Customer Reviews
Old School Fun 
2008-06-16
This game was one of the first, MMORPGS that introduced the nice graphics and the good sotry line, all games nowadays modifed aspects from FF11 to get thier game going like WOW and GW. This is not your average every other day game, u need to put time in it and its rewarding, yes you might say it takes forever to lvl up and ur paying 15 bucks a month, but w/e. Don't be cheap, its totaly worth it, and the comminity is great unlike other mmorpgs where no one cares about you and or calls u a dam noob. However this isnt you solo/grind mmorpg and not good for ppl who like to pvp.
Fun MMO with chalanges 
2008-06-13
FFXI is a cross-platform MMORPG with a control scheme to fit Playstation 2, PC and Xbox360. However I really can't stand the KB controls in the PC edition(the mouse is totally useless) and many people including one of the reviewers here feels the same way. The better contol schemes for this game requre you to hook up ether a Dual Schock 2 clone(something that functions just like a Playstation 2 controler) or the "Xbox360 controler for Windows". Both of these can be configured to act like the console versions and make the game more playable on a PC so I'd reccomend these items as an aditional purchace with the game.
As for the game well...if you're looking for PvP you are buying the wrong game. Also don't expect much of a solo experence as in this game you'll mostly be teaming up with the other players agnist the monsters from lvl 20 and up. It's pretty much ok since the FFXI comunity can be pretty helpful and they all understand how long it takes to get top level in this game.
Personally I like the storylines in this game but if you're just starting out it'll take you while before you can fully enjoy them. The main starting nation mission lines are availble at the start, and The Rise oF Zilart expansion kicks in after you reach rank 5 in your chosen nation. The storlines of the other expasions can be done at any time but you're gonna want to get a few levels under your belt before trying them. For example the first missions for Chains of Promithia start at a maxium lvl 30 cap. Besides missions we have a few quests with intrestin stories as well, but I won't go too far into it here.
The other unique thing about FFXI vs other MMOs is the job system. With most MMORPGs you are stuck with whatever class you start as for all of the time you play that game. In FFXI there are over 20+ jobs a player can pick from with six jobs available at the start(the rest are unlocked via quests when a player gets his first job to lvl 30). You can swap jobs at any time with the only thing being that all jobs start on lvl 1, but don't fret because the game keeps track of all the levels gain for each job. This means you can be a lvl 30 Warrior one minute and a lvl 20 White mage the next if you wish...just talk to the moogle in your home ^^
This game has alot to offer but don't expect it to be an easy road....this is not World of Warcraft...it's a game for the long haul! So if you wana make some cool friends and battle your way through come on in, but if you wana to solo and do PvP...this is probably not gonna be your game...
Overrated 
2008-06-11
Although there is a great deal of depth to the game, the PC version has some major shortfalls. The game has been out for several years now and it still suffers from a frustrating and unidiomatic user interface. The PS2 controls were simply and poorly mapped to a keyboard and, although you can choose from two different set-ups, neither one functions well.
This release of the game comes without a manual. This is absolutely unforgivable. A link to a simplistic tutorial is provided, however it is inadequate. You can access an animated manual through PlayOnline-Square's half-minded, tedious, server controller-but you can not print it, leaving you without significant reference through the game.
The story is good, but-as with all of the later games-can be a bit child-minded at times, although I understand many fans enjoy that approach. There truly is a great deal of depth to be had, but the PC controls are horrible and there are better games on the market.
If you're considering this game, you must play a demo first. There's a lot of fallacies to overcome and playing through a demo will give you a good idea of whether or not your willing to spend the time and effort to overcome the learning curve created by the many flaws in the user interface.
All - In - One Box 2008-05-29
The complete collection of Final Fantasy XI Online and Expansion Packs.
A great MMORPG since 2002 and still going strong. You get a 30 day free trial and then must continue by paying an affordable monthly subscription fee.
In this game you begin by creating and naming your own custom character. You will meet and talk to many people to team up with from all over the world to advance in your quests.
ffxi 
2008-05-17
It's only fun if you can get a party, you can't really do anything on your own in this game. It is however, fun once you get into a party but it can be tough depending on what time you're going to play. There is a lot of downtime in this game too.
wish it was the final fantasy 2008-07-19
This game has not aged well at all. Quite frankly the quality of final fantasy games has been waning. This game is just boring as hell.
