Just played Final Fantasy XI

[Sebazy]

I pumped a *lot* of time into FFXI (I ran a highly successful gaming net cafe at the time #excuses).

A few things that stand out vs FFXIV:

The art direction and attention to detail within the world was completely unrivalled. It had so many little flourishes and details that on the surface of things, were completely pointless yet mesmerisingly beautiful. It really did feel like a living breathing world in places with things surprising you even after you'd played it for years.

A more coherent musical score with some hauntingly memorable themes in there. Whilst FFXIV trumps it for battle music, FFXI's open world was full of songs that I can still instantly identify and visualise to this day. Gustaberg, Sanctuary of Zi'tah, Heaven's Tower, Tavnazia to name but a few. Even relatively 'mundane' tracks such as the Promyvions were perfectly crafted for their purpose and matched the eerie and absolutely unique atmosphere within.

The community, warts and all. There were times when I literally wanted to grab some players and deck them in the face, there were other times when I loved them like family. The sandbox was much smaller and as such, everyone was accountable for their actions and behaviour. But at the same time the content actively encouraged an often rather hostile tribal mentality within the player base. Whilst it often caused some horrible divisions between rival linkshells, it also made the bonds within that much tighter. On a side note, it sure did wonders for making me rather thick skinned as well

I could go on and on!

[Lord_Zlatan]

A more coherent musical score with some hauntingly memorable themes in there. Whilst FFXIV trumps it for battle music, FFXI's open world was full of songs that I can still instantly identify and visualise to this day. Gustaberg, Sanctuary of Zi'tah, Heaven's Tower, Tavnazia to name but a few. Even relatively 'mundane' tracks such as the Promyvions were perfectly crafted for their purpose and matched the eerie and absolutely unique atmosphere within.

im gunna add Caedarva Mire to the haunting musical soundtrack... seriously, I still get nightmares about that place