Best FF battle system?

[Yawnson]

So one of the big issues, and a huge downfall of FF16 seems to be the battle system for alot of people.

Square also seems to have a hard time sticking to one system, and keeps trying to reinvent it every game.

So if we had to stick to a single system for the next FF game, what would your preference be?

Just to note, FF10 may seem like a ATB system, but has conditions where a character could take multiple turns in a round and also allows player substitutes mid round.

 

[Arkam]

FFXII Battle System was one of my favorites of ANY game. The Gambit system was badass. Made having party a blessing without being a burden in battle.

 

[Franky Family]

FFIX had a great battle system and FFXII might have the most promising battle system to build upon. Not sure which one is better but both of them are excellent

 

[Nikana]

9 was dope because you could have a second player control two people.

 

[Vyse]

I love Final Fantasy IX and X a lot so it's really difficult to choose between the two. I will have to give the edge to Final Fantasy X because I think it was the only entry in the series where I really enjoyed grinding so I could unlock more of the sphere grid for all of my party members.

 

[Showdown]

X was the first one I ever played so I'm partial to that. It spoiled the rest for me. When I went to 7 afterwards I was like, "TF?! How are they hitting me right now! It's not their turn!"

 

[Sejan]

IX had a really great combat system, but I'm a little partial to the active time system in FF10-2. I loved the idea of a job system that allowed changing jobs and even offered bonuses for it. There was a lot wrong with FF10-2, but it's battle system might be the pinnacle of FF battle design, in my opinion. I would love to see an indie game take 10-2's combat and give us something with modern design philosophies.

I didn't like any of the combat systems in the mainline series after 10-2, but 13 was probably the least bad of these games. 15 was probably the worst. (I never played 13-2, but I heard it had a good combat system, but 13 bored me so much that I wasn't about to buy its sequels)

 

[Stilton Disco]

6/7/9's for me. Everything before and after just never felt quite right.

I actually have a bit of a soft spot for 8 though. Sure, it was a mess, and punished you for using magic, but by the end it was broken as hell and allowed you to do some amazing things once you mastered it.

 

[Zog]

I always found it odd that a system called the Active Time battle system required a lot more waiting than traditional turn based. Final Fantasy 9 is where the waiting just got ridiculous, what a slow-paced battle system. Final Fantasy 10 fixed it and was the best system. The battle system is faster and hot swap is nice. 12 can be fun if you are in the mood for it but I haven't been in the mood for it since my first playthrough in 2006. Every time I have gone back to 12 I have not enjoyed the Gambit system much, still waiting on bars to fill. 13 is more waiting for bars to fill. 15 is just a mess, I enjoy the combat as much as I enjoy the side quests which is to say, I don't. I haven't played it much. The unrealistic acrobatics from 13 come back and it's dumb.

I bought 16 but haven't really been able to get into it. Can't really speak much about it.

 

[Zog]

6/7/9's for me. Everything before and after just never felt quite right.

I actually have a bit of a soft spot for 8 though. Sure, it was a mess, and punished you for using magic, but by the end it was broken as hell and allowed you to do some amazing things once you mastered it.

You could break 8 from the very beginning. I love playing 8 just to break it but quickly get bored once I become overpowered. A few years ago I actually beat the game, what a slog. When it was over I was glad it was.

 

[mcz117chief]

I love 13's and Zero's the most. Zero has a a very responsive and fun real time combat rewarding good timing and dodges (a lot like From games) and 13 has the awesome paradigms which is made perfect in 13-2 with the monster taming aspect and then again in 13-3 with the wardrobe system.

 

[Zog]

IX had a really great combat system, but I'm a little partial to the active time system in FF10-2. I loved the idea of a job system that allowed changing jobs and even offered bonuses for it. There was a lot wrong with FF10-2, but it's battle system might be the pinnacle of FF battle design, in my opinion. I would love to see an indie game take 10-2's combat and give us something with modern design philosophies.

