Results 1 to 18 of 18

Thread: I love RPG's but...I hate random battles

  1. #1
    Insert Coin (Level 0)
    Join Date
    Jan 2003
    Posts
    43
    Thanks Thanks Given 
    0
    Thanks Thanks Received 
    0
    Thanked in
    0 Posts

    Default I love RPG's but...I hate random battles

    I just finished playing Grandia II for DC and loved it. It introduced a whole new concept to me; good RPGs don't have to have evil little random battles. If you play allot of RPG titles you know what I’m talking about, whenever you take control of a character and begin to walk around you may be attacked.... this occurs in many titles such as FF7 and XenoGears but not in Grandia. In it you can see the enemy before an attack and dodge them if you wish. Now, I'm sure lotsa people like the " Random Battle At Any Time Even If You Are At A Pivotal Point In The Game System" but I find it irritating, and often has it made me quite a game in random battle induced irritation. So, what other games use a non-random system like Grandia, or maybe even a more tactile aproce to battle al la the Shining Force series?

  2. #2
    Kirby (Level 13) Drexel923's Avatar
    Join Date
    Apr 2003
    Location
    Somerdale, NJ
    Posts
    5,043
    Thanks Thanks Given 
    0
    Thanks Thanks Received 
    0
    Thanked in
    0 Posts

    Default

    Here's some RPG's for SNES that are similar:

    Chrono Trigger
    Secret of Mana
    Secret of Evermore
    Soul Blazer
    Illusion of Gaia

    Theres a bunch more I know I'm forgetting but any of those games are great IMO.

  3. #3
    Alex (Level 15)
    Join Date
    Mar 2003
    Location
    Providence RI
    Posts
    7,099
    Thanks Thanks Given 
    0
    Thanks Thanks Received 
    0
    Thanked in
    0 Posts
    Xbox LIVE
    SoulBlazer07

    Default

    Great RPG's that have enemies you can see (and often times, avoid) are the two Lunar games for the PSX, Xenosaga for the PS2, and Planesca[e: Torment for the PC. All highly suggested.
    "Four o'clock and all is well.....wish I was in bed, Sir."
    -- Guard in the Imperial City, Oblivion

  4. #4
    Pac-Man (Level 10) Kid Fenris's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jul 2002
    Location
    NY
    Posts
    2,790
    Thanks Thanks Given 
    0
    Thanks Thanks Received 
    0
    Thanked in
    0 Posts

    Default

    Of the console RPGs that eschew random battles, I've found that Chrono Cross and Xenosaga do it best. Lufia II for the SNES is also an excellent RPG with a system for dodging combat. Granted, the Lunar remakes have enemies that one can see, but it's often too hard to avoid them.

    Numerous PC RPGs allow players to see battles coming, and I've yet to come across an "action/RPG" (Secret of Mana, Zelda, etc.) that had random encounters.

    If you're interested in the strategy/RPG genre (think Shining Force), try Final Fantasy Tactics, Tactics Ogre: The Knight of Lodis, the Arc the Lad Collection, and the upcoming Final Fantasy Tactics Advance.
    Kidfenris.com: Never Updated.

  5. #5
    Key (Level 9) Custom rank graphic
    DDCecil's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jul 2002
    Location
    Idaho Falls, ID
    Posts
    1,945
    Thanks Thanks Given 
    0
    Thanks Thanks Received 
    0
    Thanked in
    0 Posts

    Default

    Can't forget about Earthbound for SNES...

  6. #6
    Great Puma (Level 12) Custom rank graphic
    Nature Boy's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jul 2002
    Location
    K-Town
    Posts
    4,748
    Thanks Thanks Given 
    0
    Thanks Thanks Received 
    0
    Thanked in
    0 Posts
    Xbox LIVE
    o 8BIT 1337 o
    PSN
    jggruetz

    Default

    I just finished FF7 yesterday and I'm with ya on the random battle thing. Nothing frustrated me more than just trying to get to the first of the final three battles than being forced to fight *constantly*. There didn't seem to be nearly as many random battles during the rest of the game. Maybe that was psychological though.

    I'll tell ya, though, what ticked me off even more was waiting *two minutes* for Sephiroth's summon attacks. I'm not exagerating much either (I timed it at about a minute 50 seconds I think).

