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

[dropsmegamega]

I like then in games that rely on resource managing in order to survive the dungeons, after all SMT:Nocturne PS2 is my favorite JRPG and surviving from one save point to another with random encounters that aren't complete pushovers is completely valid gameplay and much more interesting than just having punching bags for grinding to prepare for the bosses.

Sadly in most JRPGs random encounters are exactly just that, punching bags for grinding and annoyances to waste your time. One of the reasons I can't stand a lot of SNES~PS1 era JRPGs.

 

[Dzapper]

I'm working my way through Final Fantasy Legend 2 on the Game Boy, the random encounters are definitely frequent in the early game, I don't mind it too much but it does get annoying.

 

[hazys]

I like how in Etrian Odyssey there's an orb that changes color as your random encounter chance increases. That's a cool compromise.

I think random encounters add tension in a way that on-field enemies don't. On-field enemies can be avoided, which sort of encourages the player to do so. It's a totally different design philosophy.