Favourite Video Game Evar!

[Squintz Altec]

I submit Tales of Symphonia as a good example of moderation. Sure, you have a couple of neat attacks that you can do a lot, but the really powerful stuff is almost never seen. Sheena's summons, for example. I probably only saw them once or twice in two full playthroughs. When I did, though, I was pretty impressed.

[Endesu]

But it's a DBZ game. What are you going to do besides train to increase your power level?

True enough. DBZ isn't really given to RPG style play because of this. I'd prefer if they keep it to side-scrolling beat'em'up or fighting game, myself.

[PriamNevhausten]

If we're going to complain about encounter rates, let's hear some of you folks talk about Earthbound Zero. Come on.

[Nakibe]

Yeah, Adam, but I generally find that in the Tales games the Hi-Ougi-level stuff is EXPENSIVE. All the superattacks are. Even when I had my horrendously overleveled Tales of Destiny party I could use, say, Philia's Stasis only once or twice before I started DEMOLISHING the TP meter. I NEVER mapped those attacks to a button as a result.

But anyway... Hm. Priam's right in that Wild ARMS 2 and beyond had a nice encounter-stopping system that didn't make me feel like I HAD to random battle everything. WA3, though, bores the crap out of me anyway... but I guess that's a different story.

Generally in the Grandia games I can avoid whatever battles I want... I'm just a reckless fool and like to "Over hunt" areas once I'm confident that I can beat anything there. The enemies DO like to jump you, so I guess that those games aren't THE BEST for avoiding encounters.

I suppose I should've dropped into this thread earlier and said which games I love. Anyway, if you care... Sly Cooper series (2 is best, 3 would be better if it had a less weird ending), Gunstar Heroes, River City Ransom (BARF!), FF9 (overall favorite), Chrono Cross (I like the battle system), Tales of Destiny, FF6 (still pretty classic, IMO), FF4 (Spoony bards!).

[Endesu]

If we're going to complain about encounter rates, let's hear some of you folks talk about Earthbound Zero. Come on.

Pretty high encounter rate, if I remember correctly. Some very difficult battles, as well, making grinding absolutely essential.

Mt. Itoi, in particular, was nightmarish.

[glu-glu]

If we're going to complain about encounter rates, let's hear some of you folks talk about Earthbound Zero. Come on.

there is a trick to avoid battles, bringing the menu constantly re-calculates the number of steps it takes for the next random battle.
provided you were playing the nes one, not the mother 1+2 one.
also, using the "run" button, actually caused the WHOLE game to speed up, thus it seemed like the encounter rate was even HIGHER.

[Idran1701]

That might be because the run button was something added for the unreleased English localization, so it might have been something of a last-minute kludge they threw in.

[glu-glu]

really? im not sure, i've been told that mother 1+2 had the run ability but it just speeds your caracters unlike EB0

[Idran1701]

No, I mean the original NES Mother. They might have recoded it for Mother 1+2, not sure, but I know that the run option was added specially for the English version of Mother.

[Nick Shogun]

I suppose I should've dropped into this thread earlier and said which games I love. Anyway, if you care... Sly Cooper series (2 is best, 3 would be better if it had a less weird ending), Gunstar Heroes, River City Ransom (BARF!), FF9 (overall favorite), Chrono Cross (I like the battle system), Tales of Destiny, FF6 (still pretty classic, IMO), FF4 (Spoony bards!).

I totally agree! I'm playing Band of Thieves right now, and loving it! There is a level of uniqueness in each quest. I'm in Prague, right now.

[PriamNevhausten]

there is a trick to avoid battles, bringing the menu constantly re-calculates the number of steps it takes for the next random battle.

Well, yes, but that's presuming you know how many steps it takes to get to the next battle. Which means you're using save states. Which means you're a dirty fat cheater.

Seriously, though. Earthbound Zero allowed you to get out of a battle, walk one step, and be in another. It did this with some regularity.