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Final Fantasy XI

EMAIL PRINT pc

8.0 User Score:

Generally favorable reviews

Based on 25 critic reviews
How did we calculate this?

Based on 61 votes
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Game Info

Publisher: Square Enix

Developer: Square Enix

Genre(s): Massively-Multiplayer Online Role-Playing Game

Players: Thousands

ESRB Rating: T (Teen)

Release Date: October 28, 2003

Summary

The world of Vana'diel stands at the brink of war. Three powerful nations, united in their plight against the beastmen forces, look to their last hope -- brave adventurers like you! Will the beastmen gain the upper hand, and thrust the once-peaceful Vana'diel into another war? Step into the world of Vana'diel and journey forth on grand adventures with players from all across the globe! Final Fantasy XI is the first online game in the award-winning FINAL FANTASY series. How you play is up to you, with limitless possibilities for adventure. Set out on your own to discover the countless secrets of Vana'diel, or form a party with your friends to purge the beastman forces and bring home sensational spoils! [Square Enix]

Also On Metacritic

GAMES: Final Fantasy XI: Chains of Promathia

Cheat Codes & Hints: Cheat Code Central

Also On The Web: Adrenaline Vault Preview GameSpot Preview(s) GameSpy Preview IGN Hands-On Official Website

What The Critics Said

All critic scores are converted to a 100-point scale. If a critic does not indicate a score, we assign a score based on the general impression given by the text of the review. Learn more...

100

Gaming Age

FFXI manages to mend the idea of a persistent online community with a story, graphics, and an intuitive interface that begs to be played when other responsibilities rear their ugly head.

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100

Play Magazine

Online RPGs are not supposed to have characters that look this good, nor are they supposed to have the sort of atmospheric brilliance exhibited here. [Dec 2003, p.90]

100

Playboy

It's so engaging that fans may never leave the house, much less visit a theater again. [Dec 2003, p.44]

GameShark

Graphically, the game is a masterpiece. It is, without hyperbole, the most gorgeous MMORPG I have ever played. Characters look richly detailed, and the environment seems alive.

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PC Gamer

A better version of everything the MMORPG community has cooked up so far, and more. [Feb 2004, p.60]

Adrenaline Vault

It could be compared to "Morrowind" in its depth and scope, but the real people that fill the town squares and gathering halls give Final Fantasy XI a living soul that Bethesda’s hallmark title never had.

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GameZone

MMORPG fans should find a deep game with a versatile job system and an detailed universe, and open-minded Final Fantasy fans should enjoy the Final Fantasy nuances and great multiplayer gameplay.

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Games Radar UK (Pre-2006)

You don't buy any MMORPG lightly, least of all this one. It imperiously demands massive chunks of your time, patience and dedication but the rewards are commensurately high. The fierce sense of satisfaction as your fame grows and coffers swell is hard to match. [PC Gamer UK]

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Just RPG

Perhaps the most annoying thing in the game was the focus on gaining experience.

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GameSpy

It's beautiful, it's well-designed, and I can't wait to spend more time in it.

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ActionTrip

In all, the pros of Final Fantasy XI greatly outweigh the cons. The graphics, job and skill system, as well as the overall polish make it an enjoyable experience.

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PC Format

Naturally wanting to be played with a PS2 joypad, the controls are difficult to use and can’t be changed, although a secondary keymap allows for the more familiar [W], [A], [S], [D] combination.

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Game Over Online

One of those games that will probably appeal to any RPG fan, simply by the sheer scope of Vana’Diel and its ever-changing world.

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GameNow

The most beautiful MMORPG currently available. Its environments are second to none, and the character models are elegant and, frankly, a pleasure to behold. The world also feels more alive than any other.

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GameSpot

An online RPG that manages to break the mold, if just barely--but, actually, that's no mean feat.

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Computer and Video Games

You're not going to find another MMOG that's anywhere near as welcoming as this. While the whole PlayOnline front-end interface might initially seem a cumbersome folly, it's not long before you're wishing all your online games could be handled through such a console-style browser.

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Computer Gaming World

Square took the best things about single-player console RPGs and applied them to an MMO - a world densely populated by talkative NPCs, interesting, well-conceived quests, and a whole lot of visual gloss. [Feb 2004, p.84]

GMR Magazine

Offers great rewards to gamers willing to commit the time to it (player-vs.-player between warring nations is coming in January), and the community is filled with surprisingly helpful players, which makes for a deep, compelling, and perpetual gaming environment.

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Boomtown

It has more good points than bad though, at the least it will tide you over until the next generation of MMORPGs hits the streets and at best you will have fun for months, even years to come.

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IGN

Things are only going to get better as they add new content, so you can expect to see this game living a long and healthy life.

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Game Informer

Overall, the game does feel rather slow in comparison to overall MMORPGs I have played, but I is still addicting. [Jan 2004, p.154]

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Computer Games Magazine

Because of the high reliance on other people, diplomacy is a coveted real-world skill as well, and those who can use it wisely always have the most fun. [Feb 2004, p.62]

eToychest

There is a tremendous community established that is very helpful for the most part, and nothing quite surpasses the feeling of adventuring with friends throughout a world as vast as the one Square-Enix has put together here.

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G4 TV

While Final Fantasy XI doesn't currently offer quite as much variety and depth as competing games --especially on the PC -- its superb graphics, sound, and dedicated community make it a match for the competition.

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games(TM)

If it weren't for a few titles like "City Of Heroes" taking the genre in interesting new directions, we'd find it far easier to recommend this more traditional life-consuming abyss of a game.

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What Our Users Said

The average user rating for this game is 8.0 (out of 10) based on 61 User Votes

Note: User votes are NOT included in the Metascore calculation.

jack attack gave it a0:
Tried it in 2003, not too bad. played white mage and bard to around 40. then i tried it again in later 2008. my god almost nothing has changed in 5 years. how is that possible? if anyone has read the developer interviews, they refused to change anything that would "make it too easy." what in gods name is enjoyable about being raped by a reskinned lizard. yeah, the community is nice, but the absolute refusal to make improvements to the game is what turned me off. i mean those developers were jerks about it too, they wouldn't even consider changes.

Tim H. gave it a10:
Not only a fantastic endeavor of gorgeously detailed graphics and strategic gameplay, but a true success in terms of multiplayer comradely. Time consuming as it is, you won't feel like a seconds been wasted after playing it. If you want a tactical, fun, and vastly open-ended game, look no further. FFXI allows the complete game experience to any one character!

JOsh C. gave it a10:
I have never played any of the Final Fantasy games but this one. It is by far the most interesting and addicting game i have ever played. The story line is awesome and is constantly being extended by updates. I could seriously waste my whole life playing this game.

Killa K. gave it a10:
Best game ever made IMHO. Still keeps me entertained after 3 years.

Zach D. gave it a10:
This is by far the best game i have ever played its most addicting, nice graphics, good storylines, and awsome chars and spells and specialskills too.everyone should play......NOW!

David G. gave it a10:
This game is the most addicting game I have ever played with seemingly infinite things to be done in a artistically dramatic world.

Axel G. gave it a10:
this game is the most amzing game ever they did somin grate still a bit repetitive but still amazing if i only could play it right now i woould be on 24 freaking 7.

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Final Fantasy XI

Game Info

Summary

Also On Metacritic

What The Critics Said

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