Final Fantasy XI

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Final Fantasy XI

Title

Final Fantasy XI

Developer

Square

Publisher

Square Enix

Director

Koichi Ishii (1999-2003)
Nobuaki Komoto (2003-2008)
Koichi Ogawa (2008-2010)
Akihiko Matsui (2010)
Mizuki Ito (2010-2016)
Yoji Fujito (since 2016)

Producer

Hiromichi Tanaka (1999-2012)
Akihiko Matsui (2010-2016)
Yoji Fujito (since 2016)

Artists

Ryosuke Aiba

Writers

Nobuaki Komoto
Masato Kato

Composer

Naoshi Mizuta
Kumi Tanioka
Nobuo Uematsu

Series

Final Fantasy

Platforms

PlayStation 2
Microsoft Windows
Xbox 360

Release

PlayStation 2
JP: May 16, 2002
NA: March 23, 2004
Windows
JP: November 7, 2002
NA: October 28, 2003
EU: September 17, 2004
Xbox 360
NA: April 18, 2006
JP: April 20, 2006
EU: April 21, 2006

Genres

MMORPG

Mode

multiplayer

Final Fantasy XI is a MMORPG game by Square. It is the eleventh installment of the Final Fantasy series and is currently (2026) directed by Yoji Fujito. It is the first MMORPG of the series and enhanced by multiple expansion packs.

Synopsis

The world of Vana'diel stands at the brink of war. Three powerful nations, united in their plight against the beastmen forces, look to their last hope - brave adventurers like you!

Will the beastmen gain the upper hand, and thrust the once-peaceful Vana'diel into another ar?

Step into the world of Vana'diel and journey forth on grand adventures with players from all across the globe! FINAL FANTASY XI is the firs tonline game in the award-winning FINAL FANTASY series.

How you play is up to you, with limitless possibilities for adventure.

Set out on your own to discover the countless secrets of Vana'diel, or form a party with your friends to purge the bestman forces bring home sensational spoils.

— Description from the Final Fantasy XI website

Setting

The world of Final Fantasy Xi is called Vana'diel and is a rich world with diverse climates. Six city-states exist:

• the Republic of Bastok
• the Kingdom of San d'Oria
• the Federation of Windrust
• the Grand Duchy of Jeuno
• the Empire of Aht Urhgan
• the Sacred City of Adoulin

Vana'diel was created as a playground for the Gods and their children spawned from an enormous Crystal. Wishing to be one with the Gods, they built a path to Paradise, for which they were smote down by the Gods. THe Goddess Altana wept five tears which would give life to the five races: the Galka, the Mithra, the Hume, the Elvaan and the Tarutaru. The Goddess of Twilight Promathia condemned Altana and cursed those races with eternal conflict and bringing out their worst attitudes:

• the apathy of Humes
• the arrogance of Elvaans
• the rage of Galka
• the cawardice of Tarutaru
• the envy of Mithra

The events of the game are set 20 years after the Crystal War where the Middle Lands nations of Bastok, San d'Oria and Windrust defeated the Shadow Lord.

Story

Players begin in one of the three main countries: San d'Oria, Bastok and Windrust. They must help with creating alliances and banding nations together to fight against the resurrected Shadow Lord.

Rise of the Zilart (2003):
The Crystal War and the resurrection of the Shadow Lord was orchestrated by the Zilart Princes Eald'Narche and Kam'lanaut. They plan to open the path to paradise.

Chains of Promathia (2004):
Along with an Elvaan girl named Prishe the player needs to prevent the resurrection of the Zilart race. The wyrmking Bahamut intends to destroy Vana'diel to prevent the Goddess Promathia to absorb the world.

Treasure of Aht Urhgan (2006):
After years of self-imposed isolation, the Empire of Aht Urhgan opens up to the other nations, revealing the intrigues of the Empress' court and the fear of war and darkness.

Wings of the Goddess (2007):
Set during the Crystal War 20 years prior, the Elvaan/Hume mix Lilisette and the Regal Feline Cait Sith want to reduce the suffering of the era, while Lilith, an alternate timeline version of herself, wants the war to keep going.

Seekers of Adoulin (2013):
The western continent archipelago of Adoulin and the Sacred City of Adoulin are open to explore once again.

Rhapsodies of Vana'diel (2015):
The Cloud of Darkness pose a threat to the realm, and the overall storylines are concluded.

The Voracious Resurgence (2020):
So called "world eater eggs" appear throughout the land of Vana'diel.

References in Final Fantasy XIV

Legacy

• Each of the playable races are based on those in XI.
  • Hyur are based on the Humes.
  • Elezen are based on the Elvaan.
  • Lalafell are based on the Tarutaru.
  • Miqo'te are based on the Mithra. Male Miqo'te not being playable in Legacy references how only female Mithra were playable in XI.
  • Roegadyn are based on the Galka. Players only being able to create male Roegadyn despite female Roegadyn existing in Legacy references how Galka were a male-only race in XI.
• Goobbues, Goblins, Mandragoras, and Mamool Ja are based directly on their XI counterparts.

