As a seasoned gamer with over two decades of gaming under my belt, I’ve come across some truly unique and captivating titles that have left me spellbound. However, there are also games that, while they might boast impressive stories or stunning visuals, fall short when it comes to their combat systems. Today, I’d like to share my experiences with five such games that, despite their flaws, are worth a play for their unique quirks and captivating narratives.
Over the years, I’ve come across some fantastic JRPGs, but their combat systems haven’t always lived up to my expectations. However, it’s important to note that these games still delivered incredible stories and immersive worlds, making them worthwhile experiences despite occasional shortcomings in the battle department.
How about this instead: “Let’s explore several Japanese Role-Playing Games that have many admirable aspects, yet their combat systems could use some improvement.
10 Final Fantasy 9
All Great, Besides the Fighting
The classic game Final Fantasy 9 is widely recognized as one of the standout titles in the series. This acclaim stems from its stunning visual aesthetic, compelling narrative, and unforgettable character development.
Nevertheless, its unfavorable reputation wasn’t earned because of its combat system. Instead, it fell short in numerous aspects compared to Final Fantasy 8, and these issues were seemingly addressed in the following game release.
The simplicity of this game leaves me feeling rather unimpressed. Although it harks back to classic gaming, it lacks the depth that Final Fantasy 6 possessed.
As a die-hard Final Fantasy enthusiast, I must confess that the immersive interactivity found in the limit breaks of FFVIII seems absent this time around. It’s hard not to miss the captivating depth provided by the Materia system from Final Fantasy VII, and even the summons, which have always been a highlight for me, fall short compared to their previous incarnations.
The game seemed outdated compared to the rapidly expanding gaming industry. In several aspects, the battle system in Final Fantasy 9 remained stagnant, making it challenging to fully enjoy other parts of the game on occasion.
9 Tales of Berseria
Baffling Mechanics
The Game ‘Tales of Berseria’ has significantly revitalized the Tales series, yet it encounters a significant challenge: there’s one major issue.
The combat, while fun at times, is based upon a crystal-acquiring system. See, these fuel what Artes you can do during a fight, which is great, but guess what?
When the supply of those crystals depletes, it essentially leaves you with no options, as the game lacks a fundamental attack for such gaps.
As a long-time player of action RPG games, I must admit that I often find myself feeling rather clumsy when it comes to combat. It seems like I’m constantly stumbling through a bizarre waltz of using my special moves (Artes) and then scampering about like a hapless fool. My character may be skilled in battle, but the execution leaves much to be desired!
It’s unfortunate, given how fantastic the story is, that Velvet, one of the series’ top-tier characters, and an excellent party are involved as well.
Man, I find myself engaged in countless skirmishes, and it seems that the battle mechanics really shine during boss encounters, but not always in a good way. The flaws become glaringly obvious there.
In the subsequent game titled “Tales of Arise,” they enhanced the combat system by introducing basic attacks to fill in the gaps between Artes, and also included a dodge feature that significantly improved the overall fluidity of gameplay.
8 Dragon Quest 3 HD-2D Remake
Ancient in the Wrong Ways
As a nostalgic gamer, diving back into the world of Dragon Quest 3 HD-2D feels like stepping into a time machine. The revamped graphics transport me to a familiar yet refreshed realm, while the enhanced quality of life upgrades make every step feel effortless and enjoyable.
As a gamer, I must admit that the creators nailed many aspects of this game, but they fell short when it comes to the battle system. Instead of witnessing the action unfold before my eyes, I’m only treated to brief slashes or spell animations. It would have been much more immersive if I could actually see the combat taking place.
In this case, you don’t have complete autonomy over your characters; instead, you choose when to engage in combat and decide on their strategies, only to observe as the action plays out.
It’s incredibly dull, offers little player engagement, and feels like a significantly less captivating take on the idea that Unicorn Overlord previously explored.
The updated version of the game should’ve significantly enhanced the combat, yet it seems that aspect remains unaltered for some reason.
7 Vagrant Story
What am I looking at Here?
