Battle system

The battle systems are the core engine for battles in the Final Fantasy series. The first few games had relatively simple battle systems that were developed and built upon as the series grew, with different elements being added and removed as the series progressed. They generally make up a large part of the game and allow the party to increase their strength, learn new abilities, gain new items and advance in the storyline.
A typical battle screen displays the party and the enemies with a background to show the surrounding area. There is a list of the enemies, a list of party members, and the basic statistics used in combat for each unit that can encompass HP, MP, and various other gauge levels.
The series started with a turn-based battle system, that evolved into the Active Time Battle (ATB). Mainline games from Final Fantasy IV to Final Fantasy IX used variations of ATB, and every mainline game from Final Fantasy X through Final Fantasy XVI has used a unique battle system, taking and using elements from different battle systems.
==Types==
===Traditional turn-based===
The original turn-based battle system was designed by Akitoshi Kawazu and Hiroyuki Ito. It is used in the first three Final Fantasy games and Final Fantasy: The 4 Heroes of Light. When encountering random enemies or bosses, the field screen fades out into a battle screen. On each turn, party members are chosen to perform an action from their available options (such as Fight, Magic, or Items).
When all party members have chosen their action, each party member and enemy will perform their respective actions in a particular order influenced by their Agility or Speed statistics. The battle round ends when all combatants have performed their selected actions. Thus, Agility does not determine how often a character can act so much as when during a round their actions will take place. In some games, Agility also influences the number of weapon strikes a character can land using a single Attack command.
===Active Time Battle===
The Active Time Battle (ATB) system was designed by Hiroyuki Ito and was the first battle system to receive a dedicated name. It shares many attributes with the original system, but adds the dimension of timing for commands. An ATB gauge tracks when party members are going to act. When the gauge is full, members perform an action. In some games, some actions have an additional wait time, such as casting spells or using special abilities.
After the action is executed, the ATB gauge is depleted and must recharge. The rate which the gauge recharges typically correlates to the Speed stat of the character and the Battle Speed, which can be adjusted in the config. Thus combatants do not always get an equal number of actions. ATB introduced attack formations, an element on how the battle itself is played out. For example, Preemptive Strike and Back Attack change how the battle begins by giving an initial edge to one side or the other by giving them an extra turn or changing the party order to disadvantage them. Side Attack and Pincer Attack change the entire combat, providing more opportunities for strategy.
There are usually two settings to ATB: Active mode and Wait mode. In Active mode, time flows regardless of what is going on in game. In Wait mode, time stops when the player is navigating menus. Final Fantasy VII had a third mode called Recommended, which was a mix of the two. These two modes are usually the closest thing to changing the in-game difficulty, as some events can be stalled to an extent in Wait mode. The best example is stalling the status ailment Doom, in which the player can let long actions go on in a menu to pause the counter, only to quickly input actions and stop in another menu later. What could seem like "10 seconds" could be extended to minutes.
The first game to make use of this system was Final Fantasy IV, but it did not feature the ATB meter in the SNES and PlayStation versions. The ATB meter was introduced in Final Fantasy V, and the option to skip turns debuted in Final Fantasy VI. Main installments from its introduction through Final Fantasy IX made use of the ATB system, and it returned in a modified form for Final Fantasy X-2.
Final Fantasy X-2 added several new features to the ATB system: Chaining attacks allows the player to deal more damage, and free battle positions can be exploited with having a character perform a physical ability behind the target to strike for double damage. The player spherechange between dresspheres, or job classes, during a battle allowing for more flexibility than previous job systems offered.
World of Final Fantasy contains the ATB gauge, but is vertical and remains on the left-hand side of the battle screen. Characters' (and stacks') turns come up when icons representing the characters rise all the way to the top of the gauge. Player characters' icons have yellow borders, while enemies' icons have red. How fast a character's icon reaches to the top depends on their Agility stat. A character icon at the very top of the ATB gauge indicates a character currently using their turn. Once their turn is finished, their icon is reset to the bottom of the gauge, and their icon rises up to the top again. If a character uses the Defend command, however, their icon is set to the middle of the gauge. In addition to to the Active and Wait modes, there is also a "Semi-active" mode, where both Active and Wait modes are used depending on which style of battle menu is used: Active mode for the Basic Menu, and Wait mode for the Classic Menu.
Final Fantasy VII Remake contains the ATB gauge. Without action, the ATB gauge will fill slowly, however, attacking will cause the gauge to fill faster. When a gauge fills, a character may perform special actions such as using skills, casting magic, or consuming an item. Players also have the option to bring combat to a halt while picking commands from a menu, though player characters are also controlled by AI when not directly given instructions.
