The devs asked us to leave a comment on the game page so I'm using this as a chance to put my ruminations on this clever little indie rpg to paper for the first time...
Braver has no branching paths, won't do a number on your feels, has a cast of supporting characters that are completely forgettable, doesn't try anything new or daring, has no minigames or unique moments that change up the gameplay loop, no comedy, and no real worldbuilding. Its simple turn-based combat beginning to end.
So why did I play this game for over a hundred hours? Cause it sounds like it should just be another game in a literal ocean of rpgs that don't do anything different...
I don't know if anyone reading this is old enough to remember the reference or these feelings but after you get the ship in Final Fantasy 1 and wind up in a new town, just outside the gates there's a Green Ogre enemy that's really hard but gives a ton of gold and xp. The town is full of expensive items that if you wanted to afford them, you'd have to kill a hundred of these hard Green Ogres and grind for hours.
So what did we do? Well I can't speak for you but I spent an afternoon in my jammies doing an ogre genocide. And why?
Because I believed that the game would be hard, that I would be finding a solution if I put in this time and effort. That I was planning for the future and felt like a small fish in a big pond but knew that I wanted to be big.
That's the feeling you get from Braver beginning to end. From the time you walk in the first cave and there are optional bosses harder than the main story boss just off the beaten path, and beating them gives small little upgrades like +1 AGI and the game doesn't tell you what AGI even does.
But you have hopes that this RPG, unlike so many others out there, will actually require you to think and plan and put in effort and care and not just waltz through bosses.
And in that category it gets an A++ and gold stars.
IMHO a good game doesn't need to innovate, it just needs to refine what it does best. For example 'To The Moon' has almost no gameplay but absolutely nails music and emotion and that's what a lot of people want out of a game. Braver has almost exclusively gameplay and nostalgia for the era before there were guides and world maps, it doesn't care for normal tropes and does things like set the max level to be 75 instead of 99 and prevents you from levelling up any more...but then makes you fight level 99 enemies for the entire second half of the game. It doesn't waste time showing off flashy systems, but it nails that childlike urge we all have of wanting to be the big fish. It's about being the underdog and going on a hero's journey.
Braver is a testament to the power of classic gameplay and the joy of overcoming challenges the old-fashioned way. It's not about reinventing the wheel; it's about reminding us why we fell in love with gaming in the first place.
It's the "Are You A Bad Enough Dude To Save The President" effect. Just puts you in front of a dangerous world, sticks a sword in your hand, and says 'go save it, hero'. This is a game for the person who likes the P in RPGs.
The game is used alot of memory to run. My computer keeps heating up and shutting down the game. Please fix the problem. I recognized the memory is building up as the game progresses until it crashes.
there seems to be a problem when i try to extract the game... has this come up before and does anyone have any ideas as to why it's happening or how to fix it?
This is an outstanding game that only pays homage to the original and is an incredible (but HARD in a strategic sense) experience even if you're new to final fantasy games. It captures the essence and magic that makes great games legendary and I was transported back to the glory days of Vana'diel. The attention to detail in recreating the atmosphere, the music and the battles is nothing short of astounding. It's clear that the developer(s?) poured their hearts and souls into this.
The combat system is intuitive and progression mirrors FFXI's complexity, with a huge array of customization options that cater to various playstyles. It managed to capture the spirit of FFXI's job system while infusing it with fresh, modern mechanics.
In terms of post-launch support, the developer(s? again) have been nothing short of stellar. They actively listen to player feedback, release regular updates, and this last patch has been after a year of new content to keep the adventure fresh and exciting.
