A few details regarding Final Fantasy XI's battle engine have been revealed, and so far the system does not seem to vary too drastically from current online RPGs. Unlike previous Final Fantasy games, there will be no random encounters, as monsters and enemies are always visible on the map. Players can engage adversaries they chose to, and battles are conducted in real-time with the aid of a pop-up menu, which allows players to switch between physical attacks, magic and items.

Those seeking a more vivid account of fighting enemies in Final Fantasy XI are advised to download the recently uploaded movie file, which is partly comprised of fight scenes. The game is currently undergoing beta testing as it nears its March 2002 release in Japan. RPGamer will continue to update you as more information becomes available.