View Full Version : RPGs with the BEST Combat
I'm getting sick and tired of the old press the action button 20 times to win a battle game play in rpgs.
So my question is who has the best battle system?
I've really enjoyed the battle systems of, Shodow Hearts, Grandia, Tales of Destiny and Panzer Draggon Saga. Is there another battle system out there that tops these, interms of battle action.
50TBRD
07-17-2006, 05:58 AM
I thought that the one used in Legend of Legia was cool/interesting. If you haven't played it, you make a combo and try to perform special attack which become longer and longer combos and cause more damage. You have to discover them first and then you can select them to perform.
You're right though. A lot of RPGs have goten in a rut of the same battle system.
Secret of Mana was the best IMO, now if only it was combo based a bit..
roushimsx
07-17-2006, 09:24 AM
Another nod to Panzer Dragoon Saga. Nothing tops it.
Star Oceans 2 and 3 were a lot of fun, too. 3's main problem is that the tutorial didn't teach anything and the instruction manual didn't explain it very well at all, so you were left fumbling around until you got a feel for the raw badassity of it all.
Tales of Symphonia's combat gets interesting after about 10 hours when you can finally do everything, but until that point it's too damn limited.
mailman187666
07-17-2006, 10:21 AM
I think you've got it down with Panzer Dragoon Saga and Shadow Hearts. Those have some great battles in it. I think I also agree with star ocean also. Try Magna Carta for PS2, that battle system is a little bit like Shadow Hearts but I played Magna Carta for about an hour and haven't played it after that (too many rpgs to play with so little time).
Nebagram
07-17-2006, 11:38 AM
Of all the ones listed Grandia would have to stand out for me as the better system, but I always found FF Tactics immensely enjoyable. :)
djbeatmongrel
07-17-2006, 11:53 AM
add xenogears to the list. really the best combat system i have used
Gamereviewgod
07-17-2006, 11:54 AM
Both already mentioned, but to show support, Grandia and Legend of Legaia. Love the Mario RPG system too, especiallyin Partners in Time DS.
smork
07-17-2006, 12:00 PM
Don't forget the Nippon Ichi games, especially Disgaea. Much different than the usual RPG battle system, but I suppose you could say that about any SRPG (Shining Force, Fire Emblem, FFT).
For more traditional RPG fare, I'll pimp my usual, SMT: Nocturne. The press turn system makes it so if you go in and just button mash you could lose all your attacks and get stomped, in almost any random encounter. Use it well and gain the advantage. Add in the ability to recruit the demons during combat and you have a winner, IMO.
kainemaxwell
07-17-2006, 01:03 PM
Xenogears was one the best and most fun I had. Tales of Phantasia was pretty fun also.
Daltone
07-17-2006, 01:04 PM
I quite enjoyed Vagrant Story's battle system, once you got going. Would have been nice if it was a little faster though. Heh - System Shock 2's wasn't bad either.
Psycho Penguin
07-17-2006, 01:20 PM
I'll third Legend of Legaia. The battles are awesome in that game.
mailman187666
07-17-2006, 01:21 PM
oh well here is one rpg that is different than any other one. Sigma Star saga for the GBA. Rather than it being a traditional RPG, you go into a shmup kinda like the gradius style game. You gain experience points with all the guys you shoot down. Then it goes back to RPG style play until the next ranom encounter in which you then again go back to play a shmup. Very original and is fun to play. I don't know if its your type of game or not, but i enjoyed playing it (for as much as i did play it).
tylerwillis
07-17-2006, 02:13 PM
I'll be specific: Grandia II --> Grandia III.
cyberfluxor
07-17-2006, 02:17 PM
I really enjoy the Tales of Destiny way of playing. Alough at times it can be quite difficult, overall it's pretty rock solid. Another system I liked was Breath of Fire, although some may disagree. It was the typical and simple way to go.
I watched a video on the Final Fantasy XII and it looks promissing and a mixture between Parasite Eve and World of Warcraft, but we'll see.
Overbite
07-17-2006, 07:02 PM
I think Tales of Symphonia and Tales of Legendia are the best. Both are similar, but I think Symphonia has the better system.
Unfortunatly looks like I've played most everything that has been mentiond.