Braver's a triumph. It's a love letter to a beloved classic, skillfully modernized and expanded upon to create an experience that feels both familiar and new. If you have even a passing fondness for FFXI or RPGs in general, do yourself a favor and embark on this unforgettable journey. I consider it a must-play for any rpg enthuisast
Yes im on widnows Pc. When i trying download it on apps to get this in my list well..it show window when there you know what version i download and when but there is only where i donload it which is my folder to itchio and when i click instal and close the windows..becuast well it dosen't instal give me a bug report about some "builds"
I'm having the same issue this user was but might be able to offer more. When using the itch.io app, if you click on "download" the dialogue box the app throws up isn't allowing users to download because we can't select a version of the game to install. A quick look at helps posts for this says that dev's would need to assign platforms to version for the itch.io app to function: https://itch.io/t/1852361/no-game-files-available-to-install
I'm a steamdeck user that needs the app so if you get the chance to fix it that would be awesome!
So, I've played a past version of this before and had no trouble with the quest 'Spiritual Awakening'. Now, when I get finished with the scene before the fight, suddenly I cannot move no matter what I do. I've tried the mouse controls and even an actual controller. I can open menus and even use items, but even after I use a teleport item, I can't walk and have to close the game. Just saying this to let you know that there was the bug there.
Would you like this game to be in Spanish? I was a FFXI hardcore player back in the day, and now I'm a new freelance translator, I'd gladly work for this in my free time to get experience in a field that I love ^_^
Unfortunately I've found a bug (a big one indeed!). After fighting the demon wall in Toraimarai Canal, I've tried to fight the trio sisters. Deciding to come back and change job for a character, after I've come back to Toraimarai Canal, it's not possible to enter again the animastery! So I'm completely stuck
Hello, just reporting that when you complete the Side Quest "In The Name of Science!" in Bastok Metalworks you're also rewarded a nameless Item#551 that cannot be used or sold. This is on version 1.6.
@mithrandir133 the game is awesome but can you created a 5th one will the player create their own characters like the online, if that happen the player will have their own characters by joining to those four characters and that is good to anyone and thanks to the game god bless you and also i love the game
Just encountered this bug while using Beastmaster If your pet dies while in battle and you try to call another but dismiss it will freeze the game ty and loving the game!
This is the one-year anniversary from me discovering Braver and my previous review way down below doesn't do this game justice, so I'm updating it because I'm still playing this thing.
The game has come leaps and bounds with every update. It introduced the last FFXI jobs that were missing from the original lineup, it added fascinating new systems like Merits for even deeper party dynamics, the world itself has nearly doubled in size, and the creator has started work on a sprawling post-game story with a year of planned updates in the future. Fights are more edge-of-your-seat than ever before, visuals are polished and nostalgic, and there's always something new to discover or a quest to embark on.
Braver is best described as a linear story rpg that takes advantage of the classic final fantasy Job system to an unparalleled degree. You'll constantly be tinkering with equipment and trying new jobs, all thanks to a challenging difficulty curve. It's polished and welcoming, hard but fair, and understands all the subtleties that make games go from 'good' to 'incredible.' For final fantasy fans, this is the best indie rpg you'll play on itch.
the game is awesome but can you created a 5th one will the player create their own characters like the online, if that happen the player will have their own characters by joining to those four characters and that is good to anyone and thanks to the game god bless you and also i love the game
in an age where square is trying to steal your paycheck with half-baked pixel 'remasters,' play a game that has the guts to make you throw your controller across the room in frustration.
cons; some engrish here and there, enemies oneshot you in the latter half of the game if you don't git gud, random battles are avoidable but can sometimes be tedious due to lack of enemy variety, doing a ten-minute long miniboss fight for no reward captures the true FFXI experience
pros; a monumental work of art from one sleepless genius, turn-based combat that somehow still manages to be gripping and fast-paced, a sprawling world that feels both fresh and original and also somehow an exact replica of the mmorpg, and the best parts of the classic FF games hand-picked to create an altogether amazing experience
Just a really excellent classic-JRPG romp all around. It's best described as a more challenging version of Final Fantasy V (the best 32-bit one imo) but...
