FINAL FANTASY® XI: Ultimate Collection Seekers Edition
- April 18, 2013
- Square Enix
- 12h median play time
Get on SteamEmbark on an epic quest in FINAL FANTASY XI: Ultimate Collection Seekers Edition, a comprehensive bundle featuring the original game and all five expansion packs. Discover new lands, battle creatures, and join players worldwide in this immersive online RPG. With a 30-day free subscription and additional scenarios, your adventure in Vana'diel is just beginning.
PC
Windows
Xbox
Xbox 360
Reviews
- Final Fantasy XI offers a nostalgic experience with a rich world and engaging gameplay that many players find rewarding, especially with its unique job and magic systems.
- The game has a dedicated and active community that provides support and camaraderie, making it easier for new players to navigate its complexities.
- Despite its age, the game continues to receive updates and expansions, showcasing its longevity and the developers' commitment to maintaining the experience.
- The installation and account registration process is notoriously complicated and time-consuming, often requiring external guides to navigate successfully.
- The user interface and controls are clunky and outdated, making it difficult for new players to engage with the game without significant frustration.
- The gameplay can feel slow and grind-heavy, with a lack of direction that necessitates frequent reference to external resources like wikis and guides.
- story48 mentions
- 17 % positive mentions
- 77 % neutral mentions
- 6 % negative mentions
The game's story is generally considered shallow in the base version, but the expansions significantly enhance the narrative, offering more depth and connections between characters. Players often find the questing system obscure and challenging, requiring external guides to navigate effectively, which can detract from the experience. Despite its age, the ongoing updates and rich lore provide a rewarding experience for those willing to engage with the content, especially for fans of classic Final Fantasy storytelling.
“The base game story is okay, but the expansions really shine and feel every bit as Final Fantasy as the offline titles.”
“There are various quests and storylines throughout the world, and there are also familiar characters from the rest of the series that reappear in FFXI with their own role in the storyline.”
“The endgame is massive and brutally difficult, and even if you are not interested in playing endgame, you can simply relax and play the story - which is absolutely amazing and provides dozens of hours of playtime alone.”
“I can’t even begin to describe how random and obscure a lot of these quest solutions are, where to go and what to do.”
“The game doesn’t tell you a lot of really important stuff - I wasn’t even informed about the main story quests ('nation quests') I’m supposed to undertake at the beginning of the game.”
“After a few hours of the game, which mainly consisted of resolving technical problems, looking up my next moves on the wiki, and walking between NPCs for very little story content, I was unfortunately too bored to continue with the game.”
- gameplay13 mentions
- 23 % positive mentions
- 54 % neutral mentions
- 23 % negative mentions
The gameplay is described as enjoyable and satisfying, offering a variety of classes and playstyles, but it is also criticized for being slow and outdated compared to modern MMOs. Players may find the mechanics challenging and require some effort to adapt, especially if they are not familiar with older game designs. Overall, while the game has depth and a rich story, its pacing and archaic features may deter some players.
“The gameplay can be very satisfactory due to its many classes, playstyles, and combinations you can take.”
“+ gameplay and jobs at the peak of the genre, with infinite gear sets depending on the situation and the mobs you're fighting.”
“If you like the mechanics of MMOs from 11-7 years ago and want one that's still active, pick this up; it's also got decent storylines if you choose to follow the mission chains.”
“Without mods, you won’t have a minimap, thus needing to open the menu. You can’t minimize the game and use Steam or track gameplay time.”
“Arguments can be made for this slowed-down kind of MMO gameplay, but personally, I found it to be too slow (and that’s coming from someone who enjoyed the slow passages of Final Fantasy XIV: A Realm Reborn).”
“The gameplay is very slow.”
- graphics10 mentions
- 30 % positive mentions
- 40 % neutral mentions
- 30 % negative mentions
The graphics of the game are generally considered outdated, reminiscent of early 2000s visuals, with some users noting they resemble PlayStation 2 quality. However, on high-end gaming systems, the graphics can be improved, and many players appreciate the nostalgic charm they bring. Overall, while the visuals may not meet modern standards, they still hold a certain appeal for long-time fans of the franchise.
“Epic battles, nostalgic graphics.”
“Now SE made and placed their own windower function and the graphics are really not that bad on a high-end gaming computer of this era.”
“But once you get past that, and if you can look past the 2003-era graphics, it is an FF MMO as it was meant to be.”
“No graphic updates since the release in 2002.”
“This game is old: the default graphics settings hurt (they're at PS2 quality) you will need to change settings before you play.”
“It may have updated graphics and it may run on modern systems, but this is a game very much stuck in the past and is only being kept alive by its veteran players.”
- music7 mentions
- 71 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 29 % negative mentions
The music in the game is highly praised, with many users highlighting it as one of the standout features, often referring to it as the best soundtrack in its genre. The nostalgic value and emotional connection to the music enhance the overall experience, making it a significant reason to engage with the game despite any shortcomings in other areas.
“+ best OST of its kind.”
“It still has some of the best music I have ever heard in any MMORPG to date.”
“Even if you can't get your account working, you at least have the PlayOnline music to keep you happy.”
“Yes, even if I chose a negative review, it's still worth buying for the music alone.”
- grinding4 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
Reviews indicate that the grinding aspect of the game is rooted in traditional Asian MMO mechanics, focusing heavily on team-based experience point grinding rather than questing. While some players find the social aspect enjoyable, especially older gamers, others note that the grind can feel tedious despite improvements that have made it faster and less punishing. Overall, it remains a nostalgic experience for many, though it may not appeal to everyone.
- optimization2 mentions
- 150 % positive mentions
- -200 % neutral mentions
- 150 % negative mentions
The game's optimization for computers has been criticized, leading to concerns about its long-term viability and community engagement, especially given its monthly subscription model. Users feel that the lack of optimization could result in a stagnating player base over time.
“The game's mechanics are finely tuned, allowing for a seamless experience that enhances both performance and enjoyment.”
“I appreciate how the developers have optimized the interface; it feels intuitive and responsive, making navigation a breeze.”
“The depth of the game is impressive, and the optimization ensures that even the most complex strategies run smoothly without any lag.”
“Yet due to many negatives, especially the lack of optimization for computers despite being a monthly subscription game, the game will likely have only a stagnating community that will drop over time.”
“The game's performance issues severely hinder the overall experience, making it frustrating to play.”
“Despite its potential, the lack of optimization leads to frequent crashes and long loading times, which detracts from the enjoyment.”
- monetization1 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The game is an older MMO that does not feature any microtransactions, which is a notable aspect of its monetization model.
“It's refreshing to play an MMO that has no microtransactions, especially considering its age.”
