Deciding...Buy or not to Buy

Swilliam · December 2003

Hello everyone this is my first Post:)

Anyway...I was just pondering...Is this game really worth it? I am a VERY dedicated Final Fantasy fan. I love every FF game from VII-X. The only thing that boggles me about this is the fact u gotta dish out 12 bucks a month to play it. What are the reasons for this exactly? I mean doesnt squaresoft make enough money with all the people just buying the game? Anyway...I know im getting the game for X-mas...But I just need to know if i should ask for money instead Lemme know what the scoop is please only people who have the game lemme know here thanks.

-Swilliam.....(Swill for short)

FF forever......

X-Zypher · December 2003

The reason why it costs 12 bucks is because it takes alot to run the servers this game is on, and the playing area is worldly. This game owns. 5 Stars + 2 thumbs.

Robbgobb · December 2003

First off it is $13 a month for a single character. It cost an additional $1 for each extra character and also the side game Tetra Master. I don't like that. I understand cost but I would like to be able to try each race without it costing me. I figure that I will play a few different races for the first month when I get the PS2 HDD and delete down to one before the month is over. The thing that should be thought about is how much are you going to play and is one character enough.

Zohar · December 2003

I used to have a more negative outlook on the monthly fee but then after I started playing for awhile, my opinion shifted. Since you can change your job (class) any time you return to a main city with no penalty, and still keep your old levels, what's the need for an extra character? I actually bought an extra character slot, wanting to expand my horizons but afterwards I still stuck with my original character because I can just switch to whatever job I want, when I want. If you know that you are unsure of what you want to be, be human or mithra. If you ever plan on being a magic user, don't be galka. If you ever plan to melee heavily then don't be a taru taru

. You may find that after playing, you don't have any desire for an extra character like myself

.

-=MMORPG.COM Staff=-
E-mail: Zohar@mmorpg.com

Asathor · December 2003

Well I played this game for the free month that comes with it and as impressive as the graphics are, I didn't find the gameplay too exciting. Coming from other MMORPGs, I was surprised that in a game like this with so much seemingly offered, there really wasn't much to do except battle the same creatures over and over again with very frustrating experience penalties for dying. I made to level 10 before giving up on the game altogether. The quests weren't much more exciting than those of other MMORPGs and were actually more frustrating due to very vague directions and useless hints. Now I know that quests aren't supposed to take 5 minutes to complete, but these were just rediculous in my opinion. If they added in a more solid PvP system, a guild system, and make combat a bit better (including the ability to actually run away from enemies instead of getting trampled after every escape attempt) then this game might be worth the money. Until then I have to say save your hard earned cash for better games that are scheduled to come out in early 2004.

Mallarky · December 2003

Game is lame. Offers nothing new. Cookie cutter characters and classes. Linear gameplay. You think that because of a subclass there would be a lot of variety right? Wrong. Every class has only 2 or 3 MAX viable subclasses. So every second or third person you meet as your class will be EXACTLY the same with NO skill differences. I played to level 20 and I was fighting monsters with the same models the whole time. NO VARIETY. People like to force themselves to think this game is good to justify their spending of 50$. Its lame. Get EQ or DAoC, they have everything this game has, and more, and do it much better.

Jacko · December 2003

this game rules,its a lot better then EQ imo. If you like FF,you will like this. Chocobos rock

VoY leader

hanbingl · December 2003

Every class has only 2 or 3 MAX viable subclasses. So every second or third person you meet as your class will be EXACTLY the same with NO skill differences.

Which is same with EQ or DAoC... lol

EQ fun boys like to force themselves to think this game is lame because they've spent 5 years on EQ and refuse to try anything new.

hanbingl · December 2003

I've played almost all fantasy mmorpg existed and this one is the best. you will find this game is more challenging than any other mmorpgs. and the graphic is awesome. So much to do in each level and fishing, crafting are like a totally subgame itself. Guilds in this game is called linkshell, you can join one by getting yourself a linkpearl from a shell member. PvP will be added soon, but right now you can help your kingdom to gain conquest points by killing monsters in that area. Once your kingdom rules that area you will gain free bind point and you will earn more points in that area. Conquest points are used to purchase elite items with no cost in gil. Also, traveling to other towns or cities is more fun than other games. You can run, ride chocoobas, aboard ship, or even airship if your rank is high enough.

Combat system is well designed. Once you are in combat, you are locked to the target. Nobody else except your party members can touch it unless you called for help. XP is based on your group average level to monster level ratio. unlike other mmorpg games, when you kill a very tough monster in a group you get your level ratio to group level to monster level. which makes power leveling impossible and makes the game more fair and fun to group.

I have never experienced lag since first day playing. People are nice and welling to help. You will find yourself more involved in this game than any others. You will be asked to group with others more often once you passed level 10.

MMORPG is all about get socialized and having fun. This game has them all. So get this game and get socialized. See ya in game.

Kyuuten · December 2003

At first I didn't like the idea of only one chtracter for a monthly fee of 12 dollars, but after playing the game it really doesn't matter since your character can be anything and everything. I really like the fact that you can change your job so easily. the graphics (in my opinion) are also finominal! I went from eq to FFXI and the difference in graphics was amazing. I would suggest this game to anyone who enjoys MMORPGs. TTyL TTFN!

