Final Fantasy XI

About

Final Fantasy XI is a multiplayer role playing game with a fantasy theme. It was developed by Square Enix and was released on April 18, 2013. It received positive reviews from players.

Embark 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.

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85%

Audience ScoreBased on 158 reviews

story16 positive mentions

grinding8 negative mentions

The game offers a unique and nostalgic experience, especially for fans of the PS2 era of Final Fantasy.
Despite its age, the game has a dedicated community and continues to receive updates, providing a wealth of content.
The job/subjob system is highly praised, allowing for diverse playstyles and character customization.

The installation and account registration process is overly complicated and time-consuming, often requiring external guides.
The user interface and controls are clunky and not well-optimized for PC, making gameplay frustrating for new players.
The game lacks modern conveniences and tutorials, leading to a steep learning curve that can be off-putting for newcomers.

story
96 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
17%
80%
3%
The game's main story is often described as shallow, with many players finding it difficult to navigate quests without external guides. However, the expansions significantly enhance the narrative, offering more depth and connections between characters, making them feel more aligned with the classic Final Fantasy experience. While the game provides a vast world and ongoing updates, players note that the lack of guidance can lead to frustration, especially for newcomers.
- “The base game story is okay, but the expansions really shine and feel every bit as Final Fantasy as the offline titles.”
- “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.”
- “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.”
- “I can’t even start to begin how random and obscure a lot of these quest solutions are, where to go and what to do.”
- “And the game doesn’t tell you a lot of really important stuff - I wasn’t even told 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.”
gameplay
26 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
15%
73%
12%
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 lack of conveniences, such as a minimap without mods, frustrating, and the game's archaic mechanics may require some research to fully appreciate. Overall, it appeals to those who appreciate classic MMO elements and are willing to invest time in its depth and story.
- “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 or use Steam to 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.”
graphics
20 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
20%
65%
15%
The graphics of the game are generally considered outdated, reflecting its 2002 release, with many users noting they resemble PS2 quality. However, some players find that with adjustments and on modern systems, the visuals can hold up reasonably well, evoking a sense of nostalgia despite the clunky interface. Overall, while the graphics may not impress by current standards, they are seen as part of the game's charm for veteran players.
- “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.”
- “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. If things don’t change, it won’t be around for much longer.”
music
14 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
71%
15%
14%
The music in the game is widely praised, with many reviewers highlighting it as one of the best soundtracks in the MMORPG genre, evoking strong nostalgia and enhancing the overall experience. Even amidst criticisms of other aspects, the soundtrack remains a standout feature that many consider worth the price of admission alone.
- “+ 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.”
- “Even if I chose a negative review, it's still worth buying for the music alone.”
grinding
8 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Players note that the grinding aspect of the game is rooted in traditional Asian MMO mechanics, focusing heavily on team-based experience grinding with minimal rewards from quests. While some older players may find the experience lacking, many appreciate the improvements that have made grinding faster and less tedious, often highlighting the social aspect as a key component of the experience. Overall, the game fosters a nostalgic appreciation for grinding, despite its challenges.
- “So the gaming aspect of the game can be lacking, especially for older players that want to experience hours of grinding experience in teams where 90% of the grind is just socializing.”
- “Yes, it is based on the Asian MMO tradition of experience party grinding, with no experience from quests and a death penalty (we've all had that problem... ding... mob pull... death... de-level).”
- “To this date, I still keep returning because it is the game that taught me never to whinge about grinding.”
optimization
4 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
75%
50%
The game suffers from significant optimization issues on computers, which detracts from the overall experience and is likely to lead to a declining player community despite its monthly subscription model. Users have expressed frustration over performance problems that overshadow other aspects of the game.
- “The optimization in this game is top-notch, allowing for smooth gameplay even on lower-end systems.”
- “I love how the developers have fine-tuned the mechanics to ensure a balanced experience, making every challenge feel rewarding.”
- “The interface is incredibly user-friendly, and the optimization makes navigating through the game a breeze.”
- “Yet due to many negatives, especially the lack of optimization for computers despite being a monthly subscription game, the game will have only a stagnating community that will drop over time.”
monetization
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
50%
50%
The game is an older MMO that features no microtransactions, which is a notable aspect of its monetization model.
- “It is an MMO that has no microtransactions, due to being old.”