How to Unlock Multiplayer in Fantasy Life i: The Girl Who Steals Time

When Can You Unlock Multiplayer?

If you thought multiplayer would be available right out of the gate, sorry to crush your hopes. Multiplayer in Fantasy Life i is locked behind story progression because, of course, it is. Here’s the breakdown:

• Local Co-Op Multiplayer is available relatively early, within the first hour of gameplay. After some introductory tasks in the story, you’ll receive a notification that tells you, “A friend of your choice can now join you as Trip!” Yep, that’s right. Your buddy isn’t getting their own custom character; they’re controlling a bird. We’ll talk more about this delightful restriction later.
• Online Multiplayer doesn’t unlock until Chapter 3, titled Digging Up Secrets of the Past. That’s when you’ll finally set up Base Camp and open your very own Guild Hall, where the online fun begins.

How to Unlock Local Co-op Multiplayer

Unlocking local co-op is the easy part. Once it’s available, grab a second controller, hit the menu button, and invite Player 2 to control Trip (aka your bird companion). But before you get too excited, here’s the deal with local co-op:

• Player 2’s Limitations: If your co-op buddy was dreaming of adventuring side-by-side with their own character, prepare for disappointment. Trip can pick up items, gather resources, and attack enemies, but their freedom is severely limited. Think of them as the Robin to your Batman, except less cool and with no ability to drive the Batmobile.
• Where It Works: Local co-op doesn’t function everywhere. Trip can only join you when you’re exploring the Past or Ginormosia. They vanish the moment you head back to Base Camp. Poof.

Overall, local co-op feels more like a demo for kids or non-gamers who want to tag along without jeopardizing your precious save file. If you’re craving a full-fledged multiplayer experience, buckle up for online multiplayer.

How to Unlock Online Multiplayer

Online multiplayer is where Fantasy Life i truly shines, but it also requires more effort to unlock. You’ll need to hit Chapter 3 and establish your Base Camp. Once the Guild Hall is built, you can access online play through an NPC named Colm. Here’s how to get started:

1. Visit Colm at the back counter of your Guild Hall.
2. Select “Online Play” from the menu.
3. Choose between Recruit Members (hosting your own lobby) or Head Out (joining an existing one).

Easy enough, but don’t expect it to be as seamless as wandering through someone else’s world. Online multiplayer comes with strict rules and time limits.

What to Expect From Online Multiplayer

Online play in Fantasy Life i is reminiscent of Monster Hunter’s multiplayer mechanics. You join an instance created by the host, complete a specific activity like Treasure Grove hunts or island exploration, and work together against the clock. Sounds fun, right? Well, yes and no.

The Good:

• Team Up for Loot: You keep all the items and experience points you earn. If you’re struggling with a boss or need extra resources, multiplayer is a lifesaver.
• Flexible Hosting Options: Hosts can customize sessions by setting destinations, required player levels, and even whether outsiders can join. You can use passwords and keywords for private sessions.

The Less-Than-Good:

• No Story Progression: Don’t expect to finish main story missions or talk to Life Masters while in a multiplayer session.
• Time Limits: Your multiplayer adventure comes with an annoying countdown. Once time’s up, you’re booted back to the host’s Base Camp like Cinderella’s carriage turning into a pumpkin.
• Host’s Rules: The host decides the activity and time of day, so you’d better hope they’re on the same page as you.

While it’s great for cooperative grinding, online multiplayer won’t replace single-player progression.

Multiplayer Tips and Tricks

To make the most out of multiplayer, here are a few handy tips:

• Use Recruitment Settings Wisely: Carefully set your lobby’s parameters to attract the right players for your objective. Want someone to help you farm that one irritating boss? Say so in the comments.
• Communicate: The multiplayer chat feature is your friend! Use it to coordinate, or lean into emotes if typing feels like a chore.
• Plan Ahead: With time limits in play, make sure your teammates are locked and loaded before you start. There’s no room for “What should we do next?” indecision.

Is Multiplayer Worth It?

Depends on what you’re looking for. If you want a full-blown multiplayer RPG experience where everyone has equal freedom, you might feel short-changed. But if you enjoy working together toward shared goals or need an extra hand (or three) for tough challenges, multiplayer can be a lot of fun.

Ultimately, Fantasy Life i treats multiplayer as a side feature rather than the main dish. It’s a solid add-on, but the single-player narrative and exploration remain the core focus.

Congratulations, you’re officially ready to unlock multiplayer and jump into the semi-shared world of Fantasy Life i. Go ahead, recruit your friends, and start farming loot like your life depends on it (because, spoiler, it kind of does). Multiplayer might not be groundbreaking, but hey, where else can you say you fought bosses with a talking bird sidekick?

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