There's been alot of controversy and split opinions over FFXIII's battle system. I've been pondering over this subject alot while playing and I'd like to weigh in on everyone's thoughts and opinions on this to see how my views compare to the other fans. Forgive me as this post will be a bit lengthy but necessary to give my analysis.
First off, I want to say that when I first played a final fantasy game, I liked the fact that everything paused between moves, allowing me time to decide what was my next best move in my current situation. It felt very strategic, which set it apart from simply being a spam fest action game. However, I can see how as video games are becoming more and more like a cinematic event, Square-Enix wanted to evolve into a more fluid battle system. I welcome this but not at the expense of feeling dis-engaged in battle.
That being said, after playing my way through FFXIII's story, I honestly have to say that I might have enjoyed it a bit more if it had employed the old turn based mechanics instead of the new real time battles. With turn based, I felt like I could use the abilities of all party members to systematically break down my enemy exactly as I planned it. In FFXIII, I felt like I was cheating, only throwing in my two cents.
Sure, I could use the manual command queue (which I did quite often) but for the most part (especially for the commando class), the commands I would put in manually almost mirrored what auto attack was going to do anyway, rendering my manual decisions as nothing more than a ceremonial guesture.
But I think the biggest complaint from both supporters and critics of this game was the fact that you could not cycle through and control each of your party members during a battle. I tried to go through my mind and come up with a reason they restricted this ability but I just can't see the justification. They should have included this. Let the AI take over for the character you were formally using while you take over the character of your choice.
Perhaps we would have still been making much of the same decisions that the AI would have done, whether we switched it up or not... Which makes me ponder whether or not real time battles is the way to go at all. I really don't like feeling like the game is helping me win battles against itself... What do you feel?
Thread Recap (last 10 posts from newest to oldest)
Mar 04, 12 at 3:48pm
saiwong
I generally prefer turn-based battle systems than real-time.
The battle system is XIII just sucked. I just felt that I was a spectator watching a battle rather than being involved in it. Also, one of the things I enjoyed about the turn-based battle system in Final Fantasy X was having time enough to enjoy and admire the graphical brilliance of the creatures you were battling. With XIII the battles were so frantic that you have no time to sit back and admire, it was just "health bar management" battling. The only real-time battle system I liked was XII. It was not frantic and you had time to admire the graphics. Also importantly you still felt in control of the what was going on in the battle and not just a distant spectator.
Mar 26, 10 at 6:18am
KRAIZER_1
the computer screws up on sentinal itll cast provoke five times on 1 guy then get killed wtf
Mar 26, 10 at 4:44am
Bendembender
i find all the strikes to be better using lightning idk why. But either way, do you realize how overpowered and hectic it would be if you could use highwind and army of one at the same time. i'm sure it would've been extremely difficult for the creators to handle, and not to mention the lag in the game it would create. Remember the Last Remnant? and how choppy it was? that's exactly how it would've been like. if you want simultaneous rampage fighting, play last remanant. They obviously had a motive behind ff13.
Maybe enemies have different defence stats if the magic is a regular spell or a "Strike".
Doesn't seem to be the case from my experience. The only ravager abilities that seem to transcend elemental defense stats seems to be the special abilities like army of one.
Mar 25, 10 at 7:10pm
DavidVilla7
Dunno, the only thing I can think of is if the "Strikes" are actually weaker than the regular spells, yet alternating between those is a good way to keep the foe launched in the air during stagger. Maybe enemies have different defence stats if the magic is a regular spell or a "Strike".
Except for looking cool, those attacks depend on different stat parameters. Blizzard uses the Magic stat, while Froststrike uses the Power stat, so if those two are balanced there is no reason for not alternating between those two attacks.
Yeah but it's Snow. His stats are not balanced, he has the puniest amount of Magic out of all characters, and has one of the highest Strength stat. I wouldn't quite say he has two times more Strength than Magic, but practically does.
Mixing Froststrike with Aero against an enemy whose "only damage abnormality is a weakness to Ice" is understandable since Aero stuns grunt rank foes. Snow using Blizzard against said enemy is not understandable - they both cost 1 gauge segment, take the same time to release the attack (more or less), but Snow's Froststrike will just be more damaging. Why deal 500 damage when you can do 1000?
Mar 25, 10 at 6:37pm
DavidVilla7
quote Trust Kill
For example, AI controlled Snow will mix Blizzard with Froststrike against an enemy whose only damage abnormality is a weakness to Ice. I have no idea why, other than for the sake of looking cool.
Except for looking cool, those attacks depend on different stat parameters. Blizzard uses the Magic stat, while Froststrike uses the Power stat, so if those two are balanced there is no reason for not alternating between those two attacks. As for the battle system, I liked the one back in the FFX days, where you could go make a coffee, grab a sandwich or something and think over every single move at least ten times before doing it. But despite it not being turn-based, I actually like the FFXIII battle system a lot, and although I use auto-battle for 98% of the battles (and even now, in the end of the last chapter), it gives you enough time to think about other stuff, like techniques and paradigm shifting. Although how this battle system connects with the way the Eidolons where implemented in this game is a whole different story.
Mar 25, 10 at 6:27pm
Trust Kill
They could have used the Gambit system from 12, we're not controlling those characters anyway so we may as well prioritise some abilities over others, at least.
For example, AI controlled Snow will mix Blizzard with Froststrike against an enemy whose only damage abnormality is a weakness to Ice. I have no idea why, other than for the sake of looking cool. If I could, I would have him use only Froststrike against that enemy.
That's my only complaint gameplay-wise. For the most part the AI handles fights efficiently, especially as a Synergist; it does it better and faster than any human could.
Mar 25, 10 at 5:41pm
Spike Spiegel
I still stand by my argument that they should have allowed you to cycle through which party member you're controlling in mid-battle. You know how many times I wanted to use Lightning's Army of One and then follow up with Fang's Highwind? But guess what, those are moves that the AI will never activate for you! So yes, I feel there actually is a need to take control of different party members during a fight.
Mar 25, 10 at 5:08pm
Fritos is Good Ppl
I vastly prefer controlling all of the characters during battle.
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