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Review:

19th November 2004:
Final Fantasy XI
The online Final Fantasy has entered the dreams and hopes of many around the world. Can you rise to its challenge?
Posted by Chris Snook - PC,PlayStation 2 - UK and Europe

It has been seventeen years since the Fantasy started on the Super Famicom in Japan, seventeen years in which we have seen eleven sequels and more in the development pipeline. To years ago in Japan the first solely online version came out and now Final Fantasy XI has hit these distant shores.

Vana'Diel is a land that has been ripped apart by war. War between the beastmen and the enlightened races for control over the crystals, primordial manifestations of the elements that bind all together, eventually the races ranged against the evil of the beastmen prevailed. It has been twenty years since blood ran freely staining both the earth underfoot and the memories of those who survived. Vana'Diel is recovering and trade once more flourishes even as the adventurers stride forth to se the land. Even as evil lurks deep within.

It is into this time of expansion and exploration, a time of new alliances and friendships that you are plunged. Luckily you are not alone. Not by a long chalk.

Final Fantasy XI is an odd mix of game styles. It is in the tradition of Everquest a Massive Online Game yet it still retains the feel of the recent Final Fantasy games with slick production and serious thought as to how it is going to work. Which is at times let down by its roots as a PS2 title that has been expanded onto the PC.

The game itself comes on in total five CD's, three for FFXI, one for the expansion Rise of the Zilart (Chains of Promathia was not available for review) and one for the PlayOnline client, which is used to actually access the content online. Bundled in is a thick and chock full manual, which is nicely presented and covers most things that will ever be needed to start the game. Lastly along with all the registration documentation there is a neat cheat sheet of all the common 'slash' commands that can be used, including the all important social emotes.

Installation is smooth and trouble free, with helpful prompts to guide you. Registration of the various elements however is a trial worthy of Hercules. There are so many check and re-checks and agreements to go through, getting a day pass to Fort Knox is in all likelihood to be quicker. Along the way you collect a PlayOnline ID, E-mail account and enough questions to keep a lawyer happy. All presumably because of the requirement to let both PlayStation 2's and PC's talk to each other and is lengthy and time consuming. To be fair the review copy was for the US version of the game and there maybe differences for the UK/European release, if only to add in the option to use Debit cards in addition to Credit cards. After the client is patched and the opening screen is reached the process of gaining content ID's begins. Each character is bought for separately and incurs a charge, another annoyance that there are none of these ID's bundled into the initial purchase.

However once you make it into the game proper the fun begins. Finally.

The first thing to hit you is the rolling, three odd minute introduction. It is simply stunning as it appears to use the Spirits Within rendering engine to produce a cinematic It sets the stage beautifully and showcases what could be available to those who have patience.

Character creation is strangely truncated. Pick your race, gender (if applicable as two of the races are essentially single gender), a face, hair colour, size and what job you are. The initial choice follows the expected Mage types, two fighting classes and a rogue class. There are no tweaks available and no distribution of points, which can lead to cases of identical initial characters. From here it is time to log in and play.

The world of Vana'Diel looks much like the later games in the Final Fantasy series, slightly grainy in places but well realised with things in motion, element effects are well done and the detail is meticulous. However colours seem washed out and things do appear blocky past a certain point, one gem though are the spell effects, they are sumptuous with bright colours and often plenty of movement as they trigger. Animation is fluid and reminiscent of the recent efforts on the PS2, the characters run much as Tidus and co do in FFX.

There is no speech. Effect sounds convey mood and meaning but are there only when required. Music wise things are much different there is music almost everywhere, familiar music, with well known tunes and variations on a theme all the way through, including the PlayOnline client and patch screen, one upside in a long and fiddly process.

Controls are over fiddly, with seemingly illogical choices for movement and camera controls along with some finger spraining combinations to perform some actions, hardly a boon in a tight situation, certainly in combat. Which can either be frustratingly easy or awkwardly difficult. To succeed you need to group and whilst trying to solo is possible everything seems to be geared towards co-operation and support, with each job performing a function towards the whole, much as a party would in the series. However the player base is friendly and are willing to help which is always welcome. There are often groups and alliances dotted around and once the slightly arcane system of Linkshells is mastered is quick and easy to get the hang of.

The world is vast. There is no other word for it and if the quality of the first expansion can be maintained there is scope for it to just keep on going, people who are interested will keep on wanting more and will keep coming back to get it.

Final Fantasy XI is a good game, despite the at times exasperating experience that is the trial of actually making it online to play and it is the non-game related elements that really hamper things. That plus the need to try and integrate two separate types of online access and technologies into one coherent whole has left what seems to be a series of compromises that forces the game to sit between two stools. Whilst an almost certain buy for the Final Fantasy fan, those who are looking for something new may find the less than groundbreaking experience a problem to overcome. For some a triumph for others a disappointment.

Chris Snook

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Review Summary:

Solid but unassuming addition to the series, with no real groundbreaking ideas and a lack of distinction for the PC version as the two year console heritage shows through at times. Also 'blessed' with an over complex and potentially off-putting registration and authorisation system that could alienate people before they make it to the game itself. FFXI is a definite for fans of the series, a maybe for MMPOG gamers and a so what for those who are neither.

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