This particular topic was brought up on the periphery of (yet another) FF debate, so I thought I'd actually make a discussion of it...or at least try.

The question is obviously, do you prefer real-time combat systems or turn-based combat systems in a cRPG? And just as importantly, why?

However, folks, this is not a poll. I repeat. THIS IS NOT A POLL.

So two easy rules:

Explain your opinion.
Don't flame each other. Unless they (the flame-ees) break the first rule.

Turn Based for the win.

Includes more strategy, one of the best things about FF, imo.
Real Time battles can degenerate into an "X-fest."

The battle system in RPG's hit its absolute peak in FFX, for me.

You can have real-time AND strategy in a battle system, the Grandia games proves just that. I prefer real-time battle systems because it forces you to not only strategize, it makes you think on your feet. Turn-based is simply a matter of picking the best options available.

You can have real-time AND strategy in a battle system, the Grandia games proves just that. I prefer real-time battle systems because it forces you to not only strategize, it makes you think on your feet. Turn-based is simply a matter of picking the best options available.

I agree with that word for word. Havent played Grandia though

I'm not totally against turnbased, I just think it gets incredibly repetive when they force me to train alot with an already boring battle system. And lets say that turnbased games are alot more tactical then real time. It still gets incredibly boring not being able to control where your character goes and when he attacks. Like Joan said, real time keeps you on your toes. If they said, you must train for 30 battles before we allow you to play against the boss, i'd be bored because i know the boss battle would basically play like the battles i had to play before when i was training to play him. I don't see the motivation.

i prefer real time but i much rather prefer the fighting style of Star ocean TTEOT

You can have real-time AND strategy in a battle system, the Grandia games proves just that. I prefer real-time battle systems because it forces you to not only strategize, it makes you think on your feet. Turn-based is simply a matter of picking the best options available.

Grandia was not real time. Time paused when you were selecting a move (I believe.) If the system in Grandia counts as real-time still, then I'll go with "no preference, just don't call an action game with 'rpg elements' an RPG"

Grandia was not real time. Time paused when you were selecting a move (I believe.) If the system in Grandia counts as real-time still, then I'll go with "no preference, just don't call an action game with 'rpg elements' an RPG"

Not when you have the AI running, it's quite good and only required a couple of manual overrides from time to time. And even so, the fact that you have to enter a command everytime your character hits COM doesn't take away from the real-time element because most of the events that happen in the battle are essentially real-time.

Real-time. Turn-based makes a game like a game of fucking chess. Also agree with Joan about the whole 'think on your feet' point.

To be honest, I don't think it matters all that much at all. In a majority of RPG games in recent years you can just slog your way through combat nice-and-quick by simply mashing down on the "attack" command or just repetitively summoning or casting. Ok, every once in a while you'll strike an enemy/boss with an element they are immuned to and they'll absorb it... but most combat needs ZERO strategy. I think that needs to be addressed more-so then which combat system to use.

That is true too, games are getting too fucking easy in recent years, and if you compare the difficulty of Grandia and Grandia 2 you can easily feel the drop in pressure in Grandia 2. Same goes for the difficulty of Tales of Phantasia PSX when compared to the original SNES version.

i prefer real time but i much rather prefer the fighting style of Star ocean TTEOT

That is real-time...

Anyway, my oh-so-eagerly awaited opinion. *snicker*

I really don't have a preference. I can get into one just as well as the other...assuming the system, whatever it is, is well done.


I just think it gets incredibly repetive when they force me to train alot with an already boring battle system.

RPG's with real-time systems force you to train, as well. Smashing the same enemy 50 times is boring whether you're controlling your characters' movements or not.

One thing I've noticed is that the two systems have totally different points of focus. Pretty much EVERY turn-based RPG I've run across focuses almost entirely upon party prep. If you have X spell and Y weapon/armor/whatever, Z boss will be a piece o'cake. For example, the MagiMaster in FFVI. If you have Ultima/Flare and Life 3, he'll be a cinch. Otherwise, you'll have to jump through hoops just to damage him. In real-time RPG's, the focus isn't upon prepping your party (though it obviously helps), but upon knowing the enemies. For example, Sephy in the first KH. After you dodge one of his attacks and go through your attack routine, he'll do a DBZ-esque teleport-behind-you trick. If you don't know that, you wind up taking much more damage than you dish out--definitely not a good thing when five or six elixirs is all you can pack for that fight.

turn based...

especially in FFX-2...

I relate a turnbased game to chess with only 3 pieces per team

kind of like Star oceans runic chess

eh, i wouldnt really compare chess to Star ocean. (thats a compliment to star ocean by the way)

Major loss of cred for slighting the game of kings. :(

One of the more enjoyable battle systems in a while for me was Tales of Symphonia. Now there'a a game that is fast paced and you are constantly moving around, attacking, healing etc. It was really fun, even if it's the same concept over and over again. But hey, so is turn-based. I do like how there is a certain element of 'knowing your enemy' in real-time, because you'd have to move around their attacks, plan when is the best time to strike, etc.

