JRPGs With The Most Customizable Magic Systems

Key Takeaways

Different JRPGs offer diverse, customizable magic systems beyond simple leveling or purchasing spells.
Games like
Wo Long, Elden Ring,
and
Golden Sun
provide unique ways to customize magic characters.
Systems like
Dragon’s Dogma 2
and
Suikoden 2
introduce hybrid classes and spell slots for strategic magic use.

As a seasoned gamer with over two decades under my belt, I must say that the magic systems in these classic RPGs have always been a source of fascination for me. They each offer unique approaches to customization and progression, which is a testament to their designers’ creativity.

In most Japanese Role-Playing Games (JRPGs), you’ll encounter magical elements woven into the gameplay. It’s rare to find examples within this genre that don’t involve mages or spellcasters in some capacity. Consequently, fans of JRPGs have been exposed to numerous methods for enhancing and personalizing their magical abilities across different games.

In some games, instead of following traditional methods like leveling up to unlock spells or buying them from merchants, they offer a more personalized approach. These games stand out by providing players with the flexibility to shape their magical characters as they wish, boasting some of the most adaptable magic systems in gaming.

10 Wo Long: Fallen Dynasty

Virtuous Spellcasting

In the game Wo Long: Fallen Dynasty, five fundamental elements – wood, fire, water, metal, and earth – play a significant role in shaping various game aspects. These elements determine the stats a player accrues upon leveling up, the types of equipment that players can efficiently utilize, and the spells a player is able to master. By progressing one of these elements, players earn a point to invest in the spell tree associated with that element.

In the game, every tree has multiple paths for branching out, reflecting a rich variety of choices and adaptability in player customization. The intricate magic system adds depth as each virtue has its corresponding weakness, motivating players to employ diverse magical elements when confronting various adversaries.

9 Dragon’s Dogma 2

Hybrid Classes

In the Dragon’s Dogma series, they have an intriguing method for creating player characters and acquiring new abilities. In Dragon’s Dogma 2, players gained even more options to tailor their Arisen character into a versatile spellcaster. Unlike the original game where advanced classes were unlocked at higher levels, Dragon’s Dogma 2 required players to search for particular masters to learn vocations and potent skills instead.

As a gamer, I absolutely love the Warfarer class! It lets me freely mix and match abilities from different classes, offering an incredible level of flexibility for those diving into multiclassing. However, the catch is that crafting a well-rounded, diverse character requires quite a bit of time investment.

8 Elden Ring

31 Schools of Magic

In a more expansive manner than any previous titles by FromSoftware, Elden Ring provides players with an assortment of magical abilities for attack, defense, and assistance. These spells are categorized as either incantations or sorceries, each relying on either Faith or Intelligence attributes respectively. Additionally, certain spells necessitate an investment in Arcane alongside one of these other magical attributes.

In Elden Ring, you’ll find over 200 different spells to explore, which gives players plenty of flexibility when deciding how to distribute their stats. Regardless of the balance you choose, there will be numerous spell choices at your disposal. What’s more, you can easily swap out spells at grace sites, and respecing is made easier compared to previous games. This means that crafting a build centered around spells is generally straightforward in Elden Ring.

7 The Legend Of Heroes: Trails In The Sky

Elemental Quartz

In the game Trails in the Sky, mastering the magic system might initially seem challenging, but once grasped, it offers an engaging opportunity for character personalization. Players outfit their characters with gemstones, each providing a specific stat increase and elemental alignment. As more diverse gemstones are added, a wider variety of spells can be cast, depending on the elemental properties of the gemstones equipped.

As a gamer, I’m constantly on the hunt for the perfect magical builds within this game. Thankfully, the developers thought ahead and provided an in-game manual, which helps me navigate the intricacies of combining the various quartz I collect throughout my journey to unlock desired abilities. This way, I can strategize effectively and ensure I’m always one step ahead in crafting my dream builds.

6 Final Fantasy 9

Learn And Grow

In Final Fantasy 9, the method of acquiring magic and abilities stirred up some debate, but it undeniably offers a degree of character personalization through persistent grinding. Essentially, characters learn spells and skills by donning gear, and mastery is achieved by accumulating experience while wearing the corresponding gear item. Once mastered, the character can retain the spell regardless of equipment changes. Notably, many pieces of equipment can be worn by multiple party members, thus, the extent of customization primarily depends on players’ willingness to grind for experience points.