- Set in Vanadiel with likable characters, and a storyline that's welcoming of newcomers unfamiliar with the mmo world - Amazing sound design (nostalgic music and tons of hand-placed and carefully curated beeps and whirrs and kupos) - With a sprawling amount of job options, character customization, and optional bosses who are ready to put your team to the test.
Probably the best rpg on itch right now, final fantasy or otherwise. This should NOT be a free game, so download it while it still is.
Hey there, I just played about 3hrs of your game and WELL DONE! I never played a FF fan game before but really enjoyed this. Good dialogue and great quest log set-up. Mapping was done very well too. I got lost a lot but, hey, I do that in real life too. :p
Anyways, the game kept my interest so I'll keep playing it. I did stream it tonight if you want to see my initial impressions but, be warned, it was my first stream. Hopefully, there's still some useful feedback for you though.
Head-up that the Jukebox in your menu is calling for filenames that have spaces in them so it didn't work. In case the info helps, The jukebox in the castle worked fine though. I called it a night but I'll let you know if I find any more bugs. Have a great night and best of luck on your project!
I want to thank Mithrandir from the bottom of my heart for putting so much time into creating this masterpiece! As a fan of this series since its inception and first arriving in the States back in 1990, I've always been left with a void in the numbering since XI and XIV were strictly MMOs and I've never been an MMO player: I'm sure they're fantastic games, but I'm a single player RPG gamer and I've waited nineteen years to learn about FF XI...and now thanks to Mithrandir, I - like many people before me - am falling in love with the world of Vana'diel! This game is so well done and as you play it, you can only marvel at how long it had to take Mith to put this colossal game together! I appreciate your time in doing this so everyone out there can enjoy a single player FF XI experience...and also for the people like me who have never had the opportunity to play it before! Now I can sit back and learn the lore of this fabulous game for the first time! I'm nearing fifty hours and having an absolute blast! And if you're someone reading this comment who hasn't downloaded the game yet...what are you waiting for?! Start downloading now so you can enjoy this amazing ride!
This game deserves your time and attention. Even if you've never played FFXI, Braver is a free (although you should donate) 60+ hour long rpg with incredible character customization, difficult battles that demand strategy (and a difficulty slider), a full discord of players ready to cheer on your victories, and an active developer that's constantly improving the experience. More stuff to do and explore is being added all the time.
As a long time FFXI player that has now got too little time to dedicate to it, FFXI Braver is a gift sent from Altana herself with the help of the creator. To make it simple, coming from a Game design/Animator Background these are my personal and opinion based scores:
My only criticism is the menu and inventory limitations, however that is not the creator's fault and more the system's limitations.
I look forward to more job balances and tweaks as later patches get added. All in all, this game is great for anyone that has only a couple hours or an entire weekend, as the main story takes only 30 or so hours, however, so much more can be done in terms of meta gaming and optional quests and party experimentation. I am up to 70 hrs...and the nostalgia factor is ever present.
A very enjoyable 30-ish hours of old school JRPG action with FFXI nostalgia. Game is surprisingly well balanced and writing is passable. If you're looking for something new set in the FFXI world this is your best option. Completed the game and did a fair amount of the optional content.
FFXI Braver is a brilliant recreation of FFXI as a Retro 8bit style RPG. It captures much of the FFXI experience in ways that will really bring out the nostalgia factor, and its tongue in cheek humor poking fun at the foibles of FFXI and the link shell communities we all had, are spot on. I've laughed so many times, and more than once I've been on the verge of tears of remembrance for halcyon days gone by. Truly a work of art, and an homage to one of the first and best MMORPG's ever. This Retro RPG by Mithrandir133 is absolutely a must play for any lover of Final Fantasy, in any of its incarnations. The game also has original story content, and keeps the player interested. The UI is clean, and easy to understand. The NPC's feel like the original in their manner and writing styles. Hat's off to Mithrandir133, and his supporters. Thank you so much, and well done!
No, just set in the same world. Some characters from the game itself make an appearance while others are original characters. The story is original, drawing on lore from source material.
