Unlocking the Secrets of Engaging Turn-Based Battle Systems: Insights from Metaphor Devs!

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Summary

  • Metaphor: ReFantazio Lead Battle Planner Kenichi Goto identified difficulty as a key component of a good battle system.
  • Goto also believes that making battles easy to retry and fast-forward helps keep turn-based combat systems engaging without feeling too grindy.

Lead Battle Planner Kenichi Goto has highlighted key elements that, according to him, contribute to an effective turn-based battle system. The most crucial aspect he emphasized is a suitable level of challenge – a characteristic that ReFantazio, metaphorically speaking, abounds in.

In the gaming world I inhabit, it’s been noticeable how fewer big-budget AAA games are featuring turn-based combat since around the early 2010s. But here’s the interesting twist – while most mainstream titles have moved on, Japanese Role-Playing Games (JRPGs) have bucked this trend. And let me tell you, Atlus has really made a name for itself as a trailblazer in this genre. Their games show that even in today’s fast-paced gaming landscape, the turn-based system still strikes a chord with modern gamers like myself.

During a chat with GamesRadar+, longtime Atlus employee Kenichi Goto offered insights into how they consistently create engaging turn-based combat systems. Highlighting crucial aspects of these mechanisms, he emphasized a suitable level of challenge as a vital component in the mix. According to him, incorporating some difficulty ensures that players stay alert and mindful, as it helps maintain the sensation that they can’t afford to be complacent.

Turn-Based Combat Offers Unique Advantages

Maintaining an appropriate level of challenge in turn-based combat is essential, as players may become disengaged otherwise, according to the developer of ReFantazio. This developer also highlighted that turn-based battle systems provide distinct benefits, such as enabling creators to emphasize the effects of player actions through strategic visual effects and camera work. The combat system in ReFantazio serves as a perfect demonstration of these advantages.

Ensuring turn-based games offer a degree of challenge helps maintain the sense that players must stay vigilant.

Goto admitted that some Role Playing Games (RPGs) featuring turn-based battles might seem repetitive or tedious due to grinding, but suggested there are tactics to minimize this issue. Providing players with the ability to quickly restart battles and speed up combat are among these strategies. For instance, ReFantazio has made restarting battles more convenient than before, while Atlus has been exploring ways to optimize combats for a long time. For example, games like Persona have included a fast-forward function for years now, enabling players to skip encounters with enemies that don’t pose significant threats and therefore require minimal strategic planning.

Throughout 2024, Atlus set two new records for their fastest-selling games: first with “Persona 3 Reload”, followed by “Metaphor: ReFantazio”. Both these games, which incorporate turn-based battles, demonstrate that contemporary audiences continue to appreciate this type of combat system. While “Persona 6” is currently in development, having been confirmed indirectly through a job listing as early as 2021, there’s speculation that the next Atlus game to launch may instead be a remake of “Persona 4”. This potential announcement is rumored for the upcoming Xbox Games Showcase on June 8.

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2025-04-20 19:36