Turn-based and Action RPGs

[Pibbman]

I did a forum search here, and found nothing on turn-based and action rpg opinions. I'm curious about what is the preferred type of RPG for you guys here.

Personally I love turn-based more than action, as I think it involves more strategy. Action can be a bit too much button mashing for me.

Nowadays we are seeing less and less of turn-based rpgs, and that's mostly contributed to the fact that platforms these days, don't have the technical limitations as they once did.

So I put a poll here for those to choose.

[dragonlife29]

Turn-based for me.

I do enjoy real-time RPGs a lot, but turn-based has always held a special place in my blackhole of a heart. To this day, I think of FFX-2 as one of the best examples of how much fun turn-based RPGs can be, tied with Persona 4.

It's a bit sad, but sometimes I think the gaming community will shun turn-based RPGs in favor of real-time ones because they'll begin to feel archaic--but hopefully, that won't happen; if it does I will cry, yet rejoice when developers satiate what may very well be a niche in the RPG community, preference-wise.

[jeffx]

As long as the game is fun, I'll play it.

[Gen Eric Gui]

As long as the game is fun, I'll play it.

This. I am agreeing with it.

[Tivor]

I prefer turn-based RPGs, but that's not saying I won't play action RPGs. Like jeffx says, the game just needs to be fun.

[DamageCity]

Ha ha oh you kids.

[VMan]

Turn-based for me.

I do enjoy real-time RPGs a lot, but turn-based has always held a special place in my blackhole of a heart. To this day, I think of FFX-2 as one of the best examples of how much fun turn-based RPGs can be, tied with Persona 4.

It's a bit sad, but sometimes I think the gaming community will shun turn-based RPGs in favor of real-time ones because they'll begin to feel archaic--but hopefully, that won't happen; if it does I will cry, yet rejoice when developers satiate what may very well be a niche in the RPG community, preference-wise.

You beat me to it (regarding FFX-2). That along with Grandia's battle system are my two favorites. But I also think constant action battle systems can be just as fun if done right (noting Tales series' LMB system).

[elmerfudd893]

You cant go wrong with both. Wonder if theres a game that has both... A turn-based realtime RPG...

[King Frost]

I really prefer turn based ones simply since I've never played an action RPG that has great action battles. Tales for me is just "ok" (too easy to button mash), perhaps the best would be Castlevania: Order of Ecclesia or Odin Sphere (if you consider these RPGs), those were good, but not "very good" nor "great".

[Hamel]

As long as the game is fun, I'll play it.

This. I am agreeing with it.

QFT

[Superkenon]

I play and very much enjoy RPG's from both side of the field. I'd say though, that those of the turn-based persuasion tend to be my favorites. Maybe because they tend to have more emphasis on strategy and good planning, or something like that.

[Luna]

Turn base for me

[cj iwakura]

Depends on the game. Devil Summoner was a fun, fluid Action RPG, and Persona 4 was the same for a turn-based one. But there's ways to make both really tedious(see: Magna Carta).

[Yet Another Tim]

I would have to say Turn-based, since that's how I was introduced to the RPG genre, appropriately, via FF Origins.

[dunno001]

Given 2 games of equal calibur, I would pick the turn-based one first. This isn't to say that I'd not enjoy a good action RPG, though. However, good ones of those seem to be fewer and farther between, because, as was mentioned in this thread, they can frequently be won by mashing.

[shimo]

Turn base and as long the game is fun.

[James Fiend]

Turn based, because I can stuff my face while I play. Nom nom nom.

[Tivor]

Turn based, because I can stuff my face while I play. Nom nom nom.

That is an excellent point. :D

[dragonlife29]

Turn based, because I can stuff my face while I play. Nom nom nom.That is one of my reasons as well :D Om nom nom, indeed.

[iammako3]

You cant go wrong with both. Wonder if theres a game that has both... A turn-based realtime RPG...

Well, I my friends and I consider Valkyria Chronicles to be a "Japanese-turn-based-action-strategy-RPG". So. . . does that count? (I do enjoy it since it's turn-based where you can take your time, then when you do decide your strategy you pull off your move in real time. No button mashing or you'll get pwned.)

