PlayStation 2 fans of the Final Fantasy franchise have been salivating and waiting for the arrival of Final Fantasy XI, a Massively Multiplayer Online Role Playing Game that promised a fully functional and always evolving universe that would rival the EverQuest world of Norrath.  Yet with so many holdups, mostly due to the fact that the HDD hardware has been delayed too many times to keep count, PS2 owners began to think that only the Japanese and now the American PC crowd would only get to play this game.  Well, thanks to an agreement between Square Enix and Sony, the game has been released as part of a packaged deal.  That’s right, gamers; this brilliant game is being released along with the PS2 hard disk drive as one big box filled with gaming goodness.  It’s like Christmas in March!  So how good is this game?  Fellow gamers, lend me your ears (or in this case, your eyes) and we’ll get straight to the heart of the matter. 

As mentioned above, the game is packaged together with the PS2 hard drive (Note: See HDD REVIEW) for a retail price of $99.  Of course, to play Final Fantasy XI, you’ll also need the PS2 Network Adaptor that you attach to the HDD itself and a USB keyboard (or mouse if you’re comfortable using a mouse).  The game can be played using a Broadband connection or Dial-Up so a fast Internet connection is not really necessary.  We’re already looking at a pricey gaming experience because there’s a monthly fee you’ll also need to pay for the game itself ($12.95 to be exact, plus one dollar a month for each new character you decide to create or to play the Final Fantasy IX mini-game, Tetra Master).  The good news is that gamers get a free online service called PlayOnline that you can use to locate friends, email other gamers and download new available content like new versions of Final Fantasy XI plus extras.  PlayOnline is also used to start the game’s somewhat lengthy registration process.

After the required payment information is processed (the first month is free) and you’re up and running, the next step is to design your character.  There are five different races: Hume (humans), Elvaan (elves), Galka (hulk-like beasts), Tarutaru (the adorable Hobbit-like creatures) and the catlike Mithra.  You can be as creative as you’d like in designing them too because you can change everything from their facial features, hair color and style and even body size.  Each race is also designed around a particular skill.  Elvaans, for example, are famous for their swordsmanship while the pint-sized Tarutaru is skilled in the arts of magic.  You’ll also have to pick a nationality, meaning you have to align yourself to one of the three major nations in the world that is known as Vana’diel.  There’s the Kingdom of San d’Oria, the Federation of Windurst and the Republic of Bastok.  While you’re free to venture into other kingdoms, your allegiance to your nation just means that all your victories and conquests improve the social and economic standings of your home nation. 

Your created character naturally begins with low skill points and building them up is a question of completing tasks given to you by NPCs (Non-Playing Characters) or successfully defeating enemies for experience points and gils (the world’s currency).  You can also participate in Conquests, which are missions assigned to gamers under the banner of their nation.  Completing these not only earns you major experience points but they also benefit your chosen nation.  You can also build fighting skills through your chosen job class.  You can choose to be a Monk, warrior, thief, White Mage, Red Mage and Black Mage.  The good thing about this is that you can add specialties (think of them as second jobs).  You can be anything from a bard to a samurai (those ancient swordsmen and women who follow a Bushido-like code).  There are also a number of ways that you can take care of yourself.  You can become a gardener and learn to grow healing herbs or learn how to fish.  That’s right; you can grab a pole, head out to the sea and start fishing.  You can also build your own armor and auction it off to other players.

There is also a story behind this game and, like many of the stories found in Final Fantasy games, the story is a good one.  Vana’diel was once a peaceful and enlightened world that was ravaged by the dark armies of the beastmen.  The beastmen destroyed cities and the good people of the world fought back in the name of all that is good and to take control of special crystals, which are physical manifestations of the elements.  All the races banded together and managed to defeat the evil conquers but a shadow still lingers and the threat that is the evil beastmen is slowly gathering together again to attempt another invasion.  

Vana’diel itself is a massive world that beats the one seen in EverQuest Online Adventures and that’s before the Rise of Zilart expansion pack that is included with Final Fantasy XI.  The world outside of the three major kingdoms is filled with forests, deserts, oceans, swamps and beautiful plains.  This world is so big that you can rent Chocobos (you remember them, don’t you?) or ride in ferries or even airships.  You’ll encounter everything from NPC that offer missions (one will have you looking for a bandit while the other will have you searching for a lost child) to other gamers (many of whom are PC gamers as well as Japanese ones).  As you’ll find out pretty quickly, venturing too far on your own is certainly not an excellent idea so teaming up with others is often a necessity rather than a choice.  Since you use a USB keyboard, a conversation with other gamers is simple since you have only five chat modes.  You also have thirty-eight emote commands to express emotions (e.g. waves, laughs, cheers or smiles).  And, thankfully, joining parties is simply a matter of accepting their invitation to join.

