"Turn based is outdated"

[J.F.C]

Turn Based combat can be good when it requires you to use more than 2 braincells but the majority of JRPG devs especially Modern ones just don't know how to actually design a turn based combat system that isn't a bland piece of garbage.

 

[kanesha]

To make turn-based combat interesting, you need strategy. But most JRPG fans only care about stories, so the devs remove strategy and let you grind, making combat repetitive and boring.

Yeah, if you want to argue for turn based, better not bring up any JRPGs, the best of them are barely competent, and it's like they are intentionally made that way, like soap opera, for when you just want to relax and go through the motions without having to actually pay attention. Switching it up with barely competent action changes very little, it really does feel exactly the same going theough it.

 

[Anim8rDude]

I really don't think there's much to be said here. I have a very firm stance that turn-based combat will never be outdated, & this is a take by people who don't appreciate a good rpg with depth.

Not saying they're as prevalent as they used to be, but stuff like Octopath Traveler & Eiyuden Chronicles are good examples (even if not perfect). Even simpler games like Sea of Stars are fun because of how quick & tight they are.

Atlus's Press Turn System is still used to this day & honestly never gets old. But as much as I respect the Dragon Quest franchise... I personally think it's one of the most unexciting turn-based games you could play, & I actually have a couple of friends who base their opinion simply off of DQ.

 

[Tengu Plant]

How can a style of gameplay be outdated? Is turn based strategy outdated now that RTS exists?
Are 2D fighting games outdated because Tekken is 3D? Action RPGs have existed since the NES anyway. It's really just code for "I don't like this therefore companies need to stop making it."

 

[Strategist's iconStrategist]

Atlus's Press Turn System is still used to this day & honestly never gets old. But as much as I respect the Dragon Quest franchise... I personally think it's one of the most unexciting turn-based games you could play, & I actually have a couple of friends who base their opinion simply off of DQ.

Yeah, to be fair a lot of JRPG franchises haven't updated their systems since the early 90s. If modern action games played the same as games from the 90s everyone would be tired of them too. But looking at Persona 5/Metaphor, Divinity:OS 2/Baldur's Gate 3 and Fantasian, there are ways to add new wrinkles to an old formula.

 

[MasterEn]

How can a style of gameplay be outdated? Is turn based strategy outdated now that RTS exists?
Are 2D fighting games outdated because Tekken is 3D? Action RPGs have existed since the NES anyway. It's really just code for "I don't like this therefore companies need to stop making it."

"I don't like this therefore companies need to stop making it."
yep. that's one of the real main reasons people say this kind of stuff. they don't like it, and can't comprehend someone else liking it.

 

[Prism_Red]

Ima give my usual take, outdated or not or whatever, if it's fun, I'd still play it regardless of their opinion.

 

[Yousef]

I respect everyone’s opinions except turn based haters /j

 

[Ikagura]

People are impatient.

 

[jankusanagi]

That's like saying riding a bike or walking is outdated because we have cars.

THAT

 

[RebelofDaNeonGod]

Both action-oriented and turn-based rpgs have their place in the gaming market. I think the only people who complain about turn-based systems are swiss-cheese brains idiots who need the graphical equivalent of shiny keys jangling in front of them at all times. I never understood those who hate it, literally just don't play it, look away from the game.

 

[King Koopa's iconKing Koopa]

Turn based is a specific genre and I don't think any genre should be considered outdated,

 

[Nidoking's iconNidoking]

I hate that there's such a stigma against turn-based now... I really miss Final Fantasy using it and it just doesn't feel the same without it. And so many indie games have innovated on it so much it's faaaar from dated.

 

[medisinn]

I do wonder if Final Fantasy straying from turn-based battles soured the general gaming perception on them since it was such a huge franchise. Coincidentally, or maybe not, each Final Fantasy game since they've strayed from their roots seems to be less beloved than the last. XIII was turn-based, I think it just changed too many things from what people were used to and thus alienated them. I'm fine with turn-based games, as well as random battles even, as long as they are done well. Reward innovation and strategy, not just whatever makes the number go high. I enjoy Persona and Shin Megami Tensei for that reason, exploiting elemental weaknesses is critical, as well as using status ailments and buffs/debuffs. I play some action RPGs but they feel kind of limited because the only builds that seem to matter are ones that stack attack, crit % and crit damage. Boring.

Octopath Traveler is probably the most refreshing turn-based games have felt to me in a while. I've missed out on Undertale and someother notable games that redefined the formula. Even something like Eiyuden Chronicles can work if it's a quality throwback to something enjoyable that has been missing for a while. Hopefully Penny Blood and Armed Fantasia continue that throwback trend whenever they come out. Quality-of-life things like being able to speed up long animations and having snappy non-boss battles help a lot. I loved playing Final Fantasy VIII at the time, but I don't know if I'd be able to tolerate those long-ass summon animations now. Sure, you could skip most of the animations, but at the trade-off of doing less damage. Then again, part of the appeal of a role-playing game is the long-form aspect of it. You're watching the story unfold over dozens of hours, sure, but also watching your party go from very weak to massively strong at the same time. It wouldn't have the same effect if it were truncated to just a few hours. Bloodstained: Ritual of the Night is the only action game I've played where I really felt that satisfaction of going from weak to incredibly powerful if you went out of your way to do everything that raised your stats.

 

[jon2]

Turn-based RPGs are basically IRL card games like poker and blackjack, but with a story

You prepare your hand, decide to bet on a probable outcome then both sides play their hands

Who wins and who losses is known in a single turn, but who goes home a loser is known by who runs out of money/HP first

Do card games get outdated?