Not for the Casual Gamer 2008-07-04
This game comes with a free 30-day trial, but that is not going to give you an accurate idea of the game as a whole. Its going to take some effort on the part of the player to truly experience all this game has to offer. I've been playing for a year and still haven't gotten a job to level 75. I am in no way unhappy about this, there are so many things to do that leveling a character is just part of the fun.
There are several wonderful web-sites (Wikia for example) available that give information on missions, quests, mobs, items, ect that the lack of a manual is not that big a problem. Someone has already mentioned the controller you can get for your PC that makes the game much easier to play. There are keyboards available for the PS2. There aren't too many problems with this game that cannot be overcome.
One thing that must be kept in mind about the economy of the game(as well as the helpfulness of other player) is that the game has many different servers or "worlds" and the situation can vary drastically from one to another. Square Enix has done much in the last year or so to crack down on gil sellers (Real Money Traders) and this is what's caused such huge fluxuations in the economies of each world. Every account banned for RMT results in gil (and items) removed from circulation. SE is making headway here too. They just had a "lottery" type event in which untold amounts of gil and items were given as prizes to lucky winners. SE is putting alot of effort into making this game fun and they want players to put effort into their characters too.
Gil, Items, Levels, Skill. Little of worth is gotten in this game without effort. But that's what gives you a sense of accomplishment with your character. And in my opinion is what makes this game so awesome!
FF lovers will like it...WoW players will not 2008-07-01
I have played all the Final Fantasy's so the nostalgic aspect of this game makes it very appealing to people who enjoyed the series.
That being said, this is one of the hardest games I have played. One phrase will haunt you and will make you quit this game for days at a time when it happens: Experience and level loss. When you die you lose experience points (amount depends on level) and can delevel if your exp is too low. Getting gear and difficult quests done is hard for me because people do not want to help due to the whole exp loss aspect. I can't say I completely blame them for this.
You can solo to level 20 but after that it is extremely difficult if not impossible (unless your job is Beastmaster, in which case you hate yourself b/c you will die alot). The best exp comes from 5 person groups which can be taxing b/c you MUST have a well-balanced group to be successful - tank, healer, 2 dmg dealers and a support/backup healer. Skill comes into play but group composition is key. Getting to level 75 can take a VERY long time because of the lack of groups. It seems there is never a tank or healer on when you need one. They have recently added a bonus to duoing and trioing so it has mitigated some of the problems from not being able to find groups.
Now to the biggest downfall of FFXI: the economy. Oh...my...God...In one word: ATROCIOUS. The gil (currency) sellers have destroyed the economy and rendered crafts and farming utterly obsolete. Square Enix has taken no steps to combat RMTs (real money traders aka gil sellers). One of the best ways to make money before it was destroyed was farming NMs (notorious/named monsters). Basically you would wait around for a NM to spawn and try to outclaim it from other players. If you are lucky a good item would drop and you could sell it for some good cash. Most NMs are now over-camped by gil sellers who use bots to claim the monster before you can. It has gotten so bad that a good portion of those drops are now not sellable or tradable (bind on pickup if you play WoW). Crafts are ineffective because the items you make can be worn and resold after someone doesn't want it. Really the only craft I have seen make money is cooking of all things. I used to talk trash about people who paid real money for gil but now you almost have to to have any fun.
With the bad things about FFXI out of the way the good ones are pretty much the nostalgic factor. The jobs are awesome and will bring back memories. You also get to fight all the classic monsters you can think of. Even some of the old bosses are in the game (I won't spoil it).
The thing you need most in FFXI is patience. There will be bad times...alot of them. But if you love the FF series you will enjoy this game. If you never played any FFs before I would be weary of recommending this game as it doesn't seem worth the effort in alot of cases.
FF Review 
2008-06-30
Graphics on the game weren't as good as I expected, controls weren't that great. I did not renew my account after the initial 30 days.
Collection '08 and Overview 2008-06-22
FFXI is, arguably, one of the most fun, dynamic and addictive MMORPG to hit the markets. One of the latest in the Final Fantasy series, FFXI takes different elements from other FF titles, world history, and theory in developing the jobs, quests, and titles in the game.
Available to play on PC, PlayStation (2) and XBox 360, FFXI incorporates a diverse player base to create a world with it's own fluctuating economy, dialect, and customs. Consequently, the need to schedule event times, group battles and multiple-quest story lines will begin to influence your day-to-day activities.
Overall, if you approach the game with maturity and a keen eye on the clock, you'll avoid the 30-hour-plus parties. At least, that's the only issue I have with the game.
