Final Fantasy XIII Battle System

I like the battle system so far. It's faster than XII's but it also feels like a traditional FF style of gameplay too, so it mixes the best of both worlds, in my opinion.

I like the use of Paradigms too, they seem better than gambits imo, the computer AI hasn't let me down so far. I feel it's a definite step up, rather than a step down..
 
Pokeslob said:
well with this fast paced of a battle system it seems like having to control everyone at once would get stressful. so I don't mind it as much. I kinda like the paradigm thing.

I'm about 7 hours in, and yeah I would like to chose my own party, but I'm not complaining haha, I will eventually be able to, so its no biggie for now.

plus we're looking at 100+ hours of gameplay (or so I've heard) so there will be plenty of time for that in the future
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Yeah, i dunno. I was just hoping for a more traditional RPG turnbased system I guess. Because there are other games like Dragon age origins, valkyria etc etc. that sorta make fighting all fluid-like. It also seems to be very much bashing x and changing paradigms every once in a while . . . but hopefully when the battles get tougher + characters get more moves and stuff that will change! Do you think it sorta makes it difficult to choose between items that boost magic, and those that boost strength, because you really dont know what the computer is gonna choose to use? normal attack or magic?
 
So I don't know about you guys, but have you came across a point where you suddenly think, "Okay...I have some extra CP left, but the Crystarium has reached its limit for the time being...what to do? Shall I stop going into battles since there's not much point anyway...?" This happened a few times already (I'm in the beginning of Chapter 6 by the way)...and it's not like I grind a lot too. In fact, I hardly grind. I mean I'll go through the enemies once on the map, and then when I know a major scene is about to happen, I go back for a bit to fight 5-8 extra enemies, and then move on again. But this is the first time where I realized that battles seems a bit pointless after a certain point in a chapter, because:

A) You don't earn Gil
B) You don't level up
C) You only earn CP - which can become a bit pointless sometimes seeing as the Crystarium level ups are capped, so at times you may end up with more CP than what you can handle, and you receive major amounts of CP by default sometimes anyways...

So to sum it up, you only battle to receive CP...:confused: There's my realization for the day. Unless something different happens in the later chapters, but for now, t'was something I thought I'd share.
 
In all honesty; it doesn't seem that different from previous Final Fantasys. There are still all of the basic elements, this is just much faster.

I enjoy the battle system. I like how fast paced it is, but how it still is slow enough for you to plan out which paradigms you will use, and it's extremely convenient how you can start your battle over if need be.

While I don't like the rating system all that much, I still see a point in having it there. Another gripe I have is not being able to choose what character you control. I definitely would like to have a choice in the matter, but all in all, it doesn't matter that much.
 
Referring to Mitsuki and adding on, I also have a question. Instead of leveling a certain class for someone, lets say for Lightning, I don't level Ravager. I know I will need it eventually, but maybe I should just save my CP points and when I can actually advance in Commando use it? Just an idea throwing it out there.

I agree with you Mitsuki, kinda dumb -_____-
 
MVP said:
Referring to Mitsuki and adding on, I also have a question. Instead of leveling a certain class for someone, lets say for Lightning, I don't level Ravager. I know I will need it eventually, but maybe I should just save my CP points and when I can actually advance in Commando use it? Just an idea throwing it out there.

I agree with you Mitsuki, kinda dumb -_____-
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Not a bad idea actually. There really is nothing gained from leveling up your roles from what I can see, at least stat-wise. Just bragging rights and the ability to move on in the crystarium pretty much.
 
I was too quick to write FFXIII's battle-system off, but for the right reasons. At the start of the game battles were too easy, but 15 hours in and things are starting to hot up. I never noticed it before but your HP depletes so much faster than in previous games. I find myself frantically changing between Paradigms every 20 or so seconds to ensure that I keep piling the pressure on the enemy while at the same time keeping my HP at a safe level. It's relentlessly fast, and kind of exhausting. I like how you're able to customize your Paradigms too. My only complaint is that it's a bit repetitive and there's not much room for trying new things.

EDIT: Oh, and for the most part, I find the AI-controlled characters to be very reliable in battle, healing when necessary and exploiting enemies weaknesses well.
Mitsuki said:
So to sum it up, you only battle to receive CP... There's my realization for the day. Unless something different happens in the later chapters, but for now, t'was something I thought I'd share.
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Enemies drop components that you can use to upgrade your weapons too.