I didn't like any of the combat systems in the mainline series after 10-2, but 13 was probably the least bad of these games. 15 was probably the worst. (I never played 13-2, but I heard it had a good combat system, but 13 bored me so much that I wasn't about to buy its sequels)

I tried to get into 10-2 so many times but the idea of using clothing to change jobs was as pointless as using cassette tapes as Pokeballs. Whereas Cassette Beasts couldn't use Pokeballs (why cassette tapes though, dumb) there are no legal issues with a FF game using a normal job system.

People say that one of FF's strengths is it's everchanging battle system, I disagree.

 

[Dr. Farnsgoth]

@HE1NZ the fuck is wrong with you lol

 

[Zeta Dragoon]

Why not both?

Classic Final Fantasy Turn Based
Octopath Traveler II Combat, Break System
Combined with a full controllable party.
Final Fantasy XII Gambit System
Combined with XVIs priming and summoning but adjusted so you can use it for any battle in this more turn based system

Action
Stranger of Paradise/Nioh combat system with all of the different jobs and skills.
Combined with a full controllable party.
Combined with Final Fantasy XIIs Gambit System
Combined with XVIs priming and summoning but adjusted so you can use it for any battle

 

[HE1NZ]

@HE1NZ the fuck is wrong with you lol

All those battle systems are shit lmao. If FF16 copies DMC like people say it must be an improvement.

 

[Pagusas]

Where is the option for 7 Remake? I actually really loved it by the end.

Saying that, ATB will always be the best.

 

[Sejan]

I tried to get into 10-2 so many times but the idea of using clothing to change jobs was as pointless as using cassette tapes as Pokeballs. Whereas Cassette Beasts couldn't use Pokeballs (why cassette tapes though, dumb) there are no legal issues with a FF game using a normal job system.

People say that one of FF's strengths is it's everchanging battle system, I disagree.

I agree with the last statement. FF reached the pinnacle of its battle system with FF 9 and 10-2. FF10 had a good system, too, but I preferred the ATB system personally. Also, I really didn't like the progression system of FFX. It looked pretty, but it really tried to hide mostly linear paths in an overly meandering diagram.

FF10-2's battle system without all the silly magical girl, changing clothes asthetic would have been nearly perfect in its day. The game absolutely had a ton of flaws, but the core battle and progression systems were not among them.

Where is the option for 7 Remake? I actually really loved it by the end.

Saying that, ATB will always be the best.

FF7:R was the absolute best that FF has ever been with real time combat. It almost won me over against turn based systems. Unfortunately, they returned to trying to fix the mess that was FF15's system for FF16. It was a clear downgrade over FF7:R.

 

[and 3 others]

13, and it's not even close.

Different classes affect stagger and chain gauges Differently, and swapping in and out of classes and magics to build those gauges is a fucking blast, especially once you fully understand it.

 

[Yawnson]

13, and it's not even close.

Different classes affect stagger and chain gauges Differently, and swapping in and out of classes and magics to build those gauges is a fucking blast, especially once you fully understand it.

Honestly after reading this thread, I agree, 13 battle system is severely underrated.

Only thing I didn't like was the HP sponges later in the game, but that's not a fault of the system itself

 

[mcz117chief]

Honestly after reading this thread, I agree, 13 battle system is severely underrated.

Only thing I didn't like was the HP sponges later in the game, but that's not a fault of the system itself

I like the sponges if they have stages and the battle evolves as you go which many of the big fights do. Or when it has a rage timer and if you don't kill it quickly enough it becomes many times stronger, like the Behemoth.

 

[Yawnson]

I like the sponges if they have stages and the battle evolves as you go which many of the big fights do. Or when it has a rage timer and if you don't kill it quickly enough it becomes many times stronger, like the Behemoth.

Okay, this is the correct answer, was good when they used it in an intelligent way

 

[Zog]

I agree with the last statement. FF reached the pinnacle of its battle system with FF 9 and 10-2. FF10 had a good system, too, but I preferred the ATB system personally. Also, I really didn't like the progression system of FFX. It looked pretty, but it really tried to hide mostly linear paths in an overly meandering diagram.

FF10-2's battle system without all the silly magical girl, changing clothes asthetic would have been nearly perfect in its day. The game absolutely had a ton of flaws, but the core battle and progression systems were not among them.