I've put a few hours into this game so far (7 hours) made it to giddeus, got stuck there for some time...still stuck there XD, but i'm having an absolute blast, my one regret that i have, was not picking it up sooner, i saw a streamer playing it one day and thought "ooh!, that looks fun!." but didn't get it then....i love the combat system and bcnm/notorious monster systems, and i quickly fell in love with the characters ^^, it scratches my itch to play FFXI again, and it reminds me of the classic final fantasy games.
9/10 i consider it an actual final fantasy game :D
Don't let the traditional and simplistic graphics fool you. Braver has a GREAT combat system, fantastic balance overall, likable characters and an engaging story, I'm going to sink a ton of time into this game even without the nostalgia factor.
Mith knows how to make an RPG. I haven't been gripped so quickly by an oldschool rpg in years, and *never* by an rpgmaker one.
Addictive just like FFXI :) HardReset already pointed out what makes this game so fun, so I'll keep this short.
I've been testing Braver for Mith for a few weeks now and I have already put in over 60hrs. The balance between your party and bosses are spot on. The job system gives you the flexibility to play what you want and how you want to. Even if you have never played Final Fantasy XI, I still recommend you give this game a try.
I've seen this game from the very beginning and it has grown so much. I've been playing and testing for some years now and Mith has put in a ton of work. It really has that Final Fantasy XI feeling. Important characters and zones, especially the major city maps, are all nailed down in this 2d rendition of FFXI.
The job system is very balanced as every combination I've used so far has been successful. While combat is standard fare for an rpg, it stays lively with the ctb system and phases of bosses. Unlocking new jobs in the later game allow for new skills to be constantly entertaining.
If you ever played FFXI, you will feel right at home with this game.
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The devs asked us to leave a comment on the game page so I'm using this as a chance to put my ruminations on this clever little indie rpg to paper for the first time...
Braver has no branching paths, won't do a number on your feels, has a cast of supporting characters that are completely forgettable, doesn't try anything new or daring, has no minigames or unique moments that change up the gameplay loop, no comedy, and no real worldbuilding. Its simple turn-based combat beginning to end.
So why did I play this game for over a hundred hours? Cause it sounds like it should just be another game in a literal ocean of rpgs that don't do anything different...
I don't know if anyone reading this is old enough to remember the reference or these feelings but after you get the ship in Final Fantasy 1 and wind up in a new town, just outside the gates there's a Green Ogre enemy that's really hard but gives a ton of gold and xp. The town is full of expensive items that if you wanted to afford them, you'd have to kill a hundred of these hard Green Ogres and grind for hours.
So what did we do? Well I can't speak for you but I spent an afternoon in my jammies doing an ogre genocide. And why?
Because I believed that the game would be hard, that I would be finding a solution if I put in this time and effort. That I was planning for the future and felt like a small fish in a big pond but knew that I wanted to be big.
That's the feeling you get from Braver beginning to end. From the time you walk in the first cave and there are optional bosses harder than the main story boss just off the beaten path, and beating them gives small little upgrades like +1 AGI and the game doesn't tell you what AGI even does.
But you have hopes that this RPG, unlike so many others out there, will actually require you to think and plan and put in effort and care and not just waltz through bosses.
And in that category it gets an A++ and gold stars.
IMHO a good game doesn't need to innovate, it just needs to refine what it does best. For example 'To The Moon' has almost no gameplay but absolutely nails music and emotion and that's what a lot of people want out of a game. Braver has almost exclusively gameplay and nostalgia for the era before there were guides and world maps, it doesn't care for normal tropes and does things like set the max level to be 75 instead of 99 and prevents you from levelling up any more...but then makes you fight level 99 enemies for the entire second half of the game. It doesn't waste time showing off flashy systems, but it nails that childlike urge we all have of wanting to be the big fish. It's about being the underdog and going on a hero's journey.
