About the random-battles system in RPGs

[ramza]

Just to continue my thread about FF XII, I am pretty happy to see that the random-combat system has been abandonned. If you ask for my opinion, I completly hate that system as it is tedious going through areas in which you enter a battle for every 5 steps you make. This has detered me from completing many JRPGs since all of them are using the same system.

 

The only games I have managed to finish are the ones that didn't use that system and allowed you to avoid confrontations (for this, you just had to avoid running into the enemy). Grandia, Lunar, Saga Frontier, Xenogears... actually these are the only games that are different from the other JRPGs. Even in the FF series, I have only completed final fantasy tactics and FF VII. For the others, I gave up in the middle of the game as I got bored with all the fights.

 

Fortunately, I found the BG and IWD games and liked the way the fights were managed differenly and in a much better way, making the while situations look more realistic. Especially in BG2, where you had to provoke yourself the fights or where yu just got into them just by chance (being at the wrong place, at the wrong time). After playing those CRPGs, I really wonder if I will ever be able to play again a JRPG without getting bored within the first hour of gaming time. I really hope that FF XII will show some progress compared to the other games.

 

cheers.

[Darque]

You should try Romancing SaGa

[Oerwinde]

The Suikoden games are good despite the random battle system.

[mkreku]

I really enjoyed playing through Dragon Quest 8, although the worst aspect of that game were the constant battles that popped up everywhere. I wonder why JRPG's in particular rely so heavily on randomized battles?

[karka]

I think Chrono Cross's battle system was not random too.

 

"Fortunately, I found the BG and IWD games and liked the way the fights were managed differenly and in a much better way, making the while situations look more realistic. Especially in BG2, where you had to provoke yourself the fights or where yu just got into them just by chance (being at the wrong place, at the wrong time). After playing those CRPGs, I really wonder if I will ever be able to play again a JRPG without getting bored within the first hour of gaming time. I really hope that FF XII will show some progress compared to the other games."

 

Congtrats! You found the right way.

[Nick_i_am]

You should try Romancing SaGa

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

 

Do you hate him or somthing?

 

Also Chrono Cross has this 'bump into baddies to fight' system, but if you're European, you'll have to import.

 

Shadow Hearts has random battles, but I never found them to be a problem (the game is about 20 hours, so the dungeons are really short and there is a story with actual pacing).

[astr0creep]

Star Ocean Till the End of Time has also done away with RBs.

 

I hate them too

[Lancer]

The only games I have managed to finish are the ones that didn't use that system and allowed you to avoid confrontations (for this, you just had to avoid running into the enemy). Grandia, Lunar, Saga Frontier, Xenogears... actually these are the only games that are different from the other JRPGs. Even in the FF series, I have only completed final fantasy tactics and FF VII. For the others, I gave up in the middle of the game as I got bored with all the fights.

cheers.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

 

 

First, I can't stand Final Fantasy.

 

Second, although Xenogears was a *great* game it had *a LOT* of random encounters. I think you mean Xenosaga instead? In Xenosaga you can always see the enemies on the main view and one was able oftentimes to sneak around them.

 

But even like that Xenogears managed to be better than any of the Xenosaga games, IMHO.

Edited February 8, 2006 by Lancer

[Lancer]

I really enjoyed playing through Dragon Quest 8, although the worst aspect of that game were the constant battles that popped up everywhere. I wonder why JRPG's in particular rely so heavily on randomized battles?

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

 

This is partly why I am cautious when it comes to playing JRPGs.. The good news, however, is that random wandering encounters are really close to being phased out entirely in modern JRPGS. But that is not the worst of it... What still remains in JRPGS is that awful, boring menu-driven combat system that doesn't allow you to position your characters and lends itself to some serious button-mashing.

 

I wish more JRPGs had the strategic combat system that Shining Force or Grandia have.

Edited February 8, 2006 by Lancer

[astr0creep]

I really enjoyed playing through Dragon Quest 8, although the worst aspect of that game were the constant battles that popped up everywhere. I wonder why JRPG's in particular rely so heavily on randomized battles?

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

 

This is partly why I am cautious when it comes to playing JRPGs.. The good news, however, is that random wandering encounters are really close to being phased out entirely in modern JRPGS. But that is not the worst of it... What still remains in JRPGS is that awful, boring menu-driven combat system that doesn't allow you to position your characters and lends to some serious button-mashing.

 

I wish more JRPGs had the strategic combat system that Shining Force or Grandia have.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

 

Again, Star Ocean TtEoT.

[Meshugger]

Random encounters can be annoying at worst, but never "I refuse to play this game"-bad. Either you can't play the game, or you hate the game to begin with, despite random encounters.

 

I see that more and more JRPG's are departing from the random encounters to a more flexible and tactical approach, which is fine by me. I suspect that some will remain true to the random encounters for nostaltic reasons only.

[astr0creep]

Random encounters can be annoying at worst, but never "I refuse to play this game"-bad. Either you can't play the game, or you hate the game to begin with, despite random encounters.

 

I see that more and more JRPG's are departing from the random encounters to a more flexible and tactical approach, which is fine by me. I suspect that some will remain true to the random encounters for nostaltic reasons only.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

 

Would be nice to gain some xp even if some enemies are avoided though. Maybe a stealth or puzzle thing?

[DGwar]

Septerra Core had random battles. but they did it well.