Among the top-tier standalone Japanese Role-Playing Games, Vagrant Story truly shines. Unlike many other games of its genre which were filled with fantasy and whimsy, it offered a unique, dark, gothic narrative that showcased exceptional writing, world-building, and character development.
Despite its potential for greatness, the primary obstacle preventing it from achieving monumental success was a rather clumsy combat mechanism. This hybrid system combined real-time action with occasional pauses, but unfortunately, it failed to resonate effectively.
The tutorial isn’t very helpful, and the limb-based combat system seems awkward, regardless of how much time you spend interacting with it.
Previously, real-time combat has been incorporated into Japanese Role-Playing Games (JRPGs) more effectively than what was attempted by Square Enix in this particular instance. Despite their ambition to make a significant impact with this feature, it seems that their efforts fell short.
Despite its excellent features, the game’s combat system might pose a challenging barrier for some JRPG enthusiasts, making it a potential issue they may find difficult to surmount. However, given the overall quality of the game, I would still strongly advise it to any JRPG fan.
6 Final Fantasy 12
Sit Back and Watch
After Square Enix explored the realm of Massively Multiplayer Online Role-Playing Games (MMORPG), Final Fantasy 12 was developed, and this influence is evident. This game stands out as one of the most mature offerings in Square Enix’s collection, and it boasts an exceptionally strong cast that many consider to be its finest.
The world is also amazing to explore, the villains engaging and interesting in their motives and the twists are some of the best in the series too.
One aspect where the game fell short, however, was its combat system. For quite some time, we had been accustomed to managing the tempo of battles within the series, but inexplicably, that control was taken from us.
As a gamer, I found myself diving into a dynamic battlefield with an automatic attack mechanism and the sometimes love-hate relationship with the Gambit system, which dictated my strategic decisions in real-time combat.
This feature enables the game to automatically run, effectively playing on its own. While some appreciated this hands-off approach, many others found it less engaging since it eliminated the need to interact with the controller.
Including the repetitive Quickening assaults, which, albeit exciting, persist throughout a solitary conflict, results in a battle system that becomes monotonous rather swiftly and fails to introduce significant changes for approximately 60 hours.
5 Xenoblade Chronicles 2
Reading Tutorials is Not Fun
In the latter part of the 2010s, Xenoblade Chronicles 2 emerged as a groundbreaking game that propelled the Japanese Role-Playing Game (JRPG) genre out of its more subdued era.
The thrilling narrative harkens back to classic JRPGs, while its graphics are some of the finest the Nintendo Switch currently offers.
Nevertheless, the combat system presents a challenging experience due to its intricate design and high learning curve. Rather than being inherently flawed, it’s the level of detail required to master it that makes it difficult for many players to fully utilize its potential.
The big issue is the endless tutorials introducing new battle mechanics that don’t even make sense despite rereading them repeatedly.
For a thorough grasp of this system, accessible video tutorials online would be beneficial, but such resources should not be essential for any game.
Although its fundamental structure is straightforward, it becomes complex due to the numerous elements requiring management, the multitude of possibilities to exploit, and other additional factors.
In a sequential manner, the amount of information would be overwhelming, but the fast-paced real-time action, combined with the ongoing turmoil of combat, makes it extremely challenging to maintain control and make consistent decisions, particularly when fresh battle mechanics are frequently introduced across the game.
4 Xenosaga
Over Simplified
In numerous aspects, Xenosaga can be considered as a deep, thought-provoking role-playing game (JRPG) for discerning players. It breaks away from the traditional ‘hero saves universe’ narratives of its predecessors and delves into more philosophical storylines that tackle weighty topics.
In addition, you’ll find compelling characters, captivating adversaries, and visually appealing graphics that will hold your attention and enhance your enjoyment of the narrative.
Although the game tries hard, it seems to fall short in its battle system, as it appears less engaging and enjoyable compared to the complex and entertaining one found in Xenogears.
In this setup, the key components are referred to as action points, which serve as the currency for executing various attacks that correspond to distinct buttons.
In this instance, the combinations have been greatly simplified compared to their ancestral counterpart, resulting in a less engaging and more formulaic experience when interacting with the system.
