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What are the best ARPG combat systems?
- Thread starter oni-link
- Start date
RandomSeed
Member
Mass Effect 2&3 have surprisingly good combat, especially on PC where you can play 99% of the time without pausing.
I understand not being able to get into PC Diablo's interface as much as that of the Ys games. If I'm playing a game where I'm in control of a single character, I almost universally prefer direct control.
LouisaFerre
Member
My short list:
Soulsborne
Dragon's Dogma
Tales of Vesperia
Mount and Blade Warband
Diablo 2
That is all.
Mount and Blade is top notch. Diablo 1 and 2 are also good.
Soulsborne
Dragon's Dogma
Tales of Vesperia
Mount and Blade Warband
Diablo 2
That is all.
Mount and Blade is top notch. Diablo 1 and 2 are also good.
Broadbandito
Member
Hands down the best out there.
Mechanically, yeah. Unfortunately the enemies are so braindead that you never actually have to use the mechanics.
God yes. Once I started diving into weapon mods, weight balancing against cool downs it got so much more fun.
Kingdom Hears 2 FM has the best one, playing KH2FM in Critical Mode is really something else.
Ys games are also fantastic, even if they are pretty simple(nothing wrong with that).
and Tales of Graces F has an amazing battle system, sadly everything else about the game sucks.
I really need to play more Dragon's Dogma.
Ys games are also fantastic, even if they are pretty simple(nothing wrong with that).
and Tales of Graces F has an amazing battle system, sadly everything else about the game sucks.
I really need to play more Dragon's Dogma.
That's easy, Dark Messiah of Might and Magic.
skLaFarebear
Member
Trails of Graces F has a fantastic combat system. Definitely give it a try OP
Also, KH2FM on critical mode is one of the best action games of all time no question. Seriously, that game is incredibly balanced after KH2 was kinda mediocre in how easy it's hardest difficulty mode was.
And the bosses in KH2FM are nothing short of incredible.
Also, KH2FM on critical mode is one of the best action games of all time no question. Seriously, that game is incredibly balanced after KH2 was kinda mediocre in how easy it's hardest difficulty mode was.
And the bosses in KH2FM are nothing short of incredible.
BLACK AMERICAN PSYCHO
Junior Member
BB unlike every other action JRPG not named souls and Dragons dogma has builds and everything. How us it not an RPG?
papertoonz
Member
I didn't make fun of Diablo. I was just saying that while I see how it's part of the action rpg category, you're also not as in control of your character as most other action rpgs. Maybe it's the lack of jumping?
Oath in Felghana.
Dragon's Dogma the Thread
Probably any of them imo as long as you know what you're getting into.
Going by what's easily accessible, excluding emulation...
Ys I&II use the "bump" system. They're neat and addicting in their own way and II follow up right at the end of I, so make sure you play I first.
Ys Oath in Felghana (based on Ys III), Ys Origins (takes place a long while before Ys I and is the only game where Adol isn't the playable character in the story), and Ys VI use the Arc system and is probably the more fun games. Ys VI introduced the system, Oath in Felghana refined it and Ys Origins perfected it. I'd play them in the order of Oath (because it stars Adol, VI the weakest in the Arc games but still good and keep Origins for last as the best one.
Ys VII and Memories of Celceta (vita only, alternate version to the other two existing alternate versions of IV) use a party system and 3d models. They're good games, but just not anywhere as tight as the Arc games. Play those last if you're still wanting more out of the series after the rest.
Ys VIII is coming up next year on PS4 and Vita and seems like an improvement on the VII/MoC gameplay.
I must need to change vocation then, I played on the 2hander warrior guy and the combat was so meh compared to a Souls game rocking a big 2hander.
opulent_lemon
Banned
Monster Hunter hands down.
Parmadillo Marshmallow
Member
Not enough love for Monster Hunter in here. So many weapon types, each of which plays uniquely. Precise frame-based combat. Predictable move sets. Enemies with a variety of moves/weaknesses/weak points/strong points. Difficult but fair monsters (in G rank). A smooth learning/difficulty curve. Long battles where the monster's condition changes over time, plus all of the tracking elements. Crazy amounts of character customization. Crazy amount of useful/required items (non-weapon items). Easy-to-use co-op multiplayer.
Yeah, basically no story, but as an ARPG focused on gameplay, Monster Hunter takes the cake by a LOOOOONG shot.
Yeah, basically no story, but as an ARPG focused on gameplay, Monster Hunter takes the cake by a LOOOOONG shot.
