Five Classic JRPGs Prove Turn-Based Combat Is More Than Attack, Defend, Magic, Item

Beyond the four-button menu

Many role-playing games use a familiar turn-based combat system whose options are usually riffs on four actions: attack, defend, use magic, or use an item ^[1]. If you play JRPGs, you have likely seen that menu many times. The article presents five classic JRPGs whose battle systems it considers exceptionally well designed ^[1].

Chrono Trigger: party-driven techs

Chrono Trigger was released in 1995 ^[1]. Its double- and triple-tech abilities reflect the composition of the player's party and each character's unique traits ^[1]. The game strikes a balance between real-time action and turn-based strategy ^[1].

Party choice matters. A party with Crono, Marle, and Frog is suggested for fighting a boss weak to ice or water, while Robo and Ayla suit a focus on physical attacks ^[1].

Final Fantasy Tactics: 33 jobs and no mercy

Final Fantasy Tactics was released in 1997 ^[1]. It is a grid-based strategy RPG with 33 different jobs, and any character can become a master in any one of them ^[1].

Fights are punishingly tough. They require a precisely built squad for every plot-relevant fight, including in the Ivalice Chronicles remake ^[1].

Persona 4: weaknesses and extra turns

Persona 4's turn-based combat is built around strengths and weaknesses ^[1]. Some enemies are weak to elemental magic such as fire or lightning, and others are vulnerable to specific melee types such as piercing or slashing ^[1].

Hitting an enemy's weakness knocks that enemy down and grants the player an extra turn ^[1]. Knocking down every enemy on the field, even a single one, lets the entire party gang up for a high-damage All-Out-Attack ^[1].

Final Fantasy 7: the Materia system

Final Fantasy 7's 1997 original featured a Materia system that the article describes as immensely broken ^[1]. Materia replaces rigid character roles with open-ended customization that encourages experimentation ^[1].

Two examples show the range. Placing Final Attack and Phoenix in a linked slot guarantees the party is revived if that character's HP falls to zero ^[1]. Combining Counter and 4X Cut lets a character deliver four hits in response to an enemy attack ^[1].

EarthBound: rockets and a ticking HP meter

EarthBound was released in 1994 ^[1]. It lets players automatically skip fights against low-level enemies while still earning money, items and EXP ^[1].

Jeff is the only party member who can use damage-dealing consumable items such as rockets ^[1]. Expensive variants such as the Big Bottle Rocket and Multi-Bottle Rocket are essential for any boss fight ^[1]. Players must find hidden arms dealers and manage limited inventory space to afford heavy artillery ^[1].

The game also features a rolling countdown HP meter that gives the player a few seconds to heal a mortally wounded party member ^[1]. Using it is difficult because the player must act quickly and hope it is not an enemy's turn to attack ^[1].