    I'd love to see random battles go the way of the dinosaur though - in all RPGs.
    Time will be when the broadest river dries
    And the great cities wane and last descend
    Into the dust, for all things have an end

  7. #7
    Pac-Man (Level 10) PDorr3's Avatar
    Join Date
    May 2003
    Posts
    2,988
    Thanks Thanks Given 
    0
    Thanks Thanks Received 
    0
    Thanked in
    0 Posts

    Default

    To me random battles are not so bad. I mean sure they get annoying if you're trying to get somewhere, but they kinda force you to train your characters, and customize them and get them stronger. Because me personaly, will often run and try and avoid battles in games such as chrono cross, which is not good for me on my part.
    Well thats just my opinions on RPG battle systems

    Visit my YouTube page: Pete's Game Room

  8. #8
    Luigi (Level 20) Custom rank graphic
    kainemaxwell's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jul 2002
    Location
    NJ
    Posts
    12,601
    Thanks Thanks Given 
    1
    Thanks Thanks Received 
    12
    Thanked in
    9 Posts

    Default

    Sometimes random battles aren't all too bad, especially if you're not in a hurrry to do or get somewhere and you're being attacked every other step somehow.

    But yes, the aforementione dgames do have great systems for avoiding battles.

    Doing so in the Lunar PSX remakes isn't that hard, just depends on the enemies speed and location (open or too enclosed area).
    My Gaming Collection (Now at Google Drive!)

  9. #9
    Pac-Man (Level 10) hezeuschrist's Avatar
    Join Date
    Apr 2003
    Location
    Austin, TX
    Posts
    2,737
    Thanks Thanks Given 
    0
    Thanks Thanks Received 
    1
    Thanked in
    1 Post
    Xbox LIVE
    Hezeuschrist

    Default

    Some games just had a stupid number of random battles, some have just the right amount. Legend of Dragoon comes to mind, I couldn't play that game too deeply because of the battles and how GOD AWFUL SLOW they were.

    While in Xenosaga you could see when you were about to get into a battle, it was nearly impossible to evade them.

  10. #10
    Pac-Man (Level 10) PDorr3's Avatar
    Join Date
    May 2003
    Posts
    2,988
    Thanks Thanks Given 
    0
    Thanks Thanks Received 
    0
    Thanked in
    0 Posts

    Default

    Well believe it or not I realy never mind a random battle or any battle at that as long as there is good battle music
    And a game that comes to mind is golden sun on gba, best battle music in an rpg ever in my opinion, its just waay too catchy

    Visit my YouTube page: Pete's Game Room

  11. #11
    Pac-Man (Level 10) Kid Fenris's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jul 2002
    Location
    NY
    Posts
    2,790
    Thanks Thanks Given 
    0
    Thanks Thanks Received 
    0
    Thanked in
    0 Posts

    Default

    Quote Originally Posted by hezeuschrist
    While in Xenosaga you could see when you were about to get into a battle, it was nearly impossible to evade them.
    Really? I found it pretty easy to avoid battles most of the time. The stages were usually designed such that you could lead the enemy in one direction, and then sneak around another way. Don't forget those canisters of fire/electricity/whatever, which could be used to stop enemies in their tracks.

    The Lunar titles, on the other hand, have enemies that are lightning-quick once they catch sight of you, and the dungeons provide few places to run. Still, it's nice that they removed all enemy encounters from the world map.

    From what I remember, Tengai Makyo IV for the Saturn is another RPG that's free of random encounters, but the monsters are usually so thick in number that they're hard to avoid.

    Anyway, I prefer visible enemies to random battles in RPGs, and I wouldn't mind if the genre discarded the latter concept entirely, even if some games with haphazard encounters (the Suikoden and Final Fantasy titles, for example) don't frustrate me that much.
    Kidfenris.com: Never Updated.

  12. #12
    Crono (Level 14)
    Join Date
    Nov 2002
    Posts
    6,332
    Thanks Thanks Given 
    0
    Thanks Thanks Received 
    1
    Thanked in
    1 Post

    Default

    I don't know if these were mentioned or not, but Super Mario RPG and Fina Fantasy: Mystic Quest (if you call it an RPG) both have non-random battles.

