Why I Hate Final Fantasy XI

[MidgarFanatic]

I would like to pose a moral question with you all if I may. If you were a God and had the chance to eliminate a being’s life because it was utterly meaningless and no one would even notice… would you? I’m faced with such a dilemma and let me tell you folks… I’m seriously considering it.

The “being” in question is named Glayden, and he’s my character in Final Fantasy XI.

It has been difficult not to notice that FFXI seems to be severely under discussed, not just here, but in fact in all FF forums throughout the web. My only assumption is that not as many FF gamers are playing this one as the other titles and I have been trying to understand why this is. Most of the conversations about FFXI that I have read floating out there in cyberspace are almost always negative, and I’ve found it odd that this is usually coming from people who have, for whatever reason, never played the game. My suspicion is that most of these negative feelings arise from a resentful feeling of disinclusion because of the game’s online necessity (which for many people is just not possible). Whether or not this is the case I do not know; however, as a player who has participated in this prodigious project allow me to give you my two cents worth… my only regret is that my opinions of FFXI, although perhaps for different reasons, are by no means much more positive.

My main gripe about this game is undoubtedly the leveling system. To say that it is a tedious process would be a severe understatement to be sure. Not since the original FF have I ever needed to spend so much time wandering around isolated locals hacking away at unoriginal monsters to raise my player just a few levels. And we’re not even talking hours here folks… we’re talking days. At least in FFI there were an assortment of monsters in a variety of different quantities and groups, allowing you to implement different battle strategies while engaged in combat. Instead in FFXI you are forced to brainlessly approach one monster at a time, tell the game’s A.I. to fight, and essentially wait for the battle to end, hopefully in your favour. And when you are finished, you have to rest, in order to gain back the HP you lost in the battle you just completed; this in itself can take as long as up to two to three minutes, depending of course on the amount of damage you received and the amount of HP you want to recover. Although two to three minutes does not seem like very much time, it quickly adds up to a hell of a lot of time when you are fighting dozens and dozens of monsters, just in an effort to collect a measly sum of experience points. It can take a full days worth of boring hunting to raise a single level.

And if you are unlucky enough to die in the heat of battle you lose a tremendous amount of experience points (which can potentially make you fall in levels). This is of course fair enough; however, it gets extremely infuriating when you are stuck in an area with strong monsters who continue to slaughter you once, twice, three times before you can reach a point of sanctuary. Unlucky players, such as has happened to me on at least one occasion, can quickly find themselves down several hard-earned levels within a matter of minutes. This may be a more realistic form of playing, but it doesn’t make it any any more enjoyable for the novice player.

Of course things do get easier when you finally attain higher levels, and the leveling system is much more fun when you do get to fight in groups with other players. This is the point of a MMORPGs after all. However, more often than not newer players quickly find themselves forced to fight alone in this mind-numbing manner… and I will tell you why. The world of Vana’diel has been online now for six years. However, most of the regular players have been around for a long time, and so are quite experienced. These players are much more interested in more challenging quests with more valuable rewards, and are much more submerged in the finer details of the story's continually evolving storyline. As a result, newer players are in the minority, despite Square’s continuing efforts to attract new adventurers. Unfortunately, a party is only as strong as it’s weakest link, and older and more advanced players do not want to be held back by weaker and newer adventurers, despite their enthusiasm. I pity these players because I know how frustrating it is to be so rejected, for I went through it myself.

As it is, organizing parties at any level seems to be getting more difficult every day, as the population of Vana’diel seems to be waning as of late. Square boasts that the world of FFXI now has a population of over a million brave souls… but I don’t know where the hell all these people are!!! I roam around the massive playing fields and the town squares and see very few people interested in any multi-player action. It’s all very strange.

I have many other issues with this game as well… In terms of graphics, well they are not much better than they were in FFX, however I am willing to overlook this missed opportunity because of the enormity of the world itself and the effort that must of went in to creating it. I must say that I do feel sorry for Square that it is so under-experienced. And the monthly financial costs are another gripe I’ve noticed from critics of this game. Although compared to many of the other more popular MMORPGs that are out there, I would say that FFXI is certainly within most people’s budgets (~US$13/month). However, in my case, this is still $13 a month that is not going towards much enjoyment; it seems rather wasteful. And the story itself is very complicated as well, as it is meant to be expansive and continuous. I suppose such is the necessity of a game with no discernable ending. But I will not get into any descriptive details as to avoid any potential spoilers.

