JRPGs turn based or real time?

[Warachia]

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? )

So if they aren't RPG's, then what would you call the elder scrolls or The Tales Series?

Umm...read my post you're quoting and you'll see what I call the elder scrolls lol.


As for tales, someone already asked, it's an action rpg.

My mistake, I thought if you're not calling them RPG's you'd remove the RPG part out of their name.

Even so, to me that seems to be a rather nearsighted opinion.

I explain it a bit better above, here's the relevant post:

http://www.escapistmagazine.com/forums/jump/9.333062.13493311

After reading your response, I'm kinda surprised you consider those (like the tales series) RPG's, as I would argue that you aren't playing a role, you're observing, and please do not try to say something like "Observing is a role." Perhaps we need a new name for them.

 

[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? )

I fail to see why an Anime-like style and plot is relevant. Arguably the first Final Fantasy didn't have it. When you get down to it, the first FF game was basically the same as any other RPG out there at the time, except maybe the combat wasn't in first person. You're also excluding Ultima, Baldur's Gate, etc. if you keep that as an requirement.

Indeed, as I've explained too much in this thread already these types of experiences were not what I came to know as "rpg" when I was starting out on gaming. The only "proper" Wrpg I was ever exposed to back then was diablo 1 and I just remember finding it too hard since I was young and it didn't have a save or something (i was playing it on PS1) so I didn't really have much more of that. I don't remember even progressing all that far in it.


Things like Breath of Fire 3, The Legend of Dragoon and Final Fantasy VIII are basically my definitive RPG games. Things like baldurs gate are what I refer to as Wrpgs and I had no access to such games when I was first learning of rpgs.

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? )

So if they aren't RPG's, then what would you call the elder scrolls or The Tales Series?

Umm...read my post you're quoting and you'll see what I call the elder scrolls lol.


As for tales, someone already asked, it's an action rpg.

My mistake, I thought if you're not calling them RPG's you'd remove the RPG part out of their name.

Even so, to me that seems to be a rather nearsighted opinion.

I explain it a bit better above, here's the relevant post:

http://www.escapistmagazine.com/forums/jump/9.333062.13493311

After reading your response, I'm kinda surprised you consider those (like the tales series) RPG's, as I would argue that you aren't playing a role, you're observing, and please do not try to say something like "Observing is a role." Perhaps we need a new name for them.

The way I like to describe it is as though you're reading a book in a way that demands less of your imagination in picturing stuff thus allows you to use more of your mental energy to simply appreciate and feel part of the story. The fact that you control the characters through the gameplay segments is what brings the game from merely observing to you actually being a part of the world and playing the role of the main character. Just like how when you read a book written in first person you identify with the protagonist so it works in RPGs, only, since you don't use all that mental energy imagining stuff the feelings of identifying are all that much stronger, which allow my disbelief to be completely thrown out of the window and me to experience an epic story in the best way possible.

 

[jacobythehedgehog]

I prefer turn based RPG's and I find JRPG's do it the best. Final Fantasy X and Persona 3 Portable are great examples of some amazing turn based games.

 

[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.

Disgaea 4 came out recently.

Also Record of Agarest War Zero was out this year with a sequel next year. Although I wouldn't recommend that one. In other words, there are plenty of them, you just gotta look hard. And own Sony consoles. There are tons of them on the PSP... thats like the tactics game console.

A bunch of people pointed that out to me and I was aware of it. However I should have stated that I don't own any consoles anymore and I was never big on portable gaming. I just can't get into it.

 

[Simon Pettersson]

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 Skyrimg but it's not a proper rpg if it lack 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? )

I agree completly!
Baldurs Gate 1 and 2 is games that that I would call real rpg apart from "Jrpg". It has most of what you defined, not so sure about the anime-like style and plot but it has Long playtime and the battle system is in fact turnbased just that you can put it in realtime.
But it has an incredibly long playtime

 

[Alphavillain]

It's real-time all the way for me. If I wanted to play a board game, I'd play chess.

 

[TehCookie]

Turn-based all the way. If I wanted real-time I would go play a hack'n'slash. JRPGs are the kind of game I like to chill while playing, I don't want anything demanding. I don't know any other genres that are relaxing like that, you can turn your brain off and still play (such as after a long day of school/work and you don't want to think). Yet it is still intense when it comes to boss battles. I love the fact that if I boss is taking forever I can just get up, make some food and sit back down and it waits patiently for me.

Besides, real-time JRPGs just never seem to be as fun since the combat isn't as good as a flat-out action game and it looses the chillaxing qualities. Not to mention when I'm in the mood for an action game, I don't want a lot of trisping around talking to NPCs and drawn out stories. I want fast paced combat. It's not that often when I'm in the mood for both at the same time.

 

[darkcalling]

I prefer turn based combat myself and really wish it would make a comeback.

Good ones still exist but the last big releases I know of were Lost Odyssey and Blue Dragon (both of which I'm just now getting around to playing).

There ARE others though. You just have to be willing to take a chance on the rpgmaker community.

Yeah there's more than a few that aren't worth your time but the others are truly amazing at times.

 

[4RM3D]

If you want strategy and tactics go for turn based combat.
If you want action and combo's go for real time combat.

But the trend I am noticing is that turn based combat is an outdated and boring concept. Most new RGPs go for the 'flashy' action real time combat. Actually, that is what they think. But it ends up as button mashing, really. It has actually gotten worse.

I am still waiting for an JRPG with the gameplay of Devil May Cry or God of War.