Braver is a testament to the power of classic gameplay and the joy of overcoming challenges the old-fashioned way. It's not about reinventing the wheel; it's about reminding us why we fell in love with gaming in the first place.
It's the "Are You A Bad Enough Dude To Save The President" effect.
Just puts you in front of a dangerous world, sticks a sword in your hand, and says 'go save it, hero'.
This is a game for the person who likes the P in RPGs.
Literally a masterpiece. Treat yourself to one of the best Final Fantasy experiences made in recent years
Good day bud i got a plugin that allow multiplayer in this game it is called Alpha NET Z please it to make it turly like final fantasy 11
I’ll add it to my list of things to look into!
Good Day bud love the game making my own
Thanks for playing!
What kind of project are you working on?
A final fantasy 7 demake need some help you know anyone who could help me
And For making this game i will give you some battle spirtes to update the game
also bud if you can port it to android i will like it
I had a buddy who was doing an FF7 style game, idk if he is still around anymore though
You can play this on android using the app called Joiplay 👍🏻
thanks
The game is used alot of memory to run. My computer keeps heating up and shutting down the game. Please fix the problem. I recognized the memory is building up as the game progresses until it crashes.
The newest update released a few days ago should resolve this issue
Thanks for the feedback!
there seems to be a problem when i try to extract the game... has this come up before and does anyone have any ideas as to why it's happening or how to fix it?
Does this work on steam deck?
Yes, it does. We have a “how to” in our discord for Steam Deck!
This is an outstanding game that only pays homage to the original and is an incredible (but HARD in a strategic sense) experience even if you're new to final fantasy games. It captures the essence and magic that makes great games legendary and I was transported back to the glory days of Vana'diel. The attention to detail in recreating the atmosphere, the music and the battles is nothing short of astounding. It's clear that the developer(s?) poured their hearts and souls into this.
The combat system is intuitive and progression mirrors FFXI's complexity, with a huge array of customization options that cater to various playstyles. It managed to capture the spirit of FFXI's job system while infusing it with fresh, modern mechanics.
In terms of post-launch support, the developer(s? again) have been nothing short of stellar. They actively listen to player feedback, release regular updates, and this last patch has been after a year of new content to keep the adventure fresh and exciting.
Braver's a triumph. It's a love letter to a beloved classic, skillfully modernized and expanded upon to create an experience that feels both familiar and new. If you have even a passing fondness for FFXI or RPGs in general, do yourself a favor and embark on this unforgettable journey. I consider it a must-play for any rpg enthuisast
awesome game with a very nice story gameplay really good definitely worth trying out (there are some community challenges aswell)
Thanks for the kind words!
So, Hellow and im writing this because i can't download it from itch.io app any sugestion how can i download it to have it in app?
are you on Windows PC? Is the file not downloading at all?
Yes im on widnows Pc. When i trying download it on apps to get this in my list well..it show window when there you know what version i download and when but there is only where i donload it which is my folder to itchio and when i click instal and close the windows..becuast well it dosen't instal give me a bug report about some "builds"
could it have something to do with your firewall? I know in the past people have had issues downloading and have had to make multiple attempts.
I would recommend joining our discord if you're able for more assistance!
Hey!
I'm having the same issue this user was but might be able to offer more. When using the itch.io app, if you click on "download" the dialogue box the app throws up isn't allowing users to download because we can't select a version of the game to install. A quick look at helps posts for this says that dev's would need to assign platforms to version for the itch.io app to function: https://itch.io/t/1852361/no-game-files-available-to-install
I'm a steamdeck user that needs the app so if you get the chance to fix it that would be awesome!
This should be taken care of now, sorry for the delay!
So, I've played a past version of this before and had no trouble with the quest 'Spiritual Awakening'. Now, when I get finished with the scene before the fight, suddenly I cannot move no matter what I do. I've tried the mouse controls and even an actual controller. I can open menus and even use items, but even after I use a teleport item, I can't walk and have to close the game. Just saying this to let you know that there was the bug there.
hey thanks for the report! I am aware and will have that fixed with the patch next month, thank you!!