[tokoshi_x]

I chose both since I couldn't really decide which one I prefer. For me it really depends on how it is used in the game. Like I'm starting to not really enjoy the traditional turn-based combat like used in Final Fantasy, but I really enjoy the very unique turn-based combat style of games like Persona 3/4 and Grandia. I also love the real-time combat style of The World Ends With You.

[Enzo_Kensei]

Both. As long as the game itself is worthy of its own rights. ^^

[Fuyukaze]

I perfer Turn but depends how the action is geared. If it's simular to Baulder's Gate, Diablo, Thousand Arms, and such, yeah, I like it. If it's this new crap that only has levels ups or item gathering as the only connection to RPGs, then maybe not. I basicly play almost everything unless it's a Mana game released by SquareEnix in the past couple years. That series, it's soul was stolen. I'm still wishing Sega would make another Dragon Force game or Atlus would make a sequal to Thousand Arms.

[James Fiend]

I also love the real-time combat style of The World Ends With You.This game would be more of an argument against action style for me. Especially trying to keep up with both screens; it starts to get really twitchy.

[Superkenon]

Well, to each his own. TWEWY's battle system was great, I thought. It had a steep learning curve, but once I got the hang of it, everything ended up feeling really natural to me. I got comfortable enough with it to even handle the partner on full manual.

[ArmedDragoon]

I really can't choose between the two. They both offer very different types of strategic gameplay. While turn-based combat is "Go ahead, take your time, what is the most effective way for you to use your turn?", action RPGs are all about thinking on your feet, it's very easy to lose your composure and do something stupid. So yeah, I'll like both and will alternate between them.

[VMan]

You cant go wrong with both. Wonder if theres a game that has both... A turn-based realtime RPG...

There was a game that was lingering in the back of my head and just came to light. Parasite Eve fits that bill. If I remember correctly, you have constant direct control of Aya yet you are bounded by an ATB system. The general strategy was to evade/defend while waiting for your next opportunity to attack.

[Fear Toxin]

I prefer turn based, just seems the way RPG's should be to me. ;)

[Pibbman]

Interesting results. Quite frankly, I was thinking that turn-based would be last in votes. I suppose most of the users here are more of traditional RPG gamers.

[Fuyukaze]

Interesting results. Quite frankly, I was thinking that turn-based would be last in votes. I suppose most of the users here are more of traditional RPG gamers.
It doesnt hurt that a number of the users have also been playing RPGs sense before they were cool. Some of us started with FF7 but others have their RPG roots in games like FF1, DW1, and even fewer in things like Ultima and Wizardry. Heck, a few of us even remember when Zork was the big thing. Sometimes I kinda miss those days.......

[ShadowRaskolnik]

I enjoy both, but I prefer Turn-based RPGs over Action RPGs.

[Tivor]

Interesting results. Quite frankly, I was thinking that turn-based would be last in votes. I suppose most of the users here are more of traditional RPG gamers.

It didn't even occur to me until your post that there might be an age group or some other demographic that vastly prefer action RPGs over turn-based RPGs. I guess that only goes to show how old-fashioned I am. ;)

My first RPG was Ultima III: Exodus on Apple II. Yep, I'm old. :P

[redenaruto]

anything is fine really
but i hate ff12 battle system

[Saburo Hikari]

Like most people say, as long as it's fun, I'll enjoy it. But what I like in each type is:

Turn-based:
-Strategy and thinking is involved!
-Can take your time and even eat and drink while playing.

Action:
-Fast paced!
-Direct control of characters!
-Feels a little more like you're in the characters shoes since you have direct control.

That said, I love Persona 4's, Valkyria Chronicles's, Kingdom Hearts II's, Final Fantasy X-2's, and Final Fantasy XII's battle systems.

[Olethros]

Ha ha oh you kids.

Ha ha indeed.

[ceifadorx]

I like then both. I played great action games and turn-based games.

[daemons8]

I like turn based but... if you throw in the Tales series... I got a whole new problem.

[Kenji]

Both are good for different things. Turn-based offers more strategy and room for higher difficulty, while action-RPGs require timely decisions on the fly. As long as it's good, I really don't care.

[grgspunk]

Turn-based for me. To me, most real-time RPGs seem like glorified hack 'n slash titles.

[four_black_hearts]

:agree: I don't mind if you get a little bit of action in my turn based, but I have a lot of trouble finding where the all the RPG went in most action-oriented titles!

