If you spent any time in the early 2000s wandering through the Kingdom of San d'Oria, you probably remember the music. That regal, sweeping orchestral score that made even the simplest fetch quest feel like a grand crusade. But for many players of Final Fantasy XI, there is a specific piece of media that triggers a very different kind of nostalgia. We’re talking about San d'Oria: The Second Walk, a fan-created cinematic that basically redefined what people thought was possible with in-game footage back in the day.
It wasn't just a "machinima." People didn't even use that word consistently yet.
Honestly, it’s hard to explain to modern gamers what it was like back then. We didn't have 4K streaming or sophisticated photo modes. We had grainy .wmv files and Dial-up or early DSL. Yet, this video managed to capture the soul of the Elvaan capital in a way that even Square Enix’s official trailers sometimes missed. It felt lived-in.
What San d'Oria: The Second Walk Actually Was
At its core, San d'Oria: The Second Walk was a high-effort tribute video created by a player known as O-Guri. If you look at the history of FFXI fan content, this specific creator is a bit of a legend. They had this knack for using the "Walk" format—basically a slow, cinematic stroll through various zones—to showcase the game's art direction.
The "Second Walk" was, as you might guess, a follow-up.
The first one was great, sure. But the second one? It was a massive leap in quality. It used advanced (for the time) camera hacks and editing techniques to get shots that the standard player camera simply couldn't achieve. You saw the sunlight hitting the stone of Northern San d'Oria. You saw the guards at the Chateau d'Oraguille from angles that felt like a big-budget movie.
It was a mood.
While most players were busy grinding forest hares or waiting for a party in the Valkurm Dunes, this video reminded everyone why they were playing in the first place. The world of Vana'diel was beautiful. It was worth protecting. It’s funny how a fan video can sometimes be more effective at world-building than the actual game manual.
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Why the Tech Behind the Video Was Such a Big Deal
Creating something like San d'Oria: The Second Walk wasn't as easy as hitting "Record" on a PlayStation 2 or a PC.
Most people don't realize that the Final Fantasy XI PC client was notoriously finicky. To get those sweeping pans and crane-style shots, O-Guri had to use third-party tools like Windower or specific camera plugins that weren't exactly sanctioned by Square Enix. It was a bit of a "gray area" back then. You were essentially hacking the game's memory to move the camera independently of your character.
Then there was the editing.
We're talking about the era of Adobe Premiere 6.5 or early versions of Sony Vegas. Syncing the footage to the music—often custom remixes or curated tracks that fit the Elvaan aesthetic—took hundreds of hours. If you watch it today, the resolution might look dated, but the pacing is still masterclass stuff.
- The choice of lighting. O-Guri waited for specific in-game times to catch the "Golden Hour" in San d'Oria.
- The NPC placement. They timed the walks to coincide with the patrols of the Royal Guard.
- The lack of UI. Removing the chat log and menus was a revelation for players used to a cluttered screen.
It’s that attention to detail that makes the "Second Walk" stand out. It wasn't just a guy running around with a screen recorder. It was a directed piece of digital cinema.
The Cultural Impact on the FFXI Community
When San d'Oria: The Second Walk hit sites like Allakhazam and FFXIclopedia, it went viral in the way things did in 2005. It wasn't about "likes" or "shares." It was about people posting "OMG" in forum threads.
For the San d'Orian patriots (and let’s be real, the Elvaan vs. Mithra vs. Hume rivalry was intense), this video was a badge of honor. It made the Kingdom look like the superior nation. Bastok felt too industrial. Windurst was too... well, flowery. But San d'Oria? San d'Oria had The Second Walk.
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It actually changed how people played the game.
Suddenly, you saw more players hanging out in the plaza just to appreciate the architecture. It fostered a sense of "virtual tourism" that eventually led to the development of better graphics mods and high-definition texture packs created by the community years later. You can trace a direct line from O-Guri's work to the modern FFXI Reborn projects.
Misconceptions About the Video
A lot of people think this was an official Square Enix production. It wasn't. It’s a testament to the quality that it’s often mistaken for a promotional trailer. Another common mistake is thinking it was made using the game's internal cutscene engine. It wasn't. It was all captured in the live environment, which is way harder because you have to deal with other players jumping into your shot or the weather suddenly turning into a thunderstorm.
The Legacy of the Second Walk in 2026
You might be wondering why we are still talking about a fan video from twenty years ago.
Well, because Final Fantasy XI is one of the few MMOs that refuses to die. Even now, with Final Fantasy XIV dominating the market, the original Vana'diel has a soul that's hard to replicate. San d'Oria: The Second Walk represents a specific moment in internet history where the community took ownership of a world.
It reminds us that games aren't just software. They are places.
If you go back and watch it now—assuming you can find a high-quality upload on YouTube or a legacy forum—pay attention to the shadows. Look at how the flags in the Ronfaure region wave in the wind. There is a specific kind of loneliness and majesty in those shots that perfectly captures the "Old School" MMO feel.
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How to Experience San d'Oria Like the Video Today
If this trip down memory lane has you wanting to revisit the Kingdom, you don't necessarily need to reinstall the game (though many still do).
- Look for Upscaled Versions: Several fans have used AI upscaling to bring the original San d'Oria: The Second Walk into 4K. It looks stunning.
- The Music: Find the "San d'Oria" theme by Naoshi Mizuta. It’s the heartbeat of the video.
- Modern Tours: There are new "Walk" videos made by players using modern PC rigs that show the city in incredible detail, though they all owe a debt to the original.
The reality is that we'll probably never see another "Second Walk" quite like the first one. The novelty of seeing a virtual world through a cinematic lens has worn off in an era of Unreal Engine 5. But for those who were there, in the trenches of the San d'Orian military, that video remains the definitive vision of home.
It wasn't just a walk. It was a statement.
Actionable Steps for Vana'diel Fans
If you're looking to dive deeper into this specific era of gaming history or want to replicate that cinematic feel in your own play, here is what you should actually do.
First, track down the original O-Guri archives. They aren't always easy to find, but checking the Wayback Machine for old FFXI fansites is a good start. Second, if you're still playing the game on PC, look into the Ashenbubs HD texture packs. They basically turn the game into what O-Guri was trying to portray in the video, replacing the blurry 2002 textures with crisp, modern assets.
Finally, take the time to actually "walk" through the game. Turn off the UI (Ctrl+Alt+H). Lower the camera angle. Stop worrying about your XP per hour or your gear score. Just look at the world. The creators of San d'Oria: The Second Walk weren't trying to win the game; they were trying to see it. That's a lesson that applies to every MMO you'll ever play.