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Just got down patching the bajillion files and... it's not looking good
133794m3r
Member Posts: 173
Well what can i say about this game?
First off i'm playing it on a PC. The following is my score from their "benchmark on high" and also my specs. Also i downloaded the trial since i didn't want to pay for a game that i didn't knwo if i'd like or not especially not an MMO.
Score on high was 6,222.
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CPU:2.13Ghz dual core
GPU:Nvidia GTX 260m 1GB ddr3 vram
RAM:4GB ddr2 800Mhz
HDD:320GB 7200rpm
Network:1.5Mb/s
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Now then obviously i'm not going to be talking about any "lag" from teh game as far as being in it. The game's loading times is quite large. Also that "play online" client is by far the worst thing i've ever seen in my life. I absolutely loathed it. But i sat through it's long and lengthy bs process b/c i wanted to try an Online version of my favorite series of all time.
Once i get done with all of that random starter things. I set all the items to the max settings so i can really see what this game's all about. I set back and watch the very small video play but i enjoy it as that's something that all SE games always do right. They always have done an excellent job at their cinematics. Once that's completed i get into the game and choose my race. I choose the elves.(elvaan) And read through the storyline. Once that was all done i was like "cool let's start playing the game"
This is where it becomes very clear that they did a HORRIBLE job at doing teh controls for the PC version. I tried pressing "wasd" to no avail. Nothing happened. I tried using my arrows to move. All that did was made the camera moved. So i tried clicking the ground to make myself move. That did nothing so i was absolutely flaberghasted. I try pressing "escape" to open up my menu and it did nothing also. I quickly ran online to try to figure out how the hell i was supposed to move around this game. NOTHING TOLD ME ANYTHING about anything. They all just said there were these "magic menus" over the logout option. So i sat and pressed every button on my keyboard trying to move. I got "chat options" macro options, and a logout option. (which is on break whatever they're crazy people i guess) but there was no "menu to change the keybindings.
I try opening up Final Fantasy XI config to try to change some in there, and all that is is just something to set gamepads. Nothing there. So i sat there randomly clicking around trying to get around this game knowing full well that Square Enix had/has no idea about how the hell to make a mmo for the PC. I saw 3 people "wave at me" apparently in chat whislt i was busy searching on the net. After almost 20minutes i tried pressing down the left mouse button. BY GOD WE HAVE A WINNER. So i tried moving around with it, the controller let me move around with a nonactive camera. This was similar and good for console games with dual axis if you wished to have it like that but on the PC it's pointless.
So i ran around cluelessly for 10 mintues trying to find an NPC with some sort of clue that they'd give me some sort of quest or any other indication that they're important in the least bit. I seemed to have forgotten that this is a "JRPG" so it's made for people who like to torture themselves. Since i found no one of importance or atleast i didn't feel like they looked any different than any one else.
The UI for this game and it's various menus seemed to be a half way decent model for a console game. Which is apparently what SE did with this game. They took those same methods and put them on the PC. That's one more area they have failed completely.
All in all, i'm going to uninstall this game(most likely) even though i spent 5 hours downloading what i assume was patches along with the huge ass client. I hope FFXIV is atleast done correctly. This game has a horrible UI, horrible Controls, horrible launcher, horrible way that you first get into the game which is a very long and lengthy process. And although the graphics are very nice for a 2001 game they do seem dated which i could get over if during my first 30 minutes of gameplay weren't spent in frustration.
And people wonder why FFXI never overtook wow, and other such RPGs. As long as they keep these controls, i doubt it will EVER overtake wow. They need to seriously rework their controls for this game. They also need to make the UI more friendly.
Yes sure it was done "prewow" where almost no one knew what an mmo should have. But they should've let you set the keys yourself or atleast included some sort of FAQ on their site for players who are going to try it out.
Controls:1/10
Gameplay:*/10
Graphics:6.5/10
Fun Factor:-1/10
Story:9/10*
Overall:3.85/10**
I won't be coming back to this thread or atleast i think i'm not going to. If people just post "zomfg wtf this game r great. U n00b. game better w/o u. leave us alone". I'll just unwatch. But if anyone here knows how the hell to change keybindings natively i'll think about changing the controls value and also saying that the game's atleast halfways decent and give it an actual shot. Unless that happens however, i can be sure that i won't be getting this game, nor FFXIV unless they change up things.
