Which Final Fantasy battle system is your favorite?

Call me crazy, but it's FFX-2's. *casts Flame Shield* I know the game's full of girly campy stuff, but the battle system was actually really well designed, and very addictive. I loved changing dressspheres on the fly, and using them in all sorts of combinations. My only major complaint was their Overdrives weren't as fun as using actual summons. My next two favorites would have to be FFX and FFXII respectively.

X or X-2. I loved X's turn-based rendition of a traditional Final Fantasy battle system (although I wasn't a fan of the sphere grid) and like you, loved X-2's costume system.

Part of me also wants to say 12, but then I start thinking of Guild Wars and how Square could have made so many improvements.

edit - I haven't played XIII yet. And I guess I through VII are sort of disqualified as they're all basically the same (ignoring the underlying magic-learning systems with jobs, espers, materia, etc).

I liked ff6 esper system the best. You equip an esper.You can summon the esper. you learn magic off of that esper as you level. simple, customizable. good

ff8's junction system just seems unnecessarily complicated. I'm no idiot, but the game forces you to read text after text of instruction just explaining howthis cockamamey system works. I was so bored and agitated that i quit the game after the first dungeon.

FF7's materia system was pretty good. But i didn't like that you are leveling up the materia, not the characters. people may say this makes the game more customizable because you can switch leveled-up materias among party members. But the idea that you can give some schmo a godly materia and say, "here ya go, you are a god now!" just rubs me the wrong way for some reason.

FF tactics job system was really good too. probably the best.

FF4 was too straightforward. when you level up, you get new magic and ability. the end lol

X or X-2. I loved X's turn-based rendition of a traditional Final Fantasy battle system (although I wasn't a fan of the sphere grid) and like you, loved X-2's costume system.

Part of me also wants to say 12, but then I start thinking of Guild Wars and how Square could have made so many improvements.

edit - I haven't played XIII yet. And I guess I through VII are sort of disqualified as they're all basically the same (ignoring the underlying magic-learning systems with jobs, espers, materia, etc).

FFX and FFXIII. FFVII battle system isn't bad either.

I don't favor one over the rest. There are parts that I prefer, though.I liked VIII's limit breaks and IX for everything else. IX because of the each character has different skills and abilities. I'll admit that I had Vivi in my party a lot, but I switched around more than the rest I've mostly completed (VII through X and Tactics).X has this but the sphere grid, customizable weapons, and limit break charge-up eventually overrides individuality up to limit breaks, summons, and each personality, of course.

Wakka: "That's Lulu. She the black mage guardian."

Tidus: "Hey! She's not the only one."

Kimarhi:

Tactics' is worth mentioning. The class change system is a direct contradiction to IX, but this is an example of where this works very well. I suppose since the opponents were varied as well.

FF6-FFIX.

X's wasnt bad, but i prefer thetime bar thingy.

X or X-2. I loved X's turn-based rendition of a traditional Final Fantasy battle system (although I wasn't a fan of the sphere grid) and like you, loved X-2's costume system.

Part of me also wants to say 12, but then I start thinking of Guild Wars and how Square could have made so many improvements.

edit - I haven't played XIII yet. And I guess I through VII are sort of disqualified as they're all basically the same (ignoring the underlying magic-learning systems with jobs, espers, materia, etc).

personally I loved FFX's battle system..FFXIII is growing on me, but I enjoyed changing fighters at any time, and i actually enjoyed the sphere grid alot

i'm gunna take the plunge and go with XIII, love love the paradigm system. Second would probably be V (job system ftw) followed closely by VIII (junctioning was balls-to-the-wall imo). I personally didn't like the materia system (rare, i know), and X, while its battle system is flawless (and my favorite FF), wasn't close to being my favorite battle system. I like a little experimentation and originality, even if it comes with some flaws.themountaindew

[QUOTE="themountaindew"]i'm gunna take the plunge and go with XIII, love love the paradigm system. Second would probably be V (job system ftw) followed closely by VIII (junctioning was balls-to-the-wall imo). I personally didn't like the materia system (rare, i know), and X, while its battle system is flawless (and my favorite FF), wasn't close to being my favorite battle system. I like a little experimentation and originality, even if it comes with some flaws.JustPlainLucas

Wow, great question.

My answers would be Final Fantasy 5 followed closely by 6. They were simple enough then but you still had to micro manage battles quite a bit.

Final Fantasy XIII is, by far, the easiest to use but, if you have your paradigms setup right, you hardly do anything and it gets very boring.

Wow, great question.

My answers would be Final Fantasy 5 followed closely by 6. They were simple enough then but you still had to micro manage battles quite a bit.

Final Fantasy XIII is, by far, the easiest to use but, if you have your paradigms setup right, you hardly do anything and it gets very boring.

Chickan_117

[QUOTE="Chickan_117"]

Wow, great question.

My answers would be Final Fantasy 5 followed closely by 6. They were simple enough then but you still had to micro manage battles quite a bit.

Final Fantasy XIII is, by far, the easiest to use but, if you have your paradigms setup right, you hardly do anything and it gets very boring.

JustPlainLucas

Just completed my third Cie'th stone mission in chapter 11. Can't find my mark now.Move to the next area where the star marks and then get to a map with no star :(

Just completed my third Cie'th stone mission in chapter 11. Can't find my mark now.Move to the next area where the star marks and then get to a map with no star :(

Chickan_117

Without a doubt, FFXIII. Nothing else in the series even comes close.