[Crazyheaven]

You cant go wrong with both. Wonder if theres a game that has both... A turn-based realtime RPG...

FFXII was both. You could make everything pause when selecting your attack. Mass Effect was both as well if you count the one on the pc.

I enjoy games that involve a great level of thinking. I can't get that thinking really with a turn based game. To many valves are fixed. Giving me the ability to move and block/attack and magic that goes for direction rather than target adds a greater level of tactics if done right in my opinion.

[Manaboy]

Hello all, i'm new to the forums.

I don’t mind any as long as the game has a gripping storyline and game-play, but some people don’t understand the word “category” moreover genre.

I’ve been a big fan of Intelligent Systems Fire Emblem series, I have a liking to good storyline and the whole strategy base RPGs thing but out of my three brothers the oldest one keep on saying how the graphic are not all that and why is the camera view so far away? Especially since it is on a better system Wii, his FF10/12 on the old PS2 is superior,

First this is the type of game Fire Emblem is, Final Fantasy and Fire Emblem are two different types of games, if every game looked the same and played the same then the gamming industry would be uninteresting, we as gamer are always looking for something new or different is some ways.

I have to admit the older Fire Emblem on the SNES and GBA have there style in graphic, but the Fire Emblem on the GameCube and Wii looks exactly the same in many ways but something tells me that Nintendo wanted to keep it that way, anyone would have to admit that the movies look astonishing though.

Anyone hare like 2D games in this day and age?

I like my games and in my opinion it’s not all about graphics, storyline and game-play it is but there is a limit to 2D games that I would go to, no offence to any old time gamers but monochrome games like the old ping pong and games on the old commodore (glade I left that era) are simply put bad for the eyes “Teletext” graphic, I like some games from Koei but games like Disgaea are low budget paper cut-out graphics that could have been better.

Don’t think I hate 2D graphics because I don’t, game like Atelier Iris on the ps2 could have had better 2D sprits but is great, but classics like The Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past, Secret of Mana/Seiken Densetsu 2 and Seiken Densetsu 1-3 are amazing especially for the 2D capability they had on the SNES, anyone knows that the old PS2 has better 2D capability.


What would you say if the old commodore 64 game Fire Ant or Ice Man etc was to be released on the PS3 but get this not on a CD or DVD but blue-ray and only one C64 game, now that would be the last straw :mad:

[Kakizaki]

Anyone hare like 2D games in this day and age?

Yes. I do. A lot. I'm not really in the mood to go into why, but I will say that a lot of the 2-D games that come out on consoles today are very poor examples of what 2-D can actually offer.

Your point about what a system can and can't do makes little sense to me in regards to justifying why 3-D should be utilized over 2-D and even less sense in the overall theme of this thread. I find this strange considering you made this comment:

but some people don’t understand the word “category” moreover genre.

[Tivor]

Anyone hare like 2D games in this day and age?

Yes. I do. A lot. I'm not really in the mood to go into why, but I will say that a lot of the 2-D games that come out on consoles today are very poor examples of what 2-D can actually offer.

Your point about what a system can and can't do makes little sense to me in regards to justifying why 3-D should be utilized over 2-D

Hear, hear.

I have my own 2 cents to say on the matter too (don't we all), but as Kakizaki says, this is hardly the thread to go into that subject matter.

[James Fiend]

I love 2d games, although the new Hi Def Super Street Fighter 2 felt really odd to play. I hope all future hi-definition 2d games don't look and feel like flash games.

[Olethros]

I love 2d games, although the new Hi Def Super Street Fighter 2 felt really odd to play. I hope all future hi-definition 2d games don't look and feel like flash games.

:agree:

[Manaboy]

There is reasoning to why I have decided to post hare, first obvious point that I even mentioned on my post, I am new to the forums (I am a new member, registered new) so like the rules say unless you have posted a minimum of 5 post you can not start a new thread and this sounded like the right thread to post at.


Yes. I do. A lot. I'm not really in the mood to go into why, but I will say that a lot of the 2-D games that come out on consoles today are very poor examples of what 2-D can actually offer.

