PS2 Final Fantasy XI: Yay or Nay?

I just got back from my summer intership and I come home to my bro playing FFXI hardcore on his PC. I look at the game, looks nice and sharp. Read his Brady Games strategy guide, it got me even more interested. If I bought FFXI it would be for my PS2, cause my laptop currently would just not cut it. Thing is I get excited about these MMORPGs and then I just give up cause its just the same ole damn level up wheel that has been used since Everquest. I use to play EQ hardcore and it was fun, I closed that book cause I just got tired of the level up hamster wheel.

I tried Anarchy Online, Dark Age of Camoelot, and Star Wars Galaxies, all which I gave up on because they just didn't excite me after a month's play and I was just killing monsters over and over. From watching my bro play and reading up on it FFXI seems to kind of get away from that level up wheel and I think I just might get back into a MMORPG. The plus is I get the hard drive with it and I'm already going to need it to fully enjoy Gran Turismo 4.

So is it worth picking up, or will I be utterly disappointed again.

3 Yay's and 4 Nay's

Can anyone give me there views on the game? I would be much appreciated.

I mostly bought it for the Official HardDrive...

I really havent spent more than a few hours with it running around whacking those rabbits in the forest... visually the game is very pretty...

but also factor in to be able to communicate, you will NEED a USB Keyboard... more$.

To me, it just seems to be wayyy to much time for me to invest in a game... moreso than a normal FF game...

I say if you dig MMORPGS and the Final Fantasy Universe go for it... if not... really no need for the game.

CurtWRX said:

To me, it just seems to be wayyy to much time for me to invest in a game... moreso than a normal FF game...

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Hence the "MMO" before the "RPG."

On topic... the game sucks.

Not really worth wasting your time on.

My vote: Gay :P

Really though, the idea of this game is just lame in my opinion and I love FF games. Just stick to the old formula for FF games Square.

I love it.

Other MMORPG's don't interest me very much, but FFXI feels very unique. It's just an all around fun game to play.

Oh, and play on Bismark.

Seems like a good mmorpg to me. Just keep in mind if you buy this game that's just another mmorpg though, and if you don't like the genre or have the 20 hours a day to waste on it, it won't interest you any more than everquest.

Matt

It stole 1600 hours of my life.

Nay.

Hmmm... well, I've had it since the PS2 release and I enjoy it. I've only really played PSO before this one, so I can't stack it up to many other MMOs (my computer sucks and is very slow, so I can't say much about other games like this).

(+)
Plenty to do, there's leveling up, and it's important, but it's not the whole game.

Other things to do include: making and selling items in your own bazzar and the Auction House, quests, story-driven missions, fishing, exploring.

Many different jobs and ways to customize character.

Well maintained servers and GM assistance; virtually hack-proof

Frequently updated content.

Exclusive Special Events during the year.

Nice graphics and detail thoughout the whole game.

(-)
It's a tremendous time sink; even by MMORPG standards.

Earning money takes much time and patience; monsters seldom drop money like they do in other FFs

Speaking of other FFs, this game doesn't match the style, colorfulness, or characteristics of the FF series.

With the exception of starting out a job, you will have to be in parties of 6 throughout the game.

Because of the above comment, you are forced to fight and level where everybody else goes - you can't really fight in alternate zones.

Lag can be tremendous in heavily populated areas on dial-up. It is still very playable on dial up for the most part.

I'd say try a new job on your brother's account. If you like it, give it a shot. See my sig for details on my char.

GregN. said:

Well maintained servers and GM assistance; virtually hack-proof

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Yes and no.

There's no way to magically duplicate items or gil, but the game does have a few small hacks like the ability to run the game windowed and a few small graphic & sound tricks as well... but none of that will actually affect the gameplay for others, so it's all good.

But on the other end of the spectrum, the game is riddled with bots.

Fishing, farming, voking, and even bots that allow for non-player controlled leveling - all of which are actually quite easy to acquire, setup and use.

None of this is really that bad though (unlike Diablo, PSO and a couple other games), so I suppose this wasn't even worth mentioning... but I was bored so I thought I would for the hell of it.

GregN. said:

Earning money takes much time and patience; monsters seldom drop money like they do in other FFs

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A new player will undoubtably have a tough time finding gil, but after enough time is put into the game, they should have no problem getting themselves the proper funds to supply themselves with their needed items.

