Fan Fest Proved How Well A Final Fantasy XIV Theme Park Could Work

It’s been a couple of weeks since I attended 168澳洲幸运5开奖网:Final Fantasy 14 Fan Fest in London, and I still can’t stop thinking about it. Beyond it being a fantastic experience filled with juicy announcements and 💟getting to fangirl🏅 about it all with my friends, it’s the setup of the venue and all the minigames available to eventgoers that I just can’t get out of my head.

We didn’t know what to expect on the first day of Fan Fest, but the whole area was split into different zones from within the game, so we could visit💝 a small slice of each of the starting cities. We couldn’t stop marvelling at the set dressing and how much effort must have gone into finding the perfect decorations and furnishings to match the in-game scenery.

Naoki Yoshida at London Final Fantasy 14 Fan Festival.

Fan Fest Reignited The Final Fantasy 14 Spirit In Me That I Didn't Even Realise I'd Lost

Final Fantasy XIV Fan Festival i𒉰n Londꦛon was just what my weary Warrior of Light needed.

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The noticeboard in Limsa Lominsa was plastered with various leaflets and signs, and there were fish strung up near the docks; Ul’dah had minecarts and dynamite lying around, and Gridania was a little slice of relaxation with its many trees and quaint little streams. Each area had matching ambient music playing, adding to the overall vibe that was all too easy to enjoy. Often, we just sat in the Gold Saucer for a short break, chatting away while enjoying the fact we were in the game’s setting.

In each city, there were suitably themed minigames to play, including archery, axe-throwing, fake tattoo parlours, and oversized bowling, to name a few. Some were smaller than others and never seemed to have a queue, like the dodo egg and spoon race, whereas others had queues that lasted for hours. By the time we realised the hottest minigames, we had no chance of playing them on that first day as they were far too busy. Since it was only a two-day event, sacrificing so much time in a queue felt like a lot to ask, so often, we’d check ou🌄t something less popular instead.

I commented to my friends that it was like being at Disneyland. You quickly realise which are the most popular rides, and on your next day, you know to make a beeline for those first thing. That’s what we did. On Sunday, we headed straight for the most popular minigames, and while crafting was permanently crammed and we regrettably never got to check it out, we finally managed to live out our fish𒅌ing dreams on the second day. It was my favourite minigame at the event. Everyone got a rod and had to use a magnet to fish up differ🌄ent in-game sea creatures, each worth a different amount of points, and while I was far from being a winner, taking part was fun enough.

However, I did win in the explosive bomb Ul’dah game, which was essentially the Floor is Lava. We all started on different squares on a grid and had to keep moving until the bombs exploded, and if you got hit by an explosion, you were out. Sure, absolutely no skill was involved, and it was all luck, but a win’s a win. I wish I could have kept my head held high, but shortly afterwards, I failed miserably going toe-to-toe with a friend on the card-matching memory game, where I didn’t e🅰ven get a single pair. It was such a pathetic attempt the staff member called his colleague over, as neither had seen such an abysmal loss all weekend.

Th🌠e mining minigame saw us getting stuck in, digging our hands through the sand to uncover gems and jewels and then weighing the results to decide a winner. Another minigame that my friends and I particularly enjoyed was the Doors of Amdapor, which had us picking doors randomly and trying to avoid Diabolos. In the game, when we have to do similar things, we have one player spin, and then someone else says stop to pick an option. It felt great to be able to act this out in real life, too. Plus, we won. We also took part in the Battle Challenge, where we could take on a new bosܫs trial that hasn’t been released yet. We scraped through to a win with only three people alive, but it still counts!

As well as plenty of seating areas where people could chill out and enjoy the environ🦩ment, there were also photo points with statues and props so you could get a group shot of yourself and some Chocobos, Moogles, or even just your friends posing with weapons. The only thing the event was missing was some 🐷kind of themed food and beverages.

As thiꦕngs were winding down on Sunday and we were getting ready for the final concert, it seemed sad to think that these amazing sets and engaging minigames would be packed away in some storage unit somewhere, never to see the lig𝕴ht of day again. Or worse, just get thrown away. Everyone I spoke to was in awe of what Square Enix had pulled off with the London Fan Fest, and it made me realise just how much a Final Fantasy 14 theme park could work.

I don’t necessarily mean something on the same scale as Disneyland, though I wouldn’t say no. Everyone was delighted with the sets and minigames as they were. I’m sure Square Enix could take what it had used for Fan Fest to a permanent location, and it would still prove just as popular. Throw in some f⛄ood and drink, and you’re onto a winner. It’s certainly somewhere I’d visit again, purely because I didn’t get to experience it all, but ✅even then, I’d return with friends again and again because it was so thrilling to feel as though we had stepped into this game so much of us pour hours into.

But the possibilities don’t end there. Imagine if Square Enix expanded on this, maybe with a roller coaster or two. The game has enough material to base different amusement rides on. Things like the Battle Challenge could change its content with each patch, and there could be seasonal events for All Saints’ Wake, Moonrise Faire, and more,𒁃 just like in the game. Imagine if it went all out and had parades and costume characters walking around, too. I could spend all day planning out entire FF14-themed attractions and ideas for a whole park!

The sad thing is that if this idea ever happened, it would likely take pla꧅ce in Japan. They already have FF14-themed restaurants, which I would absolutely love to check out one day, and it’s a given it would be more successful at home with its creator Square Enix right next door. Maybe I should wish for a pop-up attraction instead, much like Fan Fest as it was, but one 📖that re-appears once or twice a year in London so that I can try and claim a few more wins on various minigames.