Summary
Square Enix is one of the biggest companies in the video game landscape, boastinga library of amazing titlesthat truly are in a class of their own. TheFinal FantasyandDragon Questseries that fans love have bolstered this company’s reputation, even if some of their recent business dealings haven’t been the best.
As one would expect, many Square Enix games are full of compelling combat systems that keep fans coming back for more. These titles are a blast to play and ensure that fans will love battling enemies and bosses after coming to grips with the gameplay mechanics.
To this day, there’s something aboutChrono Trigger’s simple yet excellent combat that fans can’t get enough of. It was unheard of at that time for monsters to appear on the map, and this shunning of random encounters was just one of the many waysChrono Triggerwas ahead of its time.
Players needed to take positioning into account while planning attacks so that the damage output could be optimized. Over time, characters who developed a close bond could even unleash powerful Double and Triple Techs that were especially useful against bosses.
Any turn-based RPG that tries to make its combat as involving as possible is bound to be appreciated, andXenogearsis no exception. Martial arts were prominent in the combat system and encouraged players to unleash combos that could hit for serious damage.
Along with this, the game also featured mech combat with astronomical damage numbers to further showcase the sense of scale. All of this combined to helpXenogearsstand out as a masterful JRPG, and it’s a shame that this title never got the chance to achieve its ambitions.
After what felt like eons,Dragon Quest 11finally made a major mark in the West, showing that turn-based RPGs hadn’t faded out of popularity all along.Echoes of an Elusive Ageis one of the greatestDragon Questgames out there, boastingan epic story that never lets up.
The combat has all the classic trappings of a JRPG, and many players relish the simplicity of this title. It doesn’t change the formula too much, but it still forces players to strategize, especially if they opt for the Stronger Monsters option.
It’s amazing just how wellFinal Fantasy 7 Remakeintegrated the ATB bars into real-time combat.Rebirthcontinues this trend of excellenceand adds additional moves that players can use to make combat more cinematic and engaging than ever.
Synergies make for a fun sight, with two characters combining their abilities in order to unleash powerful attacks on their foes. New abilities were added, old ones were tweaked, and various other improvements were implemented in order to ensure thatRebirth’s combat was more engaging than its predecessor.
It speaks volumes that the real-time combat actions inSuper Mario RPGwere so engaging that they have become a series staple since. Even othermodern turn-based RPGslikeClair Obscuruse this mechanic to make combat feel more dynamic.
Most players will love maximizing their attack and defense as they take on the many iconic enemies of the series inLegend of the Seven Stars. The fact that the remake did little to change the gameplay shows that there is simply no need to try and improve on perfection.
Octopath Traveler 2is a celebration of JRPGs, with its amazing HD-2D visuals and dynamic combat being incredibly enthralling. Battles are swift, reward players for banking Boost Points, and are accompanied by amazing soundtracks that are in a class of their own.
The game also introduces Latent Powers, which basically serve asOctopath Traveler’s take on the Limit Break system. It does a great job of making combat more cinematic and helps this amazing JRPG stand out as one of Square Enix’s best video games.
PlatinumGames had a reputation for making amazing action-packed experiences, but no one expected their work onNieR: Automatato be so generational. Yoko Taro’s weirdness, coupled with excellent gameplay, finally opened the floodgates for theNieRseries to break into the mainstream.
It helps thatthe regular hack-and-slash combatis constantly changed up in order to give players something new to do just when they may be getting tired. These gameplay switch-ups, coupled with a solid foundation, ensure that battling enemies inNieR: Automatawill never cease to be entertaining.
Final Fantasy 10implemented a major change with the debut of the conditional turn-based battle system. Players had greater clarity regarding the turn order and could manipulate it for a strategic advantage.
It’s a shame that Square never developed moreFinal Fantasygames with this system, since it promoted tactical thinking and speed in combat.Final Fantasy 10was also notable for letting playersswitch party members on the flyin combat, which was unheard of back in the day.