Like it or not, Square Enix's epic Final Fantasy franchise is one of the solid backbones of the gaming industry, each iteration a guaranteed commercial success. Final Fantasy VII especially is typically acknowledged as one of the main games that made gaming as mainstream as it is today. While the current state of the franchise is debatable with some fans disliking the linear gameplay and the abundant cinematic sequences, there is no denying the enormous clout that Final Fantasy commands as one of Sony's trump cards.

With Final Fantasy XI as a massively multiplayer online role playing game (MMORPG), Square Enix shows that they aren't afraid to take the series into uncharted territory and that they're willing to reflect trends in the industry as console gaming shifts gradually online. While Sonic Team created the first online console RPG with Phantasy Star Online, FFXI will be breaking new ground as the first online console MMORPG. For the first time in Final Fantasy history, there's no real way to "beat" the game, but you can take part in missions and battles with groups, enhance the abilities of your online persona, and acquire new weapons and armors as you explore more and more of the vast world. It is also cross-platform, allowing PC users to play with PS2 owners.

Creating a distinct individuality for your character is important before you venture onto the FFXI servers. Again, this is a first in the Final Fantasy series as prior customization of characters in the game went only as far as changing their names. There are 5 races to choose from: Humes, the well-balanced humans; Galka, the male-only race that are strong hand-to-hand fighters; Tarutaru, weak-looking characters with strong magical powers; Mithra, the female-dominant race that are agile thieves; and Elvaan, proud, strong warriors. You'll also have to select a job for your character that dictates their role in the world (a system used in Final Fantasy V). Each of these races has its own specialities that make certain jobs more appropriate for specific races. However, you can mix and match as you wish.

Following this, customization continues as you tweak the appearance of your character, selecting everything from hair style and color to physical size. You also have to select a nation that you belong to, which is quite important later because countries will be competing against each other for conquering regions. There are three countries to select from in the world of Vana'diel: Republic of Bastok, an industrial mining city surrounded by wasteland; Kingdom of San d'Oria, a medieval city in a mountainous region; and Federation of Windrust, a magical, isolated continent covered by foliage. On the surface the countries appear to be living in harmony, but predictably greed always sets in and leaders seek to expand their territory. As you slowly embark on your journey into the world, the story will revolve around the growing turmoil among the three countries and the rivalries between them.

Gameplay consists of missions, quests, and conquests. Missions and quests both involve journeying into the heart of Vana'diel to complete certain objectives. Completing these goals will increase your ranking and reputation, unlock new missions, and win you new items and valuable information. Throughout your adventure, you'll discover new advances in the storyline and become familiar with the territory. Missions directly affect your chosen country's prestige and rank among the competing nations. Every week, all achievements will be tallied and the dominant nations are rewarded accordingly. To participate in conquests and expand territory, you can receive a "signet" from the town's guards that allow you to collect crystals after battles and score conquest points. The system of competing nations will foster a sense of solidarity among members and will motivate players to score for their country.

It wouldn't be a Final Fantasy game without the Active Time Battle, which is fully intact in the new online world. You can use an assortment of attacks, magic spells, and job abilities to attack enemies. The system should be familiar to fans of the series. One single party can now include as many as 18 people from around the globe, some chatting and discussing strategy while the others fight. Organizing parties should be relatively simple using the USB keyboards or onscreen keyboards to call out to other people in the towns. If you find a party you enjoy running around with, you can use an item called a "linkpearl" to form a "Linkshell Group".

MMORPGs are infamous for their addictive qualities that drain time and cash as players become so immersed in the worlds that they can't pry themselves away from the screens, constantly playing to obtain that one special item they've been searching for or to gain enough experience to advance to the next level. However, some console gamers might be disappointed with the long hours of gameplay that often turn out to be fruitless, and others might be disturbed with the open-ended gameplay that essentially never ends. However, others will be pleasantly hooked with the online community and the addictive gameplay as you roam through the vast world with an accompanying party.

Final Fantasy XI will incorporate a subscription-based pricing system of $12.95 a month. The PS2 version can only be purchased with the 40 GB hard drive peripheral. It'll be hard to convince console games not accustomed to paying monthly fees to start doing so. But there is no doubt that FFXI will have the typical Square touch of quality and simply having the Final Fantasy name attached to the game will guarantee attention so it will possibly be a grand success in any case. Look for the revolution in the series to hit this October for the PC and early January 2004 for the PS2.