"Make sure when you're filming me kicking this guys ass, that you get my good side!"

[Wolf Kanno]

Its been awhile since a decent thread popped up in this forum so I thought it would be fun to start a new thread specualting on the game's combat system. I know we know very little except that is a new form of ATB, there are no random encounters, and from the looks of the very tiny tidbits of footage from the trailers that it is very cinematic. So what are your thoughts?

Please try to stay on topic...

[marysonnie]

Hmm...if it's too cinematic it's going to drive me nuts. I almost went blind from summoning Eden in FFVIII because it took ages...

One of my favorite things about FFXII was how quickly I could finish my non-boss battles. Since there are no random encounters, I wonder how linear the story will be.

[Vivisteiner]

The combat system is supposed to be super fast.

Looks interesting. There's a theory going round that time will slow down as you select your commands. So that it'll be a little matrix like.

[VeloZer0]

I've personally always been a fan of more strategic than fast battles, but if the battles are made to look really fast, yet give you time to input your moves that sounds kind of cool.

As far as cinematic goes, I don't object to cinematics on principle, I just object to long cinematic that you can't skip. On option is shorter cinematic for moves, and another is being able to skip the cinematic if you so desire (like in Crisis Core).

[Jessweeee♪]

GRRRRRRRRRRRRRRAAAAAAWAWAWAAARRGGGG I NEED A PS3!


(...and the trailer music is awesome times twelve)

[Wolf Kanno]

From what I've gathered from the trailer (though its difficult to tell considering they edited in together what appears to be at least three different version of the battle) and assuming we're not looking at a Limit Break or some other new ability; it seems to me like you will be able to implement a number of moves to create a combo a la Xenogears/Chrono Cross except magic and special commands might be able to be part of the chain instead of a being a finisher.

I feel another in-game battle without Lightening this time could verify this. I have yet to figure out how summons will work this time though.

[Bolivar]

Well the one thing that puts VII above its competitors for me was its fast-paced battles that did ATB better than its predecessors, and cinematic experience of battles, due to the camera being less static than its successors. So it looks like XIII will be just what i've been waitin for.

[Wolf Kanno]

Well the one thing that puts VII above its competitors for me was its fast-paced battles that did ATB better than its predecessors, and cinematic experience of battles, due to the camera being less static than its successors. So it looks like XIII will be just what I've been waiting for.

My only problem with the camera in VII is that when stop to implement commands its zooms the camera to the standard side view. In VII battles, it can give me a headache in boss fights cause it feels completely erratic. If they could fix this issue I would enjoy sticking to VII's camera system.

I unfortunately feel that "cinematic" will be like X where its scripted events when certain options are chosen but I could be wrong.

[Roogle]

I think that new technology will allow the framerate of Final Fantasy XIII to be much higher than its predecessors. This will give the appearance of faster gameplay, yet not necessarily mean that we will be rushed and forced to watch cinematics.

It might be like Final Fantasy X-2 with a stylistic touch rather than a campy touch.

[Gnostic Yevon]

I'm expecting something rather kingdom hearts like. You control the party leader and then maybe set up gambits or similar to control the rest. I'm not sure how the chaining fits in there, I only know KH and KH2 from the trailers. But the XIII system does seem to be a similar sort of action system.

[Yar]

As long as it gets awat from the ADB and closer to the ATB, I'll be happy.

I'm guessing here, but it looks like you may set a number of moves until you will reach an ATB count of zero. Then you have to wait and let the ATB refill.

I'm not appreaciating this whole "no random encounters" deal. If you don't like random encounters, please don't bitch. Go play something else.

Maybe they're looking at a system close to Chrono Trigger? Enemies are there, yet they aren't random. You can see them on the map and your battles take place right there.

[Wolf Kanno]

Outside of the Gambits and the ability to move around the field, I never really felt ADB was really different from ATB. Spells were changed around a bit to deal with AoE but otherwise it really didn't play too differently mechanically. But I guess we each have our own opinion.

Personally, I don't care that random encounters are gone as long as it sticks to XII's respawning rules.

[[.Pearl.]]

I am apprehensive about XIII's battle system, by the looks of the video. It looks much too fast paced and confusing; with all the weird camera angles and the maker's trying to make it seem all action-y and like a movie, it looks like it will be difficult to keep track of what all is going on, especially if you have 3 or 4 characters on the battle field at once. Just seeing the one party member (Lightning) out looked like it would take extreme awareness and tactfulness to command everything that you wanted to happen. Even FFX2 was too fast-paced for me at the first. When I played it for the first time I freaked out about how fast the battling was. But I have gotten used to it over time, so hopefully XIII's learning curve will be easy enough to get used to, regardless of its assumed rapid pace.

[Dragonsoul]

I think that Final Fantasy XII has my favorite battle system in an rpg. It was not turn based, and there were no random battles. Plus I loved the gambit system. I wish the battles gave away more loot and experience though. I hope Final Fantasy XIII takes influence in part from Final Fantasy XII. I hope there's not too many battles though.

I'm waiting for E3, where some great info from Square Enix could be announced. In addition to more footage for FF XIII, FF Agito XIII, and FF Versus XIII, here's what I'm looking forward to for possible announcements...

1. Cell, DS, or PSP port for Usa of FF VII: Before Crisis
2. Cell, DS, or PSP port for Usa of FF IV: The After
3. DS port of Final Fantasy V
4. Information their "Rapture" Mmorpg
5. Information on Final Fantasy Haeresis XIII

I hope that the battles in Final Fantasy XIII are as exciting as we saw in the trailers so far. They should feel integrated into the game like Final Fantasy XII's were, not a seperate thing like in many rpg's. Toshiro Tsuchida, the leader of Front Mission, is the battle director, I think he'll do a great job. By the way, I wonder where Hiroyuki Ito(battle director for FF XII/FF XII International Zodiac Job System) is right now?

Toshiro Tsuchida - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Hiroyuki It� - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

[Wolf Kanno]

To [.Pearl.], it may look intimidating right now but I'm certain it won't be too foreign, from the looks of the bottom screen it seems we've returned one again to another mutation in the ATB system. I'm less worried about XIII having a steep learning curve and more concerned it will pull another FFX with a wonderful battle system marred by lack of challenge and design choices. X has a damn good battle system in theory, I'm just sad that it only shines at the beginning and ending of the game (as well as all the optional content) and for the rest its a waste of time :rolleyes2

To Dragonsoul, I like XII system as well and though XIII has been confirmed to no longer have random encounters, the rest is still in the dark but for the most part, the XIII team has stated XIII will be more like X than XII. Still, I agree that XII did some amazing things in terms of game design and I will be sorely annoyed if XIII turns out to be "interactive movie" like X. Even then, I must say that XIII's battle system appears promising, but I would really love more info...

I love how SE said 2008 would be the year for big info about the XIII project and so far its half over and we have barely heard anything since January