:agree: Glad that you agree on my point
Pixelated still piper cut-outs games like Disgaea are not in my opinion “good D-2” this is just the company being too lazy



Your point about what a system can and can't do makes little sense to me in regards to justifying why 3-D should be utilized over 2-D and even less sense in the overall theme of this thread. I find this strange considering you made this comment:

Ok ok, the last Gen consoles had a lot of Street fighters and KOF rerelease as is untouched and unimproved, are you then saying that this was the limitation of the PS2,GC,Xbox1?

The point is as James Fiend mentioned Hi Def Super Street Fighter 2, this could’ve been done on the ps2, a lot of people say that it is impossible to make Hi Def Super Street Fighter 2 on the last gen console or even the Wii as this game need several cores to run obviously this is being ignorant just as the people said that the Xbox1 was incapable of playing Viewtiful Joe “the xbox1 graphic core is not powerful enough to play Viewtiful Joe” again this is pure ignorance.

What they are doing with the 2-D graphic today on the next gen console could have been done on the last gen consoles.

Over all my main point was that today’s 2-D games are just not pushed as they where back in the days of the SNES in-fact most games looks more worst then back then specially with the storage Medium that they have they can easily makes hi-res 2-D graphic instead they simply zoom into low res 2-D graphic resulting to pixilation.

[Kakizaki]

There is reasoning to why I have decided to post hare, first obvious point that I even mentioned on my post, I am new to the forums (I am a new member, registered new) so like the rules say unless you have posted a minimum of 5 post you can not start a new thread and this sounded like the right thread to post at.]

That doesn't mean you can hijack another thread. Wait until you have 5 posts then.

What they are doing with the 2-D graphic today on the next gen console could have been done on the last gen consoles.You seem to accept that because today's systems are powerful at processing polygons, that they are automatically 2-D powerhouses, or that since developers have all of this power in their hands, they are optimizing it whenever they create a game. Both of these assumptions are false. Ugh...you are confusing. I think you said what I just stated here:

Over all my main point was that today’s 2-D games are just not pushed as they where back in the days of the SNES in-fact most games looks more worst then back then specially with the storage Medium that they have they can easily makes hi-res 2-D graphic instead they simply zoom into low res 2-D graphic resulting to pixilation.I'm not sure what your point is honestly supposed to be. Because developers are lazy 2D should no longer be utilized? Not to mention you are focusing way too much on high res. There are a lot of other areas of 2-D that seem to be neglected and a lot of short cuts that developers use resulting in hokey looking 2-D.

2 things. For one, stop hijacking threads.

Secondly, I'm going to assume English isn't your native language. I think it is commendable that you are doing as well as you are with it, but your point is pretty convoluted. You need to convey it more effectively.

[septembervirgin]

Hello all, i'm new to the forums.

Welcome! Here's a Dia for you.

Anyone hare like 2D games in this day and age?

The higher end graphics can be demanding... but it doesn't take so much time to develop such a game, given that pre-established software is used to develop "3D models" and such. The designers who complain it takes ages to design such things are using low cost software or are not working diligently.

2-D software takes far more time, sometimes. If one wants an effect that ones software tools have not included, one must program ones own tools. If one wants a precise illustration, one must be very careful designing it, or it looks "blocky" and primitive. I remember this from old interviews.

(...) like some games from Koei but games like Disgaea are low budget paper cut-out graphics that could have been better.

Disgaea has flashy, bright graphics that are rather appealing. What they do with gameplay could use some dignity along with creativity. They know how to play, they know how to innovate. They have one of the best RPG Tactical games. The problem is, their level design is shoddy, they do not develop good monsters and villains, and their games necessitate an approach to gameplay that is not always fun.

One of the good approaches of Atlus is that they recognize how to make a game that is fun to play. Disgaea seems made with the assumption that players won't be serious about playing it, but will instead use a code to advance. Or that it is their only game, that there are few other choices. However, Nippon Icchi does make good games now and then... they could learn from Atlus.

Atlus is advancing, is growing. The games of Atlus will be even better in gameplay as time advances and soon after, in graphics. One cannot deny the cost of making a pretty game is going down, while the cost of making a game that is remarkably fun and smart remains priceless but essential.

I look forward to Shin Megami Tensei games in the future, to Persona 17, to new titles that can hardly be imagined. Surely, they will have two popular MMORPG someday. They must remember to make their MMORPG as fun as their computer games -- this is not so difficult as it might seem. The difficult part is trusting the new game type, which is harder than it sounds to the consumer.

