User Reviews (1 - 11 of 42)

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Let's Clarify

5 Rating: 5, Useful: 30 / 36
Date: October 11, 2006
Author: Amazon User

I had never played this game on the PC or XBox 360 before I purchased it, so I was definitely apprehensive. I asked around and none of my friends had played either format, so no help there! They were, however, playing WoW and described the game to me, how the monthly fees work, etc.

After watching one of my friends play for two hours straight in a large party of characters defeating one of the "bosses", I thought it may be something I'd enjoy to consume time or maybe just get into.

The reason I bought this game is due to my interest in FF since the games were first introduced on Nintendo - loved them! To me, being a part of the world I had been so interested in years ago seemed pretty cool. After purchasing this game I liked it so much that I went out and purchased the PC version so I can play on a laptop when I'm away from home.

If you are thinking about buying this game, please let me provide you with simple advice:

1. This is NOT a "hack-n-slash" game where your only objective is to kill monsters. There are skill progressions, sub jobs, advanced jobs, crafts and plenty of missions and quests to keep you busy for a LONG LONG time.

2. Yes, there are online fees for FFXI. It's on the back of the box stated clearly. Do you HAVE to get an XBox Live Gold account? NO! Silver members also get to play but only have to pay the fee for the FFXI server.

3. So what's the complaint about $13.00/month to get updates, play with thousands of other people and have great support from Sqare Enix (who also deals with cheaters) and be able to play with an XBox Live Silver account? You'll hear none from me!

3. The graphics aren't superb like the newer game titles, but it was released in 2003! What do you guys expect? I appreciate the difference in HDTV format and updated sound enough to play it on the 360.

4. I didn't know that a USB keyboard was required to play the game, but the set I bought for my PC worked fine when plugged into the USB port on the console.

5. I've been playing for two months now and have made hundreds of online acquaintences from other countries and have enjoyed the tatics used to play the game. I plan on making it a mainstay in my free-time.

P.S. - If you don't have enough intellect or are too young to play Age of Empires or other in-depth stragegy games, I wouldn't suggest this game to you as it's not "easy".

READ BEFORE PURCHASE!! VERY IMPORTANT

4 Rating: 4, Useful: 16 / 19
Date: May 20, 2006
Author: Amazon User

I just wanted to post this to let customers know NOT TO BUY used copies of the game, or betas. I noticed one person selling the beta, it will not work, that is a rip off. The beta stopped working April. Also, some people have said they installed it and decided against playing, or that they just played a little bit. Loading this game onto your xbox latches that game onto that particular console, once you use the enclosed codes no other system can use it.

Therefore, if you buy a copy that has had its codes used, you will spend 5 hours loading the game and then come to find that you bought the instruction book. The game's codes will not work and you will be unable to play tha game. The people selling used copies should know this, it says it all over the box and book and it is dishonest to sell such an item used.

Final Fantasy XI: Good but not Amazing

3 Rating: 3, Useful: 11 / 12
Date: August 26, 2006
Author: Amazon User

I have logged over 150 hours with Final Fantasy XI. It has an addictive leveling system, engaging quests, and fun community. However the graphics in the game are not awe-inpspiring, leveling quickly becomes very hard, and novelty starts to wear thin.
I love this game and the world of Vanadiel, so it is hard for me to be honest about its faults; faults that have even induced me to take several month breaks from the game. First, you lose experience when you die, and can even level down, which has more than once made me throw my controller with considerable force. Second, after you reach certain levels, lower level monsters now grant you no expereince points, forcing you to fight harder and harder monster and nearly requiring a party to do so. 3) The path for the story often moves along steadily and then suddenly throws a nigh impossible battle in your path forcing you to turn aside for weeks to level up enough (or recruit enough friends) to get by.
If you stand to face some extremely frustrating moments you will engage in one of the greatest MMORPGs ever. The art style, the weapons/armor, the story, and the people who play this game rock. It is an experience I am glad I became a part of.

STAY AWAY

1 Rating: 1, Useful: 17 / 25
Date: May 16, 2006
Author: Amazon User

I bought this game as there are not too many 360 games out yet and wanted something to tide me over. I have played past Final Fantasy games and while they were a bit out there they were good times.
Reasons why I beg you not to waste your money:
- First off this game took FIVE HOURS to install. I am not making this up. I started at 10am and it didn't complete until after 3pm.
- Do you have a USB keyboard for your XBOX? Neither do I. While they claim this is a 360 game it is actually a PC game that is playable on the 360. You have to type A LOT. If you don't have a keyboard there is an on screen keyboard that will infuriate you with its poor interface.
- This is actually a long term rental. That's right! In order to play this you must "subscribe" to another on line service (in addition to XBOX live) for $12.99 a month.
- This isn't Final Fantasy it is World of Warcraft and while I enjoy watching Leeroy Jenkins I have no desire to become him. The amount of time spent developing skills is almost real time.
- You can't trade this in. As it is password protected you can't trade this game in at any used game stores. Yup, they won't take it as it is unusable.

While there are some people who prefer an on-line existence to their real life I am not one of them. This could be the greatest game of its type ever and if it is and I have offended fans of those games I apologize, but if you are just a gamer looking for something new to beat and remember the olf FF games pass this one by it is not for you.

Enjoy!

4 Rating: 4, Useful: 8 / 8
Date: June 04, 2007
Author: Amazon User

Most will overlook the obligatory "This thing will take up all your free time" warning as "Just another MMO!" or "I'll play it so much because it's fun."

