Since 2003 i try to get into other MMORPGs and none comes close to the immersion i have in FFXI. I care about the story, the places and the people of vanadiel. I find them believable somehow.

I only felt something similar in Everquest Online Adventures that was shutdown by Sony. I still find it awesome to go to Zilart, COP and TOAU areas. Fight goblings/orcs/yagudo.

I still think the battle system in FFXI is the best one in terms of immersion. I never managed to feel immersed in World of Warcraft type of battle system. I always imagined myself controlling a doll or a cartoon character in WoW or Rift or AoC, or DCUO or Everquest II, etc.

In FFXI i feel like the character i play is part of me or at least a believable person. Not even going to mention the soundtrack.

I feel like FFXI was made by passionate japanese devs. Thats probably the difference between FFXI and everything else that is in the market.

Sorry for grammar errors.