A new direction for a classic series (Final Fantasy 11 (PS2))

Member Name: R_Easton

Product:	Final Fantasy 11 (PS2)
Date:	30/10/02 (3160 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: non-linear?, socializing?, Are these advantages?

Disadvantages: non-linear?, socializing?, Are these disadvantages?

Final Fantasy 11 is significantly different from previous FF games. Previous FF games have been single player games, based around controlling a single character through evolving story and defeating increasingly difficult enemies. FF11 will still involve defeating ever increasingly difficult enemies, but won't be single player.

Square have decided to make FF11 an MMORPG (Massively Multi-Player Online Role Playing Game). This means you play online in a continuous world against other players across the world. While many aspects of game play are the same as offline RPGs, you still gain experience to fight more powerful enemies and money to buy equipment, some aspects are very different, for example, the characters you meet in the world are not static and computer controlled, they are real players, competing in the same way as you. This, theoretically, is an improvement, as the dialogue is not fixed and the game world seems more real. However, it can be a disadvantage as it is much harder to have a story based game in a continuous world.

Final Fantasy 11 will be different to previous final fantasy games in many other ways, because of this change to multi-player. The characters will no longer be fixed in name appearance and past story, as you will choose your own character as you start the game. There are five races too choose from:

Humes (You may know them as humans) are the most basic species, average abilities and have much choice in careers and skills to learn.
Tarutaru are a small, possibly mog-like race, that have good magic abilities.
Elvaan are taller and strong than humans and are good as warriors.
Mithra are similar to the elves but are opposed to technology.
Galka are strong and industrious.

There are three main regions in the FFXI world, which is called Vana?diel. These are the Republic of Bastok, the main hume territory, the Federation of Windurst, populated by Tarutaru tribes, and the Kindom of
San D?oria, the Elvaan Region. You must also choose a character class, or job. The main ones are Warrior, Mage (Black, White or Red), Thief and Monk. There are also Dark Knight, Paladin, Bard and Ranger.

Ano
ther changed aspect is the dialogue, which is now controlled by the players. A picture based system can also be used for convenience, and the game recognises commands to make your character do conversional movements, such as nodding. FFXI allows players to from into groups for fighting enemies, which will be beneficial.

The synthesis system is back and like in FF9, not all items can be made by one person, although this time this will be ordered. Different guilds will exist and these will make the items related to their craft.

The game is already out in Japan and should be released in the U.S on the 16th of February 2003. It is also planned for be released on PC, which I will be waiting for (that or buy a fortune of Sony goods to play it on my PS2). I do not yet know release dates for Europe (If anyone can help me on this please do).

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