*Story from the start was seeming to be nice like all other FF games very well done.
** Never got to the gameplay so i have no idea how the game plays. Or how well it's done.
Comments
The very first thing that happens when you make a character is a short cutscene that tells you where to go to pick up some gil, as well as where to go to fight enemies.
I don't understand how you can rate a game so low because you were too dumb to read the manual and figure out how to move.
Well the game is really meant to be played with a game controller.
Having said that, I played for over a year with keyboard and mouse back when FFXI was first released. I decided to download the game about a month ago to try it out again and had exactly the same experience you did. I guess in the last 3+ years I completely forgot how to play the game.
"There is as yet insufficient data for a meaningful answer."
Do you have a controller you could plug into your pc? Really, if you do, it makes the world of difference. The game is so easy with the controller(gamepad)
I remember logging on the 1st time and was totally lost. You chose Elvaan and what city? The game has a very steep learning curve to begin with. Not many games back then had the old exclamation point above someone's head to tell you that they had something. You pretty much just talk to any npcs in the city, village, town that you are in, and they will give you quests.
The quests will build your reputation with that starting town, as well as possibly give you money and items to use. Once you leave the town, you will pretty much be playing by yourself, killing monsters until you reach level 10.
It's too bad you won't give it another shot especially since you are a big FF fan. I had no idea what i was doing let along how to talk to someone for several days but you learn. The achievements you will accomplish are very rewarding, the community is great, the story line is awesome. Starting the game from scratch though especially if you are thinking of getting 14, it might be better for you to wait. Depending on how much you play, it would take you 2-4 months to hit the level cap. If you do decide to go the distance, I would recommend leveling red mage, black mage, or thief as your 1st job to 75. These jobs can solo some tougher mobs at the cap along with the ability to solo alot of the missions in the storylines.
QFT, the first few hours of the game are very well layed out for you, even though npcs dont have gold markers above their head. But ya the very first person that talks to you in the cut scene tells you to go to jack of spades of whatever to get some gil, then he tells you to go talk to the npc guard by the gate who gives you a bunch of starter missions to get the hang of things. Try reading a bit. Amazing game if you have some patience in the beginning and do some research.
Originally posted by Scagweed22
is it the graphics? the repetativenesses? i mean what is the point? you could be so much more productive in real life
Real life brings repetition and pointlessness too. The only thing real life offers is Great graphics. Its kinda expensive too and way to dependent on the cash shop. Totally pay to win as well. No thank you. Ill stick to my games.
OP, go to config and change your keyboard to compact. Then you can use WASD to move and such, like any other MMO.
Playing - EVE, Wurm
Retired - Final Fantasy XI, Anarchy Online, Mabinogi
Waiting - ArcheAge, Salem
and this! its a life saver.
Originally posted by Scagweed22
is it the graphics? the repetativenesses? i mean what is the point? you could be so much more productive in real life
Real life brings repetition and pointlessness too. The only thing real life offers is Great graphics. Its kinda expensive too and way to dependent on the cash shop. Totally pay to win as well. No thank you. Ill stick to my games.
Buy a XBOX 360 controller and use it to play FFXI. It has a much better feel than the keyboard.
Inherited Will, the Destiny of the Age, and the Dreams of its People. These are things that will not be stopped. As long as people continue to pursue the meaning of freedom, these things will never cease to be! - Gol D. Roger
Hahah n00b. You use 8 4 2 6 to walk around if you go into the menu's you can change it to work with compact mode which makes it wasd.. Anyway it's okay go back to playing Wowz and leave the hard game to the big kids.
omfg ppl keep talking about the game controls why go online and look up the controls why not look inside the box what came with the game if u even bought it cuz everything iu need to no comes with it and u said u where trying to move and couldnt most ppl would have tried to use the mouse i dont understand u it makes no sense u tried everything but the things right infront of u lmfao
spunkymon
Where the hell's this compact at? I said i downloaded a trial. How the hell can i read a manual? 2468 doesn't do shit for me. All it does it go to "say" over and over and over and over again. So please explain how it's "just laid out for you".
edit:
"omfg ppl keep talking about the game controls why go online and look up the controls why not look inside the box what came with the game if u even bought it cuz everything iu need to no comes with it and u said u where trying to move and couldnt most ppl would have tried to use the mouse i dont understand u it makes no sense u tried everything but the things right infront of u lmfao"
[quote][i]Originally posted by unholyfreak[/i]
The very first thing that happens when you make a character is a short cutscene that tells you where to go to pick up some gil, as well as where to go to fight enemies.
