While superfically similar to most mmo's, FF XI manages to set itself apart with its terrific job system and setting
Overall, the gameplay isn't terribly exciting from the get go. It's definitely slow paced like most mmo's (people spoiled on WoW need not apply here for quick-fix gaming, you won't find it), as you will find yourself running all over huuge fields and mountains, and leveling up is a generally slow process once you start passing level 10. If you're diligent, you can hit level 5 within roughly an hour, but don't expect that trend to continue. My game clock hit 300 hours before I was able to reach level 30 with my paladin. Be prepared to put in a lot of time with this game, or do yourself a favor and avoid it. Once you are around level 10, the combat becomes very group-oriented and you'll be taking on tougher foes, but it actually makes the battles more engaging and intense, especially when your party starts pulling "very tough" or "incredibly tough" monsters. It all peaks when you form an 18 person alliance, and go to take on devastatingly powerful boss characters. This is a group-focused game, and soloing is a pretty weak option, unless you're just out to collect crystals, gil, and other materials for crafting or selling.
Thankfully, FF XI has a very rich job system that encourages you to mess around and experiment with different combinations. You'll start out as one of six main jobs, and you can switch between them at your mog house without any penalty whatsoever, and the game rewards you for doing so. At level 18, you are able to get a "sub job", which is basically similar to dual classing. You have your main job but your equipped sub job will be capped to operate at half the level of your main job. So if you have a character with level 20 warrior and level 14 white mage, and you select warrior for your main job and white mage for your sub, you'd be a level 20 warrior/10 white mage. If you were to then to switch your main job to white mage and warrior for your sub job, you'd be a level 14 white mage/7 warrior. It's very intuitive and easy to understand in the game, and each combination has pros and cons. After that, once you reach level 30, you can undertake quests to take on all new jobs like paladin, dark knight, ninja, dragoon etc. The Treasures of Aht Urhgan expansion adds three new jobs, the puppet master, blue mage, and corsair. These additions add even more options for playing a fun and useful character, and are great rewards to work toward.
The game has skill systems in place too, for a seemingly ridiculous number of things. There's crafting, fishing, mining, and tons of weapon skills. The good news is that these skills are upgraded simply by using them. Want to become a better fisherman? Go out and fish. Want to be skilled in using polearms? Buy a spear and head out into battle. It's super intuitive and makes the game user-friendly.
While the skill system might be user-friendly, the way you set up and install Final Fantasy XI is not. At all. You'll have to put the disc in, install PlayOnline, install FF XI, register your personal information, register PlayOnline, FF XI, Rise of the Zilart, Chains of Promathia, and Treasures of Aht Urhgan SEPARATELY, and then download the patches before you play. This process is incredibly clumsy and convoluted, and takes over 3 hours to complete. People with slower connections could find themselves downloading for quite some time when first starting FF XI, but since xbox Live is broadband only this isn't much of an issue. Suffice it to say FF XI will make a poor first impression when installing the game, despite the pleasant music playing in the background.
The graphics in Final Fantasy XI could've used a facelift. The graphics are much sharper than the ps2, and are on par with a high end pc, but we're still dealing with the same blurry texturing that the previous versions had. These definitely aren't next gen graphics we're dealing with. On the plus side, the overall design of the game is attractive, and the animation is very good. Characters and enemies are interesting and stylish, and the overall art style is very Final Fantasy. The colors are fairly muted for most of the time, which may turn off some players, especially those used to WoW's hyper colored world, but there is decent variety to all of the game's various areas, and you'll find yourself traveling to forests, swamps, deserts, mines, and mountains. I don't know if it was technically possible to give the game new textures and lighting, but looking at it now, the game could have probably used it. It's not bad, and actually compared to mmo's it's actually totally on par with most others... but it's a waste of the 360's power.
The sound fares much better though. The music is catchy and fitting, and retains the elements of most Final Fantasy music, including the bouncy heroic themes, energetic battle music, and even some of the bittersweet touches the finer games in the series presented. Sound effects are good and properly convey all that is happening. There is, unfortunately, no voice acting, which is a disappointment, but considering that this is a game that is played by japanese and american gamers on the same servers, that might be asking too much.
There are some problems with the game, such as environments that are interesting at first, but could stand to have more to do in them than run through and fight. Also, right now there is some pretty insane inflation going on in the game, which will present a problem for new players not particularly interested in crafting, which you'll pretty much have to do if you want to buy anything. Also, the game can be a bit too slow for its own good. Run speed is just a titch too slow, and the only thing that will happen quickly is you dying when facing super strong foes. Also, death is pretty punshing in the game, especially at higher levels, as you lose a good dose of experience points when you die. In a post WoW gaming world, uber-tough death penatlies seem kind of questionable. But then again, this isn't a post WoW game, as it preceded WoW by a few years.
Which begs the question, is this a worthwile release? I mean, it's a game that has been out for several years and is now going into it's 3rd expansion pack... this game is certainly nothing new. Strangely enough though, Final Fantasy XI manages to stay alive and fresh despite this, part of which is due to the great Treasures of Aht Urhgan expansion included with the 360 version of the game. Final Fantasy XI is alive and well, perhaps moreso than ever. Most mmo's are starting to become tired and are only holding on to it's most hardcore fans by now, but Final Fantasy XI is actually drawing in new players, breathing new life into the game. There is a good chance that 360 owners were also xbox owners who didn't get to play the game on ps2, and they will probably find a lot to like here. Just how successful this release is has yet to be seen, but it does have the benefit of being on a platform that is still very young and doesn't have a lot of gaming options just yet. 360 owners want games, and they might just pick this up due to the fact that there's nothing else new to play. Thankfully, they're going to be treated to one of the very best mmo's out there. It rekindled my love for the game, and there are probably a lot of 360 owners who are going to be experiencing it for the first time, and for some it may be their first mmo. All in all, they're in for a good, if not exactly sparkling fresh experience.
If you're interested, and are willing to put in the time, Final Fantasy XI is about as recommendable as mmo's come, particularly if you haven't played it before. For new players, the inclusion of FF XI and it's three expansions will provide more content than they can shake a moogle at, and for those not ready it could become a hyper addictive gaming experience. Final Fantasy XI is totally solid mmo, and despite the somewhat aged presentation, is recommendable to those looking for a good social rpg experience for the xbox 360.