'Prophecy' Thoughts

I started FINAL FANTASY XI in October of 2003. To say that I've seen a lot of changes in the game over the years would be quite the understatement. From the addition of expansions: Rise of the Zilart , Chains of Promathia, Treasures of Aht Urhgan, and Wings of the Goddess , new content has never failed to disappoint. The experience of venturing through these expansions was a genuine thrill - specifically Chains - my personal favorite of the big four, although my final assessment can't be given until Wings has finished.

Of course, in any baseball game, you can't hit a home run every time.

When SQUARE-ENIX announced the addition of three new scenarios, which make use of the already pre-existing areas, I, along with all other players were genuinely excited. Of course, while the excitement was pretty high, I was saying to myself and friends, and still do, "Yeah, this is really sweet, I can't wait, but... what about Wings ?" Yes, yes, they are working on them, I'm aware, but if I'm in the middle of an episode of LOST , I don't switch the channel in the middle of it to watch something else. I would much prefer to have the focus be on the continuing storyline of the aforementioned expansion and not some optional ten dollar 'scenario' that has proved to be nothing more than a headache - one which I can get for the same exact price at a bar, but put no effort into it at all.

And that's exactly what A Crystalline Prophecy has proven to be for me: a headache.

When voicing my opinions regarding this new add-on, the little resistance I've been receiving has been the same: it's optional and it's not something I have to do.

In some respect, you can file the expansions under the same rule. Yes, they have reshaped the game in terms of their content, but I didn't have to finish Zilart or Chains , for example, if I didn't want to. If I wanted access to Sky and Sea, then yes, I'd have to finish them. In the end, the rewards for finishing these two are far more great than some piece of customizable gear that can be purely situational at best.

If it's optional, does that excuse the fact that the content and rewards are not worth the time, effort, and even price of it? I think so. I'm sure the development team threw their hearts and souls into the creation of this and the yet-to-be-released A Moogle Kupo d’Etat and A Shantotto Ascension - which I hope will fare much better.

My biggest frustration with Crystalline as I'm sure many of you have already been made aware of by other players who are struggling with it, is the penultimate mission Ode to Life Bestowing . So far, I am 0/12 on this battle and lose confidence with each attempt. I don't think this fight would be as trying if it wasn't for fulfilling the requirements needed to actually enter the BCNM. In order to obtain the key item that is needed to enter the battlefield, a trip through Delkfutt's tower to collect a key item on all floors is needed. The downside to this is that you will be capped at level 30 and this must be done every time you wish to make another attempt at this battle, unless you have won previously.

Why? Seriously why?

Is this meant to make the whole mission more challenging to the player?

No, I don't think so.

It's only there simply to annoy us.

Up to this point, Crystalline is fairly simple and straight-forward, but once you reach this point you find yourself at the mercy of all the things in FINAL FANTASY XI that have frustrated you to no end right here - again. During my tenth attempt at this climb and battle, I started asking myself, "Is this really worth all of the time, effort, and frustration?" I'm getting annoyed a video game.. a video game that knows where the epicenter of my frustrations lie and has, once again, extricated those feelings with this optional(there's that word again) add-on scenario.

Now I am a completest. I will finish this some time, but unlike a certain individual I know very well, I am not going to panic and feel I need to get this done as soon as possible so I won't be 'left behind'. It's not a race to the finish and given the lukewarm reward at the end, you're not going to see me flying to the end.

At the end of the day, I know that my frustrations will not pay off.

Crystalline serves as nothing more than a test of player durability.

- Vice