I don't understand how you can rate a game so low because you were too dumb to read the manual and figure out how to move.
[/quote]
please tell me you read it. Obviously you fucking didn't. I said clearly i DONWLOADED THE TRIAL. So there's NO MANUAL So i don't understnad how alot of you can be so dumb that you can't read. You all say how bad it is for me to not read. Yet look at all of you. i doubt ANY OF YOU even read my post all the way. I'm guessing 99% of you were just like let's read his complaints. let's NOT READ A SINGLE WORD BEFORE IT so we can just all flame on him.
For the last time. THERE'S NO DAMN MANUAL IN A TRIAL DOWNLOAD. Also THERE'S NO "COMPACT MODE" FROM THE MAIN GAME or FINAL FANTASY XI CONFIG.
So you downloaded the game gone inside it couldn't figure out how to open menu and instead of searching for some answer on google or whatever search engine you use you made this crap of a "review"? call about laziness...
Rating a game without playing it... classic.
Like you couldn't even move... and you still rated it rofl.. I don't know what to say besides good thing you didn't pay for this experience.
While this troll is an idiot in all ways imaginable, he's not really wrong per se. Playonline sucks, the controls are a bit clunky and the UI is very outdated.
I wouldn't really blame SE for it though, things were really different in 2001. Even still, they really don't fill today's standards at all (and Playonline never did, imo >_>).
how the hell can i open a menu if there's no manual and it's not the usual buttons? Esc, ~, backspace, "o" or any of the other random buttons i pressed. The point of their game is to take on new people is it not? If they continue this strategy in FFXIV they surely will never grow up very well.
edit:Also i gogled everything i could. If i was truly a troll. Would i honestly go through the process of fucking downloading the game? Would i sit here for 8hrs whilst the game downloaded? Would i spend all that damn time getting into it? No, i would've made up a bunch of shit off the top of my head. I was hoping it was good. One of my old buddies who i've lost contact with used to play the game. Said he loved it how great it was etc. etc. I never tried it due to my extremely weak pc. Glad to see FFXI people are just as bad as WoW fanbois. Fuck this side of the community.
Also the community of FFXI is pretty nice so do a /yell and ask for some help. When i used to play there was always someone around that would help. Community can't be beat.
You should really adjust to the the FFXI play style cause it is a great game the story is damn good and the classes can't be beat in any other game. The group grinding is not bad tho you end up having to sit around for hrs waiting on a group to form.
/cry i miss FFXI , stupid WoW spoiled me so i can't have as much fun as i used to.
Inherited Will, the Destiny of the Age, and the Dreams of its People. These are things that will not be stopped. As long as people continue to pursue the meaning of freedom, these things will never cease to be! - Gol D. Roger
how the hell can i open a menu if there's no manual and it's not the usual buttons? Esc, ~, backspace, "o" or any of the other random buttons i pressed. The point of their game is to take on new people is it not? If they continue this strategy in FFXIV they surely will never grow up very well.
That's your opinion, if you think everyone that is interested in x game doesn't research some before playing it or when he/she needs some help on something then go find some hand holding mmo.
Sorry but if you leave a game for that stupid reason when you would have figured it out in a minute if you tried searching on google it's sad.
You are troll, because you are immature biased, exaggerating and clearly do not even realize that you are a troll.
What did you think we would say when you come in here bashing a fine game that happens to be old as heck and thus has very outdated systems? Welcome you with open arms? The game is not as bad as you're making it out to be, which is why your opinion is of no value.
How do we know that you haven't done just that?
You clearly are not FFXI material anyway, look at how you start cursing like a little boy the minute someone says something you disagree with. The irony being that every problem you experienced (assuming your story is actually genuine) was easily fixable with the most minor effort.
Lazy, instant gratification seeking whiners will not do well in FFXI. This very thread is only more proof of that simple fact.
This.
The OP's comments about PlayOnline (what a horrible program) and the controls being designed for a PS2 controller are spot on. I played FFXI, on my PC, for a couple years simply because I enjoyed the game, but there wasn't a day that went by that I didn't curse that UI. That an the inability to ALT+TAB out of the game or run in window mode (But I think those two have changed since I played)
Needless to say if the guy really wanted to figure out how to play there are many online resources to get information on the controls and other basics.