On a related note. The gameplay of Resonance of Fate is awesome. One of the best and innovating games ever in terms of (JRPG) gameplay.

 

[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.

I'm just going to leave this here:
http://www.escapistmagazine.com/forums/read/9.332108-Best-strategy-jrpgs#13473154

I don't own any consoles anymore. No PS3, Xbox 360, or PSP. I have thought about Front Mission though. I just don't get into JRPGs anymore. My comment about turn based RPGs, was basically open, not just directed at JRPGs.

 

[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.

I'm just going to leave this here:
http://www.escapistmagazine.com/forums/read/9.332108-Best-strategy-jrpgs#13473154

I don't own any consoles anymore. No PS3, Xbox 360, or PSP.

That could be why you are having a problem finding SRPGs... I know there are a few for PC, but most a Japanese and some are either ecchi or even hentai... and even I won't go there.

Yeah I literally JUST edited my post a second before you responded to this saying I don't really play JRPGs anymore. I was mostly referring to turn based RPGs in general.

 

[Chaosed]

I whole heartily give my vote to turn based. I feel JRPGs feel better in that system. WRPGs are different how ever,they fair better in real time. Even down to a visual level. What I mean by this is even the characters and types of attacks/battles they have don't feel right otherwise. An example of this is summoning, Even the smaller summons in games FF gave some emotion/feeling of power(Something like Shiva from FF8) whereas action based like KH, you just dont feel it as much.If I wanted an JRPGish feel to an action game, i'd play DMC.

My opinion.

 

[JET1971]

I dont care for turn based combat in any genre, I just find it stupid to wait a turn to do my attack when i already know what i am going to do and if I dont i deserve to get messed up. I didnt mind it much in FFX and earlier wich was the last turn based JRPG I played but I wouldve prefered real time combat.

 

[Cheshire Cat]

The ones I always liked best were those like Terranigma and Secret of Mana where all the combat was real time action based. I still keep hoping for a HD re-release or sequel to Terranigma, it's easily one of my favorite games ever.

 

[Arina Love]

i prefer both. As long as there is world and universe to immerse myself in, new characters to bond and emotionally invest in, gameplay can be anything. Well if it's Japanese OR Bioware made world and characters.

 

[Kizo18]

I much prefer turn based. It usually provides me with more tactical choice. I almost never power level. By doing so i create myself a challenge which can often be overcome through careful play. In real time I tend to get confused by what is happening. I'll play just about any rpg. But given a chance i go turn based.

 

[Maverick Dorotheo]

Both. I'm still playing Tales of Destiny and Final Fantasy Tactics and FF9.

 

[Deathninja19]

Turn Based when done right, normally turn based can be dull and grindy but when there is a reason to think things through like the fantastic One More Turn mechanic of the MegaTen games or just an actual challenge it's great to actually think things through and strategise. I do like some real time stuff like the latest Star Ocean (even if the terrible plot and characters forced me to quit the game early) but it becomes far too counter-intuative when things get hectic sometimes forcing you to go through menus while getting your ass handed to you.

That is what I think is killing JRPGs and a lot of Japanese is the lack of understanding of why and how game mechanics work, making games that are either way too simple or way to complex. I'm of the opinion if it aint broke don't fix, they should be thinking of ways to make turn based more interesting like the previously mentioned MegaTen games or the tactical character use of Final Fantasy X rather than making horrific hybrids of Western and Eastern design choices that pleases neither markets.

 

[Deathninja19]

If you want strategy and tactics go for turn based combat.
If you want action and combo's go for real time combat.

But the trend I am noticing is that turn based combat is an outdated and boring concept. Most new RGPs go for the 'flashy' action real time combat. Actually, that is what they think. But it ends up as button mashing, really. It has actually gotten worse.

I am still waiting for an JRPG with the gameplay of Devil May Cry or God of War.

On a related note. The gameplay of Resonance of Fate is awesome. One of the best and innovating games ever in terms of (JRPG) gameplay.

If I'm honest Resonance of Fate bored the crap out of me. I just felt like I was doing the same thing over and over again, literally having the same tactics in every fight and after about 10 hours or so in I felt like the game had nothing new to show me.

However I did like the battle animations and I thought the character movement and placement were interesting mechanics. I think more turn based games should incorperate something like that as gave you something new to think about it made youin battles and it feel more active even if you weren't doing much in reality.

 

[Olivia Faraday]

I like turn based! I also like real time. It depends on the greater battle system and how it's done and how all the different elements come together.

For instance, I didn't really like FF13's battle system (I actually have borderline positive feelings on that game in general and mostly enjoyed my time with it, for the record.) Not because it was real-timey and fast paced, but because I found there was very limited control for that much quick thinking. Something like the Tales series, however, is fantastic fun.

Likewise, a lot of "classical" turn based systems, like the SNES Final Fantasies ... eh, I love those games, but not for the battles, which never, ever seem to end quickly enough. But something like the recent Persona games, with the press attack system, makes turn based combat feel reactive, punchy, quick and fun -- moreso than most modern real time systems. I also adored FFX's battle system, despite hating ... basically everything else about that game. The way turns were structured made the speed stat crucial and let you plan your attacks accordingly.

Basically I like any system that feels quick and reactive, which isn't limited to the turn-based or real-time definition. Persona 4 feels more punchy than Final Fantasy 13. I like games that feel tactical and fast-paced at the same time. I hope jRPGs keep evolving themselves along these lines.