You don't get exp or level up. But progression in MH is tied to gear which in turn unlocks skills to passively help immensely during fights. Plus there are stats like critical hit chance, attack power, defense etc...
I remember having Rathalos set in MHP2nd with the skill that increased critical hit chance and with a hammer I was absolutely decimating end-game monsters like Silver Rathalos and Golden Rathian.
Action games aren't governed by gear progression or better stats, progression in those games is tied to player skill mostly. There isn't stuff like critical hit chance, defensive or offensive stats.
Because not everyone considers Bloodborne the king of everything?
I find Dragon's Dogma better honestly.
edit: I think Mass Effect should have more mentions. The movement is a little weird but other than that 2 and 3 are fun as hell.
Grim Patron
Member
Ys Oath in Felghana for sure.
Victor Omega
Member
I read as AmericanRPG not action at first
generic_username
I switched to an alt account to ditch my embarrassing tag so I could be an embarrassing Naughty Dog fanboy in peace. Ask me anything!
Are ARPG's defined as RPG's made in the west or is there a specific design ethos that you consider that makes them an ARPG. Because SoulsBorne is still made by a Japanese Developer.
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ARPGs are RPGs with action combat mechanics: Witcher 3, Kingdom Hearts, Dark Souls, Skyrim, Mass Effect, Ys, Dragon's Dogma, Diablo, Deus Ex.
Action mechanics are increasingly becoming the standard for RPG combat, so the "A" distinction is becoming more of a formality than hard genre line.
QuixoticNeutral
Member
Speaking as someone who vastly prefers cerebral, turn-based design—does Transistor qualify?
Supposing it doesn't (though it should): combat is something that Diablo III nailed out of the gate, the thing that already felt solid since all the way back in beta. It was everything else that had to be redesigned and rethought with time. What made the game ripe for improvement was that the core combat was satisfying and crunchy from the start, something for which Jay Wilson hasn't received enough credit.
Supposing it doesn't (though it should): combat is something that Diablo III nailed out of the gate, the thing that already felt solid since all the way back in beta. It was everything else that had to be redesigned and rethought with time. What made the game ripe for improvement was that the core combat was satisfying and crunchy from the start, something for which Jay Wilson hasn't received enough credit.
That's an interesting hybrid, but it's definitely more action-oriented than turn-based. Even the turn-taking requires use of action mechanics, and then you have to deal with the cool-down in realtime. So, I'd say yes.
Dragoon En Regalia
Member
Xanadu Next does have well-designed combat, just be aware it's one of the easier action/dungeon-crawling games Falcom made during their period from Ys VI: Ark of Napishtim through Trails in the Sky the 3rd. What XaNext excels at is forcing you to understand enemy attack/movement patterns so you can manipulate them, letting you get behind/aside them for your own attacks. It's a slower experience than Ys: Oath in Felghana but just as well-paced, augmented by a slight emphasis on loot, plenty of weapon/magic skills to customize your character and play-style, and smart balance of unique and iterative enemies to deal with. The game focuses on exploring the interconnected dungeons of Harlech Island, with combat included to keep momentum and challenge you. Expect a mix of unlocking rooms, solving puzzles to get certain items, and adversity from regular monsters and the bosses in each part of the game. You can play XaNext with just your dominant hand and mouse, too, and passive stat-boosting augmentation ("Guardians") allow you to play through the game focusing on skills or boosting normal combat stats.
Tokyo Xanadu I'm less familiar with, but I know it builds off of Nayuta no Kiseki. The stage structure's different (individual dungeons made up of a few floors, and you're given a completion rank per dungeon), and combat's faster but supposedly easier and more direct vs. XaNext's emphasis on positioning and dancing enemies.
Kingdom Hearts & Ys as far as more flashy, fast combat systems go. Dragon's Dogma as far as a bit more grounded action RPG combat goes. I personally don't think the Souls combat is all that special. It's pretty clunky. I think it's more the enemy designs/attack patterns that make the combat enjoyable, not the combat system itself, which is just adequate, though still light years better than most every western action RPG.
Souls combat honestly isn't anything exciting. I am enjoying playing Souls seriously for the first time, but I definitely am not continuing to play it for the gameplay, but for the atmosphere and art style and lore.
Kingdom Hearts, Ys and Dragon's Dogma are all amazing for different reasons and they are the kind of ARPGs I want more of. Nioh is feeling great so far, Souls combat but better.
Kingdom Hearts, Ys and Dragon's Dogma are all amazing for different reasons and they are the kind of ARPGs I want more of. Nioh is feeling great so far, Souls combat but better.