I am absolutely starving for a friend to play this game with, someone who I can trust, and share a sense of camaraderie. I am tired of relying on strangers to complete campaigns with because, more often than should, strangers feel somewhat comfortable with our mutual anonymity and often take the opportunity to be somewhat greedy with the mission rewards when they are divvied up. I guess in many ways this virtual reality can be not so different from the real world after all.

But not everything about this game is a disaster; I have to admit that there are many interesting aspects. I like the terrain and city layouts… they are beautiful. A lot of the music is good. And I have to admit that the multiplayer interface is very easy to pick-up on and use when engaged in questing parties (Square got this one right on target and it’s one of the strengths). Alas, I’m afraid there are just so many inhibitions in this game that it is nearly impossible to become as engaged in as I have traditionally found myself with FF titles. I believe the only way to stake a strong claim in this game is to dedicate a substantial portion of ones life in Vana'diel… and I am simply not willing to do this. I don't have time to play it every day. But I suspect this is the case with many of these regular, and much more powerful, players.

And so I return to my initial moral dilemma. In the last few months, I have been seriously considering closing my PlayOnline account, and in effect murdering my online player, and I am having strong reservations about doing so. It would indeed be a strong regret to be losing an important piece of my FF past forever which, although I could certainly recreate, would never truly be the same person. Even if everybody else in Vana’diel wouldn’t be able to tell, I certainly would know… But as it is, my player is spending most of his time just floating there in cyberspace doing absolutely nothing, waiting for me to work up enough interest to boot up the game and put him to work… and this is almost never. I would love nothing more than to feel differently about this game, as I’m sure the serious FFXI gamers feel a magic while playing that is truly special.

As a result, I’m gonna give it one more chance… I’m going to keep the character for as long as one more year in the hopes that I may find some actual adventure in the world.

I have many friends who play video games, but very few of them play RPGs. Most of them are shocked when they hear my scathing critiques of this game, as they are very much aware of my infatuation with the FF series… and I suppose this has come to surprise myself as well. It has a lot of interesting qualities to it, but for the most part I just find it all very frustrating, which is a shame because I know it was such a tremendous endeavor for Square.

But I suppose I will always hold at least one ounce of gratitude for FFXI and I will tell you why: for if there was never a FFXI, then we never would have had a FFXII, and what a terrible injustice it would have been indeed to deprive the video gaming community of such a magnificent game as that.

Thank you.

As for those few individuals who did participate with me throughout the world of Vana’diel, allow me to personally thank you now, as I may never get another chance…

Athwin; Hume warrior
Aeryn; Hume blue mage
Wiaf; Hume dragoon/paladin
Sixkitten; Tarutaru white mage
And most importantly… Yubiningyo; a Tarutaru thief whose experience and generous help were incredible… thank you.

Glayden, Knight of the Kingdom of San d’Oria, Vana’diel
R.I.P.?... Only time will tell.

Postscript:
If anyone is interested in playing FFXI with me… I would love to. I’m always willing to give a FF game, especially one from the main series, a second chance. Nothing would make me more proud than to get the opportunity to make a true hero out of an unfulfilled knight.

[Terminal Est]

I have noticed myself that this online installment seems to receive much negativity-from people online, and also from a few folks at work. Much of their complaints stem from what you have described-the length of time to accomplish much of anything. That is, without mentioning the immaturity and asinine comments I always hear about this game-hard to know weather it is good or not because of this, but you seem to have shown the two sides of it, and I appreciate the information indeed.

I cannot say anything negative towards it, because I have never played it. However, I will indeed state the following.

One of the reasons, if not the primary reason, that I have gotten into video games and especially role playing games was because I could lose myself in a story and atmosphere which takes me away from people, and reality. A sort of therapeutic escape from everything I often feel to be pushing me over the edge. This is still why today I play video games, so online games do not really interest me, as there are people involved, and while I AM here on the Internet, it would not feel natural, and maybe it would feel alien, for me to get into it.
I am a wuss indeed, and these days I find it harder and harder to be able to escape because of the redundancy of role playing games. Everything is always the same, plots are all alike and I have been through most of it.

There is also the most important and fun thing in role playing games for me, speaking of which-the story lines. I enjoy to be driven and excited by plots, and I do not believe that online role playing games delve very far into this aspect aside from the predetermined plot that propels them forward.

I cannot state any of this for sure, because I have never played a single online role playing game, but this is what I may perceive with said lack of knowledge.

I have nothing against FFXI or online games at all, however, considering why I enjoy role playing games, they are not really in my best interest. When I want company, I call upon the few friends I have or come online. Having said such, this may suggest that playing a role playing game online might be fun actually. I am not saying it would not be, but one of the things which has stopped me from attempting any of them is the amount of time one must put into it to come up with something legitimate, (And you pretty much confirmed this now-I also hear that raising chocobos is next to insane.) and as you describe with new players, I do not know that I am willing to go through all that newbie initiation misery. So many immature people online, I do not wish to have to put up with ''go fux0rx yosel,' and what have you.
There is also the fact that I do not know much about computers, what is required to play this, and then the issue of cost for keeping on to play.

