Final Fantasy XI Preview

<p>Final Fantasy XI takes place on a mystical world known as Vana'Diel, a world that encompasses swords, magic and technology. <br> <br /> <br> <br /> It’s 20 years after mankind regained the world from the monsters and installed peace once again, but as memories of the battles begin to fade the scent of evil once again appears. Everything is resting on the power of the crystals, the source of everything in the world of Vana’Diel.<br> <br /> <br> <br /> Final Fantasy XI is set to be the series first foray into online play, allowing thousands of gamers to join in the world and battle the evil <br /> force in an adventure that is set to be very different from previous titles in <br /> the franchise.  Gameplay is set to be more akin to Ultima Online then <br /> Sega's Phantasy Star Online, with landscapes crawling with other players.  <br /> Specific details about the games main quest have yet to be announced, however <br /> it's believed that you can team up with five other people to form a group for <br /> the different adventures on offer.</p> <br /> <p>From the details that we know thus far, there are many walks of life that inhabit Vana’Diel, Square have released details on three of the primary races:</p> <br /> <table border="0" width="20" bgcolor="#CCCCCC" align="left" cellpadding="2" style="float: left"> <br /> <tr> <br /> <td width="100%"><img border="0" src="http://www.totalvideogames.com/images/FFXI/hume.jpg" width="135" height="68"></td> <br /> </tr> <br /> </table> <br /> <p><b> Hume<br> <br />  </b>Essentially the humans of Vana'Diel, balanced in all attributes with <br /> the scope to learn many different skills.</p> <br /> <p> </p> <br /> <table border="0" width="20" bgcolor="#CCCCCC" align="left" cellpadding="2"> <br /> <tr> <br /> <td width="100%"><img border="0" src="http://www.totalvideogames.com/images/FFXI/Tarutaru.jpg" width="135" height="68"></td> <br /> </tr> <br /> </table> <br /> <p><b>Tarutaru</b><br> <br /> These cute little fellows are specially trained in the ways of magic and mainly <br /> inhabit the Windas Kingdom.</p> <br /> <p> </p> <br /> <div align="left"> <br /> <table border="0" width="20" bgcolor="#CCCCCC" align="left" cellpadding="2" style="float: left"> <br /> <tr> <br /> <td width="100%"><img border="0" src="http://www.totalvideogames.com/images/FFXI/elven.jpg" width="135" height="68"></td> <br /> </tr> <br /> </table> <br /> </div> <br /> <p><b>Elven<br> <br /> </b>A proud race that make strong warriors.  The Elven race live primarily <br /> in the Sandoria Kingdom, where internally strife is rampant.</p> <br /> <p><br> <br /> Other races will frequent Vana'Diel as the various screenshots show, in <br /> particular a large ogre like being.  As with Sonic Team's online RPG, your <br /> first task upon starting FFXI is to create a character.  The Job System <br /> from previous FF titles is set to return, giving you a wide scope to tailor your <br /> character.  Starting off from the basic moulds, you can customize the look <br /> and attributes to create your very own individual Final Fantasy character within <br /> the Vana'Diel universe.</p> <br /> <p>Alongside the races Vana'Diel will be populated with a variety of wildlife, <br /> including the Final Fantasy favourites, Chocobo's...</p> <br /> <table border="0" width="20%" cellpadding="2" bgcolor="#CCCCCC"> <br /> <tr> <br /> <td width="50%"><a href="http://www.totalvideogames.com/tvg.php?gallary=true&all=false&newsid=741&img_name=741-8.jpg"><img height="100" src="http://www.totalvideogames.com/webconsole/data/news/images/s_741-8.jpg" width="135" border="2"></a></td> <br /> <td width="50%"><a href="http://www.totalvideogames.com/tvg.php?gallary=true&all=false&newsid=741&img_name=741-6.jpg"><img height="100" src="http://www.totalvideogames.com/webconsole/data/news/images/s_741-6.jpg" width="135" border="2"></a></td> <br /> </tr> <br /> </table> <br /> <p>Vana'Diel is a large place covering many different locations, Square have <br /> revealed three of these so far:</p> <br /> <div align="left"> <br /> <table border="0" width="20" bgcolor="#CCCCCC" align="left" cellpadding="2" style="float: left"> <br /> <tr> <br /> <td width="100%"><a href="http://www.totalvideogames.com/tvg.php?gallary=true&all=false&newsid=741&img_name=741-3.jpg"><img height="100" src="http://www.totalvideogames.com/webconsole/data/news/images/s_741-3.jpg" width="135" border="2"></a></td> <br /> </tr> <br /> </table> <br /> </div> <br /> <p><b>Bastuuk</b><br> <br /> Bastuuk is built upon technology, a nation created by the Hume's desire to mine <br /> for the nearby metal Mithril.  Bastuuk is a busy place, thriving on trade <br /> and reserach.<br> <br /> </p> <br /> <p><br> <br /> <br> <br /> <br> <br /> </p> <br /> <div align="left"> <br /> <table border="0" width="20" bgcolor="#CCCCCC" align="left" cellpadding="2" style="float: left"> <br /> <tr> <br /> <td width="100%"><a href="http://www.totalvideogames.com/tvg.php?gallary=true&all=false&newsid=741&img_name=741-9.jpg"><img height="100" src="http://www.totalvideogames.com/webconsole/data/news/images/s_741-9.jpg" width="135" border="2"></a></td> <br /> </tr> <br /> </table> <br /> </div> <br /> <b>Windas</b><br> <br /> A magical place and home of the Tarutaru, the whole nation blends naturally with <br /> the surrounding environment, an organic city.  Windas is a magical place, <br /> where the Tarutaru practice their magical abilties.</p> <br /> <p><br> <br /> <br> <br /> <br> <br /> </p> <br /> <div align="left"> <br /> <table border="0" width="20" style="float: left" bgcolor="#CCCCCC" align="left" cellpadding="2"> <br /> <tr> <br /> <td width="100%"><a href="http://www.totalvideogames.com/tvg.php?gallary=true&all=false&newsid=741&img_name=741-4.jpg"><img height="100" src="http://www.totalvideogames.com/webconsole/data/news/images/s_741-4.jpg" width="135" border="2"></a></td> <br /> </tr> <br /> </table> <br /> </div> <br /> <b>Sandoria</b><br> <br /> Home to the Elven race, Sandoria has seen years of unrest amidst civil wars and <br /> despite the current state of peace, the level of pride and violence continues to <br /> threaten ordrer imposed by the alliance between the royal knights and their <br /> religious counterparts.</p> <br /> <p> </p> <br /> <p>Communication within the FFXI universe is carried out through a word based <br /> system, whether this proves to be as intuitive as Sonic Team's icon based <br /> communication is yet to be known, however this is one crucial element that <br /> Square will have to focus on to fully realise their dream.</p> <br /> <p>Specific details are still extremely thin on the ground, however now that the <br /> Western version of FFX is finished, expect coverage for this eagerly awaited <br /> title to begin mounting.</p>