No.

It will subsitute your life /expressly/ for the reason that it basically forces you to spend 8 hours a day on the "grind". Yep, 8 hours will get you your first five levels in a day, but after that...well, hope you have a cushion to sit on, otherwise your bum will be raw. Also be prepared to wait on /other/ peoples' daily schedules (to be specific, 5 others' time) since you have to gather and organize a party to do anything.

I say this because it's true. It's like working a full-time job.

Oh, but the graphics are good, cutscenes are cool, and the people are nice...

To the nay-sayers

5 Rating: 5, Useful: 9 / 11
Date: April 22, 2006
Author: Amazon User

I am posting in response to the negative posts. First off, yes the game is incredibly complex, it takes awhile to setup, awhile to learn, and is impossible to master. You complain because it costs [...]$ a month and say over a year trhats [...]$ well how about this for a little math, how many games will your son, daughter, etc play for a year?! few to none, usually games can be beaten in 3 weeks then are never played again. I dont mind paying [...]$ a month because I have been playing for 7 months and its still something I look forward to daily. As for your complaint about charging for extra characters, yes its [...]$ a month if you want an extra character I see no problem with this, it eliminates people having 200 characters they do nothing with and clogging up the servers.

I will agree with you the game is hard to get into, but someone on my linkshell (sort of clubs/groups of friends you join in the game for help) and his 5 year old daughter plays on a regular basis. There are mentors and linkshells setup to assist people, and if you just ask in your starter city people will help you. If you end up on Odin and need a LS send a tell to cdgreg Id be glad to make you a pearl. Also there are great online sites where you can read about the game. Anyways, yeah its complicated to start, but once you get rolling you will enjoy it, I promise you that.

You wil need time and money

2 Rating: 2, Useful: 6 / 6
Date: July 07, 2007
Author: Amazon User

My advices:
1) Each box of the game have a password therefore you cannot resell or len it (if used).
2) It's online ONLY. You need an broadband internet connection.
3) You have to pay a monthly fee ($12 ~ $20).
4) A 20 GB hard drive will fall short in the meantime.
5) You need an USA credit card with local address.
6) Install it overnight (while you sleep) because it takes a long time to download the updates and patches.
7) Not for casual gamers. It will take several hours a day. It's like a job. If you have a life of your own you won't enjoy this game.

great game for the 360

4 Rating: 4, Useful: 6 / 6
Date: March 03, 2007
Author: Amazon User

the graphics are not next gen but they are still good.Although This game requires you to party up in order to get the best xp you'll find alot of the community willing to help. A ton of content that can last for years. Also DO NOT BUY THIS USED because the play online codes that come with the game are a one time use only. That means if you buy it used you can install the game but you wont be able to play it so you spent money on a paperweight.

This game is more for the mautured.

5 Rating: 5, Useful: 8 / 11
Date: July 05, 2006
Author: Amazon User

I feel that most of the bad reviews here is doing too much unjust to this game. That is why I am writng this review. Firstly, complicated and complex is a different word. FFXI is a great game if you can afford it first. For parents, don't try to buy this game for your little kid. He/she will not understand the concept. I have been playing this game eversince it came out in 2002 Japanese version and mind you, I am still at it. This is not your ordinary game, it's an interactive game whereby you organise, think and execute what you need to do every step. You interact with people all over the world, China, Japan, America, Malaysia, Singapore, Europe etc... If you are matured enough, patient enough and you are able to pay for the game, as well as the subscription by yourself. Then this is the game you will like to stick to for quite sometime. I have got many friends in this game who go play WoW, EQII and still turn back to this game for more. You will never get another game like this. Boring? Surely not I assure you. Even for my mom who is a hardcore FFXI gamer on at level 75 (max level) has not been to all places, FFXI world is so big, you will never fully completely gone everywhere. With so many jobs, skills to try, with so many missions, quest to accomplish, what more can you ask for in a game? Graphics are great as well, unless you are not on HDTV. With that many platform all on the same game PS, PC and 360, can you imagine how many people are into this game? Not to mention the number of servers servicing (more than 10) I bet at least 10,000 members are on each of them minimum.

This game is amazing!

5 Rating: 5, Useful: 8 / 12
Date: April 26, 2006
Author: Amazon User

I have been playing this game on the computer since Oct 2004 and I have to say, this is one of the better games I have played. I recently bought the xbox360 version to play on my HDTV and it looks just as good it not bettter than my 22 inch monitor. Im not one to write a review but all the negative reviews have me inclined to do so as i find it unfair to give negative reviws without truly giving it a chance. This game is a MMORPG. There is no way one can figure out what to do in 3 hours and then decide its not for me. This game is so large that is it overwhelming when you 1st start this game. (One really does need the guide to help to get started.) In reguards to the $200 per year, once you get into this game, you wont really want to play anything else. This game is that good. So for me, playing this game saved me hundreds of dolllars as i havent bought as many games as I normally would because the replay on this game is pretty much endless. It took me 2 hours to install, but i already have an account. The install is a short time to wait considering 5 gigs plus are being installed into the hardrive to avoid long loading times and in the end better gameplay. You pretty much leave it alone as it installs on its own. If you are considering buying this game, please give it a chance. And by that, give it the full 30 days. I belive once you understand it you will truly enjoy it.

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