Square filed a Japanese patent application related to the ATB system on July 16, 1991 and a corresponding US application on March 16, 1992. One Japanese patent (JP2794230) and two US patents (US5390937 and US5649862) were granted based on these applications. Another iteration of the ATB system features in the Squaresoft title Chrono Trigger, where it is dubbed Active Time Battle ver. 2. It was created by Akihiko Matsui, who is also the creator of Real Time Battle (RTB) used in Final Fantasy XI and Final Fantasy XIV.
A variant of ATB also exists in Square Enix's 2016 multiplatform RPG I Am Setsuna.
On February of 2024, Active Time Battle or a variant of it, was held by Seruao Co. Ltd.
FFIVDS ATB Bar.png|ATB bar in Final Fantasy IV (DS).
FFIVDS ATB Bar Ability Full.png|ATB bar for an ability in Final Fantasy IV (DS).
FFIVDS ATB Bar Full.png|Full ATB bar in Final Fantasy IV (DS).
FFIV PSP ATB.png|Final Fantasy IV (PSP).
FFIX ATB & Trance Bars.PNG|The ATB and Trance bars from Final Fantasy IX.
FFX-2 ATB.png|Final Fantasy X-2.
===Charge Time Battle===
Final Fantasy Tactics introduced the Charge Time Battle (CTB) system, created by Hiroyuki Ito and Yasumi Matsuno. In this system, Charge Time (CT) meters fill up to 100 to allow each unit to take action. The system has since been used in a modified form in Final Fantasy Tactics Advance and Final Fantasy Tactics A2: Grimoire of the Rift.
===Conditional Turn-Based Battle===
The Conditional Turn-Based Battle system, or the Count Time Battle system in Japan, designed by Toshiro Tsuchida is used in Final Fantasy X. CTB is a turn-based system which does not operate in rounds, instead it uses an Act List that is affected through various means and thus does not guarantee that each participant in a battle will have an equal number of turns. Units with higher speed take more turns than slower ones, making speed more important than in other turn-based battle systems. Players can substitute party members mid-battle adding a new level of strategy.
Spells and abilities (such as Haste or Overdrives) modify the Act List, as some abilities require a longer cooldown time. Weaker abilities tend to require less cooldown, thus introducing a trade-off between speed and power. When a character's turn begins, all action stops while the player decides upon an action. This shifts the focus from reflexes and quick decision-making to strategy and careful planning.
The Conditional Turn-Based Battle system is the battle system of Final Fantasy Dimensions II and Dissidia Final Fantasy Opera Omnia.
===Real Time Battle===
The Real Time Battle (RTB) system was introduced in Final Fantasy XI and was designed by Akihiko Matsui, who created the battle system for Chrono Trigger. The RTB system replaces the random encounter that featured in past Final Fantasy games, and instead monsters freely roam areas and are seamlessly engaged.
As the battle takes place without a separate battle screen loading, one is free to move around the landscape during battles, interact with other players, or avoid battles altogether. Monsters may attack players without provocation, retaining a hint of random encounters. Characters start attacking automatically once they are in combat with an enemy, and special commands and magic can be input any time. Many items, spells and abilities used during battle have a casting time or delay to use once activated, similar to Active Time Battles.
An variant form of the RTB system was used in the original release of Final Fantasy XIV.
===Active Dimension Battle===
The Active Dimension Battle (ADB) system is meant to be an evolution of the Active Time Battle (ATB) system. The system was designed and directed by Hiroyuki Ito, with the actual programming being done by Takashi Isowaki under Takashi Katano. ADB was only used in Final Fantasy XII. The ADB system eliminates random battles; the battles take place on the field with no separate battle screen and as such there is no transition between exploration and battle.
The player has the choice of confronting enemies or keeping their distance and exploring the area. Some creatures will not instigate battle with the party unless the party attacks first, and some enemies encountered on the field will be far too powerful when the party first meets them, adding an element of risk to an all-out-attack methodology when first exploring areas. The player has control over a single party member's movement while engaged in battle and the distance between party members and enemies influences battles as various spells and abilities have an Area of Effect (AoE), meaning party members and enemies need to be within a certain range of each other for the abilities to hit.
Due to the addition of a Turbo mode, which is activated by holding down the button, the iteration of ADB used in Final Fantasy XII International Zodiac Job System and The Zodiac Age is the fastest battle system in the series.
