How do you guys feel about Random Encounter in old jrpgs.

[Yousef]

I almost thought this was strategist’s turn based thread for a sec.

I don’t mind them. The games are usually designed around them. It’s not really a one size fits all deal and I do legitimately think that your thoughts are gonna be shaped by which games that implement them because not all random encounters are created equal. In DQ3, FF7 and FFX, three of my favorite rpgs, they were visibly designed with a ton of thought put into them.

But playing Persona 1 for the first time was a title brain jolt because those random encounters were visibly made with a completely different mindset. I understand the reason is to have player well-equipped for bosses, but you have to wonder if random encounters in smt games are somehow making you over-leveled just because you’re both the type of person who makes unnecessary trips and never escapes battles, which was totally how I played a lot of JRPGs, so it’s not hard for me to get OP. That might be my one concern but it’s self inflicted so it’s probably moot.

 

[kingofdragons]

I always loved the stereotypes about JRPGs that western gamers always complained about. its what makes them uniquely Japanese unlike wrpgs. So I love random encounters (not that jrpgs invented it, but their own adaptation of the system)

 

[Strategist's iconStrategist]

I almost thought this was strategist’s turn based thread for a sec.

I don’t mind them. The games are usually designed around them. It’s not really a one size fits all deal and I do legitimately think that your thoughts are gonna be shaped by which games that implement them because not all random encounters are created equal. In DQ3, FF7 and FFX, three of my favorite rpgs, they were visibly designed with a ton of thought put into them.

But playing Persona 1 for the first time was a title brain jolt because those random encounters were visibly made with a completely different mindset. I understand the reason is to have player well-equipped for bosses, but you have to wonder if random encounters in smt games are somehow making you over-leveled just because you’re both the type of person who makes unnecessary trips and never escapes battles, which was totally how I played a lot of JRPGs, so it’s not hard for me to get OP. That might be my one concern but it’s self inflicted so it’s probably moot.

One thing I appreciate about SMT/Persona series are the spells that allow you to control the encounter rate. Spells that let you avoid encounters, or attract more enemies.

 

[CG4R12I4N]

Honestly speaking, even without any encounter repelling items, command escaping from mob enemies should be a mandatory guaranteed success in any games unless they can do interesting things like sudden reinforcements or such.

 

[Yuniheim]

I've had enough of it, it gets too repetitive and time consuming, and nowdays people have less time and patience for these things. It's good that pokemon adapted this in newer games.

 

[Graw]

I prefer random encounters to visible map encounters most of the time. I find with visible map monsters I end up spending more time trying to dodge monsters and I don't find that very fun.

 

[rugal]

when i was younger i hated it now i have played to many old rpgs so i have no problem with random encounter

its always a plus if a game is like wild arm 2 where you can use search to avoid some random encounter or you can use a item to reduce enemies encounter

visible enemies in dungeons i find that it takes more time to avoid monster than just defeating them

 

[Leo-Dash]

Random encounters are a tricky subject because most people dismiss them immediately as tedious and game ruining mechanics, but I think we all suffered too many games that just did them wrong. I personally think they're perfectly fine and can be pretty fun, BUT only when they're done right.

Tales of Phantasia (PS1) is a prime example of what I mean in how not to do random encounters.

It doesn't start bad, but then the quality of the level design takes a nosedive. You reach about a third of the way and every other dungeon is a maze made out of a repeating series of rooms and hallways over and over. You're constantly running back and forth through the same looking rooms and hitting deadends and loops back to other rooms that look the same. While you're doing that you are also stopping every minute to do a battle. Dungeons that would have taken minutes feel like eternity. The level design suddenly turns a thing you shouldn't even be thinking about into a thing you actively wish only on the worst of your enemies.

Then it's the worst thing ever. Then you're going "OH GOD AGAIN?" when you start another fight. The game actually has an item, the holy bottle item, that is supposed to temporarily protect you from random encounters BUT IT DOESN'T WORK???

Also spells and stuff stop the battle to show you their animations. You start to skip fighting all together and choose to run all the time. Then you start asking yourself "if I don't even bother fighting, why am I even playing?". The game nearly collapses on itself.

But then you play another Tales game where holy bottles work, battles are fast and flashy, the level design isn't dogshit and suddenly you don't even think about the random encounters anymore.

Also I don't actually dislike Tales of Phantasia actually, I actually adored it, but MAN someone needs to make a "Hold B to disable encounters" mod for it like they did with Skies of Arcadia.

I only played the GBA version of Tales of Phantasia (which I'm aware its the worst way to play it)

Ironically there was a PART of the story were you defending front lines from enemies in the forest!
For that part of the game EXCLUSIVELY, the enemies were on the overworld you could see them and avoid them!
NO RNG on tile! If only the whole game was like that!

 

[solidbatman]

Honestly speaking, even without any encounter repelling items, command escaping from mob enemies should be a mandatory guaranteed success in any games unless they can do interesting things like sudden reinforcements or such.

