>>1
I prefer more active battle systems. Turn-based needs strategy to be pulled off effectively, otherwise it's grossly unstimulating - battling just for the hell of it. If I wanted that, I'd just go play a wrestling game. Many turn-based games lack this element.
Active battle systems bring an element of skill into the gameplay. It can be quite difficult to balance latency (where applicable) with staying alive - or resources such as spells, skills, items, ammo, whatever in other cases.
Tactical turn based like Fallout I/II is by far the most satisfying, and Fallout in particular is truly outstanding. How'd you like that slug in your eye, mutant scum!
Now go back to /v/. You'll like it there.
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Anonymous2010-01-14 19:09
>>10
I'd like to discuss action-oriented battle systems in 2D top-down RPGs.
As examples, I can think of SNES games such as Seiken Densetsu 3, LoZ:ALttP, Terranigma, and Tales of Phantasia to some extent. Can you think of any others?
>>12
Chrono Trigger has an "active" option, though both wait and active have little difference. There are some Genesis games that fit as well, even though platformers and sports games dominated it.
Ecco the Dolphin and its sequel, for example, are something of an RPG, though definitely not traditional in any respect. Toejam and Earl and its sequel are RPG-esque as well. Neither of which is top-down though. Both have platforming elements (Ecco's being less obvious for obvious reasons) and are more like Zelda in that the enemies are everywhere and you simply engage them if you choose to do so.
I haven't played any "classic" RPGs on the Genesis, but newer consoles were out by the time I got ahold of mine.
I really like how the Legend of Zelda games are done (sans the sidescroller); it's challenging, and there are a lot of different interactions to do. I like Diablo as well but more because of the cooperative aspects than the gameplay mechanic itself, which has very little depth (you have a lot of spells, sure, but they're all really the same thing; and the seemingly different combat abilities have very little actual affect on gameplay.) I have an idea for a game mechanic sort of like Zelda that I've been planning to implement for some time.
I *really* hate the battle system in games like Baldur's Gate; I find it incredibly time consuming and boring, and very unrewarding. It just doesn't feel good enough when you win.
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Anonymous2010-01-15 1:58
>>17
For Baldur's Gate, I always thought that had to do with scale and the death animations (where there were such things) not being enticing enough. There's perhaps also a level of character control at the heart of it as your characters are essentially jets - you point them where you want them to go and they do their thing on their own.
Regardless of my nostalgia for them, I really don't like combat systems for many old-style RPGs. I think you know what I'm talking about: all your party members share a single tight cluster and you only have an inventory screen, a dialogue screen, and a single view. They're usually story-good to me, but otherwise ...
I did, however, like Ultima (IV -> VII) and The Elder Scrolls series. I imagine an ideal system might use a combination of those two combat systems in strict real time, plus an expanded example of the squad ordering system you see in Freedom Fighters (which isn't RPG, but it's still has some of the better squad control of any non-RPG game I know) to allow for a wider range of organization (if that is what the party member wants ...).
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Anonymous2010-01-15 2:42
>>6
Shiki was such a tease! >>11
But they don't talk about video games there.
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Anonymous2010-01-15 2:58
>>18 Regardless of my nostalgia for them, I really don't like combat systems for many old-style RPGs. I think you know what I'm talking about: all your party members share a single tight cluster and you only have an inventory screen, a dialogue screen, and a single view. They're usually story-good to me, but otherwise ...
Me too. I remember when I played through Dragon Warrior, then considered the prospect of playing through Dragon Warrior 2 — I nearly offed myself thanks to that tedious combat system, and now I have to do it over again but with more instructions per combat? No thanks.
Anyway, this is why I like action/RPGs so much. They keep you engaged in the combat in a way that pure RPGs can't, partly because action is itself engaging, and partly because new abilities or even a speed boost will change up gameplay thanks to the tight coupling between player and character. FPS RPGs or Zelda, for example, although Zelda isn't strictly an RPG. Trial by Fire had a good combat system too, which blended Dragon Warrior-style "combat screen"s with player-controlled combat.
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Anonymous2010-01-15 5:26
Team Fortress 2.
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Anonymous2010-01-15 6:40
Some (not all) Megaten games, some N1 SRPGs, Front Mission (main series), Fallouts (main, incl. 3), Deus Ex, VP1&2, SO2S, TWEWY, Demon's Souls, etc.
Anything that isn't attempting to just waste my time, and where skill is sufficiently involved that losing the battle can actually happen.
That rules out 95% of the modern JRPGs, but it's easier to forgive PS1/SAT-era time-wasting bullshit since it can be easily emulated and turbo'd through.
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Anonymous2010-01-15 6:40
LOL PS3 HAS NO GAEMS
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Anonymous2010-01-15 7:00
>>22
What are you talking about, TWEWY was really easy!!!
>>25
Oh I know you could scroll that level bar down to 1 (or whatever it was called) to get more pins but that was optional. I played most of the game that way and it was still pretty easy except for some boss fights.
That's like playing Half Life with only the crowbar because you want to. Sure it makes the game harder but it's entirerly optional. If you only had the crowbar and no other weapons, then yes it would geniuenly be hard. Although I'm pretty sure you actually need the other weapons to finish it, you get my point.
>>26
Actually, I was referring to its not requiring grind if you figure out the system.
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Anonymous2010-01-15 13:35
>>17 I have an idea for a game mechanic sort of like Zelda that I've been planning to implement for some time.
Can you elaborate? That could be interesting.
>>24
The game itself maybe, but mastering the battle system so that you use both screens at the same time? I never managed to do that.
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Anonymous2010-01-15 13:44
I like Mother 3's battle system, in which you see enemies moving on the world, and battle them if your run into them. Further, if you sneak behind a monster (or vice versa), the sneaker gets a first hit advantage. The actual battle system is a regular turn-based one.