    I still like the random battle idea, there is just something about fighting common enemies and then magically getting attacked by some really cool enemy you haven't seen before. this is especially cool in the "Veldt" region of FF3 for SNES. I loved that feature. I could never collect all the creatures for Gau though, to this day I think it is impossible..
    #vbender

  13. #13
    Luigi (Level 20) Custom rank graphic
    kainemaxwell's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jul 2002
    Location
    NJ
    Posts
    12,601
    Thanks Thanks Given 
    1
    Thanks Thanks Received 
    12
    Thanked in
    9 Posts

    Default

    Wha tif in some future console or computer rpg there was an option for random battles or those you could try to eascape from before a confrontation?
    My Gaming Collection (Now at Google Drive!)

  14. #14
    Red (Level 21) Jorpho's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jul 2002
    Location
    We're all mad here
    Posts
    13,554
    Thanks Thanks Given 
    2
    Thanks Thanks Received 
    1
    Thanked in
    1 Post

    Default

    I also don't mind random battles too much. I have yet to encounter a game in which random battles are entirely meaningless, but nothing compares to Final Fantasy Legend II on the Game Boy. Battles actually meant something in that one.

    Treasure Hunter G is a great SNES game that doesn't feature random battles. I think it was the last RPG Square published for the SNES; a translation patch is available. (Actually, aside from the awesome battle system and nice graphics, the rest of the game is kind of dull and linear, but the battle system makes up for it.)
    ________
    HANDHELD MARIJUANA VAPORIZER REVIEWS
    Last edited by J'orfeaux; 04-01-2011 at 05:48 AM.

  15. #15
    Peach (Level 3) devilman's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jun 2003
    Location
    Stoke, England
    Posts
    630
    Thanks Thanks Given 
    0
    Thanks Thanks Received 
    0
    Thanked in
    0 Posts

    Default

    You could also see the battles coming in Evolution on the Dreamcast too.

    Personally, I don't mind random battles so much - although they kinda annoyed me in the Phantasy Star games.

    I've been playing FFX a lot lately and the annoying thing about the random battles in that was the encounter rate on some of the creatures. If you're trying to capture five of each creature, it's annoying when you're wandering around and one turns up once every 20 or so battles. Took me ages to capture 5 Machea in Omega Ruins. Tonberry doesn't turn up much either from what I've read of other people's comments.

    Anyone else notice that the chance of a random battle seemed much higher on Mount Gagazet... took me an age to get through that first time.

    I think random battles are ok as long as there is good variation in the battles that you can get involved in in one area. You don't want to get in a battle and fight the same types of creature over and over.

  16. #16
    Great Puma (Level 12) Sotenga's Avatar
    Join Date
    Apr 2003
    Location
    The Temples of Syrinx
    Posts
    4,291
    Thanks Thanks Given 
    0
    Thanks Thanks Received 
    0
    Thanked in
    0 Posts
    Xbox LIVE
    ContraVania

    Default

    I hate random battles if I'm trying to complete a major dungeon. While collecting experience and money, the more fights, the better.
    That's it! Next stop: The Junkyard. Population: You!

    My college show: The Spirit of Radio, Tuesdays 8-9 p.m. EST = http://www2.etown.edu/clubs_orgs/wwec/listen.asp

  17. #17
    Insert Coin (Level 0)
    Join Date
    Jan 2003
    Posts
    43
    Thanks Thanks Given 
    0
    Thanks Thanks Received 
    0
    Thanked in
    0 Posts

    Default

    I just picked up .Hack Infection for PS2 and that should stifle my RPG cravings for awhile, so I'd better wait to pick up some of the mentioned titles but I'll keep an eye out for them. Oh, and thanks for all the replies.

  18. #18
    Cherry (Level 1)
    Join Date
    Aug 2003
    Posts
    221
    Thanks Thanks Given 
    0
    Thanks Thanks Received 
    0
    Thanked in
    0 Posts

    Default

    See I enjoy rpgs but the ones that have NO random battles at all are what I CAN PLAY, stuff like the zelda series are not all that great for hard core rpgers but I also can not stand that random battle nonsense zelda is a perfect example ( with the exception of zelda 2 ) that random battles are not needed in a rpg to make it great.

Similar Threads

  1. GTA: love it or hate it
    By Mr.collection in forum Modern Gaming
    Replies: 42
    Last Post: 03-23-2006, 06:25 PM
  2. Replies: 1
    Last Post: 03-18-2003, 10:55 PM

Posting Permissions

  • You may not post new threads
  • You may not post replies
  • You may not post attachments
  • You may not edit your posts
  •