close in the distance, Shadowbringers, With Hearts Aligned, Revenge Twofold, eScape, Endwalker, Footfalls, just... so many memorable songs that I now listen to on a daily basis. I think that's all I have to write for this review. I don't think i've enjoyed a game this much since I started playing Destiny 2 originally back in 2018 when they made it free on battle net or even starting Destiny 1 back in 2016 with the launch of Rise of Iron. This is definitely one of my favorite games of all time now and I think it'll stay that way for a very long time. If you're on the edge of giving this game your time, do it. The free trial is right there and you can give as much time as you want. Just don't expect to crawl out the hole anytime soon once you fall in.