Meet Final Fantasy XIII's Battle System

[dstryfe]

I consider it the fastest, not the best. And as I pointed out, Gambits could be turned off, if you wanted to be a tool you COULD program every character, but that just showed how much you sucked.

A system like Gambits is ideal when dealing with AI partner, after all whats better?

Okay I want you to heal a lot OR I want you to heal me with THIS spell and THIS SPELL ALONE if my HP drops below 60%, and if it falls before 40% use this one instead.

Unlike your AI wasting magic on big spells after you get cut ONCE. Trying aimlessly to smack the fire elemental with FIRE and well... You get the idea.

Yes, they are useful, especially when dealing with elementals, or healing, but it's the tendencies of the people who used them that made the system a monster...which I suppose can't be helped.

And perhaps you are right about X-2...it's just smoother, I find...except the screen-shattering-dealy. That was...how did he put it..."as smooth and natural as a controlled demolition." I still prefer it, though. It's turn-based without feeling sluggish.

 

[Sewblon]

I loved FFXII's battle system, it was the most fun I've had in an RPG.

Burn the heretic!

 

[sanzo]

Sounds a lot like Magna Carta to me... and that is worrying because that game was f'in terrible!

The combat itself wasn't too bad, but the fact that it all plays out in real time and you can only control one character at a time was f'ing retarded. I mean, c'mon, even having a retarded AI is better than nothing

 

[Frank_Sinatra_]

I agree the FFXII battle system is the best I've come across. I still don't get the hate for it.

Probably because it's so different from previous systems.

Then let me rephrase. I don't get why people can't accept change for the best.

 

[Disembodied_Dave]

I consider X-2 to have the best FF battle system of all time, by the way.

This I have to agree with even if it really was just an updated Chrono Trigger battle system.


But yeah.. 13 battle system sound fun. Probably easily abusable and therefore take a lot of the fun out but still, most rpgs have the problem. Let's just hope that your characters can't become so over powered that you can defeat the Final boss in one hit... like some FF games.

 

[Ancientgamer]

I highly enjoyed the FFXII system, and this looks like an improvement. *sigh* yet another reason to get a PS3.

I'm absolutly loving this.

Let me explain, people decry the PS3 for having no games, for not being worth the money, then they start looking and they go... well hey, that looks good... and that... and that... and that... fuck.

But in your case it's fine since Square is releasing FFXIII on the 360 in english (Exclusive in Japan, wonder how much Microsoft payed for it) You won't get Versus which has an Action RPG series. Also FFXIII is delayed because Square wants to release both versions at the same time, and they won't work on the 360 version until the PS3 version is all done and translated.

Let me restate, they will have a completed product which they will hold back so they can port the game.

So it will either be a crap port to get out FAST. OR they are getting payed a LOT to hold onto a completed product for so long.

Indeed, I actually don't have any current gen consoles other than my PC. (which gets 80% of the 360 games anyway) But I've always had plans to get a PS3, What with price reductions and all the great games coming out, it constantly gets more enticing (Especially on potential for a few future franchises I love.) But right now, I just couldn't justify spending that much money. I can't even justify splurging to get a Wii.

 

[BobisOnlyBob]

Continuing on the debate (and general approval) of FFXII's combat system, my only gripe would be there's not enough flexibility early on; I've reached the incredibly long and poorly-paced trek north along the beaches, and I still have nowhere near the Gambit (AI programming) options I'd like to have. More often than not I find myself wrenching control away from my half-complete AI companions to do more specialist behaviour that I could otherwise automate with just one more gambit...

In short, FFXII would've been on par with my favourites (VI and VII) if it had been paced better and the wide array of gambit options were available sooner (and I had more slots to work with...) It probably "makes the game too easy", but that's how I'd rather play it.

There's a ultra-simplified equivalent to gambits in FFIV DS, Auto-Battle. You can pick a single command (usually attack) for each character that they'll automatically perform as long as auto-battle is turned on. It's good through getting quickly through areas with weak enemies and grinding. Since it doesn't have conditions, it's not programming or AI, but it's definitely automation.

 

[Frank_Sinatra_]

I agree the FFXII battle system is the best I've come across. I still don't get the hate for it.

Probably because it's so different from previous systems.

Then let me rephrase. I don't get why people can't accept change for the best.

Well, to be fair, it was a pretty significant change from previous games. A lot of people didn't like having to "pay" to use equipment, too, though I myself simply saw it as a much more detailed version of FFX's system.

As did I. It was another reason to go out there and kill things kept me going.

 

[sanzo]

Thing about Licenses were they fit the theme, it's not that you're to stupid to use it. It's that it literally is AGAINST the law to use said weapons without one.

All your characters are from a country under occupation, arcadia isn't going to let everyone run around with the worlds most powerful sword, no they have to pay for it. The ones who get stronger equipment probably get subtly recruited or assasinated.

Why do you think Judges exist and can use two swords etc. Because they ARE the law, and exempt from it.

Huh, never actually thought of it like that. That makes a lot of sense

The only gripe I ever had with the license board is the way some of the skills are set up. Like how certain skills you'll probably never use for a character have to be unlocked before you can get a skill they will use. Although I suppose since no character has a set build, it allows for more customization.

 

[sanzo]

Thing about Licenses were they fit the theme, it's not that you're to stupid to use it. It's that it literally is AGAINST the law to use said weapons without one.

All your characters are from a country under occupation, arcadia isn't going to let everyone run around with the worlds most powerful sword, no they have to pay for it. The ones who get stronger equipment probably get subtly recruited or assasinated.

Why do you think Judges exist and can use two swords etc. Because they ARE the law, and exempt from it.

Huh, never actually thought of it like that. That makes a lot of sense

The only gripe I ever had with the license board is the way some of the skills are set up. Like how certain skills you'll probably never use for a character have to be unlocked before you can get a skill they will use. Although I suppose since no character has a set build, it allows for more customization.

Revised and FIXED in the Zodiac Job System re-release.

The single License board was replaced by 13 individual ones each representing a class (such as Knight, White Mage) once you pick a board for a character thats there class.

They also seperated MP from the Limit bar, so it wasnt magic controlling everything not simply an attack or an item.

Did not know that. That certainly makes things easier

 

[PedroSteckecilo]

While overall I quite liked FFXII's battle system, I had a few problems with it. Primarily I didn't like how unabashedly useless and stupid Technicks were, I also would have appreciated some more interesting abilities overall.

The Gambit System, like Omni has stated, is still THE BEST method I've ever seen to control party AI, what made it lame was how they treated it like an ability system in and of itself instead of the fantastic AI management system it was.

Still, the game plays itself? So does KOTOR at times, pay close attention and the similarities are inescapable.