When I play turn-based RPG's, I turn the mode to 'active', and set the battle speed to as quickly as it can go. Sure, its not exactly real-time, but it does the job for me. I enjoy just sitting around and not having to worry about doing much during battles, except push a few buttons every few seconds.

I like both, but it's really tough for me to decide. I'd like to play more RPG's with real-time, and also more future games incorporate this. Maybe then I'd be able to make a more concrete decision.

Tales of Symphonia had a great battle system. very similiar to Star Ocean 3's.

Tales of Symphonia had a great battle system. very similiar to Star Ocean 3's.

The battle system in Tales of the Abyss is even morse so, because you can switch between free movement and linear movement by holding one of the shoulder buttons.

The battle system in Tales of the Abyss is even morse so, because you can switch between free movement and linear movement by holding one of the shoulder buttons.

Tales of the abyss? never heard of it. What system is it for?

PS2, it's planned to be released in the US this fall. It's already released in Japan, just so you know.

yeah thats where i saw it. And judging from what people have said, they seem to like it.

I am looking forward to it.

I've never heard of Tales of the Abyss. However, I've always been a big fan of the Tales games, so I expect it to be really good. I'll look into it.

eh, i wouldnt really compare chess to Star ocean. (thats a compliment to star ocean by the way)
no not star ocean to chess star ocean has a runic chess mini game kind of like a tactic game minus control it's excruciatingly easy and you can win 50,000 fol up to 4 or 5 times then they stop rewarding you *only that I know of in TTEOT*

i really like Star Ocean's battle style does anyone think it could work for an FF game probably not because there'd be too many options

Why must you ruin perfectly good topics with your inane banter? And why do you ignore the virtues of the Edit button?

no not star ocean to chess star ocean has a runic chess mini game kind of like a tactic game minus control it's excruciatingly easy and you can win 50,000 fol up to 4 or 5 times then they stop rewarding you *only that I know of in TTEOT*

Go back to your sand-box. Adults are having a discussion. Tales of the Abyss is a new on me too, probally because i've been ignoring all Sony news for quite some time now.

Couple (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RYmoUPY9flk&search=Tales%20of%20the%20abyss) of (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=grnzeehbHPw&search=Tales%20of%20the%20abyss) videos. (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ThV21owkXsY&search=Tales%20of%20the%20abyss)

Definetly turned based, more strategy involved, unlike KH's where its all X and Triangle.

If you grind your stats, yes, but there's a hell of a lot more thinking on your feet when you're not 20 levels above the required level to beat X.

Turn based or real time depends on the game for me. Both can be pulled off well.


Major loss of cred for slighting the game of kings. :(

The game of kings? Isn't that war (not the card game)?

If you grind your stats, yes, but there's a hell of a lot more thinking on your feet when you're not 20 levels above the required level to beat X.

As a habitual under-leveler, I could make a very similar statement about turn-based systems. Granted, the type of strategy required is a bit different, but there's just as much strategy to a turn-based game if you're signifigantly under-levelled.

Thinking under pressure? Yeah, that is true, I've seen a couple of DnD sessions where the pressure is really thrown onto the characters' shoulders.

Definetly turned based, more strategy involved, unlike KH's where its all X and Triangle.

I have seen few games that involved more than level massing and then mashing the "attack" button. If I want a good strategy game that actually takes skill to play, i'll play a tactics game (FFT)

that's depend on the game finally
if you had a good battle system then there will be a good fight
after that you can say which one is good
but basically real-time make players more active in battle...

Way to necropost without saying anything. Seriously, congrats. /sarcasm

I much prefer real time, i think that turn based is unrealistic and a bit dull

real time of course, turn based is so booooring...

man really though i say like star ocean 2 3 is okay to me those are man good man tales game i can stand grandia is the man but grandia 2 man u r not as good as the man i guess because justin used that dragon sword and u were like man i cannot beat that same goes to 3 man u were like mana eggs man u guys had to go like fire egg and then use over and over and over again to get that one freaking attack with fiona was it u know world end or something it was like fire 99 earth 99 i got it because i was bored once dang that was some okay stuff not as good as i was hoping but hey dragon king slice was okay for a while i think u got that better one though i am not sure though it was like sky eternal something u know what i mean hey i could be wrong i dunno but suikoden games own man they have okay battle system i guess i am more of the actioner i would say probably but if u pull out the story of suikoden and those super duper true runes man u could call the game poo poo viii and i would still get it not eat it but get it

turn base.