[Nick_i_am]

Honourable mention should go to Wild Arms 3. While there was a random battle system, before a battle, an '!' would appear above your characters head for about 3 seconds, and it was possible to press a button to advoid the battle. Doing this would drain some energy from your migrant meter depending on the power of the hostile party compared to your migrant level. In other words, it was completely possible to advoid weak badies with no negative side effects at all. Your migrant power could be build up by fighting battles or by picking up cystals littered around areas. Additionally, while the '!' is there, it's also possible to advoid battles by preforming an action, such as jumping off somthing or pushing a block.

 

Nothing groundbreaking, but a nice system.

[DGwar]

i think septerra core had something similar. but i don't remember.

[Serious Callers Only]

You guys should learn the joy of a good cheat system. Although i only have experience with emulators, it is normally very easy to find and trip the flag that controls random encounters.

[ramza]

The only games I have managed to finish are the ones that didn't use that system and allowed you to avoid confrontations (for this, you just had to avoid running into the enemy). Grandia, Lunar, Saga Frontier, Xenogears... actually these are the only games that are different from the other JRPGs. Even in the FF series, I have only completed final fantasy tactics and FF VII. For the others, I gave up in the middle of the game as I got bored with all the fights.

cheers.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

 

 

First, I can't stand Final Fantasy.

 

Second, although Xenogears was a *great* game it had *a LOT* of random encounters. I think you mean Xenosaga instead? In Xenosaga you can always see the enemies on the main view and one was able oftentimes to sneak around them.

 

But even like that Xenogears managed to be better than any of the Xenosaga games, IMHO.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

 

Actually, it has been a long time since I last played Xenogears, but I now remember that there were some maps in which you could avoid the enemies and other maps where the random battle system was used.

 

Tales of Destiny 1 enters in this category as well.

Edited February 8, 2006 by ramza

[ramza]

You should try Romancing SaGa

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

 

Do you hate him or somthing?

 

Also Chrono Cross has this 'bump into baddies to fight' system, but if you're European, you'll have to import.

 

Shadow Hearts has random battles, but I never found them to be a problem (the game is about 20 hours, so the dungeons are really short and there is a story with actual pacing).

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

 

True, I forgot to mention chrono cross, which is a great game! maybe even better than some FF titles.

 

Does anyone else know any other JRPGs without a random-combat system?

[Nick_i_am]

Pretty much entirely random battles, though there WERE a few instances of baddies running around, they were rare.

[metadigital]

Just to continue my thread about FF XII, I am pretty happy to see that the random-combat system has been abandonned. If you ask for my opinion, I completly hate that system as it is tedious going through areas in which you enter a battle for every 5 steps you make. This has detered me from completing many JRPGs since all of them are using the same system.

 

The only games I have managed to finish are the ones that didn't use that system and allowed you to avoid confrontations (for this, you just had to avoid running into the enemy). Grandia, Lunar, Saga Frontier, Xenogears... actually these are the only games that are different from the other JRPGs. Even in the FF series, I have only completed final fantasy tactics and FF VII. For the others, I gave up in the middle of the game as I got bored with all the fights.

 

Fortunately, I found the BG and IWD games and liked the way the fights were managed differenly and in a much better way, making the while situations look more realistic. Especially in BG2, where you had to provoke yourself the fights or where yu just got into them just by chance (being at the wrong place, at the wrong time). After playing those CRPGs, I really wonder if I will ever be able to play again a JRPG without getting bored within the first hour of gaming time. I really hope that FF XII will show some progress compared to the other games.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Maybe it is predictably frequent random encounters that you despise? I know I do. That's why I lost interest in playing Wizardry 8: "Oh, I have to travel eighteen square across the map, that is eight-to-nine "random" encounters with groups of eight-to-nine annoying monsters of sufficient power to seriously endanger my party / give one character an annoyingly difficult affliction to cure / etc ... oh stuff it, I can't be bothered ..."

[Hurlshort]

That is the most perfect review of Wizardry 8 I've ever heard. Other than that though, genius game.

[Haitoku]

I can enjoy random-battles, but only if the battle system is interesting and unique.

 

SMT: Nocturne/ Avatar Tuner I & II have incredibly high battle rate. It's ridiculous sometimes (especially in Nocturne). I never found myself annoyed with the battles however, simply because the Press/Turn battle system is the best turn-based battle system I've ever played. Simple, easy to learn... nearly impossible to master. It keeps the entire game(s) interesting.

 

However, if the battle system is boring then yes, random-battles really take away from the game. Though, I've never just a quit on a game because of the battle system.

[metadigital]

Haitoku, may I introduce Wizardry 8.

Wizardry 8, Haitoku.

 

I actually LIKE random encounters (gimme gimme more XP), just boring combat is the death knell of any game, for me.

[Haitoku]

True, I forgot to mention chrono cross, which is a great game! maybe even better than some FF titles.

 

It's better then all of them. "

 

Actually, it has been a long time since I last played Xenogears, but I now remember that there were some maps in which you could avoid the enemies and other maps where the random battle system was used.

 

I've replayed the game recently (I always play it after I play a new Xenosaga game).

 

Those areas that didn't have random encounters... I remember about one. It's safe to say, Xenogears has a random encounter battle system (a horrible battle system half the time too).

 

Does anyone else know any other JRPGs without a random-combat system?

 

Is the random encounter system that much of a turn off for you? You listed Lunar... and even though that game did have on-screen enemies... It was pretty much impossible to dodge them (by the end of the game in any case).

 

Haitoku, may I introduce Wizardry 8.

Wizardry 8, Haitoku.

 

I'm staying away from that game. :ph34r:

[karka]

You really love Chrono Cross. Don't you?

Edited February 8, 2006 by karka