[Enzeru]

I'm gonna have to go neutral on this one. It really depends. If it's Final Fantasy, for instance, I think Turn-Based suits it much better than Real-Time or that fail FF12 system, which is why I generally like the older (under 7th) ones. However, real-time would make a lot more sense for games like TWEWY. TWEWY is stylized beyond compare and it's battle system is unique, and I doubt SE could have pulled TWEWY off with a Turn-Based system. It would ruin the atmosphere and art style.

Still, I think that I like SRPGs perhaps most of all. I think grinding is actually really fun in them, and they allow for a deeper level of customization than most other types of RPGs.

[Twisting River]

I've always been a fan of turn based style RPGs since the SNES days, I just don't enjoy action RPGs as much, though I still like to play them.

[septembervirgin]

Turn based games are sometimes superior, but one must remember that action based games can add pleasant elements of torsion and tension. It is interesting to have a combination of these -- FFXII is not so failed as to ignore its failures and in small ways succeeds.

[four_black_hearts]

FFXII is not so failed as to ignore its failures and in small ways succeeds.What the hell does that even mean?

[Kenji]

Actually, I'm more amazed that so many people think that FFXII is an action-RPG. It's just ye olde Active Time Battle system dressed up in MMO clothes...

[Olethros]

Actually, I'm more amazed that so many people think that FFXII is an action-RPG. It's just ye olde Active Time Battle system dressed up in MMO clothes...

Thank you! I've been saying that here for a while now. People just don't seem to get it, tho.

[Pibbman]

Actually, I'm more amazed that so many people think that FFXII is an action-RPG. It's just ye olde Active Time Battle system dressed up in MMO clothes...

Thank you! I've been saying that here for a while now. People just don't seem to get it, tho.

I never exactly got what the Active Time battle System was exactly, just to make sure I'm getting this straight... It's where you have a set of "moves" assigned to each button, and you press them in whatever fashion, and it...chains them? Like it works from the first button down to the last button you entered?

[raum215]

I would love to see more systems that try to find combinations of Turn-based and Real time like Eternal Sonata, which with a weakness system to add time back to the gauge would be a great way to see a title that incorporate a press turn kind of feel. That system was full of most of the win in that game.

[Foryth]

Actually, I'm more amazed that so many people think that FFXII is an action-RPG. It's just ye olde Active Time Battle system dressed up in MMO clothes...

Thank you! I've been saying that here for a while now. People just don't seem to get it, tho.

I never exactly got what the Active Time battle System was exactly, just to make sure I'm getting this straight... It's where you have a set of "moves" assigned to each button, and you press them in whatever fashion, and it...chains them? Like it works from the first button down to the last button you entered?

It's like in every Final Fantasy since FFIV...

[DamnedToBeFree]

Actually, I'm more amazed that so many people think that FFXII is an action-RPG. It's just ye olde Active Time Battle system dressed up in MMO clothes...

Thank you! I've been saying that here for a while now. People just don't seem to get it, tho.

I never exactly got what the Active Time battle System was exactly, just to make sure I'm getting this straight... It's where you have a set of "moves" assigned to each button, and you press them in whatever fashion, and it...chains them? Like it works from the first button down to the last button you entered?


What?

[Kenji]

Thank you! I've been saying that here for a while now. People just don't seem to get it, tho.
Tell me about it. There are too many people who tell me they won't even try FFXII 'cuz they don't like real-time fighting.

Though, the interface did manage to deceive me for a little while... the way it's presented makes it feel a bit more hectic than it is, leading to extra screwups. And then I learned, like in FFXI, that enemies don't actually have to touch you to connect an attack. That made it nice and clear. ;)

I never exactly got what the Active Time battle System was exactly, just to make sure I'm getting this straight...
ATB is turn-based combat with a time element, Square's first major innovation that brought RPG battles that much closer to "real" combat. Enemies don't hit as hard as they did in straight turn-based FFs (FFI-III, FFT, etc), but you're required to formulate your tactics quickly or they'll overrun you.

[OverChasm]

I prefer action-RPG's like The World Ends with You.

I'm actually surprised there aren't many people who are tired of turn-based RPG's.