===Command Synergy Battle===
Command Synergy Battle (CSB) is the battle system in Final Fantasy XIII and Final Fantasy XIII-2 designed by Toshiro Tsuchida, the creator of the Conditional Turn-Based Battle (CTB) system. It derives the flow of time from ATB as each party member has a unique ATB gauge that acts like an action point meter divided up into equal sections (a similar system was used in Enix's game Robotrek). Each action consumes a portion of the ATB gauge; for example, using Attack consumes one segment, while casting Firaga consumes three. Commands can be chained so as long as there are enough ATB segments. When the player decides on what commands to take, they press another button to execute the commands. If the player executes the chained commands without filling all ATB slots, the unused slots will be filled at the start of the next turn.
Unlike regular ATB, the player is only able to control the actions of the party leader. The party begins with two ATB segments, and each gain a segment through story progression at the end of Chapter Two, subduing their respective Eidolon, obtaining the unique ATB crystal on their Crystarium tree, and synthesizing a third tier weapon, for a maximum of six segments. In Final Fantasy XIII-2, two ATB segments can be gained through completing a Crystarium Level and selecting to gain an extra segment. A final segment can be obtained through ultimate weapons. In both games, obtaining extra segments means that, although the entire gauge takes longer to recharge, individual segments refill faster. At six ATB segments, each segment recharges almost twice as fast as having two.
At the end of the battle, the player is judged on a rating of zero to five stars in the Battle Results screen. In Final Fantasy XIII, the rating is based on a comparison between the party's power and battle duration, while in Final Fantasy XIII-2, only battle duration is ranked. Battle ranking determines rate and quality of spoils and, in some specific battles, obtaining the highest rank will unlock its trophy.
====Style-Change Active Time Battle====
Style-Change Active Time Battle (SATB) is the battle system in Lightning Returns: Final Fantasy XIII. It is an evolved version of Command Synergy Battle and was created by Yuji Abe.
The base idea of the battle system was to shuffle through equipment and ability sets on the go, while retaining the action style of Command Synergy Battle. An early glimpse of this battle system is present in the "Lightning's Story: Requiem of the Goddess" DLC scenario for Final Fantasy XIII-2.
As opposed to Command Synergy Battle where a party of maximum three members could participate, the Style-Change Active Time Battle allows for a single character to be present on the battlefield. Lightning, the sole playable character of Lightning Returns: Final Fantasy XIII, can shift between three schemata to which a player can assign various equipment pieces and abilities. Each schema has an ATB gauge which fills over time, and the recharge rate is accelerated when the schema is inactive. For each schema, up to four actions are assigned to the four face buttons. Using an individual action costs a portion of the active schema's ATB gauge. Lightning will always begin battle in the schema that the player has set as the default, and her appearance outside of battle is also based on her default schema.
Lightning can freely move around the battlefield at a rate of 1.8 meters per second, or 20 meters when running towards an enemy after executing a physical attack from a distance. Using the Fatal Sweep and Evade abilities allows her to quickly move backwards, or in the direction of the movement stick. She can deal extra damage to enemies by striking from the side or behind. Some enemies have breakable appendages, which increases drop rates.
As another new element, Lightning can spend Energy Points during battle to perform special actions. Such actions include casting Curaga or Quake, recovering from KO with Arise, using Overclock to slow down time in order to deal heavy damage and more easily stagger enemies, and using her Army of One attack. A portion of the EP gauge is refilled at the end of every battle, with the amount refilled detailed on the battle ranking screen.
===Active X Battle===
The Active X Battle (AXB) system, pronounced "Active Cross Battle", is the battle system of Final Fantasy XV designed by Takatsugu Nakazawa. Players come into contact with enemies on the field. When an enemy targets the player, an encounter gauge appears on the screen, giving the player chance to flee before it fills and avoid the battle. The player can also initiate battles with the enemies on the field without waiting for them to target them first. There is a chance nearby enemies from the field will join in the battle once one has been initiated.
The player controls one character with the other party members being controlled by the AI. The player's actions are assigned to the controller's face buttons, with one button assigned for special moves, one for attacking, and one for defending and evading. Defending, evading, and using abilities consumes MP. HP and MP slowly recover over time. The player can also perform counterattacks by timing their parries precisely; enemies have a visual cue on when they are going to use an especially strong attack, signaling to either counter or evade.
