Final Fantasy XI - The MMO Experience, from the Couch
Six months after the PC release and nearly three years after the original Japanese release, Final Fantasy XI finally appeared for the PS2. It's very much the same game, to the point where you can freely transfer characters between the Playstation and PC versions, but the dynamic is a little different. The PC market is saturated with MMORPGs set in fantasy worlds just like this one, but if you're a console buff, this could well be your first taste of that experience.
When the Final Fantasy series first launched, it raised the bar for overall game experience, especially in graphical quality and sound. Big sweeping orchestral scores and movie-quality animation were pretty rare back then. Given that's a large part of what their reputation rests on, the games have had to keep that level up over time, and they've succeeded. That said, it's a matter of what you compare it with. Graphics are excellent for a PS2 game, but in comparison with the PC version, it's clear who comes out on top. Lower resolution simply means the graphics aren't as crisp and clean as the PC version, and it also means the user interface windows take up more screen space.
It's an odd contradiction. The game is probably better suited to a console controller than a keyboard and mouse, but you're probably going to need to buy peripherals for your console to play it. You'll need a hard disk, but the game is available pre-loaded onto a HDD: all you have to do is plug it in. You'll also need a keyboard to communicate with other players, and a network adapter. Given it's a pay-for-play game, this could be an expensive exercise.
FFXI is using the old AD&D dual class system. After level 18, your character can take on a second profession in addition to your first. The game is really flexible about switching jobs, actually: you can change any time you want, though you'll be starting from scratch again, and some of your items may not be of any use to you. If it doesn't work out, you can always change back. In some ways, this eliminates the urge to have multiple characters in the game, which is good because you only get one for your $12.95/month, and every extra slot will cost you another buck.
You also can't choose your server. So if you have friends you want to play with, that's going to be a problem. You can buy a world pass in the game that lets other players create characters on 'your' server, but you still can't transfer existing characters over. This does ensure player load is evenly-spread over the servers, but it's kind of a pain from a player point of view, and that's what we care about.
FFXI is also missing some but not all of the little annoyances that come with role-playing games. Your character doesn't need to eat, and won't get tired from running a lot (which early on is just as well), but you will still have to spend a lot of time all crouched up, 'healing'. Because FF started off as a console game, the controls will take a bit of getting used to for PC gamers.
Like EverQuest II, FFXI allows groups to work weapon skill chains and magic bursts, giving well-co-ordinated groups the advantage of pooling together to produce devastating (and spectacular) combat effects. A little more effort has been put into the monster deaths, too - there's nothing like the big ugly's tongue lolling out when it hits the ground to give you a real sense of achievement.
FFXI includes crafting, and trading aspects as well as questing and combat, giving you a well-rounded experience. You even have a little home, or Mog House, where your Moogle will look after your stuff and water your plants. Given the time delay on the PS2 release, the bugs have all been worked out of the system already, and the game is stable and lag-free on a broadband connection. It seems to cater quite well to the needs of both FF fans, and lovers of the MMORPG genre. Though both will find a few things hard to get used to, the game should more than make it worth it.
Overall Rating: 8.1
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