Which FF games were Turn-Based battles?

[Luftwaffles]

Just wondering. Looks like this one has turn-based fights.

[Gabby]

Calling this turn based is really stretching the definition of turn based. This game is ATB.

[AntiRivet]

Literally every mainline title before this one was turn-based. They moved away from the style starting with XII in order to go in a more action oriented direction. X was a really good example of changing the ATB system from previous games in such a way that it made the game flow faster, by making the turns based on individual members of both your party and the enemy party.

[Hinnyuu]

X-2 was already quite action-y, similar to XII.

X is strictly turn-based, yeah.

But ATB already started with VII, I believe. VII, VIII and IX are all similar combat.

[Serafie1999AD]

FF1-3 were strictly turn-based. FF4-9 used ATB, which is partially turn-based but contains timing elements (action doesn't pause while you're inputting commands, some effects happen in real-time). FF Tactics games and FFX were turn-based, while FFX-2 used a fast-paced adaptation of the ATB that allowed you to chain moves that are executed at the same time. FFXII does have ATB gauges that dictate when you can act, but the battles are so fast-paced that the ATB gauge feels more like an action cooldown meter than a turn gauge. The same for the battles of the FFXIII trilogy.

[Hinnyuu]

I feel that the main difference in XII's combat is actually that you can move around freely. This creates some interesting strategic options, such as outranging certain spells, dodging directional damage, or even kiting by running away from slow mobs. While it's still fairly rudimentary compared to true action games, it's definitely very different from previous FF titles.

[Gabby]

Before 12 you could put ATB games into "Wait Mode", which would essentially make them Turn Based again.

[Hinnyuu]

Originally posted by Seraphna:

Before 12 you could put ATB games into "Wait Mode", which would essentially make them Turn Based again.

I believe you can do that in XII as well, though it certainly feels very awkward.

[Serafie1999AD]

Originally posted by Seraphna:

Before 12 you could put ATB games into "Wait Mode", which would essentially make them Turn Based again.

Before 12, Wait mode only pauses when you access submenus, such as spells or items. It won't pause while you're selecting between attack/magic/item/etc commands in the main battle menu. In FF12 with Wait mode, all the actions pause when you access either of the menus (the battle command menu or the main party menu). I liked this system a lot: the battles are still fast-paced, but if you need to micromanage, you have time to apply strategies, rather than resorting to mindless button mashing.

[Gabby]

Originally posted by Serafie1999AD:

Originally posted by Seraphna:

Before 12 you could put ATB games into "Wait Mode", which would essentially make them Turn Based again.

Before 12, Wait mode only pauses when you access submenus, such as spells or items. It won't pause while you're selecting between attack/magic/item/etc commands in the main battle menu. In FF12 with Wait mode, all the actions pause when you access either of the menus (the battle command menu or the main party menu). I liked this system a lot: the battles are still fast-paced, but if you need to micromanage, you have time to apply strategies, rather than resorting to mindless button mashing.

I'm not exactly how fast you're able to think, but the choice betwee Fight, Magic and Item isn't really a huge process you should need minutes of time to go over... and only two of those actually have a reason to think past pressing the button? It's still pretty darn turn based.

[Zodiark]

Originally posted by Serafie1999AD:

FF1-3 were strictly turn-based. FF4-9 used ATB, which is partially turn-based but contains timing elements (action doesn't pause while you're inputting commands, some effects happen in real-time). FF Tactics games and FFX were turn-based, while FFX-2 used a fast-paced adaptation of the ATB that allowed you to chain moves that are executed at the same time. FFXII does have ATB gauges that dictate when you can act, but the battles are so fast-paced that the ATB gauge feels more like an action cooldown meter than a turn gauge. The same for the battles of the FFXIII trilogy.

Pretty much this except FFX is officially (or is it unofficially?) declared as CTB which stands for Conditional Turn-Based Battle since your action will determine how long you'll have to wait for the next turn. FFXII uses ADB which stands for Active Dimension Battle. They probably wanted to make a distinction because the battles are no longer random and since you can move freely on the field. I actually had no idea there even was a distinction until this released on the PS4 last year.