FFXI goes online for the first time.
Alot of "Final Fantasy" fans will say that FFXI is a bad game, some of the claims may be legit, but not many. FFXI is NOT like other final fantasy game's. You walk around a map, see a monster, choose to attack it or not, and just like in the FF games, you end up in a party ALOT and can't do much of anything if you don't party. But why even play a game online if you don't plan on playing with other people? Especially when a game is based around PvE and Quests? Alot of things can get people down in this game. Leveling, looking for a party, hard quests, gil farming (which due to gold farmers is a pain in the a**). But the quests are fun, the PvE is great(if you let it be, ex dont play to power level), and looking for a party gives you time to do thing's like farm/craft etc. Now on to the main review.
Gameplay:
The gameplay takes some getting use to for PC and PS2 users, you may see alot of complaints about them, but hoenstly, I've never had a problem with them, and once you get use to them, you can do alot of things using just 1 hand. The menu's themselves may be kind of annoying to navigate at first, but you get use to it aswell, and for easier battle's make macro's . Ex CTRL+1 = Cure.
Graphics:
The graphics in the game are really good. I hear some negitave points on this, and I really don't see why. The graphics are still some of the best out there as far as MMO's go. They are smooth, and everything just fits nicely in this game.
Sound:
The sound is nice when there is sound. Alot of places you find yourself in for hours will have no music at all, just some windy noises which is kind of a bummer because when there is music it's really nice... Except for Sandoria... I don't like scottish music, lol.
Value:
Well... This game is kind of odd in the replay value, as in it makes you replay it, lol. When you get a subjob you have to level a new class as if it were level 1. If you don't do this, you wont get a party... easily. But It's really not bad once you blow past the lv 10-20 parties, they can be full of unexperianced players making it hard to get things done, and also quite a few deaths along the way. But the game really is pretty fun to replay if you don't totally hate leveling a character. It's fun to meet new people, party up, and adventure a bit.
Overall it's a great game. It's the only mmorpg since Ultima Online and Anarchy Online that's kept me around so long. The quests are great, just as good as any FF story, the PvM is fun, and the community can be great or you can hate it equally... But I suggest this game to anyone. The game is does take alot of time though, but if you don't mind that, it's a great game to get into. Now.. if only I could find out where these gil sellers live so I can beat the s**t out of them... Lol.