When you stumble upon a strategy that succeeds, there’s not much incentive to explore beyond it. Moreover, since all combinations are automatically revealed as you advance through the narrative, the sense of personally crafting progress is also absent.
The fighting sequences seem rather uninspired, with most attacks appearing underwhelming, even by standards of when it was released. Unfortunately, they haven’t held up over time either.
3 Drakengard
The Worst Dynasty Warriors Game
In my opinion, there’s no other game quite like Drakengard. It’s absolutely bonkers, and I mean that in the best way possible – especially for those who appreciate unique narratives that keep you utterly captivated with their unpredictable unfolding.
This game marks the origins of the epic Nier series, born from one of gaming’s most unconventional endings, attainable only by playing Drakengard in a unique manner.
As a fervent admirer, let me share my experience: Drakengard throws you into the role of Caim, an incredibly intense protagonist, who, right from the start, links his destiny with a dragon. The storyline then takes an exhilarating turn, tears up the tracks, lifts them high above the ground, and spins them wildly as you hold on tight, gripped by the thrilling ride.
The one issue is that in order to enjoy this ride, you need to get through the combat, which is a large part of the game.
The battle can be divided into two styles: ground-based, resembling the least demanding Dynasty Warriors spin-off ever made, and aerial, mirroring Panzer Dragoon’s combat if it were created within a single night’s timeframe.
Walking battles are quite frustrating initially, offering you a limited variety of moves during the early stages that can become tedious within no time, leaving you with little enthusiasm for continuing play.
This increases with the weapons you unlock, but if you’re expecting something as thrilling as Nier: Automata, you will be greatly out of luck.
As time progresses, the situation has deteriorated significantly, making playthroughs today even more agonizing than they were two decades ago due to these developments.
Even with that in mind, it’s worth the trip.
2 Nier: Replicant
A Classic Grind
Nier” stands among a select group of games, truly deserving the label of exceptional. Its tale revolving around a sibling’s quest to heal their ailing sister is both captivating and peculiar, offering a unique experience unmatched by others.
This game boasts some of the most intriguing plot twists ever, features memorable icons for its characters, and showcases environments that are one-of-a-kind among Japanese role-playing games (JRPGs).
To enjoy it, however, you’ll need to come to grips with the combat system, which is less than exemplary.
It’s apparent that this system was intended to allow users to perform different actions like combinations of moves, using various weapons, and casting spells. However, it seems to be rather clunky or poorly implemented without any discernible cause.
As a gamer, I found the attacks felt weak and insufficient, and the magic system, though visually appealing, didn’t perform as effectively as it should have. It seemed like an attempt to replicate the style of a Devil May Cry-like game, but unfortunately, it fell short due to a lack of technical finesse to truly bring such a concept to life over the course of a JRPG.
In this rephrased version, the sentence becomes: The show redeemed itself with Nier: Automata, boasting impressive combat mechanics. However, in this case, the gameplay didn’t live up to its full potential.
1 Final Fantasy XIII
Too Much Change
As a devoted fan, I must admit that when Final Fantasy 13 initially released, it left quite a few of us feeling underwhelmed. The primary issue seemed to stem from the somewhat linear structure of the opening stages, which was a departure from the more open-ended exploration we were accustomed to in previous titles.
For those who persisted, an exceptional game was present, boasting compelling characters, a uniquely imaginative plot, and graphical excellence that ranks among the best in the series.
In most Japanese Role-Playing Games (JRPGs), the battle system plays a significant role, but unfortunately, the Paradigm Shift system in this game fell short.
Initially, you can manage just a single character, a limitation that becomes frustrating since there are intriguing characters introduced intermittently throughout the narrative that players don’t have consistent control over.
This leaves you with a very samey feeling combat system for the majority of the game.
It’s frustrating that the Paradigm Shift system has the possibility to offer something extraordinary, yet it’s not clearly understood right off the bat, often making it feel like the game is largely self-playing.
Even though you can change leaders and formations towards the end of the game, it might be too late because by then, the repeated nature of the combat could have left you feeling incredibly dulled or uninterested.
In simpler terms, the only apparent explanation for not giving us control in this game is that Square Enix desires to try something new and innovative.
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2024-12-03 19:39