No problem.
when can i get summoner and beast master?
Both are accessible by following the main story, without giving too many spoilers, they aren’t TOO far in
Greetings!
Would you like this game to be in Spanish? I was a FFXI hardcore player back in the day, and now I'm a new freelance translator, I'd gladly work for this in my free time to get experience in a field that I love ^_^
That’s something to consider, definitely. You can DM me on discord and we can discuss this further
Hi!
Is there a way to move save files from 1.6.5 to 1.7? I've tried to copy and paste my save files, but it doesn't work. Any solution?
copy the entire folder> download new version > paste save folder into new version folder
If you continue to have issues you can join our discord for more troubleshooting
It seems that now it's working! Thanks and...your game is really awesome!!!! Hope to see the end of this beautiful game fan!
Glad it’s working, thank you! I’m aiming for a final version of the game to be released this year :)
Unfortunately I've found a bug (a big one indeed!). After fighting the demon wall in Toraimarai Canal, I've tried to fight the trio sisters. Deciding to come back and change job for a character, after I've come back to Toraimarai Canal, it's not possible to enter again the animastery! So I'm completely stuck
oh no, that is intended. Once that segment has concluded you will go back to the first area.
Walk down to the bottom left and a gate will be opened. You can progress from there!
I'd actually like you to DM me on discord if you can so i can get more information if needed, thanks!
This is a passion project of a true ffxi fan. Great gameplay and translation of ffxi jobs and mechanics into the jrpg format.
Is there a way to move save files from 1.6 to 1.6.5?
yes! Copy your save folder, make a backup of it. Download the new project and paste your save file into the new project folder
should be good to go after that
Hello, just reporting that when you complete the Side Quest "In The Name of Science!" in Bastok Metalworks you're also rewarded a nameless Item#551 that cannot be used or sold. This is on version 1.6.
It'd be a lot easier to navigate if party members didn't move on the grid. Especially if you're just playing with the mouse.
@mithrandir133 the game is awesome but can you created a 5th one will the player create their own characters like the online, if that happen the player will have their own characters by joining to those four characters and that is good to anyone and thanks to the game god bless you and also i love the game
Nothing like that is planned at this time, sorry! Thank you so much for playing and I’m very happy you are enjoying the game!
Just encountered this bug while using Beastmaster If your pet dies while in battle and you try to call another but dismiss it will freeze the game ty and loving the game!
Thanks for the report!
This is the one-year anniversary from me discovering Braver and my previous review way down below doesn't do this game justice, so I'm updating it because I'm still playing this thing.
The game has come leaps and bounds with every update. It introduced the last FFXI jobs that were missing from the original lineup, it added fascinating new systems like Merits for even deeper party dynamics, the world itself has nearly doubled in size, and the creator has started work on a sprawling post-game story with a year of planned updates in the future. Fights are more edge-of-your-seat than ever before, visuals are polished and nostalgic, and there's always something new to discover or a quest to embark on.
Braver is best described as a linear story rpg that takes advantage of the classic final fantasy Job system to an unparalleled degree. You'll constantly be tinkering with equipment and trying new jobs, all thanks to a challenging difficulty curve.
It's polished and welcoming, hard but fair, and understands all the subtleties that make games go from 'good' to 'incredible.' For final fantasy fans, this is the best indie rpg you'll play on itch.
what happen no new update
Patch 1.5.5 will be released June 1st! Really looking forward to this one
we all fans was waiting and we wait
the game is awesome but can you created a 5th one will the player create their own characters like the online, if that happen the player will have their own characters by joining to those four characters and that is good to anyone and thanks to the game god bless you and also i love the game
I have 100+ hours in this game. Both fans of FFXI and of 2D RPGs will enjoy.
