PS2 Preview Haven

Final Fantasy XI

Final Fantasy's journey into the world of online role-playing is nearing the preperation stages. Beta testing wrapped up on April 24. If all systems are go, the game should release less than a month after that in Japan. We can only hope localization will be as short as possible, so American gamers can get their MMORPG on, too.

Though this adventure takes place purely online, many new systems, as well as some throwback ones, are in there to keep you occupied. First comes the job system, familiar to those who have played Final Fantasy V or Final Fanasy Tactics. Your character will be able to pick from over a dozen different jobs, including typical selections from a thief, monk, and black mage; and strange ones like bard, beastmaster, ranger, and dark knight.

As you can see, Final Fantasy XI has unmatched depth for an online RPG, and stays true to the innovative tradition of the series. This game is set to revolutionize thre way console gamers think about role-playing games, and we couldn't be more excited.