Hmmm, tough.

1. FFVII

2. FFX

3. FFIX

My least favorite is XII's

XIII's I cannot judge since I'm only an hour into the game. So far it's meh, but I'm assuming the battle system will start growing on me at some point throughout the 3 discs.

X-2's battle system was indeed great. I actually like that game. It was a fun little spin-off game or sequel or whatever you want to call it. I also love FF13's battle system as well. I guess it's somewhat similar to X-2's with the whole changing roles on the fly, so that's why it appeals to me. Also gotta give a nod to FFX. Best summons for sure.

I would have to say FFXII. I`m not really a big fan of turnbased battle systems, though I did like FFX.

[QUOTE="JustPlainLucas"][QUOTE="themountaindew"]i'm gunna take the plunge and go with XIII, love love the paradigm system. Second would probably be V (job system ftw) followed closely by VIII (junctioning was balls-to-the-wall imo). I personally didn't like the materia system (rare, i know), and X, while its battle system is flawless (and my favorite FF), wasn't close to being my favorite battle system. I like a little experimentation and originality, even if it comes with some flaws.Flame_Blade88

Call me crazy, but it's FFX-2's. *casts Flame Shield* I know the game's full of girly campy stuff, but the battle system was actually really well designed, and very addictive. I loved changing dressspheres on the fly, and using them in all sorts of combinations. My only major complaint was their Overdrives weren't as fun as using actual summons. My next two favorites would have to be FFX and FFXII respectively.

JustPlainLucas

*Burns you on a stake pronouncing you as a heretic! *

Jokes aside, FF 12 is the one I liked best. The Gambit system forced me to think up smart strategies and find flaws in my enemy unlike the other entries. While you can give your own inputs, I find that my killer Gambit list is more than enough for normal enemies and the fact that it requires my input only when things get heated. Priceless. Too bad the game has got a boring story and questionable characters :(

Final Fantasy XIII, by far to me. Most sheer fun of any battle system, plus the most cinematic and epic. Closely behind that is FFX and FFX-2 respectively. X-2 did few things right, but one thing it got VERY right was a fast paced intense battle system. FFX had the absolute best version of the traditional turn based set up, and I sorely wish the ability to switch party members in and out in battle strategically had stayed with the series moving forward from it. But it did not.SteveTabernacle

FFX-2 really did have a good battle system. But it's in third place for me, XII is in second and X is in first. I just love the turn-based system.

[QUOTE="Flame_Blade88"][QUOTE="JustPlainLucas"]I love the paradigm thing myself, but there's a glaring flaw in it. I have no control over what my other characters cast. For instance, when I'm getting buffs, I want Protect and Shell first, but instead I'm getting enfeeblements... :? They usually do a pretty good job of prioritizing, but sometimes they really don't. themountaindew

Well, it is possible to control the Synergist yourself. Since Ravagers and Commandos focus on attacking, it can often be advantageous to take control of the Medic or Synergist role so you are in control. Personally, it's never a problem for me, since the AI automatically chooses the most useful buffs. For instance, if you're against a magic caster that is weak to lightning, the Synergist will cast Enlightning and Shell first, before going into the other buffs. I'm often surprised how smart the computer can be in some situations.

FFX-2's battle system wasn't bad, but wathcing those cut-scenes when changing clothes (of class) over and over again was a major turn-off.

FFXIII's system is pretty good so far. It's fast, quick, brisk, fun, and cool to look at. Yeah, the battle system is automated but they did it in a way that it's still fun and deep enough.

[QUOTE="themountaindew"][QUOTE="Flame_Blade88"] THANK YOU. I've been trying to get through a few of my friends' heads that the system is a little flawed...calvinsora

Well, it is possible to control the Synergist yourself. Since Ravagers and Commandos focus on attacking, it can often be advantageous to take control of the Medic or Synergist role so you are in control. Personally, it's never a problem for me, since the AI automatically chooses the most useful buffs. For instance, if you're against a magic caster that is weak to lightning, the Synergist will cast Enlightning and Shell first, before going into the other buffs. I'm often surprised how smart the computer can be in some situations.

FFX-2's battle system was okay. Now if only every other aspect of the game wasn't so poor...:P

FFXIII has a great battle system so it is my favorite.

I played X after beating XII and I wasn't enjoying the old battle system at all. So, I guess the answer for me is XII.

For EPIC-FF VII PSP

I'd say X, mostly due to dislike of the ATB system. Haven't played XIII yet though, so this may change.

10. I love turn based...

I can't say anyt of the first 11 final fantasy games cause the combat system is kind of the same. They have just small chances in it. So I have to say that the newest one. The compat style still is kind of same but it has evolved. Somepeople don't like it and I can undestand, but to me it's a fresh breath. So ff 13

I know I've already voted but I wanted to put an honorable mention in for Final Fantasy 7 : Crisis Core. I thought that was a fantastic adaptation of the Final Fantasy battle systems and the action based gameplay blended perfectly with the traditional elements.

[QUOTE="themountaindew"]i'm gunna take the plunge and go with XIII, love love the paradigm system. Second would probably be V (job system ftw) followed closely by VIII (junctioning was balls-to-the-wall imo). I personally didn't like the materia system (rare, i know), and X, while its battle system is flawless (and my favorite FF), wasn't close to being my favorite battle system. I like a little experimentation and originality, even if it comes with some flaws.JustPlainLucas