The interface can be a bit complicated for most gamers new to MMORPGS but its nothing a few hours of play won’t fix.  Gamers will quickly become accustomed to the chat interface and the informational box during battles.  Speaking of battles, you’ll get into plenty of them throughout your journey.  Play on your own and you might find yourself surrounded by lizard warriors so being a part of a party certainly gives you an advantage.  As a member of a party, battles turn into a collaborative experience.  Most of the battles are real-time events, although much of it is handled in the same fashion as the majority of the Final Fantasy games.  That is, all you have to do is select ATTACK and your character does it for you.  Win the battle and you earn experience points, gil and any treasure that you get a part of if you’ve joined somebody’s party.  Lose the fight and you get transported back to your Home Point with a penalty of lost experience points

No one in their right mind will expect that the PS2 version of this game would look as good as its PC counterpart, but this version certainly is nothing to sneeze at when it comes to detailed character models and gorgeously rendered landscapes.  Each player can pour his or her own personality in their characters and it certainly shows when you encounter strangers out on the field.  The various landscapes are also impressive, of course, not as impressive as those found in the recent Final Fantasy games on the PS2.  You’ll find that the world is so huge that you’ll quickly notice the change in terrain the farther you travel.  While the character movements can sometimes move a little jerkily, they’re a sight to behold in battle . . . especially while battling those huge and detailed boss enemies.  Moving around in the huge world also comes with a price, though.  When you’re in a crowded place like, say, the Kingdom of San d’Oria, you’ll encounter a number of slowdowns but nothing that seriously hinders your progress.   

From the opening cinematic introduction to the creation of your game character, that beautifully sweeping Final Fantasy score is present and accounted for but it’s not always present throughout the game.  You’ll encounter many scripted moments throughout the game that are cut scenes and those are the ones are accompanied by a score.  You’re not completely treated to silence, though, because there are plenty of environmental sound effects that surround the player.  Birds chirp in the thickness of the forest trees and you can hear the trickling water of a distant brook as you approach it.  The clamor of the monsters is also nicely done and the sounds of clashing swords and magic spells sound straight out of the classic Final Fantasy games.

There’s no doubt about it, Final Fantasy XI lives up to all the hype with its amazing universe filled with all the things we love in our MMORPGs.  Sure the one-time registration process takes a little over an hour to complete and the interface takes a little getting use to when you first start to play the game. Yet it’s constantly evolving world and the fact that you take part shaping the history of Vana’diel makes this well worth the monthly fee and the price of this nicely put together package.  If you have the money for it (plus a PS2 Network Adaptor), I highly suggest you pick this one up right away. 

Gameplay: 8.0
Whether you’re playing this one with using a Broadband connection or Dial-Up, Final Fantasy XI plays smoothly and without too many annoying hiccups seen in online games like EverQuest Online Adventures.  There are also enough character classes, unique skills and a variety of jobs to choose from and that alone will keep you hooked before you even start adventuring.

Graphics: 8.5
You won’t believe how gorgeous this game looks in action and I’m not just talking about flashy special effects.  Vana’diel is filed to the brim with beautifully rendered and the character models are detailed enough that each character has plenty of, well, personality.

Sound: 8.5
Beautifully orchestrated music feels straight out of the majority of the Final Fantasy games and there are even bits of dialogue but it’s only found in the animated cut scenes.  The sound effects are also wonderful, especially during intense battles.

Difficulty: Medium
Your character starts off a weakling and works his or her way to a powerful character that is able to survive on his or her own or become a team player that others can rely on during the many battles you’ll encounter.  You are also penalized for being defeated in battle so gamers keep that in mind.

Concept: 9.0
Imagine a fully functional immense universe filled with people going on fantastical quests or just performing everyday tasks such as fishing and you still don’t even come close to the good things Vana’diel has to offer.  A wonderfully crafted MMORPG in the Final Fantasy realm and a 40GB HDD for $99--somebody pinch me!

Multiplayer: 9.5
It doesn’t get anymore massive than Final Fantasy XI and interacting with literally hundreds of gamers across two platforms and you have an alternate universe where friendships and rivalries are made.

Overall: 9.0
Get very comfortable because Final Fantasy XI will have you so engrossed in its superbly massive world that you won’t want to leave your couch ever again.  Sure the $12.95 monthly charge might seem a bit steep but believe me when I say that it’s worth every penny.