This game adds another layer of complexity as it distributes Action Points (AP) to players, which they can use to activate support and passive skills for their characters. In this way, players can further refine their character specializations, offering a more adaptable and tailored experience similar to the job system in previous iterations of Final Fantasy.

5 Suikoden 2

Spell Slots

In the sequel to Suikoden, titled Suikoden 2, the rune system from the initial game is expanded upon, offering players a broader range of options for tailoring their magical characters. The game adopts a spell slot mechanism similar to Dungeons & Dragons, which means that after a specific number of spells are cast, the characters require rest and recharging. This encourages strategic and mindful usage of the game’s potent magic.

In the game Suikoden 2, the adaptable rune system empowers players to exercise greater control over their magical characters’ abilities. When a team is composed of several powerful magic users, extra advantages are gained since specific high-level spells can be simultaneously cast and combined into even more potent attacks.

4 Treasure Of The Rudras

Word Magic

Platforms	Super Nintendo, Wii, Wii U
Released	April 5, 1996
Developer	Square
Genre	JRPG, Fantasy

Regardless of its lesser-known status, the Treasure of the Rudras stands out as one of Square’s most distinctive JRPG creations, even by their daring 90s benchmarks. Its narrative, which leaps through time and is loosely inspired by Hindu mythology, and its magic system that allows for the free combination of words to create spells, are both bold moves.

In the magical system, there’s plenty of room for inventive use. The foundation of the original game was built using six combined katakana characters, which were translated into a 12-letter alphabetical system for the Western SNES version. Typically, spells are constructed with an element (like Ig for fire or Aqu for water) followed by a suffix (Na, which targets all enemies).

In this game, there are many instances where rules deviate or unique spells arise, and players have the liberty to record these in their personal spellbook, known as a Grimoire, in an attempt to discover new abilities. Additionally, players can learn spell combinations from books they find and by exploring different parts of the world, thereby connecting the spell system directly to the game’s progression.

3 Golden Sun

High Psynergy

In the Golden Sun series on Game Boy Advance, they took an innovative route when it came to personalizing magic characters. At a glance, each character appears tied to a specific element, potentially suggesting restriction in customization. However, the game extends this concept by enabling players to attach Djinn, which also exhibit their own elemental allegiances.

As gamers advance deeper into the game, they can add stronger sets of Djinn to their arsenal. These combinations have the ability to reach specific elemental energy levels, unlocking new character classes and magical abilities known as Psynergy. This feature provides a richer gaming experience than it initially seems, contributing significantly to why the first two Golden Sun games continue to be cherished by many players.

2 Grandia

Magic Eggs

In Grandia, the spell purchasing mechanism was refined by making advanced spells and elemental combinations accessible through combat usage and leveling up of basic spells. This allows players to intentionally develop a character’s magic abilities in a specific area simply by frequently employing it, creating a system that rewards strategic gameplay. Moreover, characters acquire unique stats from leveling various elemental types, providing extra advantages.

Mastering diverse magical skills enables one to discover fundamental spell interactions, thereby unlocking a myriad of enchanting magic realms for the player. Moreover, each character possesses exclusive spells and talents, allowing players to tailor their magical personas with numerous creative combinations, resulting in a distinctly personalized magical experience.

1 Final Fantasy 7

The Materia System

In every installment of the Final Fantasy series, there has been a distinctive method for acquiring new spells and tailoring magic-wielding characters. The materia system in Final Fantasy 7, with its high degree of customization, deep interplay with the equipment system, and intricate connection to the game’s narrative, stands out as one of the most engaging magic systems found in video games.

Characters can insert various items known as materia into their weapons and gear, with each item having a specific number of spaces to accommodate them. This feature offers an intriguing aspect when creating characters, and it becomes even more engaging due to linked slots in certain pieces that enable the use of potent support materia combinations.

Moreover, it’s worth noting that each weapon and armor piece comes with unique attributes and advantages, some even enhancing materia growth. Additionally, the strategic significance of these choices is maintained throughout the game. Furthermore, the integration of materia into the game’s narrative and character backstories adds an interesting and natural layer to the magic system. This system stands out as one of the most thoughtfully designed magical elements in any JRPG.

2024-11-10 04:36