Unless of course it's an insanely-priced item... but a good portion of those don't show up until later in the game (where money-making becomes much easier) and even the ones that appear at early levels aren't really required to get by.

GregN. said:

Speaking of other FFs, this game doesn't match the style, colorfulness, or characteristics of the FF series.

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Really?

I think it does.

GregN. said:

With the exception of starting out a job, you will have to be in parties of 6 throughout the game.

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Best and worse aspect of the game. (<-- that will make sense if you start to play)

Idiots and gimps are rampant and will frustrate you to no end.

Probably why I'm a BST...

dont do it dude. ive been playing MMORPG since 1997 nad im in same boat as u developer just have tiny marble balls in their sack and will not make something new and interst me. same bullshit level grind same bullshit item find in every game so i will not play them anymore until something new and interesting comes out.

dont kid yourself ffX1 is the same bullshit with a ff tag on it. majority people think it something special because they have never played a mmog before.

if you didnt like dark age the u are in same unfortunate stance as me, these boring bullshit mmorpg just cant cut it anymore. dark age is the closest to a good game out there right now sadly.

just stick to free ultima online shards like ipy so u dont have to give money to these assholes for thier shit cookie cutter games.

in truth it is another MMO with the FF tag but, i love the game. If you have some good time to kill definately play it. And if you do let us know ill get you a midgardsomr world pass. Its the most expensive server....lucky lucky me.

This game is wonderful. That's all I can say. It's the only game I play anymore, and I'm ok with that.

If you want me to hook you up with a worldpass to our server, please let me know.

Well I took the plunge, got the HDD, and I must say I'm pretty happy so far. I'm in my bro's linkshell which is a HUGE help. Coming into a game with friends right off the bat helps alot.

Definitely the sharpest looking MMORPG and the some great audio. I'm on Titan with my bro. Lvl 4 hume warrior.

NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!1

sorry feel good

I'm really enjoying it though.

Madden 2005 is out now, I gotta start whupping some ass online. Oh how I loved being a QA Tester for Madden

On a related note, I haven't played this at all in the last week, and am considering cancelling my subscription..

GregN. said:

On a related note, I haven't played this at all in the last week, and am considering cancelling my subscription..

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Must... Make... Level... 60...

50-60 is probably the low point of the game. Between Genkai 1 & 2 and the AF Quests, S-E is trying to get rid of all casual players before the high levels. Once you get 60 and full AF, you can more or less coast for 10 or more levels using that gear and have fun levelling to 70 at your own pace. 70, of course, is the definitive SNK-trademark boss battle.

I thought it was great. I probably spent a little more time with Star Wars Galaxies, but that is because I really love the way the universe felt. FFXI is really different though. My problem with all of the other MMO's are they don't really have a lot for you to do other than kill mobs. The world seems to be a little more complete than others before it. Graphicly it is beautiful.

While it is derivative and nothing revolutionary as far as MMO's go, it's the best designed MMO I've ever played (I've played pretty much all of them since ultima). What I mean by best design is that you get what you put in and nothing more. You will have to work your ass off to get money, high level, good equipment, etc. However, if you are a casual gamer or get frustrated easily, you might want to stay away. The game requires a TON of time from you if you want to get anywhere that matters and some level stretches are dreadful (especially as a noobie). However when you make some friends, get 'good' at the game, get high level, start doing some of the epic fights (and the 'bosses' in ffxi have more of an epic feeling than any MMO out there) the game becomes a blast.

Started playing again after a week respite (have to do that sometimes).

It's tough to sell things in AH, so I've started lvling whm (sub for brd), and enjoying it.

One other thing I forgot to mention: the quests and missions (just got rank 4) are interesting, but can take a very long time. I don't like that you can't solo them unless at high levels. It seems like you have to:

a.) Beg people to help you, in turn taking away their valuable personal playing time.
b.) Get a really high level.

~or~

c.) Use a job (like whm or rdm) with sneak and invis, or spend a fortune on potions with the same effect.

It's all kinda ridiculous if you ask me.

They could also work on the playonline system a little better, telling what lvl/job each friend on your list is, so you don't have to guess. It would also be nice to view comments about friends on the list w/o having to log off. There are just too many people to remember.

Just thought I'd throw that in.

most MMORPG = Nay for me.