Due to several factors, the development was beset by problems that would later have drastic effects on the game. During development, the team carried over multiple aesthetic elements from FFXI while creating something that stood on its own. It ran on Square Enix's Crystal Tools middleware engine, which was adjusted to suit the game's specifications.
Starting development in 2005 under the codename "Rapture", FINAL FANTASY XIV ONLINE was announced in 2009 for Windows and the PlayStation 3. Otherwise, the gameplay is similar to other Tengai Makyou games, featuring overworld map traveling and first person perspective, turn-based combat.
If you lose against a boss enemy, the game is not over, but instead, a branching storyline path is revealed. You can tackle many missions in any order you want, and the storyline also changes depending on the outcome of major battles. The most important new feature of the game is a non-linear storyline. The land Jipang is very similar to medieval Japan, and during your adventure you'll also visit Mongolia, China, and other Asian countries. You play as either Tenran or Aoi, a teenage boy and girl, respectively, on quest to defeat the ancient evil that threatens the prosperous land of Jipang, to prove themselves worthy of the legendary Fire Clan, warriors who have been protecting Jipang for many generations from evil demons and warlocks. The game continues the tradition of Tengai Makyou series, also known as "Far East of Eden". It has a unique magic system and different pathways the story can take depending on in-game choices. Oriental Blue: Ao No Tengaiis an RPG from the Far East of Eden series.