Why was FFXI so great?

[Geesus]

I agree endgame should involve cooperation with groups of people. But, in my honest opinion stuff like main story missions shouldn't force people to group up. For me this is the time for my character to shine in the story. you know?

And this will be the last response I have to you Andrien, this^ is what you should have said. And while everyone wants to be the star of their own show in a game, you still were when you did the Story quests because they were for YOU not the party. Just like now, when I help someone with their PLD quests, it's still "their" story and the CS deals ONLY with them, but they still needed a party to get it done. That's what a MMO is all about, people and working together not solo play.

[Xoo]

Already answered this. So if you missed it OP: http://forum.square-enix.com/ffxiv/t...Desperately...

[Wynn]

Yes, I'm oversimplifying. The deed is done.

It's funny cause it's true.

[carlosx]

you can resume all FFXI on 1 word.......



.............EPIC............

[Orophin]

FF11 just had some sort of magic to it. It had great and engaging stories for the nation missions and main storyline quests. It had a very tightknit community. The game was tedious, but rewarding.

Could I go back to it? Hell no.

My biggest hope for FF14 is that the story quests and missions are a lot more immersive. They're definitely starting to shape up now, but the class and story quests at launch just feel like they were rushed and thrown together with no kind of cohesiveness to anything else going on. In FF11, you'd usually interact with some of the same NPCs between main story quests and class quests and other non-essential quests.

If they can bring this all back together, I think I might get that magical feel for this game as I did for FF11. I don't want to get my expectations too high, but I'm hoping for a big culmination to the Seventh Umbral Era storyline involving Cid, the Garlean generals, the NPCs from Sharlayan (yeah...they left such an impact on me that I can't remember their names ; and I might be reaching here, but perhaps a dragon.

[Karazaki]

Honestly people talk about game mechanics and content and other stuff, but what almost all XI players will agreed on is that XI was an adventure, it felt like you were in the world instead of playing a game (akin to how people get sucked into the world in novels). Unfortunately I've yet to find another game that has the same effect that XI did and XI itself has changed and become outdated so you won't get that effect from it anymore either.

[Geesus]

People who want FFXI-2 aren't even a speck compared to MMO players as a whole, who are what this game must target rather than fanservice for a dwindling hardcore base if it wants to be at all viable, or sane.

Ahhh yes, the fortune teller that knows all and why it is that some of us were and at some point still are disappointed in XIV after playing XI. But with comments and attitudes that are unfortunately true stated above, it comes down solely to money. Oh sure, it's a business no doubt; have a degree in it so understand it well but, it's also one of the reasons this game failed so miserably at launch. Tanaka SOOOO wanting to not be another Blizzard clone made some bad choices in trying to be different. He also forgot what made most of the original testers/players of this game at launch excited and that was another FF MMO! But what they did was try to keep the hardcore FF MMO fanbase around and this failed as well thanks to the "Let me hold your hand and show you everywhere you need to go to level and quest" MMOs. Those fans and those who left XI for them came back and were astonished to 1) not see anything from XI that WAS working as intended and liked ... but instead got 2) Why was this game so freaking HARD?! WTF omg so harddddd!! Q_Q And now we have a mis-mash of run through dungeons and all the other nonsensical crap imo that every other MMO has and it's STILL not good enough. Not easy mode enough for the I need my mommy players and not difficult enough or challenging enough for those that want to do more than just rush to 50.

[Andrien]

That's what a MMO is all about, people and working together not solo play.

I have to disagree. You're playing in an online world with other people, and sharing that world economy. It shouldn't dictate how you should play.

You have a point with the PLD quest, content like that is justifiable. But, I prefer main story missions to be me, myself, and I.

[SniperRifle]

So much to do, so little time in a single day to do it all. I always logged on with a plan, otherwise I would be overwhelmed with things to do.

[Eagleheart]

I am continually fascinated by this idea that FFXI was ruined by Abyssea. If by ruined, you mean no longer implementing 'new content' that was, quite literally, ninety percent sidegrade in reward, then yes, Abyssea ruined FFXI.

I quit FFXI precisely because Dev Team XI decided to slowly return to those days. If XIV goes the direction of XI, I will leave. Immediately. Already, half of my friend list from XI / former XI that no longer plays, but still keeps contact, think I and the remainder of my LS are all mad for playing another Square-Enix MMO.

I have faith in Dev Team XIV, though!!

With that said, however, I will reiterate that should FFXIV go the way of XI in content and execution, I'm gone. I'm not up for another decade of stagnation. ._.

I played FFXI for three years almost non stop and I have an opposite view. If XI was as great as some put it, it would have been a more well received game for the gaming community at large, specially the Final Fantasy fans, wich are among the most loyal fans out there. The game was only good for the stubborn gamers that put up with the nonsensical gameplay mechanics in place at that time.

I loved FFXI to death, but I see it for what it is/was.

I played FFXI from North American launch to November 2011, experienced kings, Einherjar, Dyno, farming relics for LS mates, Limbus, Sea, and Sky to the very brink of madness, and I entirely concur with the above post. I will never comprehend what masochism drives people to long for XI's content style.