Played through
Tales of Destiny 1+2 and Symphonia
Grandia 1+2
Shadow Hearts All 3 of em
Panzer Saga
Xenogears
Disgaea (after this one I can't imagine playing antoerh ichi game)
Star ocean the second story I didn't like
So it looks like my next quest might have to be the Mana series, another of the tales series,Stigma, or grandia 3 wich I hear isnt all that great in story.
Wich one has the best story and the best combat out of em all?
JLukas
07-17-2006, 09:58 PM
I'll add another vote for Vagrant Story, I really enjoyed the chain combos on those huge dragons.
udisi
07-17-2006, 10:09 PM
Although not real uniquie and still turn based I liked Skies of Arcadia, where you have to switch elements to match the mobs you were fighting. Also surprised no one brought it up, but Kindom Hearts was a nice twist on the action rpg battle.
Skies of arcadia was go but go damn if it didn't have to many random encounters. Your supposed to be flying your ship and searching for the next area. But the random encounters just get me all lost in the over world. Other then that it was a good game. The ship combat rocked however.
Kuros
07-18-2006, 02:17 AM
I agree with the Symphonia statement. Once you get a bit into the story and get some more skills, then it gets really involved.
MrSmiley381
07-18-2006, 12:36 PM
I'll add to Shin Megami Tensei: Nocturne. If you don't play every attack perfectly, you will be screwed. The storyline is a little weird, but then you can fuse demons and stuff. Quite possibly the best RPG I've played. Digital Devil Saga uses the same combat system, but drops demon combining in favor of awesome voice acting and a much cooler story.
Jorpho
07-19-2006, 12:24 AM
The various Mario RPG games do indeed have a very fine battle system.
One of the most charming and original RPGs I have seen in a long time is The Spirit Engine (http://tse.natomic.com/). Part of what makes it so impressive is how it was constructed within the limitations of what Multimedia Fusion could provide.
Live-a-Live and Treasure Hunter G have vaguely similar battle systems. Live-a-Live's system is more intricate, though Treasure Hunter G is more polished.
I've also heard intriguing things about Treasure of the Rudras. (If you've played it before, a new and much more professional translation patch was just released.)
Ackman
07-19-2006, 03:36 AM
Golden Axe Arcade 1989 SEGA
SSI Gold boxes on C-64/IBM. Nothing beats the good old Gold boxes (They suck on consoles, of course).
Zadoc
07-19-2006, 01:28 PM
I'm getting sick and tired of the old press the action button 20 times to win a battle game play in rpgs.
So my question is who has the best battle system?
I've really enjoyed the battle systems of, Shodow Hearts, Grandia, Tales of Destiny and Panzer Draggon Saga. Is there another battle system out there that tops these, interms of battle action.
By far panzer Dragoon Saga has the best and most innovative battle system.
Shining Force comes in next.
Zadoc
07-19-2006, 01:30 PM
I'm getting sick and tired of the old press the action button 20 times to win a battle game play in rpgs.
So my question is who has the best battle system?
I've really enjoyed the battle systems of, Shodow Hearts, Grandia, Tales of Destiny and Panzer Draggon Saga. Is there another battle system out there that tops these, interms of battle action.
By far panzer Dragoon Saga has the best and most innovative battle system.
Shining Force comes in next.
dj_spryte
07-19-2006, 02:38 PM
Chrono Trigger for the SNES had to be the best in my opinion. With the dual techs and tripls techs, totally awesome
Ackman
07-20-2006, 09:46 AM
I'm getting sick and tired of the old press the action button 20 times to win a battle game play in rpgs.
So my question is who has the best battle system?
I've really enjoyed the battle systems of, Shodow Hearts, Grandia, Tales of Destiny and Panzer Draggon Saga. Is there another battle system out there that tops these, interms of battle action.
By far panzer Dragoon Saga has the best and most innovative battle system.
Shining Force comes in next.
Hey isn't panzer dragoon more of a shump with a few rpg options.
Ackman
07-20-2006, 09:48 AM
I'm getting sick and tired of the old press the action button 20 times to win a battle game play in rpgs.
So my question is who has the best battle system?
I've really enjoyed the battle systems of, Shodow Hearts, Grandia, Tales of Destiny and Panzer Draggon Saga. Is there another battle system out there that tops these, interms of battle action.
By far panzer Dragoon Saga has the best and most innovative battle system.
Shining Force comes in next.
Hey isn't panzer dragoon more of a shump with a few rpg options.