JRPGs That Reinvent Turn-Based Combat

Key Takeaways

Active Time Battle introduced urgency, allowing characters to act while animations played out.
Persona 5’s stylish UI minimized menu clutter, enhancing navigation and making turn-based skeptics fans.
Grandia’s Initiative Point Gauge introduced tactical turn orders, influencing games like Octopath Traveler.

As a seasoned gamer who has spent countless hours battling monsters, leading armies, and negotiating peace treaties in the vast world of JRPGs, I can confidently say that these games have truly revolutionized the way we experience turn-based combat.

In JRPGs, turn-based combat plays a crucial role and is often what sets these games apart. Over time, as in many video games, this turn-based gameplay has advanced past basic menu selections and waiting for turns, incorporating new features to maintain its relevance and appeal.

These games brought innovative concepts, ranging from strategic layers to visually appealing designs, which have left a lasting impact on contemporary role-playing games or serve as unique and often underappreciated branches within the Japanese RPG genre lineage.

8. Final Fantasy 4 – Active Time Battle

Adding Urgency To Play

As a devoted fan, I can’t help but appreciate how the “Active Time Battle” system revolutionized my gaming experience in Final Fantasy 4. Instead of idling in line, this innovative system allowed characters to take action even while enemy or party member animations were playing out. Though it may have sparked debate among Final Fantasy enthusiasts and aficionados of the turn-based format, there’s no denying that the ticking clock infused a sense of urgency into every single battle, making each encounter feel more dynamic and engaging.

Indeed, the series has brought significant improvements to the turn-based format that extend beyond Active Time Battle (ATB). For instance, Final Fantasy X-2 features job switching within battles, and Final Fantasy XII introduced the semi-automatic turn-based gambit system, which are just a few examples.

7. Persona 5 – Stylish UI

Adding Flare To And Removing Clutter From Menus

Many gamers continue to perceive the turn-based gameplay common in most Japanese Role-Playing Games (JRPGs) as sluggish, unchanging, and awkward. However, despite the significant advancements made by games like “Persona 5” and the “Persona” series overall within the JRPG genre, it is the dynamic, intuitive user interface that has the potential to convert even a skeptic of turn-based gameplay.

The creators have put significant thought and creativity into designing menus that are swift, sleek, and appealing, while avoiding the cumbersome aspects often found in similar games. Moreover, the game’s stylish and attractive user interface ensures the player doesn’t feel overwhelmed with details, and each click results in a purposeful action.

6. Grandia – A Flexible Turn Economy

Making Battles More Tactical With Turn Orders

A series of counterattacks can tire players out quicker than any entry-level monster in a game. Fortunately, Grandia introduced an engaging turn order system called the “Initiative Point Gauge,” which has since been emulated by other creative games like Octopath Traveler and Bravely Default.

This chart shows the order of each character’s and enemy’s actions, considering their speed, so players can predict moves and strategize based on future turns. Players may employ special abilities or attacks to postpone or interfere with enemies’ actions, thus thwarting their strategies and gaining valuable time.

5. Undertale – Keeping Every Encounter Interesting

A Unique Minigame For Every Monster

One key theme in the game ‘Undertale’ revolves around the idea that love and harmony can conquer fear and aggression. This concept is demonstrated throughout the game, as players encounter numerous peculiar creatures inhabiting the underworld kingdom, and they have the option to either engage in combat or show compassion. This dynamic becomes more apparent during a turn-based segment where players choose between attacking or engaging before facing their adversary’s challenging mini-game reminiscent of bullet hell-style games. Numerous classic games served as inspiration for ‘Undertale’, and while Earthbound was one of them, the unique subversive design philosophy that underpins its battle system sets it apart from other games in this genre.

Each encounter with a unique assortment of enemies (as battles incorporate the characteristics of each monster) ensures that every fight is novel and stays vivid in memory. Unlike some turn-based games, there’s no idle time for players to endure animations or dialogue; instead, they must remain vigilant to stay alive. Moreover, the adorable appearances of the monsters discourage players from dismissing them as mere experience points and rather stir feelings of compassion.

4. Super Mario RPG: Legend Of The Seven Stars – Active Action Commands

Prompt-Based Interactive Battles

In a refreshing twist, the traditional concept of turn-based combat is sometimes viewed as rigid, immobile, and prolonged. However, what if a game renowned for swift, skillful platform gaming were to adopt this format? That’s exactly what Super Mario RPG: Legend of the Seven Stars did, revolutionizing JRPGs (and the mindset of many RPGs globally) by incorporating “action commands.” This innovative feature brought a dynamic, responsive element into the otherwise static turn-based combat system.

After entering a command, the player can amplify the outcome by pressing a button at just the right moment. For instance, when Mario swings his hammer, the player can cause extra damage by hitting the B key as the blow connects. This additional interactive feature has been emulated in many games such as Shadow Hearts, Yakuza 7, and South Park: The Stick of Truth. These games not only rely on forward actions but also reactive ones, like dodging or countering during an enemy attack.

3. Megami Tensei – Enemy Negotiations & Collection

Monster Collection & Creating An Alternative To Violence

Prior to Megami Tensei, monsters in Japanese Role-Playing Games (JRPGs) were merely barriers to be destroyed. However, when the “demon negotiation” feature was introduced, the traditional turn-based system underwent a transformation. Instead of being feared, powerful monsters became potential allies if the player managed to charm them through luck or skill. As the series progressed, these creatures could also be merged with others, introducing a “collecting” gameplay aspect.

This transformation made the prospect of facing an adversary from dull routine to a thrilling opportunity to come across a valuable foe species. The possibility of converting enemies into allies through conversation wasn’t widely adopted in the genre, but there were two outstanding exceptions: Pokemon, which eliminated the negotiation element but emphasized the collection aspect even more, and Undertale, where dialogue became the core gameplay mechanic.

2. Legend of Legaia – A Turn-Based Fighter

Input Fighting Moves With Each Input

In an unexpected fusion, games categorized as fighting and Japanese Role Playing Games (JRPGs) seemingly have no common ground. However, in the game “Legend of Legaia“, these two genres intertwine to produce a distinctive approach to turn-based combat. Players input commands via menus, just as they would in any other JRPG, but this game also encourages players to specify the exact move their martial artist character performs using the controller’s D-pad.

In simpler terms, different combinations of actions are referred to as “arts,” which are like the powerful sequences known as “combos” in traditional fighting games. Players discover new arts by trying out various combinations or locating books that reveal advanced art combos. As characters’ spirit levels increase, their action sequences might grow longer, resulting in more intricate and potent moves.

1. Suikoden – Army Battles

Epic Scale Battles With Realistically High Stakes

In Suikoden, with more than 100 party members to recruit, players might wonder how they can interact with all these characters in a single gameplay session. While battles follow a conventional turn-based format, the large party size introduces another battle system: army battles. These epic skirmishes, featuring thousands of characters, operate similarly to regular battles using menus and turns. However, unlike traditional battles where characters regain health points, here, you wager your characters. Once lost in battle, they are gone permanently.

In subsequent installments of the Suikoden series, the turn-based system is reimagined, transforming army battles into strategic engagements and eventually real-time strategy (RTS) games. Moreover, besides grand conflicts, confrontations may also appear as duels – intense one-on-one bouts where players must anticipate their adversary’s actions based on dialogue exchanges and swiftly respond to seize the advantage.

2024-12-06 18:36