There was a time when the original PlayStation was flooded with several amazing games during the golden era of JRPGs. While the shift to real-time combat meant that this gameplay became rather dated for players, turn-based games were still very much synonymous with this brand.
As a result, players who havea long and rich history with PlayStation consolesmust’ve checked out their fair share of games with turn-based combat systems. From beloved classics to modern takes on this combat system, players will get a kick out of checking out the tactical combat present in these beloved games.
Unlike most JRPGs that came around the same time,Parasite Evewas a short and fast-paced JRPGthat let players control a single character in combat. Aya Brea could use several weapons to bring the hurt to her foes as long as she was in range while executing an attack.
This encouraged a unique risk-reward approach where players could either use short-range weapons with devastating damage numbers or use weapons with longer ranges that made a compromise in either speed, damage, or both. Either way, there was a decent amount of strategy involved in combat as players explored numerous hostile zones to take out the mutated enemies that stood in Aya’s way.
Players who want to check out a classic by-the-numbers JRPG with a simple plot will love whatThe Legend of Dragoonbrings to the table. The combat includes quick-time events called additions that players could use to enhance the damage of their attacks.
This, coupled with a Dragoon form that characters could unlock, ensured thatThe Legend of Dragooncould let players experiment with numerous JRPG mechanics throughout its lengthy run. The title could be a bit generic at times, but the engaging turn-based combat ensured that players could stick with this title for the long haul without too many problems.
It’s a shame thatXenogearsstumbled before it could reach the finishing line, since the journey that it took players on until this point was mesmerizing. Featuring a complex plot and memorable characters,the crowning jewel ofXenogearswas undoubtedly its combat system.
Players could pull off several combos in battle with devastating effects. As characters leveled up, they unlocked more powerful combos that could be used to take out most enemies without breaking a sweat.
The third and final game in theShadow Heartstrilogy is considered by many to be the weakest of the bunch, courtesy of a story and characters that felt like a step down fromCovenant. However, whereFrom the New Worldexcelled was letting engage with the best combat seen in aShadow Heartsgame to date.
Players loved the Judgment Ring mechanic as always, with the addition of combo attacks making battles more cinematic than ever. This, coupled with Shania’s Fusion powers, ensures that players have numerous tactics to rely on in combat.
Shin Megami Tensei 3: Nocturneis one of the hardest JRPGs players can get their hands on. The Demi-fiend may be powerful, but he’ll still be toast against certain bosses unless players ensure that their party doesn’t have any weaknesses that a powerful foe can exploit.
A player’s adventures will be full of these challenging encounters where the combat system shines bright. It’s important to get extra turns by targeting an enemy’s weakness and using both buffs & debuffs to reduce the damage incurred in tough battles to come out victorious in some of Nocturne’s toughest battles.
3Persona 4 Golden
The Upgraded Version On The Vita Was Vital For This Title’s Success
Persona 4 Goldenwas a huge step forwardfor Atlus, with the series attaining immense popularity among PS Vita owners after the release of this updated version. With new Social Links, endings, and a whole host of additional content, it’s easy to see why fans loved whatPersona 4 Goldenbrought to the table.
The main cast was more likable than ever as players lived the life of a regular high school student who acquires the power to summon his Persona, triggering the change in his friends. As players uncover this mystery, they’ll engage in some fun combat encounters where players must use a litany of skills to come out victorious after a grueling battle.
Therelease ofFinal Fantasy 10on the PS2was a groundbreaking moment that announced the debut of this legendary series on a new console generation. It helped that Tidus' adventure was a riveting one that kept fans interested in this grand plot.
One of the best aspects ofFinal Fantasy 10is a combat system that feels fast-paced and engrossing, letting players switch out party members with no penalties. Manipulating the turn order and maximizing one’s damage was the key to surviving some ofFinal Fantasy 10’s toughest encounters.
Persona 5was already a great game in its own right, and theRoyaledition made it even more approachable for players. It included several gameplay augments to give every Persona a unique trait, added new characters, and included another story arc following Yaldabaoth’s defeat.
This makesPersona 5 Royalthe best versionof this beloved modern JRPG that fans will get a kick out of. Optimizing Personas to make the most of their unique traits is a game-changer, letting players obliterate enemies in style if they put in the effort to make Joker’s collection of Personas as powerful as can be.