 

[Skeetos]

Not while they keep making Yakuza games it's not hahaha

 

[SolemnlyDoc]

I don't like turn based games very much, the slow pace and menu mashing bores me. That being said, I will still play a turn based game with a good story despite it's mechanics. Just because I don't like it doesn't mean it should disappear.

I slogged through an old Final Fantasy game a while back (couldn't tell you which one, it was forgettable) and it was miserable, but I actually really enjoy Final Fantasy XV. I even end up using the wait mechanic to find enemy weaknesses and such. I suppose my tastes are for action-adventure, not turn-based. I enjoy the hell out of the old Yakuza games, but Like a Dragon just wasn't for me either.

 

[Ikagura]

I think that in the future, late 00's early 10's Open World will also be seen as outdated.

 

[Pandaprewmaster325]

Maybe it is? Maybe not? Baldur gate 3 a recent success in the AAA market (was it AAA or AA?) Had turn based combat and it worked the game blew all over the internet proving that maybe turn based still has a place.

If I have to compare which is more engaging real time or turn based? Of course real time the action is instant.

Let me bring an example of me playing diablo 2 to any Final Fantasy game and set the timer to 1 minute , in minute in Final Fantasy games I would get into a random encounter and spend the next 30-50 seconds just doing one battle , in diablo 2 in 30 seconds I could have killed 15 enemies then ran for 10 seconds and opened a chest and picked the loot I want all this in 1 minute which is more engaging to the casual? Instant actions everything happening fast.

The more casual your game the more it might attract not everyone likes pre FF7 games and the reason can be clear for anyone who played pre FF7 FF games the pacing is much slower the difficulty is much higher the turn based combat is a part of that difficulty , in FF7 you can clearly see a shift in difficulty suddenly you aren't very short on money the entire early game and praying to god you can escape each fight.

Same applies for turn based vs real time , turn based can be less forgiving and while FF7 is still turn based its on the easier side of turn based games say to FF1 or 5 , real time is more captivating things unfold on both sides pretty quick and while turn based combat in FF games is well turn based it never feels like it the game is fast and the turns overlap it feels more action and alive compared to other turn based games like CIV3 where only one player is allowed to do actions thus you feel constantly engaged with the enemy.

After playing all these wonderful and beautiful and amazing turn based Final Fantasy games I think I would be fine if I get to play a real time combat Final Fantasy akin to diablo 2 fighting or dark souls.

(Final Fantasy fans now be like: oh shit he said he is alright with real time combat GET HIM!!!!"

 

[Mago]

Anyone who says Turn Based gameplay is outdated shouldn't be taken seriously. I will say a lot of JRPGs fail to make there turn based combat engaging. Turn based gameplay typically requires strategy to be engaging. Just clicking through menus over and over by itself isnt really satisfying imo.

 

[Brunkler]

...find it funny how no one has brought up the fact that the highest grossing IP in the world is one that started as and still Turn Based Rpg games. Pokemon (NVM some how glazed over MasterEn's comment. still tho) it's so silly to say something like that when pokemon exists

 

[Nebulon_Galaxy]

I dont believe a game can be "outdated", i personally believe people just suck or dont understand the mechanics like ATB and get filtered by it. Same with graphics, a game cant be outdated from having bad graphics. for graphics its an artstyle issue.

Post automatically merged: Feb 19, 2025

...find it funny how no one has brought up the fact that the highest grossing IP in the world is one that started as and still Turn Based Rpg games. Pokemon (NVM some how glazed over MasterEn's comment. still tho) it's so silly to say something like that when pokemon exists

dont forget that most well known games ever conceived started or still are turn-based games.

 

[Tonberry]

It’s called turnBASED, and not turnCRINGE, for a reason.

 

[AnonymousCookieMonster]

Hmmm... I don't mind turn based so long as it's not a slog. FF-X for example is super smooth, and i had just Tidus against a monster and telling him to attack and it was fluidly them attacking eachother until someone won/lost.

FF-12 on the other hand was interesting where there was too much to try and keep track of with a live field (no going to a separate space to fight) so you got Gambits, which is basically priorities and orders in order of how to react, making it s you could program the AI. (You could still override them and tell them to do something switching to a turn-based system once more)

FFXIII actually had some interesting turn based mechanics but the story and level design were what sunk the game in the eyes of many of the fans.

FF-13 was odd. There's no time to select something so it's far more effective to just let it auto select the actions.

What made FF-13 somewhat usable (beyond being a giant hallway according to Noah Antwiler) was during combat you would switch out roles as the Paradigm system. That basically relegated you from the micromanaging user to a overall field order. Giving orders like DEFEND! FIGHT! WEAKEN! HEAL! and less telling them who to prioritize healing and who to prioritize attacking, etc.

It is interesting that in each of the FF-13 games has a different feel while using the same engine and paradigm system. Though it's a toss-up if 13-2 or 13-3 was more fun. Probably 13-2.

 

[Kamako]

Watch the people who say "Turn based games are too slow" put any FF game on the highest active speed and get rolled over in seconds.

Aside from Pokémon Red, couldn't stand turn-based games as a kid, now I love 'em.
Took me many hours/attempts at playing turn-based games to "get it" though...most people simply cannot or will not put in that sort of effort.

That being said, I still can't say I'm that enamoured by Real-Time with Pause combat...

Tbh I don't get why more games don't just implement Kingdom Hearts combat. It's the best of both worlds.