Well maintained; it gets regular small updates with fixes, and occasional big updates with new jobs, quests, gear, bosses, areas, and story.
Join the discord for more joy, including community challenges with ingame rewards.
in an age where square is trying to steal your paycheck with half-baked pixel 'remasters,' play a game that has the guts to make you throw your controller across the room in frustration.
cons; some engrish here and there, enemies oneshot you in the latter half of the game if you don't git gud, random battles are avoidable but can sometimes be tedious due to lack of enemy variety, doing a ten-minute long miniboss fight for no reward captures the true FFXI experience
pros; a monumental work of art from one sleepless genius, turn-based combat that somehow still manages to be gripping and fast-paced, a sprawling world that feels both fresh and original and also somehow an exact replica of the mmorpg, and the best parts of the classic FF games hand-picked to create an altogether amazing experience
9/10
Just a really excellent classic-JRPG romp all around. It's best described as a more challenging version of Final Fantasy V (the best 32-bit one imo) but...
- Set in Vanadiel with likable characters, and a storyline that's welcoming of newcomers unfamiliar with the mmo world
- Amazing sound design (nostalgic music and tons of hand-placed and carefully curated beeps and whirrs and kupos)
- With a sprawling amount of job options, character customization, and optional bosses who are ready to put your team to the test.
Probably the best rpg on itch right now, final fantasy or otherwise. This should NOT be a free game, so download it while it still is.
Hey there, I just played about 3hrs of your game and WELL DONE! I never played a FF fan game before but really enjoyed this. Good dialogue and great quest log set-up. Mapping was done very well too. I got lost a lot but, hey, I do that in real life too. :p
Anyways, the game kept my interest so I'll keep playing it. I did stream it tonight if you want to see my initial impressions but, be warned, it was my first stream. Hopefully, there's still some useful feedback for you though.
Head-up that the Jukebox in your menu is calling for filenames that have spaces in them so it didn't work. In case the info helps, The jukebox in the castle worked fine though. I called it a night but I'll let you know if I find any more bugs. Have a great night and best of luck on your project!
Hey thank you for checking out my project! I will definitely plan on watching that stream and note / fix any bugs.
Thanks for the feedback and feel free to hop in the discord. We have a fun and growing community!
I want to thank Mithrandir from the bottom of my heart for putting so much time into creating this masterpiece! As a fan of this series since its inception and first arriving in the States back in 1990, I've always been left with a void in the numbering since XI and XIV were strictly MMOs and I've never been an MMO player: I'm sure they're fantastic games, but I'm a single player RPG gamer and I've waited nineteen years to learn about FF XI...and now thanks to Mithrandir, I - like many people before me - am falling in love with the world of Vana'diel! This game is so well done and as you play it, you can only marvel at how long it had to take Mith to put this colossal game together! I appreciate your time in doing this so everyone out there can enjoy a single player FF XI experience...and also for the people like me who have never had the opportunity to play it before! Now I can sit back and learn the lore of this fabulous game for the first time! I'm nearing fifty hours and having an absolute blast! And if you're someone reading this comment who hasn't downloaded the game yet...what are you waiting for?! Start downloading now so you can enjoy this amazing ride!
This game deserves your time and attention. Even if you've never played FFXI, Braver is a free (although you should donate) 60+ hour long rpg with incredible character customization, difficult battles that demand strategy (and a difficulty slider), a full discord of players ready to cheer on your victories, and an active developer that's constantly improving the experience. More stuff to do and explore is being added all the time.
I'd rate this higher than five stars if I could.
As a long time FFXI player that has now got too little time to dedicate to it, FFXI Braver is a gift sent from Altana herself with the help of the creator. To make it simple, coming from a Game design/Animator Background these are my personal and opinion based scores:
Overall: 8/10
Mechanics: 9/10
Music: 7/10
Art: 8/10
My only criticism is the menu and inventory limitations, however that is not the creator's fault and more the system's limitations.