The later may be remedied of course, and if I ever do wish to try any online role playing games, not many come to mind aside from FFXI, whatever the flaws it seems to have. Gameplay technicalities such as leveling up do not really get to me, and neither do graphics. As long as it is fun in any way, even without my primary reasons as to why I like games, it would be fine, despite my being thrown off by games like FFTA (I mean I still finished it.) Even if it takes forever to level up. You have no idea how patient I am. XD
As a Final Fantasy fan (Although somewhat dwindling.) this instalment would be a good choice as any to start with when considering online games.

The time worries me the most though, as I work too much, and upon free time I usually just come out of the shower and mess around online until I almost die of fatigue, or snuggle in my couch and play offline video games until the same happens. XD I mean I am tired and not able to concentrate so much (Hence this post. ) so I do not know how good I would do with something unfamiliar. Of course that really is a dumb excuse, but yes...

What I am trying to say throughout this huge thing is that online games are not my thing at all and am not motivated that much more to give them a try, but also that I certainly do not spit on the prospect of such either. I mean nobody would have to twist my arm to try it.

So if I ever do give it a try MidgarFanatic, I will certainly let you know, so that you may teach me the ropes, and perhaps make the starting experience a little more fun then what I perceive would intimidate me or throw me off. Online games ARE rather notorious for scaring away uncompetitive or non assertive people such as me, despite the stereotypical definition that they have.

It seems to have some interesting things to it anyway-like creating your own character, I do so love customization and damn all games for never having nearly enough, and the idea of freedom and doing what you want instead of staying on a restricted path-it does sound really.

I guess I am really just picky. XD

[Revenant]

Originally Posted by MidgarFanatic

Postscript:
If anyone is interested in playing FFXI with me… I would love to. I’m always willing to give a FF game, especially one from the main series, a second chance. Nothing would make me more proud than to get the opportunity to make a true hero out an unfulfilled knight.

Oh, I'd LOVE to play with you guys But it will heppen not earlier then I'm able to!

[Saïx]

Im a Hume level 8 (haha) in Ragnarok my name is Deity add me

[MidgarFanatic]

I chose to be in the world (surprise surprise) Midgardsormr... perhaps I should do a world transfer to Ragnarok... if it is particularly active.

This brings up another small problem I have with this game... I don't like how you initially get to chose which world to be in (aka computer server). If all new players were put into the same world then there would be no more problems with unbalanced player levels, and it would be easier to create lower level parties and meet other newbie players.

I think this is how it should work, with of course the option of getting transfered into a different world via a world pass if you have friends elsewhere out there you would enjoy playing with. But, eh, that's just me.

[Kaoru Hitachiin]

Why I hate XI...? Lessee... Where to start... It's an MMO for one thing... This screams ONE thing to me. It's not an RPG, no matter how much it may try... It may have RPG stats, systems, Generic RPG elements and Final Fantasy elements, but, it's not an RPG, and it's not a Final Fantasy.

For those of you who wonder what I mean by 'not an RPG', let me simplify it... RPG stands for 'Role-Playing-Game' that assume that either you play a character you create from scratch (ala' D&D) or you play as a set character in a set storyline who may have a persona different than your own (al'a Dragon Quest or any other Console RPG, Final Fantasy included.)

Some of you may rebuttle with, 'but you CAN create a character from scratch' but it's not an actual CHARACTER unless it varies personality-wise in some way from yourself. I've played enough MMO's to know that that's not the case... Everyone uses chat speak and generally acts without a sense of common courtesy so they can just gain levels and get money. Yes, levels and money are elements of RPGs, but they don't MAKE an RPG. So, I take 'MMORPG's' as people call them, as a personal insult against RPGs in general.

Call me old-fashioned, or obsessive, but, whatever.

[Saïx]

Im also in Bastok

[tebian]

Well this is only my 2nd post but here goes. This is was something I wrote as to why I "play" and love FFXI ... (great forums btw)

Now at 563 days playtime and thats not mule hours either in there, I am "surprised" I am still playing. Remember back to when this weird "new style" Final Fantasy game first came out, at the time MMO's where not the standard and for a FF fan to even think of getting out of his turned based zen was a far leap of faith on Squares part. Hehe now years later I can hack and slash the gods with the best of them and not take turns. Swore I would never get used to the fact of talking to people with online either. Hehe sure now that I have run a linkshell for 4 years with over 100 members atm, I guess i got used to that part too.

