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Flawed, but still the best MMO out there I've been playing FFXI since beta and while my love for the game is obvious to anyone, I will be the first to admit that it's flawed, and certainly not for everyone. I've played every major MMO release since Ultima Online, and I will say the FFXI definitely offers to the most bang for the buck: there are literally thousands of quests, exciting and fascinating missions that reveal storyline elements, and some of the most gorgeous sights you'll ever see in any game- period. In Ultima Online I primarily played a craftsman, rather than an adventurer. I was a Carpenter; I loved my craft, and I made good money at it. Since I left UO, I've always been looking for a game with a crafting system as enticing as that was, and FFXI is the first I've found not only to match it, but beat it. Like so many things in FFXI, crafting is not nearly as simple as you might think. Crafting involves using a crystal (of which there are 8: Earth, Wind, Water, Fire, Ice, Lightning, Light and Dark, each associated with a unique weather pattern, raw element, celestial formation, and color), combined with a number of ingredients, to create something new or, in the case of Lightning crystals, to deconstruct an item to its raw materials, allowing you to then construct something else from those materials. Fans of the anime series Full Metal Alchemist, as I am, will find this system particularly fun. Many things impact your crafting results, like the day of the week (and its alignment with the crystal you're using) and the celestial formation your facing, and new aspects are still being discovered! Now, to be fair, there are aspects of the game that I dislike. The economy is quite unbalanced. You have to be selective as to what you craft, and do plenty of research on where and how to attain the materials you need as cheaply as possible, because many times you will end up losing money on a synthesis. The moral there is simply be aware of the risks, and research what you're doing. The fact that crafting does take a level of intelligence and effort does say something about the craftsmen of this game, though. Secondly, there are problems with so-called gil sellers; people who try to earn as much gil as possible and resell it using services on the web for real-world money. My opinion on the morality of this matter is not important, but the problems these individuals create for players is quite appearent: competition for attaining rare items off NMs (or, Notorious Monsters/Named Mobs) is very high. Yet, while it can be difficult it is not impossible, and from the hunts that I've won, it has made my reward personally all the more fruitful. The level grind is also a factor to consider. This game is not World of Warcraft, or City of Heroes. There is a serious grind. It's harsh, plain and simple, and it will take you and your character some time to get over that initial speed bump. To be honest, leveling is my least favorite part of this game, because of the time involved and the frustrations that case arise. I quit the game for a number of months because of this, in fact. But, I realized a couple of things: Leveling isn't everything- there is so much to do in this game, no one should have to consider leveling as their focus. Secondly, even as annoying as it can be, the leveling is so worth it. The rewards you get for progressing your character - if only the sights you see and the places to explore - is so worth it. I've never been able to say that about any MMO before. So, in summary: The game is not perfect, and it can be aggravating at times; but hands down, its the best MMO out there, and definitely the most rewarding. You'll only get as much out of this game as you put into it. Work hard at developing your character, and you'll experience what FFXI truly is. If you're looking for epic game play, exciting adventures, rewarding experiences, and the most for your money, I'd definitely recommend FFXI over anything else out there right now.