A Realm Reborn

• The Mamool Ja race is based directly on their counterparts from Final Fantasy XI.

Stormblood

• Gagana are based on the Roc enemies from Final Fantasy XI.
• Yovra, Phuabo and Xzomit are directly based on enemies from Final Fantasy XI.
• The Forbidden Land, Eureka
  • The leveling system is based on the one in XI, in particular losing experience points and potentially levels on death.
  • Many Notorious Monsters found in Eureka are based on Notorious Monsters from Final Fantasy XI.

Music References

Original Theme	Theme
Iroha	Iroha
Gates of Paradise - The Garden of Ru'Hmet	Gates of Paradise - The Garden of Ru'Hmet
Onslaught	Onslaught
Turmoil	Turmoil

Shadowbringers

• The Pixies are based directly on their counterparts from Final Fantasy XI.

Endwalker

• Regoliths, Thinkers, Weepers, and Wanderers are directly based on their Final Fantasy XI counterparts.
• Omicron Beta and Delta units are based on the Spheroid and Gear enemies from Final Fantasy XI, respectively.
• Alzadaal's Legacy is based on the Undersea Ruins of Alzadaal.
  • The Qutrub, Rampart, Chariot, and Acrolith enemies are based on their Final Fantasy XI counterparts.

Dawntrail

• Gulool Ja Ja and Zoraal Ja are based on Notorious Monsters from Final Fantasy XI.
• The Echoes of Vana'diel alliance raid series is based directly on Final Fantasy XI.
  • Vana'diel's Gulool Ja Ja is an antagonist of the raid series, putting him in direct contrast with his Turali counterpart.
• The Yok Huy race is based directly on the Troll race from Final Fantasy XI.

Music References Several Orchestrion Rolls can be obtained after clearing the Echoes of Van'diel raid series.

Generally available:

Original Theme	Theme
Jeuno	Jeuno (Starlight Celebration)

After the First Walk:

Original Theme	Theme
Vana'diel March	Vana'diel March
Awakening	Awakening
Castle Zvahl	Castle Zvahl
Fighters of the Crystal	Fighters of the Crystal
Battle Theme from FINAL FANTASY XI	Battle Theme from FINAL FANTASY XI
Tu'Lia	Tu'Lia
Battle in the Dungeon #3	Battle in the Dungeon #3
Battle in the Dungeon	Battle in the Dungeon
Depths of the Soul	Depths of the Soul
Shadow Lord	Shadow Lord
The Forgotten City - Tavnazian Safehold	The Forgotten City - Tavnazian Safehold
The Grand Duchy of Jeuno	The Grand Duchy of Jeuno

After the Second Walk:

Original Theme	Theme
Sarutabaruta	Sarutabaruta
Gustaberg	Gustaberg
The Big One	The Big One
Anxiety	Anxiety
Vana'diel March #2	Vana'diel March #2
Voyager	Voyager
Sometime, Somewhere	Sometime, Somewhere
Hopelessness	Hopelessness
Jeweled Boughs	Jeweled Boughs
Despair (Memoro de la S^tono)	Despair (Memoro de la S^tono)
Belief	Belief
Eald'narche	Eald'narche
Tough Battle #2	Tough Battle #2
Hidden Truths	Hidden Truths
Tough Battle	Tough Battle
Ronfaure	Ronfaure

After the Third Walk:

Original Theme	Theme
The Republic of Bastok	The Republic of Bastok
The Kingdom of San d'Oria	The Kingdom of San d'Oria
Airship	Airship
Recollection	Recollection
Anxiety	Anxiety
Second Ode: Distant Promises	Second Ode: Distant Promises
The Wyrm Who Would Be King	The Wyrm Who Would Be King
Shinryu	Shinryu
A Realm of Emptiness	A Realm of Emptiness
Ragnarok	Ragnarok
Forbidden Seal	Forbidden Seal
Vana'diel March #4	Vana'diel March #4
Fated Strife -Besieged-	Fated Strife -Besieged-
Bustle of the Capital	Bustle of the Capital
Feast of the Ladies	Feast of the Ladies
The Federation of Windurst	The Federation of Windurst
Main Theme from FINAL FANTASY XI	Main Theme from FINAL FANTASY XI
One Last Time	One Last Time
Happily Ever After	Happily Ever After
Fifth Ode: A Time for Prayer	Fifth Ode: A Time for Prayer

Events

• The collaboration events Burgeoning Dread and The Maiden's Rhapsody feature Shantotto and Iroha from FFXI as guest appearances.
  • Both characters' visits to FFXIV are also referenced in FFXI itself - Shantotto mentions visiting another world when the player unlocks her as a Trust summon, and Iroha uses a skill that she learned during her visit to XIV in a scene near the end of Rhapsodies of Vana'diel.

Music References Music without an Orchestrion Roll:

• Battle Theme = Battle Theme