No matter what they do to the series as long as there is a chocobo to ride, airships in the sky, quest that drive you nuts then I will be there. Of course would be nice to have my relic black mage jacket and hat, dynamis can be so tedious. I have made more "real" friends on this game that have even come to visit my house and some I even exchange Christmas presents, then any where else in last few years including that zone called "r/l".

Bottom line I keep playing for "newsiest" part of Final Fantasy... "us". Now we are the Final Fantasy, too.

[MidgarFanatic]

Well I am very pleased that you posted this. I was so hoping that someone who likes this game would say more about it on its behalf.

Originally Posted by tebian

No matter what they do to the series as long as there is a chocobo to ride, airships in the sky, quest that drive you nuts then I will be there. Of course would be nice to have my relic black mage jacket and hat, dynamis can be so tedious. I have made more "real" friends on this game that have even come to visit my house and some I even exchange Christmas presents, then any where else in last few years including that zone called "r/l".

I’m always interested in people’s experiences with this game, because I was truly hoping that I would have an amazing time playing FFXI… but it just didn’t turn out that way. I can tell you are a very dedicated player, and so I am sure you are worthy of your character’s high levels and abilities. I’m glad you enjoy playing FFXI tebian… I’d enjoy reading more about what you like about it.

Oh, I should also note, in case I didn’t make it clear in the original post or the follow-up, that I do not absolutely “hate” this game. The title is harsh I know, but I titled it this mostly for shock value to grab reader’s attentions. And I did slam it pretty hard in the review, I am aware... sorry bout that XD. But the truth is… it is a very interesting game and I’m not giving up on it. I just seem to hate much of it’s process.

Hmm, what else did I like about it?... well...

I really like the character creation at the outset of the game, there is a very wide range of character races, looks, and job classes. You can pretty much be like any kind of FF character you want now, like Dragoon and Summoner. I enjoy FFXI’s real time battle system. This was especially a welcome change after FFX which was just so boring. Battles in FFXI are so much fun when playing in a group; It’s just too bad it’s so difficult to make teams and just so boring to play solo. And the PlayOnlinemenus are very easy to navigate and are extremely user-friendly. You never get stuck, and it’s easy to send short messages to friends.
Probably most importantly, I am intrigued by the way the world history of Vana'diel and the story of FFXI has the potentiality to be written by the players. New storylines continuing the overall FFXI saga are still being churned out with each expansion pack and online update, and have been based on the results of past campaigns which have already happened. I can definitely see how some of the hardcore fans can get caught up in it, it is a game world which holds the potential for anyone to make a mark in this game's story. I was reminded of this tebian when you stated,

Originally Posted by tebian

Bottom line I keep playing for "newsiest" part of Final Fantasy... "us". Now we are the Final Fantasy, too.

I admire your enthusiasm. *bows*

I just hate how you are forced to make parties in order to proceed in the story. I play so infrequently that it has come to the point where I have to read on wikipedia what I had previously done and what exactly was going on in the story… I keep simply forgetting. I should try and play it again soon and give it a go, see what’s been going on in the world.

In any manner, thank you for the post, and welcome to the forum again.

[tebian]

Sorry if I was a little over the top with my comments but I have spent lot of time with many 100's of people in my linkshell playing this game over 4 years. With exceptions there is very few that left the game cause of the missions or questing. Most of us now are rank 10 in at least one region and some have them all.

Much has changed on the game in the 4 years I have played. You can now easily play solo in the new Wings of Goddess campaigns, which came out this year. But there where changes made to the experience grinding so that two or three people parties would get more points last year. I would say for the most part the new jobs added to the game are for players that want FFXI-Light. "Quick" 4 hours of game play and then get off is easy to do now. Doing missions still does need full parties or even alliances of 18 to get some things done. But as you get into "end game" that is what is needed for most all things. With the game top heavy with 75's you find them all in linkshells running through the zones of Sky and Sea killing that large mobs.

But on the other hand to get some of the cool items in Treasure of Aht Urhgan you only need 3 people to do the assaults. Those in themselves can keep you busy for months with great hours of fun. So really with the new jobs and the various things that can be solo or with only 2 others you can play the game and never have to search for people like in the early days. Its amazing to see my group spread out in the past and present with few in groups. The game has changed to fix several of your objections problem is SE just never went out there to the press and told people enough.

Give it a try again or better yet move to Sylph and come visit. Nice to meet you and hope to see you in Van. Again sorry if I came off brash your post is great and well thought out.

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