~Kyuuten~

Infliction · December 2003

I've always been a big FF fan, but... I'm too poor for this one... I'd have to buy a new video card definately (32 meg gforce2 just won't cut it), theres the cost of that + 50 for the game + $12 a week... Must... Get... Job...

LethalOmega · December 2003

Yeah a job would deffinitly help......to buy.........

But your playin time would serverly be killed.....take it from me i work 30 hours a week and still attend school.......and have a gf......all which are very time consuming.........but i still find meager time to play......

THe game is great and i highly suggest it.....

but dont' let it be the basis for you getting a job......then it could be more trouble then what you are prepared for....

Powers awake fear my might...
Firey flames feel my blight.....
I am the alpha omega.....the beggining of the end...

Mallarky · December 2003

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Obiyer · December 2003

I might go and buy this game right now, but there is one thing that scares me if I support this title.

THE ONE DOLLLAR USD PER MONTH/PER CHARACTER

This IMHO is just stupid, and there is no way I would support this game because of this. Personally, I am scared because if a lot of people support this title then other developers will get the idea: "Hey if Square-Enix can do it why can't we?" Then we will see more next-gen MMORPG's follow this route of charging more money for less. Square-Enix really has some cahones for charging the players $12+$1(Per-Character/Month)+$1(Tetra Master)USD for the NA players to not even get their own servers.

-Obiyer

brihtwulf · December 2003

I've heard alot of good reviews on FFXI, and $12 a month isn't that bad considering games like SWG that have the gall to charge you $15/month. As soon as I have the cash to spare, I'll probably jump into FFXI myself. It sounds really fun.

-Brihtwulf

"Ain't no mystical energy field controls my destiny!"

Misti · December 2003

I think your missing how it all works out Obiyer. You really only need one character in this game since it can play every class without ever losing any work it has done in another class.

Even if you did want to create a character of every race in the game just for different looks and stats you would be paying the same or less then most 2nd gen mmorpgs coming out soon.

Tetra master being a completely seperate game makes sense to charge extra for. Your getting a second game for $1.00 a month, seems like a bargain to me if you are interested in it. Personally I dont use tetra master and never registered its content ID.

Obiyer · December 2003

I do not like the fact that Square-Enix does everything possible to give this game a bad impression right from when you see the loading screen (Which you will spend a great deal of time on because of the 1+hrs it takes to install the game). Personally, one of my pet-peeves is when Multi-International companies get greedy - FFXI is a prime example.

EDIT:

No, you don't understand this is how things start. One game will do it, then another and so on. SE is getting greedy for a MMOPG w/trainingwheels. I really want to like this game because I respect the products of both Square and Enix when they were seperate companies. However, they are getting far too greedy and the fact that they are unable to provide NA servers is a testament to that. If FFXI was a little less cookie cutter than most other MMORPG's then yes but it isn't. I'm sure you as a player could give some reasons otherwise?

-Obiyer

Misti · December 2003

Dont get me wrong I can see your point on this Obiyer. My feeling though, is that in general if anything I am saving money with this option for this game. If it went the road of most other new mmorpgs coming out over the next year they would be charging 15$ to 18$ and you would be stuck with it regardless of how you play.

With FFXI you pay $12 and thats it. If you want more races you can play all of them and still only pay similar prices to other new mmorpgs. If thats greedy, its one form of greed that currently helps the consumer.

As for the lack of NA servers I agree completely. That was a horrible mistake on their part and I think they kind of regret it now. It angered alot of both Japanese and American players.

The game can be painful to install, difficult to get used to (horrible interface due to the cross platform thing) and a challenge to become involved in. Once you do however I dont think its exactly cookie cutter. The game does bear a great deal of similarity to Everquest (which I think is a great thing) but has also been one of the only new mmorpgs to successfully integrate those classic elements with lots of neat new features that actually work. Skill chains, magic bursts, job subbing and switching. Housing and quests to increase bank size, inventory size. A very unique crafting system.

All in all I think they have done an amazing thing with this game. If they had made seperate PC and PS2 interfaces, and made NA servers at launch, they would have overcome the few problems they do have.

Obiyer · December 2003

See you don't understand it's the fact of the pattern they are setting. If the gaming community accepts the +(n)$ per character then other companies will ploy this off as well. Personally, the monthly rate is substantial at $12 when other titles such as the very loathed SW:G is $15. The job switch system is a cop-out for the player to not have to use SE's server space to put another character without a monthly fee. Furthermore if the races are all so simmilar what is the point of having multiple races?

I guarantee that without the "Final Fantasy" it would lose more than twenty percent of it's player base, but the contrary is it might gain some as most computer gaming enthusiasts hate this title simply because it came from a console. Regardless, SE is laying a very thick marketing strategem that most players cannot/refuse to see or do see but accept. The title angers me because SE is insulting the North American players that play this overpriced game by miring them with the much respected Final Fantasy insignia.

EDIT: Because of my hypocritical nature I will go out and buy this title right now and see for myself.

-Obiyer

Fool · December 2003

I am going to get the game for x-mas my friend to it is better having a friend on with you i've heard so it should be a good game.

Mallarky · December 2003

This game offers nothing new. I'll say it again EQ and DAoC have everything this game has and more. They also do it much better. Its plain fact that this game is just an EQ clone, that wasn't done so well. If you like it than thats your opinion, and this is mine.

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