JRPGs turn based or real time?

[Ando85]

I enjoy JRPGs of any type, be it action, strategy, or traditional turn based. I grew up in the 90s playing them so the traditional turn based RPGs hold the highest place in my heart. Now, sadly it seems recent turn based games get knocked for it being an archaic style.

What got me thinking of this was a conversation I had with a fellow gamer. His cousin much younger than us was big into JRPGs, yet didn't much care for the turn based type. He is a big fan of the Tales series.

So, what do you think? Do you prefer turn based or real time? Do you think turn based should be considered a thing of the past?

 

[Clive Howlitzer]

I don't really play JRPGs anymore but would kill for some more tactical turn based RPGs like Final Fantasy Tactics. They don't exist anymore. Hell, turn based is hard to find in ANY genre. The best you can get is a mix of action/turn based. Or action where you can pause it. No one wants turn based anymore, it isn't fast enough, or has enough explosions.

 

[RedEyesBlackGamer]

I don't really play JRPGs anymore but would kill for some more tactical turn based RPGs like Final Fantasy Tactics. They don't exist anymore. Hell, turn based is hard to find in ANY genre. The best you can get is a mix of action/turn based. Or action where you can pause it. No one wants turn based anymore, it isn't fast enough, or has enough explosions.

SRPGs are still made. I have quite a few.
OP: Turn based all the way. My favorite form of combat.

 

[Ando85]

I don't really play JRPGs anymore but would kill for some more tactical turn based RPGs like Final Fantasy Tactics. They don't exist anymore. Hell, turn based is hard to find in ANY genre. The best you can get is a mix of action/turn based. Or action where you can pause it. No one wants turn based anymore, it isn't fast enough, or has enough explosions.

Yea I noticed they don't exist this gen much at all. The only one I can remember from this gen is Spectral Force 3, which in my opinion is a terrible game. Not because it is a turn based srpg, just the other elements of the game made it horrible.

The closest thing we get is games like Valkyria Chronicles. Wonderful game, but it is the mix of action/turn based like you mentioned.

I have played quite a few srpgs, but there is still many I have in my backlog I've yet to play. The most recent game I can remmeber to come out was Tactics Ogre on PSP. But, that doesn't really count as it is a remake of a 90s game.

EDIT: I forgot to mention Disgaea 3 and 4. These are definitely games for a niche audience. I finished 3 but I haven't picked up 4 yet. I'm sure such an unpopular game will drop drastically in price very quickly.

 

[Gennadios]

As a general disclaimer, I'm not much of a fan of JRPGs in the story or character design sense.

However, the one type of uniquely Japanese gameplay that I absolutely adore that hasn't been adequately done in he west is the Tactical RPG. I'm all over games like Tactics Ogre, Final Fantasy Tactics (the PSP ones, not the stupid kiddy DS ones), the earlier Disgaea games, and the Fire Emblem series.

So yeah, for me JRPGs can go turn based or GTFO.

EDIT: Small world, I didn't really there were stil TRPG fans out there.

 

[nothingspringstomind]

Well, personally, Final Fantasy X-2 had the best battle system i've used in a jrpg.

That and the one from the original Grandia.

I just love me some mixed turn-based/realtime fighting.

 

[Lilani]

I don't really mind either. Turn-based tends to be longer and tedious but is much more elaborate and open to a variety of strategies, while real-time tends to be much faster and fluid but can sometimes get too frantic for real strategies outside of "primary attack and heal til it's dead."

 

[Ryu-Kage]

For a strategic game genre like RPGs, turn-based combat seems more appropriate for strategy. If I want to play a real-time swordfight, I'll pop in a Zelda game or maybe give No More Heroes a real chance. Turn-based combat with some timing elements (*cough*Mario & Luigi*cough*) is pretty awesome, though.

 

[Ando85]

As a general disclaimer, I'm not much of a fan of JRPGs in the story or character design sense.

However, the one type of uniquely Japanese gameplay that I absolutely adore that hasn't been adequately done in he west is the Tactical RPG. I'm all over games like Tactics Ogre, Final Fantasy Tactics (the PSP ones, not the stupid kiddy DS ones), the earlier Disgaea games, and the Fire Emblem series.

So yeah, for me JRPGs can go turn based or GTFO.

EDIT: Small world, I didn't really there were stil TRPG fans out there.

I think Tactics Ogre Let Us Cling Together is a great game if you aren't into the whole kawaii thing. Seems to have a much darker tone. Not the usual cute 13 year olds saving the world thing. Not, that I mind it but this was a refreshing change of pace.