 
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I really like the battle system! I'm currently on Chapter 4 (I just got the game yesterday!) and I'm really liking it. It does start off extemely slow, but as you progress it gets a lot more complicated and fun! :] I like how it's tense all the time, I love the varieties of Paradigm shifts, I love switching to and fro and deciding which one'll work. It's fast paced strategy, and it's really, really working for me. :]

As for the AI, they are very reliable! But there has been a few times where I've blamed the medic for being too slow in healing, then to only notice I had my timing all wrong. So far, so good! I'm liking it a lot.
 
Okay, so I'm on chapter 3 now, and I really don't understand... how does the star rating work? In chapter 2, EVERY TIME I did a battle with Hope and Vanille I got a star rating of 3 out of 5. But every time i was Snow, or Lightning & Sazh, I got 5 our of 5. With Hope and Vanille, it didn't matter how fast I finished it, or how slow i finished it. Even if I beat it faster than the expected ko time. I always got 3 out of 5. So I'm really confused what constitutes a good rating. It really has me kinda pissed because I don't know what i'm doing wrong or what i'm doing right.
 
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Mitsuki said:
So I don't know about you guys, but have you came across a point where you suddenly think, "Okay...I have some extra CP left, but the Crystarium has reached its limit for the time being...what to do? Shall I stop going into battles since there's not much point anyway...?" This happened a few times already (I'm in the beginning of Chapter 6 by the way)...and it's not like I grind a lot too. In fact, I hardly grind. I mean I'll go through the enemies once on the map, and then when I know a major scene is about to happen, I go back for a bit to fight 5-8 extra enemies, and then move on again. But this is the first time where I realized that battles seems a bit pointless after a certain point in a chapter, because:

A) You don't earn Gil
B) You don't level up
C) You only earn CP - which can become a bit pointless sometimes seeing as the Crystarium level ups are capped, so at times you may end up with more CP than what you can handle, and you receive major amounts of CP by default sometimes anyways...

So to sum it up, you only battle to receive CP...:confused: There's my realization for the day. Unless something different happens in the later chapters, but for now, t'was something I thought I'd share.
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@ Mittens: As you progress through the chapters CP costs to advance to the next point skyrocket. I'm 18~ hours into the game and it takes about 1040 CP to get one skill/stat boost at the pinnacle of any given role. This forces you to become more of a specialist later in the game rather than remaining well-rounded (unless you want to have a lower capability in all of your roles) since the CP you gain from battles doesn't change much (you still get 120~ CP if you get 5 stars)

As for the battle system, I love it. It's a combination of real-time combat and turn-based strategy. It requires the quick thinking and adaptation of real-time combat, but maintains the analyzing and planning of turn-based strategy. You have to learn how to adjust to your current situation at a moment's notice, because even if you have general tactics for the battle with information about the enemy's weaknesses, immunities, and resistances, something unexpected could happen during battle.

I have a love-hate relationship with Paradigms. They are indeed an essential part of FFXIII's combat, and I enjoy having to determine what paradigm would best suit the situation at hand, but my qualms lie within the game's AI. While they are reliable a good portion of the time, the other portion where they are not is really quite frustrating. They also can't micromanage that well; there were points where I felt that a medic could have used cure on themself twice and throw the last cure in their ATB bar toward the main character, but instead they used it to recover that sliver of health they had left. I supposed they don't have the capacity for that. Also, the AI buffs kind of... inefficiently. Though I could be talking out of my ass right now because I'm still relatively early into the game and haven't had much experience with AI buffing with the exception of a few boss battles.

My problem with the roles system is how linear it is. For a character like Lightning, who I am building as a physical attacker (Commander), I find having to progress through magic bonuses a waste of CP.

@ FinalHeart and MVP: I usually spend any extra CP I have in my character's sub-roles, since HP and stat bonuses carry across all roles. It's very useful having that extra health and damage, not to mention that there is sometimes something useful in these other roles, such as the technique 'Quake', 'Renew' and the 'Extra Accessory Slot'.

