I think new JRPGs should be more like the Tales series

Ive been a long time JRPG fan having played most of the Final Fantasy games and i really enjoyed them .
 
 However i think its time they moved on . 
 
Tales of Vesperia is defiantly in the direction that new JRPGs should follow . Now dont get me wrong its not perfect and still has some old cliche's that need to die...but the combat system is a much better way of playing a JRPG and is really engaging . 
 
Now FF13 has just been released and i am slightly disappointed ....i think they should ditch the entering in commands and waiting until they are carried out and have a  proper real time fighting system . 
 
Now i know most of you will probably disagree with me but this is how i feel .

I actually agree, but maybe actually taking the combat further, because while it's fun for a while, it can get a bit boring after a 50 hour game.

Hmm... have never played Tales of Vesperia so i would not know what to compare it to... Would it be like Final Fantasy 12 or so? Or Chrono Trigger?
 
If so then, maybe this is the direction that they should take JRPG's.

Huh. I've played pretty much every JRPG there is (okay, well ALL of them) but the Tales series is something that seems to avoid me. I should really pick it up sometime.

You know what has really good combat? Bad Company 2

I thought the combat in Tales of Vesperia was really boring. I still prefer the old school turn based ATB systems like in FF9 and Persona 4. Every time an RPG tries to get into real time combat it's either way too hectic with all the shit you have to do in real time, or it gets dumbed down completely. I was really enjoying the story and everything else in Tales until I just got too sick of the combat like 10-15 hours in.

Mass Effect 2 has the best combat in an RPG so far.

I want them to ditch the current system to and go back to the same style of system they used for the first 7 (or 8) 
Well, Ok not the same system as 1 but you get my meaning.
Sadly I know this will never happen, But I can dream.
 
The tales system is the only one I have played in recent years that I have really enjoyed though.

Let's not be too hasty. Why change all of them? 
 
I've played very little Tales games. I played about 10 hours each of Tales of Symphonia (the first one) and Tales of Destiny 2. I've also played the demo for Tales of Vesparia. I really enjoyed all of them but for some reason ran out of time to finish them. Correct me if I'm wrong, but Vesparia allowed you to set the actions of party members in advance while keeping the option to control individuals during combat. Dragon Age: Origins has this as well. However, DA:O allows for a much higher degree of tuning party member behaviors.  Your point is validated, I think, by the successful trend in western-developed RPGs like DA:O and recent JRPGs like FFXII (gambits). 
  
I agree with you in that we should hope to see more games like this from Japan. However, I'm not ready to completely give up on turn-based RPGs. I know that a lot of people dislike the so-called "I hit you then you hit me" combat. Well-developed (meaning you don't just press X over and over) turned-based systems are not like this and can be very exciting. The Persona series (and all other SMT games) are a good example. Check out the Persona 4 endurance run and you'll see many, many moments where planning the moves of the party members, taking into account which personas were equipped and by whom, who will have the ability to heal, who will be effective against certain enemies, etc. You get the picture. Persona 3 and Persona 4 sold and reviewed very well. I really enjoy playing this kind of turn-based game because of the 'in combat' strategy required.

Its, really button mashy though

I agree on the gameplay front, but could they also do something about making the character design a little less...dumb?  I do love a good JRPG, and I've really dug the Tales series, but the characters just seem to look lamer and lamer with each game.  Though, I admit that this could just be because I'm in the "Anime is for jerks" camp.

" @Pie: Dude whats that game ? "

" @CornontheCobbe: It actually plays more like a beat-em-up action game. It's pretty fun combat. "

I disagree. Paper Mario, bro!

I think they should be more like the Mario & Luigi series: no anime-styled characters, and lots of witty, relevant and hilarious writing. The platforming elements were great, too.

Yeah, the tales series has my favorite rpg combat system. Though it can still get tedious at times.

Real time combat is not something exclusive to the Tales series, nor is it something "new" in JRPG history. These mechanics have been around for years for multiple franchises, Tales get's notoriety due to their steady stream of releases on consoles, and the annoying general lack of steady streamed releases from other JRPG developers on consoles, aside from anything portable.
 
There's a lot to love about Vesperia's battle system, but I disagree profusely that we should abandon all turn-based style combat considering how it's still wildly used with both and enjoyed in both JRPG's and WRPG's. Personally I really like Final Fantasy XIII's battle system. There's a lot that's automated, but you really do have to be on your toes for many of the fights. 
 
What Square can learn from the Tales series is not exactly it's combat mechanics, but probably it's acceptance of tired and true concepts of exploration. 
Like towns. :/

Isn't it that kind of system that defines the JRPG genre? That's how I've always seen it at least.

Turn based combat worked in Persona 4. 
I love the Tales games, but give me a decent SMT game any day of the week. 
They both have their place. It would be nice if you could choose which you prefer, however. 

No, I think modern JRPGs should be like Vandal Hearts 1. We need moar SRPG games. 
 
PS: Mmmmm End of Eternity.

Hell no. I want to be able to strategicly plan my attacks instead of mashing buttons.

I agree. 
I think the main problem with FFXIII and many modern JRPGs isn't that they're bad game, simply that they haven't really evolved or changed in any real meaningful ways.

I agree with the OP in so much as that I thought Tales of Vesperia was a great game, but perhaps the combat went a little too far in subverting traditions of the genre. It did just become a little too button mashy, or maybe oversimplified, and the battles never quite had the epic scale of battles in other series. However, and I've said this before, it's way fucking better than games like Lost Odyssey. The thing about LO is that all the boss fights were fantastic because it was fun to wear down a big enemy and use tactics to beat it, but when you have a long load time, long battle animations and a really slow pace to every single fucking battle, it just becomes so tedious. For the small guys you just want to blow through them, which Tales of Vesperia let you do, and let you do well. It's a compromise, and Tales made the right choice.
 