[Onezanagi]

I like both but if I had to chose I'd take turn based.

[Mathurin47]

If anything it is more tiring mashing on a button to attack, though I don't mind a good action-RPG. I'll take my RPGs turn-based if I can,thank you. There's just something about laying down your strategy for the round and watching it unfold.
Actually, give me something like Grandia. Turn-based in real-time.

[CoarseDragon]

Interesting results. Quite frankly, I was thinking that turn-based would be last in votes. I suppose most of the users here are more of traditional RPG gamers.

It didn't even occur to me until your post that there might be an age group or some other demographic that vastly prefer action RPGs over turn-based RPGs. I guess that only goes to show how old-fashioned I am. ;)

My first RPG was Ultima III: Exodus on Apple II. Yep, I'm old. :P

Atlus has been around a long time and early on they did a lot of turn based games. Since I grew with Infocom (read Zork, Wishbringer and other text adventures) and turn based games I guess I just like them better. Some games Like Devil Summoner (BTW, thanks for DS2 Altus - you guys rock) or Rogue Gallaxy and Star Ocean I did like but I would say not as much as I like the Personas, Nocturne and DDS.

[Eddie Van Helsing]

I did a forum search here, and found nothing on turn-based and action rpg opinions. I'm curious about what is the preferred type of RPG for you guys here.

I don't really have a preferred type. Sometimes I'm in the mood for an action-RPG. Sometimes I want a party turn-based RPG, where the player's party gets a turn, then the enemy party. Sometimes I want a turn-based RPG where individual characters get turns. And sometimes I just want a tactical RPG like Disgaea.

[Eddie Van Helsing]

I'm actually surprised there aren't many people who are tired of turn-based RPG's.

Since I play RPGs for their stories, I figure it's a bit silly to turn up my nose at a game just because of its battle system. On the other hand, if you show me a RPG where the main character is yet another naive farm boy, I've got three words for you:

DO NOT WANT

[LuigiBoy7]

Wow, I'm surprised at the poll results. I figured turn-based would win out, but I didn't think it'd be by such a large margin.

That said, I prefer action RPGs, myself. I just find fast-paced stuff more fun. In addition, I find it's possible to get much better at action RPGs than it is at turn-based ones. Whereas with turn-based ones, strategy can only get you so far before something a hundred levels ahead of you wipes you out in one hit, if you're good enough, it's possible to dodge all of the enemy's attacks and slowly but surely win against it in an action RPG, and I do love a challenge. Just as well, I feel that turn-based RPGs can feel a bit tedious at times as you try to think just what the best course of action might be.

Of course, that's all just my opinion, and I don't expect to change anyone else's opinion. Plus, I still love turn-based RPGs; they make up some of my most favorite games. My examples for the comparisons in the last paragraph were pretty extreme, to say the least.

[Ark]

Provided the system doesn't turn typical encounters into a huge pain, I have no preference.

[TTBadguy]

As a person that still plays Zork games and the old AD&D DOS games on occasion, I guess the best way I could say it is it depends on my mood. It comes down to how much thought I want to put into my play experience. There are times where I'm sick, for example, and the only thing I can do is buttonmash to end the swarms of the enemy. However, having grown up throughout the turn-based era, most of those happen to be my favorites.

[Sei]

Turn based all the way! It just has a lot more dept and options.

[Rodger]

Turn-based RPG's. The only Action RPG's I like are the ones where you can switch what character you're in control of, like the Star Ocean or Tales series, mainly because controlling my entire party is one of the reasons I like turn-based RPG's. That and a lot of Action RPG's seem to have more emphasis on 'action' than 'rpg'.

[Elio]

Turn based

Although I wouldn't mind a good ARPG from time to time, as long as the camera isn't crazy and unstable

[Hobbun]

So glad to see turn-based doing so well in this poll, there is hope yet for this dying combat system. :)

As you can guess, I prefer turn-based and that is what I voted for. Action-RPGs are ok, I just am not that fan of AI control and AI is pretty much mandatory with an action-RPG using a party.

Now that being said, I can deal with parties using AI control. Like I am playing P3: FES and loving it. Although the MC is controlled using turn-based. I am actually looking forward to playing P4 as I hear you can control your entire party via turn-based. And that is my ultimate preference.