WHY do Square always use the random encounter system?

[Peter_20]

This has buggered me for many years now: why in the world do Square constantly use the random encounter system?
I guess it's supposed to force the character into leveling up the characters.
BUT, you know what?
Do you know of the game Secret of Mana?
That game consists completely of optional battles: you can pass the VISIBLE enemies if you want to, or you can fight them.
AND you can even stop fighting them in the middle of the battle; you don't have to finish it.
AND - that system made me fight MORE enemies than I ever do in FF games, because I knew I could choose it myself whenever I wished to.
In FF games (and lots of other RPG:s in general) enemies just show up randomly all the time.
IT'S SO ANNOYING!

Why, WHY do Square always use this stupid system?
Don't give me this "the consoles can't handle visible enemies", because lots of RPG:s for the SNES use visible enemies and optional battles.

[Ashley Schovitz]

obviously you're not a FF fan and not all FFs have that system. XIi doesn't and you would've known that if you're an FF fan and you don't even have to play the game to know that.

[Peter_20]

obviously you're not a FF fan and not all FFs have that system. XIi doesn't and you would've known that if you're an FF fan and you don't even have to play the game to know that.

I know FFXII doesn't use it, but why did Square need almost 20 years to realize they should remove random encounters?
That's inexcusable.

[Nasarian Altimeros]

I never really felt the whole ‘avoiding enemies in the field’ added a whole load of depth to gameplay tbqh. As long as the random encounter rate isn't set at something ridiculous I don't really care.

[Ashley Schovitz]

if they hated it they wouldn't continue to buy the games now would they?

[Peter_20]

if they hated it they wouldn't continue to buy the games now would they?

I abhor the random encounters and I'm a huge FF fan. :rolleyes2

[VeloZer0]

I don't see how you could possibly dislike the random encounters so much and still enjoy the games.

Another crucial reason is because with random encounters you don't have to design the zones around being able to be fightable in. This is one of the reasons I found FFXII's zones to be very boring (design wise). As for skipping enemies, if the game fighting style is so uninteresting that you want to skip the majority of them, then I think the flaw lies in the battle system itself.

[Peter_20]

I don't see how you could possibly dislike the random encounters so much and still enjoy the games.

Because aside from the random encounters that show up way too often at times, the games rock. :rolleyes2

Another crucial reason is because with random encounters you don't have to design the zones around being able to be fightable in. This is one of the reasons I found FFXII's zones to be very boring (design wise). As for skipping enemies, if the game fighting style is so uninteresting that you want to skip the majority of them, then I think the flaw lies in the battle system itself.

I find the battles kinda fun, but in boring areas random encounters are pure hell, and I know you all agree with me on that, even if you don't seem to wanna admit it right now. :rolleyes2

...It's funny how everybody always starts argumenting against me in topics that everybody should agree with me on. :rolleyes2
As far as I know, most people are pretty disgusted by the random encounters.
Then I write this thread, and now everybody seems to like them all of a sudden - w...t...f...?
To be quite honest, it wouldn't surprise me at all if someone in here throws a fit at me soon, because my days are like that every now and then in the forum worlds. :rolleyes2

[NINJA_Ryu]

sheesh, lets all just simmer down now....

personally, i like the random encounters for a few reasons.

1) The worlds of FF are in peril, monsters and evil is rampant, and danger can possibly lurk around every corner, so i think it mrits random battles

2) *plays game and party is at level 10, goes against boss. Gets thouroughly trounced* O well, Im glad i can level up my party so they can take this guy head on! *levels up, beats opposition*

3) I like to have the uncertainty in my games. BEtter to be surprised by encounters and guessing at your travels than plainly seeing and avoiding your enemies. In the long run, it only hurts you

[Peter_20]

But being able to avoid enemies would encourage fighting, since you're not forced to it.
That's why some game developers try to avoid random encounters, and that's why people always think it's positive when you are able to choose if you want to fight or not.
Besides, I've only heard stuff like "random encounters are gone, YAY!", but I've NEVER heard anyone saying "random encounters are present in the game, YAY!"

And I still find it weird that people speak against me in just about any topic sometimes.
If I were to write a topic that undoubtly would please everybody's opinions, then I'd either get no answers at all, or else someone would sound bitter and write something like "of course, I've already realized that -.-".

Sometimes my days are like this; but it's alright. :rolleyes2

[Kawaii Ryûkishi]

1) The worlds of FF are in peril, monsters and evil is rampant, and danger can possibly lurk around every corner, so i think it mrits random battles

3) I like to have the uncertainty in my games. BEtter to be surprised by encounters and guessing at your travels than plainly seeing and avoiding your enemies. In the long run, it only hurts you

Enemies can still surprise you when there are no random encounters.

2) *plays game and party is at level 10, goes against boss. Gets thouroughly trounced* O well, Im glad i can level up my party so they can take this guy head on! *levels up, beats opposition*

You can still level up all you like when there are no random encounters.

[Peter_20]

Enemies can still surprise you when there are no random encounters.

...and without the random encounters you don't have to be surprised ALL THE TIME.

You can still level up all you like when there are no random encounters.

...so getting rid of random encounters only have benefits, and no drawbacks whatsoever.

[Vivisteiner]

I dont see whats wrong with random encounters so long as the load time is short. It also kinda builds up the enemy monster with the music etc. Its hard to explain why its so enjoyable and rarely annoying.

[Peter_20]

I dont see whats wrong with random encounters so long as the load time is short.

Imagine you're walking around in a huge maze-dungeon, and you want to get acquainted with the place.
The problem is, you are always interrupted, because the ominous battle sequence flashes up all the damn time.
This is especially obvious in FF2.

[LunarWeaver]

I personally don't like random encounters much either. I never really understood why RPGs didn't drop them a long time ago.