I dont mind which. I play games with both systems of battling so its all good :)

I prefer realtime, generally this means you have alot more direct control over your character as far damage dealing/blocking/evading goes. Also, this allows for combo attacks and key sequences. This means you need atleast a little bit of experience and creativity to link a bunch of attacks.

I actually prefer active time turn-based rather than real time. But real time has it's fair shares of fun.

It's personally difficult for me to recognize if I prefer turn-based or real-time. They both can warrant formitable challenges. I've had a jovial time in both genres, with games such as Advance Wars and Command & Conquer, etc.

Real-time....play Devil May Cry 3 (not the special/n00b edition)
it requires you to not only strategize on your feet, but pay attention to your environment through sound and enemy position....if you don't you'll just get your ass handed to you over and over again sexpot
not only that...but to put up decent mission rankings you have to vary your combos and attacks to get your style gauge to triple S while killing enemies, not using items, completing the mission extremely quickly, and all while taking NO damage whatsoever....

I like them both, but I like real-time better because sometimes it's harder. For example, in a turn-based situation, you obviously take turns and it's easier to attack your opponent; even if there are multiple enemies. But in a real-time battle, sometimes it's harder because you have to worry if he will hit you before you attack or you have to worry if another enemy will attack you unexpectantly. That's my opinion on it.

Real-time....play Devil May Cry 3 (not the special/n00b edition)

All well and good, but the original post was specificaly referring to Console RPG's, not actionish titles like DMC.

My mind can't seem to handle turn based. I can't play Final Fantasy type turn based rpgs. I only like to play my zelda rpgs and games in that category. I want to be able to hit whenever i feel like it and not block by chance but to push a button to block.

turn based is unrealistic

Sometimes, an abstract system produces more plausible results than a (often limited) real-time one.

Example : Legend of Legaia

I think I prefer turn based. I played star ocean 3 and I couldnt get into that game at all. Tales of symphonia is a game I was excited for and ended up selling it. I think with real time rpgs i.e Kingdom Hearts, it becomes a mindless button mashing.

I do not like one over the other. I loved the last Final Fantasy's that were turn based like VII-X, but I also love the real time in XII. I really play both and love them both.

Final Fantasy XII was still turn-based to a certain extend. I mean, you had that bar that went like do do do and then action. And then it went do do do and another action. And then do do do and another action.

And then do do do and another action.

I've only played turn-based RPGs. I'd still prefer real-time.

Final Fantasy XII was still turn-based to a certain extend. I mean, you had that bar that went like do do do and then action. And then it went do do do and another action. And then do do do and another action.

And then do do do and another action.

Well yea but it's overall a real-time battles system. Your targeting enemies and moving freely to attack them.

Well yea but it's overall a real-time battles system. Your targeting enemies and moving freely to attack them.

I wouldnt call it real time. Yes you move around but its still based on the atb system. Leans more toward turn based.

I think I prefer turn based. I played star ocean 3 and I couldnt get into that game at all. Tales of symphonia is a game I was excited for and ended up selling it. I think with real time rpgs i.e Kingdom Hearts, it becomes a mindless button mashing.

My intuition tells me you haven't played Tales of Symphonia for more than 30 minutes. Mindless button mashing can only get you so far in the more recent Tales of and Star Ocean 3 games.

At any rate, it's better than waiting and then selecting attack/magic arbitrarily without any thought to it.

Well, in Star Ocean 3, you could probably end up doing the button mashing whatever the whole game if you just exploit the blacksmithing and all that.

But I really don't think either of those games required much strategy outside Attack/Heal outside the odd boss or two.

BUT REALLY IT IS BEST IF U BUTTON MASH IN FFVII ALL I DID WAS HOLD THE O BUTTON TRUE STORY

My intuition tells me you haven't played Tales of Symphonia for more than 30 minutes. Mindless button mashing can only get you so far in the more recent Tales of and Star Ocean 3 games.

At any rate, it's better than waiting and then selecting attack/magic arbitrarily without any thought to it.

Tales was not an example of that. But lke I said, kh2 is straight button mashing at its best I actually played Tales a little more than 30 mins.

You dont like waiting then hitting attack/magic, but I do. Its all a matter of taste.

Sounds a lot like the whole Arc the Lad: Twilight of the spirits to me, if it is anything like that, then it's turn based, the whole moving on the field just added a more tactical feel, I gotta play FFXII this do do do action seems interesting to me.

I agree, I like Turnbased and real-time, but Grandia combines both of them perfectly.

That is why that series along with Shin Megami Tensei are my favorites.

Evolution01, this thread hasn't had a active post in 8 years... please check the date of the last post, BEFORE posting. If the thread is older than a month, then please do not revive it. Make a new thread instead. Thread is closed.