Best Turn-Based Combat

[Axolotl]

Well I've been playing alot of RPGs recently and I've grown tired of the dull simplistic combat all the ones I can find have. So I've decided to ask the fine members of theEscapist for their help. What game do you think has the best turn-based combat? It doesn't have to be an RPG all I need is that it's turn-based, I have next to no interest inreal-time combat unless it's truly exceptional.

 

[Pearwood]

Nethack, Final Fantasy 12, Etrian Odyssey (pretty much the same as standard FF games but difficult enough to make you think about what you're doing).

 

[veloper]

Jagged Alliance 2

 

[VanQ]

Pokemon is one of the most balanced turn based games out there, and 90% of the players don't even realise they're playing a turn based game. Seriously, I know people who claim Pokemon isn't turn based.
Other than that, theres Disgaea and Persona series(a MUST PLAY game).
Quite a lot of turn based games are JRPGs, the only mentionable western turn based game that comes to mind is Civilization. I THINK that's turn based, haven't played it in many years so I may remember wrong.

 

[Electric Yemeth]

Final Fantasy 10, with every other there was that stupid wannabe realtime system, at least every other I played.
Also Resonance of Fate, not completely turn based, but great nonetheless (and there is at least some difficulty)

After rereading your question : FF 10, you see who's next, what every attack changes and it's pretty much set in stone. It's just real turn-based. (as opposed to FF 13 / 7... etc)

 

[Weaver]

Try the King's Bounty games.

 

[Wuffykins]

Well, been freakin' ninja'd on Temple of Elemental Evil & Jagged Alliance 2, but you definitely can't go wrong with those OP.

Only other thing I can suggest is Wizardry 8 (also an RPG), but have fun trying to track a copy of that down.

 

[Valiance]

X-Com: UFO Defense

(Obligatory)

Also, Master of Orion II (I play with the turn-based combat), JA2, FO2, Dungeon Crawl: Stone Soup (and other such roguelikes, but this one is the more recent one I've been playing over Moria/Angband), Heroes of Might and Magic, X-Com Apocalypse (make sure it's the turn-based, not real=time. the game gives you an option.) MegaMek (Battletech board game online)

 

[Discord]

Frontal Mission 4 Anyone?

Haven't Played the new one, on PS3. I think its out now, might haft to go find it

 

[Euhan01]

Civilisation 5 i'm enjoying alot of atm and that turn based RTS. Also got Heros of Might and Magic 5 which has nice turn based combat, but its quite basic at the start.

 

[TheYellowCellPhone]

I liked Grandia, because it was a lot more than people standing in a line; people moved on the battle ground, you had to estimate how far your character could reach in that time, how quickly, and if it would result in more damage than another.

I liked it a lot, made me think.

 

[Azure-Supernova]

Eternal Sonata or Valkyria Chronicles. Turn based real time combat is awesome.

 

[Zakarath]

I second the recommendation for X-Com: UFO Defense. Brilliant game. And yeah, King's Bounty is good too.

 

[Thealchemistofwhite]

Well, most of the obvious ones have been stated.

There is a really obscure japanese H-game called Sengoku Rance though, that despite it being an H-game, had some AMAZING turn based combat and gameplay. If you can mind the fact that it's an H-game, it's really fun. Around maybe 10% of it is an H-game visual novel, but the other 90% is a really fun turn-based world domination strategy game. Almost like Civilization, except battles are a lot more complex and fun.

You can find a translated version of it over at Fakku, to which I'm not linking to due to obvious reasons. >.>

 

[Sjakie]

you might want to check out:

The Fall - last days of Gaia

It's old (2004) but i really liked it and i dont like turn based strategy

 

[Azure Sky]

Pokemon is one of the most balanced turn based games out there, and 90% of the players don't even realise they're playing a turn based game. Seriously, I know people who claim Pokemon isn't turn based.

Going to have to second VanQQuisH here, truth be told I actually dusted off one of the games the other day in fact. =3

For another suggestion, I am going to have to mention Chrono Trigger which no one else has mentioned, which makes me sad... =(

Edit: And now I feel old.. Damnit. =(