I can jive with this. Unless enemy ambushes you (maybe related to status effects/environment) then escape should be more viable.

On another note, I think Neo-Fantasian lets you stock your random encounters away to fight them all at once later if you so desire.

 

[Insomnia_ig]

I personally think they're fine even in games with high encounter rates like Persona 1 I can manage to beat the game without getting pissed off at random encounters

 

[Ikagura]

That's part of the genre.

 

[happymasksalesman]

had no choice but to deal with pre-battle intros like ff9

.........well at least emulator have a speed up okay?

 

[Ikagura]

I'd encourage speeding up fights and doing macros or having AI teammates than disabling random encounters.

 

[Waffles's iconWaffles]

Some (looking at you, Magic School Lunar!) made me wanna ram the developers through the wall and leave them there XD

 

[happymasksalesman]

Persona 1
makes unnecessary trips and never escapes battles

This exactly me when I find out it have relevant to your alignment on game.....okay what am I supposed to do with chaotic 255?

Post automatically merged: Yesterday at 2:12 PM

I'd encourage speeding up fights and doing macros or having AI teammates than disabling random encounters.

Auto fight== less pain and more time

 

[Pandaprewmaster325]

Now now i don't think removing random encounters would be good cuz as much as you might hate random encounters they are in the end a part of the experience you get playing the game would the game be better without them? I don't think so would FF5 OR FF4 be good if no sudden encounters happen just like that? Nope if you want more action or avoidable enemies there is diablo games that allow you to do that.

+if the ability to modify encounter rate is just an option in the menu then its lame AF it should be integrated into gameplay like FF8 you pick the ability to halve encounter rate at the cost of one ability slot.

 

[happymasksalesman]

Well I know a old game had a system to prevent random encounters! If you keep moving in straight line or move to a city there were no random encounter. If you chose to move around, the random encounter start.

 

[Ikagura]

Auto fight== less pain and more time

Then why not just watching a longplay on youtube?

 

[SpikeSlania]

when i was younger i hated it now i have played to many old rpgs so i have no problem with random encounter

Yeah, in my old age (36) I do appreciate grinding in JRPGs more. There's some JRPGs I never beat when I was younger because I refused to go out and grind (looking at you Lunar 2). But I have since beaten games like Phantasy Star and Breath of Fire, but damn did Breath of Fire really did it's best to kill me with it's encounters, bad dungeon designs, and not telling me where to go next.

I do like what they did with Neo Fantasian which a couple of people mentioned so far, being able to stock up to 30 enemies in another space and then activating it all at once to go to town. Reminds me a bit of how you would grind in Last Remnant. Though I ended up rage quitting Neo Fantasian since I ended up in one of the hardest side dungeons right when it became available and you have to use a character I just got back into my party who is lacking in gear and levels, and there's no way to leave and no shops to access. So starting think I don't mind encounters that much as compared to level design <.<

 

[Ain_Gamer]

I actually don't mind them, specially when it's not a high encounter rate, but I can see why a lot of people don't like them, Random encounter get a really bad reputation because of game with high encounter rate or and games that you can easily get lost in the dungeon, with that said this type of mechanic is rarely seen nowadays outside of hardcore dungeon crawlers.

 

[Xdqwerty]

Its very bad in some games, and not THAT bad in others

 

[GardeniaSky]

It's good if you have a system to alter the rate. 'Tales of' games have holy and dark bottles to that end.

 

[Yankee]

I love it. When I'm walking along and the screen starts to warp that's the time for a sip of beer or a scratch of the ass.
Unless it's ATB, which I hate. I want to sit still on my battle menus and go at my pace.

 

[fake-kun]

Unless it's a Battle Network or Star Force game, I prefer visible encounters.

 

[Cantarella]

Yeah, in my old age (36) I do appreciate grinding in JRPGs more. There's some JRPGs I never beat when I was younger because I refused to go out and grind (looking at you Lunar 2). But I have since beaten games like Phantasy Star and Breath of Fire, but damn did Breath of Fire really did it's best to kill me with it's encounters, bad dungeon designs, and not telling me where to go next.

I do like what they did with Neo Fantasian which a couple of people mentioned so far, being able to stock up to 30 enemies in another space and then activating it all at once to go to town. Reminds me a bit of how you would grind in Last Remnant. Though I ended up rage quitting Neo Fantasian since I ended up in one of the hardest side dungeons right when it became available and you have to use a character I just got back into my party who is lacking in gear and levels, and there's no way to leave and no shops to access. So starting think I don't mind encounters that much as compared to level design <.<

lol the difficulty spike in the US version of lunar 2 when you get to the epilogue is incredible. all of zohar's power must have dispersed into the local wildlife because suddenly all these slimes mathematically more powerful than God show up. a true 'activate gameshark codes' moment