Video gaming has its fair share of “sacred cows” - those rare titles that are so institutional that they’ve become pillars of the medium. There’s the obvious inclusion of theSuper MarioandLegend of Zeldafranchises, but one would be remiss to not also includeFinal Fantasy.Final Fantasy 16is looking toabandon many of the aspects that players have come to expect from a new numbered entry in the long-running RPG series as a way to bringFinal Fantasyback into prominence. One of the biggest changes being implemented inFinal Fantasy 16is the switch from turn-based combat to a real-time action system, which is leaving some fans divided prior to release.
Although the term “JRPG” is considered to be a pejorative by some Japanese developers, Japanese-developed RPGs have recognizable characteristics, one of them being turn-based combat. After dabbling with new systems inFinal Fantasy 15, theFinal Fantasy 7 Remaketook a different approach by blending real-time action with strategic menu commands.Final Fantasy 16will be the first titlein the series to completely abandon turn-based combat and is in capable hands with Ryota Suzuki (Devil May Cry 5, Marvel vs. Capcom 2) serving as combat director. That said, Square Enix has a strong library of other titles that show fans still enjoy turn-based combat. The nextFinal Fantasyhas several great games to draw inspiration from in returning to its turn-based roots.
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Dragon Quest 11’s Turn-Based Combat Is Like RPG Comfort Food
Turn-based combat is practically synonymous with RPGs for longtime fans of the genre. Even though turn-based combat systems have been around since the very beginnings of role-playing video games, there are still plenty of examples of titles that have taken these traditional gameplay mechanics and improved them for newer games in their respective series. When it comes to RPG series that have adhered to tradition while also implementing modernized features and quality of life improvements, one need look no further than Square Enix’s ownDragon Quest.Dragon Quest 11is one of the best modern RPGsto implement traditional turn-based combat effectively.
Having enemies be visible on the field and allowing players to choose whether to engage them or skip encounters entirely is an important feature of the newerDragon QuestandFinal Fantasygames. Additionally,Dragon Quest 11’s presentation is improved by creating a seamless transition between exploration and initiating combat. The inevitable mid-to-late game grind can also be alleviated through automated battles. Playingthe original games in theFinal FantasyandDragon Questseries can feel archaic by today’s standards, butDragon Quest 11shows it’s possible to take traditional mechanics and make them feel right at home in a newer title.
Octopath Traveler and Bravely Default Prove There’s Plenty of Room for Innovation in Turn-Based Combat
Square Enix have acknowledged fans of their classic SNES and PlayStation-era output with two newer RPG franchises that harken back to the RPGs of yore.BothOctopath TravelerandBravely Defaultare seriesthat strongly abide by the characteristics of the genre’s luminaries while also iterating on what came before. Given that both series use turn-based combat and have each been celebrated for a unique spin on battle mechanics, the next mainlineFinal Fantasyshould borrow some of the creative talent behind these franchises to help make combat engaging if it returns to a turn-based model.
Bravely Defaultfeatures the titular “brave” and “default” mechanics in battle where players can choose to skip turns in order to unleash multiple commands in a single turn later.Octopath Traveleralso has a similar systemwhere players can “boost” and expend multiple actions at the cost of being incapable of issuing commands later. Both systems make turn-based combat more engaging and show that Square Enix still has combat designers that are innovative. If the nextFinal Fantasyopts for a turn-based combat system, it’s not unreasonable to imagine the new talent at Square Enix using their love of the genre to create something truly special.
