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

[shadowcat]

I grew up with it as the norm, so I don't mind it at all. It is a little irritating when you are trying to do a puzzle and enemies keep interrupting that, but that is a minor issue IMO.

 

[Cardboardtubeknight]

I had a slight problem with it until I played Mother. That's when I realized how bad it could be if they so desired

 

[χKai]

I like when the screen transitions in a cool-looking way

 

[Your_Homie_Gale]

I actually like old school encounters but it is because I am used to it. I understand that RPGs now don't need them, but nothing really beats going through an abandoned prison, dungeon, cathedral, or some other spooky place only to get ambushed by something you could not see. It brings some type of immersion knowing that you are not alone in these places and to always be kept on high alert. Plus I like being surprised when going through these places. Can it get annoying? Definitely when the encounter rate is high like in Persona 1 PSP, but as long as the gameplay is addicting enough or if the battles don't take too long then it is fine for me.

 

[MajesticSiN]

I like them.

 

[RockinACup]

I think they're "fine", I guess? In terms of how they had to do things at the time for stuff like that in games of that genre I can understand that, but man do some of those titles just don't know when to let up on them in some parts.

I still get flashbacks to the dreaded Tower of Babel from Final Fantasy IV.....

The chimeras man...

too...many...chimeras....

 

[Sinmenon]

It really depends on the game.

Some games, like Final Fantasy, I see it as enemies in the wild ambushing you. I think it is like a "translation" of when you are playing tabletop RPGs and the party is traveling from one place to another and the dungeon master rolls the dice for the random events: could be a peaceful encounter, or it could be a fight.
It can be a good way to keep the player paying attention and break the monotony.

There are games with horror elements, like Laplace no Ma and Sweet Home, or even harder games, where the random encounters add to the fear element. Do I have enough resources? Am I strong enough? Will this encounter be the last? It can enhance the mood in fun ways.

But there are also those games. Those games that every two steps you are thrown into a random battle. The games with unreasonable encounter rate that only exist to increase the length of a game. Unless the game is really good, it can go hug a cactus.