Have you played Vandal Hearts 1 and 2 on the PS1? They also seem like they might be up your alley.

 

[Dreiko_v1legacy]

Rpg has a few things as far as I'm concerned:

-Anime-like style and plot
-Long playtime
-Turn based battle system



If any of these things is not there, it's not an rpg. You can call it an action Rpg like KH or an Srpg like disgaea or a Wrpg like Skyrim but it's not a proper rpg if it lacks any of the above things.


These have currently come to be known as Jrpg elements but I don't care about that, back when I was being introduced to the genre it was just called "RPG" so that's what I'll keep calling it since, as all those negative people are saying, it's still exactly the same thing! (see what I did there? )

 

[DanielBrown]

Turn based.
My favorite combat system in JRPGs so far was in FFX. You could do a lot of strategic moves there, and I loved planning out the fights as I went along.

Can't say I've played many JRPGs for the past few years though. They've all looked so damn stupid to me.

 

[Ando85]

Well, personally, Final Fantasy X-2 had the best battle system i've used in a jrpg.

That and the one from the original Grandia.

I just love me some mixed turn-based/realtime fighting.

Finally someone that agrees with me about FFX-2. Most people hated the game that I have talked to. Sure, the whole concept of the plot wasn't really appealing to me, but the battle system in that game is among my all time favorites.

 

[Al-Bundy-da-G]

Either the turned based combat from FFX orFFXII, or DA2's real time combat.....

Screw all of you I love those games..

 

[Dreiko_v1legacy]

Well, personally, Final Fantasy X-2 had the best battle system i've used in a jrpg.

That and the one from the original Grandia.

I just love me some mixed turn-based/realtime fighting.

Finally someone that agrees with me about FFX-2. Most people hated the game that I have talked to. Sure, the whole concept of the plot wasn't really appealing to me, but the battle system in that game is among my all time favorites.

Most people were culturally irrelavant to X-2 so they didn't appreciate it.

It's like K-on, people here think it's girly while it's actually made entirely for a male audience...one completely unlike the typical "gamer" demographic of the US mind you, it's a Japaneese thing.


I liked X-2's battle system a ton but my overall top one is the one of Cross Edge.

 

[nbamaniac]

Kings Bounty, Golden Sun, Fire Emblem and Tactics Ogre were all turn-based so yeah I wouldn't mind another turn-based game.

 

[NedroidPrime]

I don't really play JRPGs anymore but would kill for some more tactical turn based RPGs like Final Fantasy Tactics. They don't exist anymore. Hell, turn based is hard to find in ANY genre. The best you can get is a mix of action/turn based. Or action where you can pause it. No one wants turn based anymore, it isn't fast enough, or has enough explosions.

Try Disgaea (I have only really gotten into 1 and a bit into 4), it is great for turn based strategy. And there is a crap-ton to do in that game if you are a completionist. Seriously, I invested about 150 hours in the first one and wasn't even close to taking on the strongest enemy in the game. Plus, there are about 5-8 endings in each game.

Granted, you have to appreciate campy anime humor (was excellent in 1, but has noticeably dropped off, though 4 is decent).


OT:

TURN BASED FTW!!!! God I have an itch for a good turn based RPG... Thinking I should try Cthulu Saves the World...

 

[Quaidis]

It depends on the game for me. I like both Tales-type game-play and traditional turn-based.

I'm pretty old-school and retro when it comes to games (bring back text adventures! Where's the next Zork!?), yet I'm not into strategy turn-based games like Disgaea and FFTactics. I don't have the attention-deprived mindset of the current generation, but when each battle can be thirty minutes long, I lose interest. Though this once again doesn't extend to all SJrpg games. I did enjoy the Arc of the Lad and Growlanser games.

My favorite style of jrpg is the semi-turn-based ones. Like ChronoTrigger and FF7. It was more upbeat when I knew I didn't have all the time in the world to decide whether or not to use a fireball or throw a potion.

 

[NedroidPrime]

I'm pretty old-school and retro when it comes to games (bring back text adventures! Where's the next Zork!?), yet I'm not into strategy turn-based games like Disgaea and FFTactics.

My favorite style of jrpg is the semi-turn-based ones. Like ChronoTrigger and FF7. It was more upbeat when I knew I didn't have all the time in the world to decide whether or not to use a fireball or throw a potion.

HAHAHAHAHA!!!! ZORK!!!

Talk about a crazy game. There aren't many people doing stuff like that anymore...

 

[Elvis Starburst]

Either is fine with me ^.^

 

[Flailing Escapist]

Can you imagine if chess was "real time"?

Same diff?