I look forward to more job balances and tweaks as later patches get added.
All in all, this game is great for anyone that has only a couple hours or an entire weekend, as the main story takes only 30 or so hours, however, so much more can be done in terms of meta gaming and optional quests and party experimentation. I am up to 70 hrs...and the nostalgia factor is ever present.
Look forward to more.
A very enjoyable 30-ish hours of old school JRPG action with FFXI nostalgia. Game is surprisingly well balanced and writing is passable. If you're looking for something new set in the FFXI world this is your best option. Completed the game and did a fair amount of the optional content.
Must play for fans of FFXI who are craving a trip down memory lane.
FFXI Braver is a brilliant recreation of FFXI as a Retro 8bit style RPG. It captures much of the FFXI experience in ways that will really bring out the nostalgia factor, and its tongue in cheek humor poking fun at the foibles of FFXI and the link shell communities we all had, are spot on. I've laughed so many times, and more than once I've been on the verge of tears of remembrance for halcyon days gone by. Truly a work of art, and an homage to one of the first and best MMORPG's ever. This Retro RPG by Mithrandir133 is absolutely a must play for any lover of Final Fantasy, in any of its incarnations. The game also has original story content, and keeps the player interested. The UI is clean, and easy to understand. The NPC's feel like the original in their manner and writing styles. Hat's off to Mithrandir133, and his supporters. Thank you so much, and well done!
-Zoey Mithra - Carbuncle 2002-2017
A few hours in. Very good fun! It's great not to have to wait 60 seconds for my inventory to load each time I change zone like in the MMO.
Thanks for the comment! Glad you’re enjoying the project :)
Fantastic! i still play FFXI from very long time, playing this game reminded me the old FF games but in Vanadiel! Awesome!!! Thank you!
My pleasure! Glad you're enjoying the experience :)
what OS is needed for this?
Windows OS
So this is like FFXI if it was on the SNES right? A Demake or a retro reimagination? Never played the OG FFXI but your game is solid
Hey, thank you! Yep, you got it. A retro reimagining is pretty spot on!
so it has the same story?
No, just set in the same world. Some characters from the game itself make an appearance while others are original characters. The story is original, drawing on lore from source material.
I've put a few hours into this game so far (7 hours) made it to giddeus, got stuck there for some time...still stuck there XD, but i'm having an absolute blast, my one regret that i have, was not picking it up sooner, i saw a streamer playing it one day and thought "ooh!, that looks fun!." but didn't get it then....i love the combat system and bcnm/notorious monster systems, and i quickly fell in love with the characters ^^, it scratches my itch to play FFXI again, and it reminds me of the classic final fantasy games.
9/10 i consider it an actual final fantasy game :D
Don't let the traditional and simplistic graphics fool you. Braver has a GREAT combat system, fantastic balance overall, likable characters and an engaging story, I'm going to sink a ton of time into this game even without the nostalgia factor.
Mith knows how to make an RPG. I haven't been gripped so quickly by an oldschool rpg in years, and *never* by an rpgmaker one.
Addictive just like FFXI :)
HardReset already pointed out what makes this game so fun, so I'll keep this short.
I've been testing Braver for Mith for a few weeks now and I have already put in over 60hrs. The balance between your party and bosses are spot on. The job system gives you the flexibility to play what you want and how you want to. Even if you have never played Final Fantasy XI, I still recommend you give this game a try.
I've seen this game from the very beginning and it has grown so much. I've been playing and testing for some years now and Mith has put in a ton of work. It really has that Final Fantasy XI feeling. Important characters and zones, especially the major city maps, are all nailed down in this 2d rendition of FFXI.
The job system is very balanced as every combination I've used so far has been successful. While combat is standard fare for an rpg, it stays lively with the ctb system and phases of bosses. Unlocking new jobs in the later game allow for new skills to be constantly entertaining.
If you ever played FFXI, you will feel right at home with this game.