However, there is middle ground. Eternal Sonata had turn-based combat but each turn was in real-time, so I didn't really feel like a turn-based game. ES had really fun combat, both in little battles and boss fights, but it wasn't as tactical as ToV or LO. I'd still say ES had the best combat system.

Actually, I'd rather them continue in the vein of the way FF games keep a certain core mechanic, but expand upon that in new and unique ways in every game.  Battle systems have been one of the long-standing appeals of Final Fantasy, even since day 1, it's always been something unique.  I don't think JRPGs should go for 1 "style' of combat.  Keep it fresh, different, and interesting.   

That is the opposite of what they should do. Tales games kind of sum up what's wrong with the genre perfectly, with their 3+ iterations a year with the tiniest of refinements each time. Fuck that. There were 6 Tales games in 2006. Nauseating.

"I think all games of this genre should be like this game I like. Seriously, they won't get stale and we won't get people saying 'Such and such genre has stagnated because they're all the same.'"
 
It's great to see how FFXIII has turned many JRPG fans into dumb thread posting idiots as foolish as the people posting threads that bash the genre.

"That is the opposite of what they should do. Tales games kind of sum up what's wrong with the genre perfectly, with their 3+ iterations a year with the tiniest of refinements each time. Fuck that. There were 6 Tales games in 2006. Nauseating. "

No.

If you're saying combat in JRPGs should generally be more action-oriented, I'm with you.

Yet another thread based on the subjective argument that turn-based/menu system battles are inherently bad.  I can feel the ignorance radiating from within.

In my eyes, Tales of Vesperia borrowed a lot from past Final Fantasy games like the seventh and ninth installments...however, it was also unique enough to stand out on its own and this is why Tales is my RPG of the decade (last decade that is)

" Yet another thread based on the subjective argument that turn-based/menu system battles are inherently bad.  I can feel the ignorance radiating from within. "

" Ive been a long time JRPG fan having played most of the Final Fantasy games and i really enjoyed them .
 
 However i think its time they moved on . 
 
Tales of Vesperia is defiantly in the direction that new JRPGs should follow . Now dont get me wrong its not perfect and still has some old cliche's that need to die...but the combat system is a much better way of playing a JRPG and is really engaging .   Now FF13 has just been released and i am slightly disappointed ....i think they should ditch the entering in commands and waiting until they are carried out and have a  proper real time fighting system .   Now i know most of you will probably disagree with me but this is how i feel . "

"I agree. 

I think the main problem with FFXIII and many modern JRPGs isn't that they're bad game, simply that they haven't really evolved or changed in any real meaningful ways. "

I agree somewhat but I don't think that all franchises should move on that way. Why not keep some games turn based, for those who like it? I personally love the FFXIII battle system and even after 24 hours into the game it's still growing on me.

I've been thinking of something for a while about RPGs and it was recently brought up on the Joystiq podcast. Now, I'm not really a fan of RPGs anymore, I wish I was, but I just can't get into them. So my point may not be applicable. 
 
So RPGs are based on stats and numbers and math and such, why? Well it was because back in the day you were playing pen+paper and so that's the only way it could really work. 
 
But we have computers now! Real fast ones! If we can simulate a firefight, or a rally race, why not a sword fight, or magic or whatever these crazy RPGs do these days? 
 
I understand that the foundation of the pen+paper has been built up super high and nuanced, and a lot of people like those specific features, but I guess it's not for me. 
 
I just feel that these incredible stories and realized worlds are being held back by guys automatically whacking each other with giant swords that are apparently as deadly as nerf bats.

I agree with you, but from my perspective, Japan is a very....traditional....country in terms of entertainment. Let's take anime for example.
 
Every season, tons of anime(10+ shows?) are released. Out of those, maybe 1 or 2 try something new and exciting, but the majority have themes that have been used and beaten to death before. It's the same with their games. Every now and then you get one completely different from the rest, but more than likely they follow formulas used before.
 
Those formulaic shows and games aren't always bad, but they aren't always a good thing either. I think it will be a long time before we start to see any major evolution and diversity, but I think everyone will agree the sooner the better.

" @Hailinel said:

" Yet another thread based on the subjective argument that turn-based/menu system battles are inherently bad.  I can feel the ignorance radiating from within. "

I didnt say they were bad ...however i do think that Modern JRPGs should have a real time system . F13 system is not what i want ... "

" Hell no. I want to be able to strategicly plan my attacks instead of mashing buttons. "

I really liked the real time fighting system in ME2. Just sayin'.

"It's great to see how FFXIII has turned many JRPG fans into dumb thread posting idiots as foolish as the people posting threads that bash the genre. "

I'd also like for alot more of the Tales series to actually be released in the UK >=/

Always wanted to play Tales of the Abyss/Legendia.

Why should we make games all the same way? I like variety, thank you very much. Some games work well in real time, and other work better in turn-based combat. 
*looks at avvy* That's a good example of a game that works well in turn-based style.

Sure it real time, but its not very exciting and engaging. Tales of Vesperia's combat got boring pretty quickly, Final Fantasy XIII has you using tactics and strategy, not just brute force. 

Meh, I'm fine with either turn-based or real-time. 

I have to say, I think FF13 has one of the best combat systems in a Jrpg to date. I love how I can que up my abilities and I love how the game forces me to constantly change paradigms so I can use my party to their full potential.

More like Tales of Vesperia, and NOTHING like Tales of Symphonia.