I have read that 10-2 is a side quest driven game and that 100% is just not worth the headache. That the main story is a small part of the game. Is that true?

As for the Sphere Grid system. Yeah, it's just a graphical UI for a normal levelling system and not much fun to use. Needing specific spheres just acted as a level cap. I don't even think it looked pretty; it was just...gray and sometimes it was hard on the eyes. FF13 did it better, much prettier and less hassle. Come to think of it, FF13 was a more fun game overall despite the hate it gets. I am the opposite of most, I liked it less once it opened near the end. Still has a level cap though.

In the end, I would say my love affair with the Final Fantasy franchise ended long ago. Aside from the title and the character names, item names and magic tie ins, it's really just a bunch of unconnected games not really deserving of being called a franchise. The stories don't tie together, the gameplay changes every entry, the character tie ins are only tied in by name. Why do we even it call it a franchise anymore. Final Fantasy 17 will probably be a full on action game. It would be like a new McDonalds that serves tacos, but none of the other items McDonalds is known for. People would be wondering why it is even named 'McDonalds' at all.

 

[Pagusas]

FF7:R was the absolute best that FF has ever been with real time combat. It almost won me over against turn based systems. Unfortunately, they returned to trying to fix the mess that was FF15's system for FF16. It was a clear downgrade over FF7:R.

Hoping FF7 Rebirth expands on the system, everyone loves it, and its used as the basis going forward. Square's got to be thanking their lucky stars they started the FF7 Remake project, thats going to keep the books looking decent at least.

 

[ExpandKong]

FFX's system is my favorite. No guesswork about the timeline during battles, can swap people in and out without penalty, real smoove.

 

[Sejan]

I have read that 10-2 is a side quest driven game and that 100% is just not worth the headache. That the main story is a small part of the game. Is that true?

A bit of both. The side quests are integral to the game, but its just not very deep or interesting (outside of some of the best battle and progression systems in the series). I wouldn't really say its worth a play since every other part of the game is loaded with flaws.

As for the Sphere Grid system. Yeah, it's just a graphical UI for a normal levelling system and not much fun to use. Needing specific spheres just acted as a level cap. I don't even think it looked pretty; it was just...gray and sometimes it was hard on the eyes. FF13 did it better, much prettier and less hassle. Come to think of it, FF13 was a more fun game overall despite the hate it gets. I am the opposite of most, I liked it less once it opened near the end. Still has a level cap though.

I never played enough of FF13 to get to the open areas at the end. FF13 is a great example of a game that loves its lore to a fault. Without the in-game encyclopedia, the game's story was just unintelligible on a casual play through. I didn't mind the "hallway simulator" aspect of the gameplay (FF10 was just as bad), but the story was just nonsense.

In the end, I would say my love affair with the Final Fantasy franchise ended long ago. Aside from the title and the character names, item names and magic tie ins, it's really just a bunch of unconnected games not really deserving of being called a franchise. The stories don't tie together, the gameplay changes every entry, the character tie ins are only tied in by name. Why do we even it call it a franchise anymore. Final Fantasy 17 will probably be a full on action game. It would be like a new McDonalds that serves tacos, but none of the other items McDonalds is known for. People would be wondering why it is even named 'McDonalds' at all.

This really is the problem with the modern final fantasy series for me. They just aren't "Final Fantasy" enough for me these days. The mainline games feel like spin offs filled with references more than anything. My love of Final Fantasy has shifted to the true successor series (in my head canon) Bravely Default. They certainly aren't perfect games by any means, but they have far more of the final fantasy flavor that I love than anything the mainline series has offered since FF10 even without chocobos and moogles.





To me, FFX was the first game that lost interest in being a "final fantasy" game. It was still good, but it had other aspirations. FF12 was the game that cemented the fate of the series abandoning its history. No one at square cares about making final fantasy games any more, but they know that they have a title with name recognition and brand loyalty so they add chocobos to whatever action game they feel like making at the time because they know it'll get them another million or two units sold over the life of the game.