Final Fantasy XI

Final Fantasy XI is a MMORPG that gives players the opportunity to roam around in a setting based on the popular series in a game without end. Final Fantasy XI is vast. There are 271 different zones, 8,887 different NPC’s and over 25,000 different items.

The game is so large, one could easily spend hundreds of hours on quests and bosses playing solo, but on top of all this there are thousands of players playing alongside you. If you’ve ever dreamed of the world of Final Fantasy and wished you could simply live there, Final Fantasy XI may well be the closest thing to that.

Mechanics are Challenging

For the most part, Final Fantasy XI is an incredible game. Yet, it’s important to understand there’s a few drawbacks for new players. The game requires players to get through certain boss fights to access new areas, and those fights require mechanics that may require extensive study from new players to pass the game. Some bosses will need to be kited, others require players to avoid water or dodge massive AoEs. If players are new or unfamiliar with the mechanics, the bosses can quickly become frustrating.

Interesting Leveling System

Most games involve leveling your character to help them become stronger, and FFXI is no different. There is one modest difference that players should be aware of. If a character dies, they lose some experience as a kind of ‘punishment’ for dying.

This can mean dropping a level if you’ve only just ascended and lose your next fight. It’s annoying, but does add a degree of punishment for failing to keep a character alive.

Generous Job System

Just like there’s a large number of species to choose from, there’s also a generous number of jobs. The Final Fantasy series has had jobs in it since they were introduced it in Final Fantasy 3. The job system has really grown and developed since then, and the Final Fantasy XI job system is fantastic.

Players start out having to pick and choose between 3 jobs, but as they ascend in level they can add more jobs. Each new job after level 30 requires a quest to unlock it.

Hard to Get Established

FFXI has been running for a long time. Unfortunately, that means the majority of players have reached level cap and have no need for the base ingredients new players can collect. It can be difficult to earn enough money in the game when starting out, and even jobs like crafting or gathering face saturation in the marketplace. Luckily, players are wonderfully helpful, and are quick to offer help with money, resources and help with bosses to new players.

Pros:

• Endless playability
• Excellent gaming community
• Thoughtfully developed

Cons:

• Can be difficult for new players to jump in