@ wehttamrd: I've no idea what you're doing wrong. I've always managed to amass a 4~5 star rating, and the times I didn't obtain that rating I had a feeling, when the battle was over, that I would get lower based on how the battle went. Though, this feeling has deceived me at times as I've been surprised by a 5 star rating before when I expected a 3. From my understanding, it's how effective you were in combat in the amount of time it took you to complete the battle, but since you're so early into the game I don't understand what you could be doing wrong since your options in combat are so limited in the first place.
 
Now that I've finally started the game and got nearly an hour in, I really don't mind the battle system at all. In fact, I love it. I love how you only control one character because then you don't have to worry about the rest of them and that was always a big worry for me in the past.
 
I like th System for what it is. I still prefer previous systems, but this one has its pluses. Overall, the game is amazing- but cannot be perfect without more richness in depth and player involvment.
 
I kinda miss being able to control all my characters, but at the same time I'm not too fussed.

It makes me a bit more focused when I only have to think about one characters actions at a time. Depending on whoever may be leading at any particular time.

It's not so bad in my opinion. =)
 
Kandy dont you worry yiou can change around your characters later on. Im not at that point yet but according to my book in the gameplay section you cAN LATER on so its all good. As for the battle system. Its the coolest thing ever. I love the paradigm shift and how Tactical you need to be with it. I use commando medic medic when Im in trouble. I got Fang too and she has mediguard which is pretty awesome. Its a really great system but the fact ou cant pick up gil after battles is weird. Like Suki said you only fight for Crystarium points.
 
Genesis_Blade said:
I did not like it at all.

1. You only control Lightning

2.You dont get Gil after a certain point

3. There is no point in even controlling Lightning because the AI settings are so good(I beat a "boss" by just turning Lightning into a attacker)

Huge disapointments
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Wait, "only control lightning"? Are you even halfway through chapter one?
 
it's missing alot of the flare that the previous FF's carried.
FFXIII is too rigid in terms of character control
 
XIII's battle system is, without a doubt, the best battle system in the franchise to date, imo. It's fast paced, thrilling, strategic and incredibly fun. I can understand why they took control away from your party members, however I guess a choice would have been nice. Besides that it is the most fun I've had with the franchises ever changing systems. You really have to think on your toes, adapting to new situations and changing Paradigms to counter these new situations. Watching your characters move in one, seamless, animation as they bombard them with your chosen commands is quite a sight. Love juggling too much.

As you progress and things become more complex it's such a joy to play. You feel a great amount of satisfaction after you topple a challenging foe because you've arranged an effective Paradigm deck, utilized them well in battle and overcome your foe with swift stratergy. The music is brilliant, too (for your standard, boss and Eidolon fights). I would really like to see this battle system return in the future.
 
Mitsuki said:
So I don't know about you guys, but have you came across a point where you suddenly think, "Okay...I have some extra CP left, but the Crystarium has reached its limit for the time being...what to do? Shall I stop going into battles since there's not much point anyway...?" This happened a few times already (I'm in the beginning of Chapter 6 by the way)...and it's not like I grind a lot too. In fact, I hardly grind. I mean I'll go through the enemies once on the map, and then when I know a major scene is about to happen, I go back for a bit to fight 5-8 extra enemies, and then move on again. But this is the first time where I realized that battles seems a bit pointless after a certain point in a chapter, because:

A) You don't earn Gil
B) You don't level up
C) You only earn CP - which can become a bit pointless sometimes seeing as the Crystarium level ups are capped, so at times you may end up with more CP than what you can handle, and you receive major amounts of CP by default sometimes anyways...

So to sum it up, you only battle to receive CP...:confused: There's my realization for the day. Unless something different happens in the later chapters, but for now, t'was something I thought I'd share.
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The CP is essentially the levelling up process. The items are doled out at the end of a battle (rare ones based on star rating) and, like FFXII, these function like loot to sell so are essentially gil. Though you may want to use some for upgrades.

I don't have a problem with the cap, I'm usually way behind the curve when it comes to the Crystarium and find that I'm always unlevelled for my stage in the game because I power through the game.

The only problem I have with FFXIII's battle system is how cerebral the grinding is for lower level teams. The constant paradigm shifting is really taxing for a handful of CP and the occasional item.

That and the fact that you could be running up behind a behemoth and he'll somehow notice you :rage:
 
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