If the player falls to 0 HP, they enter "Danger" status and have a limited time to heal before they are KO'd. The game is over if the controllable character gets KO'd, but there is still a window for using a revival item. The default player character is Noctis, but the others can be unlocked in the Ascension grid, though character-swap is not always available. Every playable character has their own battle style. Noctis's special ability is Armiger, while the others use Techniques. The player can swap weapons on-the-fly, and Noctis can equip four weapons at once, with the weapon slots also being used for magic.
===Unnamed Final Fantasy VII Remake system===
In the Final Fantasy VII Remake, the battle system retains Active Time Battle aspects, although it is action-based to retain strategy elements. It is said to be just slower than Square Enix game Kingdom Hearts, which in turn is just slower than Dissidia Final Fantasy.
The combat is now in real time as long as Tactical Mode is not active. The playable character dodges, blocks and attacks in real time. Normal attacks have two modes, for example, Cloud can switch between the Operator and Punisher Modes for light and heavy attacks respectively. Normal attacks do not deal lots of damage, but fill up the two ATB bars faster than they'd fill up over time by themselves. An ATB segment is full, the player can enter Tactical Mode to slow time to a crawl and choose actions from the Command Menu, such as special abilities, casting spells, and using items. Using an item will use one ATB charge. Commands can also be bound to shortcuts and used quickly without the need for Tactical Mode.
Every enemy has a focus gauge that fills up when they take damage. When full, the enemy will become staggered and take bonus damage.
Switching between characters in combat only takes one button press, and they will continue to fight on their own when not controlled directly.
===Unnamed Final Fantasy XVI battle system===
Described by the game's developers as the first "true" action RPG in the series, the battle system in Final Fantasy XVI focuses heavily on real-time combat and player control, eschewing command and menu driven combat completely, and was designed by Ryota Suzuki, taking queues and inspirations from his earlier works like Devil May Cry and Dragon's Dogma.
The player solely controls Clive Rosfield directly, with different moves being assigned to different face buttons. Clive can be equipped with different Eikons, which determine what moves are possible at a time. Up to three different Eikons can be equipped at once, swappable at the press of a button, allowing for different move loadouts that can be chained in sequence. 
Clive can be made to Attack with the left face button and jump with the bottom face button. Each Eikon's base commands are equivalent between them, with an elemental ranged magic set to the the top face button, and a special Eikon ability set to the right face button. The functionality of the attacks and magical attacks can change depending on the sequence of buttons pressed or the player character's condition (airborne, having just avoided an attack, etc.) Additionally, four special abilities can be equipped for each Eikon, accessed by holding the second right trigger button, replacing the functionality of the face buttons with the equipped moves. Clive can be made to dodge enemy attacks by pressing the first right trigger button, and if timed properly can enter a special state that allows different moves properties to change.
The battle system also features usable items, equipped to three slots and seamlessly usable during gameplay by pressing up, right, or down, on the directional pad. Additionally, when accompanied by the wolf companion Torgal, the player will be able to perform 3 orders, requesting an attack, healing or assistance. This is done by pressing up, right, or down, on the directional pad. Changing between items and Torgal commands is done by pressing left on the directional pad.
The battle system features no MP, instead limiting the usage of Eikon special abilities by cooldowns, observable in the HUD even when not equipped with the Eikon. The battle system features no player control when it comes to party members, with the player unable to equip or instruct party members to perform actions, besides the aforementioned Torgal. Instead party members are AI controlled and able to perform their own attacks on their own timing, although they will attempt to coordinate their attacks with the player's. Party members have no HP and do minimal damage on their own, even on staggered enemies.
Larger enemies in the game feature a Will Gauge situated below their HP bar, which when depleted, will trigger a Stagger, during which the enemy will be unable to attack and will receive additional damage. Larger enemies can also feature separate hurtboxes for parts of their body (such as paws, tails, or heads) which can be targeted individually by certain abilities or manually by focusing attacks. These parts of the body can have different defense values, allowing the player to hurt enemies more or less depending on the targeted body part.
The battle system features no elemental weakness or strengths, as part of a desire from the developers' to not limit player's choices with regards to Eikon choice.
Occasionally, battles will be faced between full-sized Eikons, leading to the player controlling Clive transformed into Ifrit. These battles adapt the main combat system to a larger scale, with Ifrit sharing most functionality with Clive, with recovery "items" usable with the directional pad, a melee attack on the left face button, a jump command on the bottom face button, a projectile attack on the top face button, and a special ability on the right face button. Special abilities unique to Ifrit can also be used.
==Citations==
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Category:Battle systems
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