OP any mmo you enjoyed? you poped out of nowere yesterday and saw you bashing 4 games already, so what's your point?
This game was built from the ground up as a PS2 MMO, and it shows. The UI is built in a classic FF way where you use menus, there isnt much else you can do on a console. POL does suck, and thats a reason why they are scrapping it when 14 is out, it was a good idea (supposed to be a community hub for all their online games) but it was executed poorly. The main thing about this game is that its old-school, no giant unrealistic gold "?" or "!" over peoples heads (personaly i hate that) wich forces you to interact with the games NPCs (like gathering clues in any RPG) and its a large focus on group grind.
The fact that it took you 20 mins to look up how to move is kind of sad, i typed in "move character in FFXI PC" and i found it in less then a min, apprently you arnt very good with the search tools. This is an FF game so reading whats going on IS A HUGE PART OF THE GAME, wich clearly you did not do, becuase you canfigure out what to do generaly if you did, and if all else failed you could have just went outside the town and stated attacking things (every MMO ive EVER played has the easy mobs to kill just outside the starter town)
The games old and 14 is on the horizon so there is not much point in starting a new game when its this old and a new game is less then a year away, just wait.
so either you are trolling, or you have zero patience wich means you really havent played any MMO that requires much from you, just uninstall and go back to w/e else you were playing or just wait until FFXIV.
ur... I just googled "FFXI Controls" and the very first result is :ffvault.ign.com/View.php
Seems like you didn't try very hard..... ....
Sorry dude but you fail lol.The game has incredibly great controls and can be done to suite your needs,you just don't know how,that is not the game's fault.
I could not ask for better controls,i have everything i need right on the numpad.no wasted hand movement,perfect.You just needed to go into the game with an open mind an dont think everything has to be done as many other games do it.
The menus popping up from mouse is not a console design lol,you USUALLY do not even use a mouse in console games,so the menu popup albeit not conventional is perfect.
To start chat is also way more constructive than console or any other game for that matter,just type lol or hit space bar if you want to see the chat line.Just as any other game you can set the chat mode to ALWAYS be the same /say or /lschat whatever you want.[menu bottom left]there is also command line for it,i just don't remember it offhand,but i could figure it out.
I can clearly see the OP was expecting FFXI to be another copy of all other games,well the GOOD news it is NOT,it does nothing the same ,it is it's own giant of a game with great creativity.There is no arrows or handfed content,YES you must discover everything for yourself,that is what makes it a GAME and not a romper room like WOW is.
Perhaps it is a flaw that so much of FFXI's greatness is hard to discover for the average person that cannot adapt,but all it takes is to ask a knowledgeable person and they can answer a lot of questions.Heck i have not played FFXI closing in on a year,and i could still probably answer most any question.
I remember stopping an impatient party ,so i could teach our whm how to setup macros to make the group run smoother and safer.We were heading to Crawlers Nest,that is how long the whm went w/o using macros,i am sure he struggled big time.I am sure there is TONS of players in FFXI who do not understand many things,just need to ask.
Never forget 3 mile Island and never trust a government official or company spokesman.
do not i repeat do not send this troll over to 14 he can go play WoW i hear they hold ur hand thru the game over there lol
spunkymon
I've had another guy like you try this game out, and he quit after 30 minutes just because of the controls and how clueless he was. At least he didn't write a unnecessarily long essay of bitchybitch about it. But you have my agrees on how rotten PO and UI mechanics are, not mentioning the controls that will make you loose hair with the exception - you can get used to it. Looking past the negatives, waiting for the positives, is an ability found in few.
I just think people are spoilt with WoW, meaning the majority of people don't give older MMORPGs (with a steep learning curve) a chance. Let me say FFXI still holds its own qualities though, but I remember the exhausting grind and shouting for groups back then made me say goodbye. Grinding is a part of MMORPGs, a reason why I do not get entartained by them anymore, but how depressing and static my life looks atm makes me turn my head to this. Imma give it another try yo, maybe with a PS3 controller to see what kinda feel it will grant me.
ESS O ESS. O ESS O. OR ESS? Bah, fuck it, just call 911.