Summary
TheFinal Fantasyseries is practically synonymous with the JRPG genre. Since 1987, these games have been some of the most influential RPGs in the world. Between the recent success oftheFinal Fantasy 7Remake subseriesand the huge playerbase of the ongoing MMOFinal Fantasy 14, the series shows no signs of slowing down anytime soon.
One of the most remarkable aspects of this long-running franchise is how much it’s changed and evolved over time.The series has boasted a wide variety of combat systems over the years, from traditional turn-based combat to real-time hack and slash gameplay and everything in between. Here are tenFinal Fantasygames that are particularly worth checking out for their combat systems.
The originalFinal Fantasygame certainly hasn’t aged especially gracefully compared to later entries, and even with several re-releases and remasters under its belt, it’s still a bit rough around the edges when compared to the AAA polish of recent titles. However,Final Fantasy’s combat is undoubtedly worth playing if only for its substantial impact on the JRPG genre at large.
Like many JRPGs, especially in the early days, the originalFinal Fantasyis turn-based, but it introduced a lot of major gameplay developments that have carried through in the decades to follow. The presentation of the player’s party on one side of the screen, as opposed to the first-person perspective favored by its contemporaries, is one example. The originalFinal Fantasyset the stage for the franchise to transform the genre, and for that reason, it’s definitely worth picking up.
Final Fantasy 13’sdistinctive command synergy battle system presented a unique twist on the active time battle system the series had been known for. This system only gives players control overone specific characterin battle, while the other party members are controlled by AI. These party members can be governed by “Paradigms”, specific commands that dictate their behavior in fights.
This unique active battle system is paired with a stagger bar to present fluid and active combat which borrows a lot of DNA from more fast-paced action games. The direct sequel,Final Fantasy 13-2,further refined this distinctive battle system, giving fans of the unique battle mechanic more opportunities to explore it.
Final Fantasy Tacticsmight not be an official mainline entry in the venerable franchise, but it’s no less influential or worth playing. As the name suggests, this game is a tactical take on the grandiose lore and epic storylines the series is known for. Fans of tactical RPGs will find a refreshing take on the subgenre’s combat in the game’s unique combat system.
The game retains the turn-based nature of the tactical RPG genre, but rather than having each army take its turn as one collective group, each individual unit is sorted by their speed stat, shaking up battles and influencing strategies. Knocking out a particularly speedy enemy could give a player more time to plan their strategy for a turn without interruption, while whittling down a slower but more powerful unit could potentially deny them a turn that might have proven extremely impactful.
Final Fantasy 15iterated on the speed-focused active fightspresent in games likeFinal Fantasy 13with an action-based system that eschews menus in favor of commands mapped to specific buttons. The game also doesn’t transition fights into a dedicated arena; battles take place wherever enemies are encountered, making environments a much bigger part of battle than they were in previous games.
In battle, players can only control the main character, Noctis, which does limit decisions and strategy options in a fight. However, players can trigger cooperative attacks with their AI-controlled party members, adding another layer of situational awareness to battles.
Final Fantasy 4introduced the Active Time Battle system, a combat mechanic that would serve as a mainstay for much ofFinal Fantasy’s history. This unique and iconic combat system forces players to issue commands to their party members in real time. Each character becomes available to act on their own timetable, and if players stay on their toes, they can cut off an enemy before they can act with a timely spell or decisive blow.
This battle system was an iconic development for Square Enix, so much so that it’s appeared not only in otherFinal Fantasygames but in other RPGs likeChrono Triggeras well. Fans of these games, or of RPG history in general, will definitely want togiveFinal Fantasy 4a tryin order to see how this fundamental piece of game design began.
Final Fantasy 14’swidely reviled initial launch has given way toone of the most prominent MMORPGson the market. The game offers a wide variety of character classes for its robust player base to choose from, and this in turn leads to a great amount of diversity in party compositions as fans group up to take on dungeons and bosses together.
To support the multiplayer nature of the game, battles inFinal Fantasy 14are fully in real-time. With a large group of players, this can lead to some truly chaotic encounters, givingFinal Fantasy 14a frenetic energy that is unmatched by other entries in the series.
Final Fantasy 7 Remakeis a strange franchise, building what is essentiallya brand-new storylinearound the skeleton of the iconicFinal Fantasy 7. This new experience comes with its own unique combat system, which seamlessly integrates real-time action gameplay with the sort of menu-based decision-making RPG fans are used to.
This blend of tactics and moment-to-moment action can be hard for new players to pick up, and it’s certainly a departure from the original game, but this gameplay system has a lot of potential. If fans can master it, they can pull off some truly impressive things in combat.
Despite its 2001 release, the combat system ofFinal Fantasy 10skews much closer to the traditional turn-based combat system of the originalFinal Fantasygames than its immediate predecessors. The game uses a “conditional turn-based battle system,” which iterates on the classic turn-based system with an intriguing extra layer of strategy.
Characters' initial position in the turn order is determined largely by their Speed stat, but certain actions taken in combat will impact how long it will be before they can act again. Players can also summon powerful supernatural beings, known as Aeons, to supplant the party in particularly challenging fights.Final Fantasy 10introduced a new layer of strategy, reinvigorating an old combat system for newer players.
Final Fantasy 16is arguably the mostaction-focusedFinal Fantasygameto date. Rather than controlling a full party like in past entries, players only have control over the protagonist, Clive, who takes part in action-heavy real-time battles alongside a rotating roster of AI companions. Clive’s distinct connection to the Eikons, powerful magical entities capable of immense destruction, fuels his explosive moves in battle.
While this game might require less strategy than other entries, it’s still well worth experiencing because of its sheer spectacle. Outside of Clive’s high-energy battles, the game is also famous for its Eikon battles, colossal show-downs between some of the most powerful creatures inFinal Fantasy’s history, controlled in real time by the player.
It’s hard to overstate the importance ofFinal Fantasy 7.This game brought the iconic franchise into 3D with a story and gameplay experience that many fans still claim has yet to be topped. Even with an ongoing remake bringing the characters into the modern gaming era, the original game is still an icon, and well worth playing for reasons even outside of combat.
The game usesFinal Fantasy’s iconic active time battle system; each character has a time gauge that fills over time, at which point they can act freely in battle. The game is also famous for its Limit Break system. Characters' Limit gauges fill as they take damage from enemies, and when the gauge is full, the character can use a powerful Limit Break move to turn the tides of battle. This battle system forces players to measure reward against risk by tempting them to hold back for an extremely powerful move at a crucial moment, and it’s just one of many reasonsFinal Fantasy 7is such a legendary game.
