[Question] I need a list of RPG's that don't have random battles (ps1 and ps2)

I am getting very annoyed with random battles and I need a game that doesn't have random battles (as in you need to walk up to the enemy to start the battle). I am specifically looking for games on ps1 and ps2. I already have Grandia and Grandia 2.

Out of the list, I also need recommendations on which ones are worth getting. So far, I have found Star Ocean 3 and Chrono Cross to be pretty interesting. Are these 2 games worth getting?

Does anyone know if Jade Cocoon 2 is any good? Also, I don't know if the shadow hearts games have random battles or not, but does anyone know if they are any good?

Thanks.

Jam it back in, in the dark.

Persona 3: FES?

No random battles there, but lots of changing dungeons.

There's nowhere I can't reach.

Chrono Cross is good and does not have random battles. I believe that Shadow Hearts has random encounters as well but the combat is neat in that there is a ring and you time your button press to a small sliver on the ring in order to get critical hits. If you don't time it right then you get either regular damaged attacks or a miss.

Vagrant Story lacks random encounters and is damn good. Xenosaga as well lacks random encounters as long as you're willing to sit through hour long cut scenes. And many of them.

This thing is sticky, and I don't like it. I don't appreciate it.

Oh, and add Final Fantasy XII to that list as well.

I am a dolphin, do you want me on your body?

Originally Posted by Chaotic

Persona 1-3? Specifically FES for Persona 3.

2 and 1 both had random battles.

LUNAR Lunar 2 is <3

ps: jade cacoon 2 is meh. i didn't care for it.

I was speaking idiomatically.

Shows how much I know about the series then. Edited for accuracy.

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Well I personally think that SaGa Frontier and SaGa Frontier 2 are worth adding to the list. Also, to answer your question about Chrono Cross and Star Ocean 3, yes they are both great games that are worth getting in my opinion.


FELIPE NO

Ugh, I hated SO3 so no, I wouldn't recommend that.

I'm surprised nobody mentioned anything about the Tales games yet. Tales of the Abyss doesn't have random battles, but I haven't played the other games so I dunno about those.

FFXII is an awesome game. You may not like the MMO feel though.

How ya doing, buddy?

Originally Posted by Freelance Wolf

FFXII is an awesome game. You may not like the MMO feel though.

I sure don't.

Speaking of which, I still need to pick up Tales of the Abyss at some point. Nice to know there's no random battles in this one as well.

Jam it back in, in the dark.

Originally Posted by Freelance Wolf

I'm surprised nobody mentioned anything about the Tales games yet. Tales of the Abyss doesn't have random battles, but I haven't played the other games so I dunno about those.

Tales of Symphonia didn't have random battles, either. The closest to random would be when an amorphous blob on the world map jumped out from outside of your sight range and mugged you, but they could be dodged if you had quick enough reflexes.

I've read on Wikipedia that Tales of Symphonia was for the PS2 as well but that it was a Japan release only. You'd probably be hard-pressed to find the PS2 version.

However, there is also Valkyrie Profile 2: Simeria. Most of the enemies are avoidable thanks to portable stasis fields that the main character can shoot from her hands willy-nilly. On some occasions there are enemies in places your character can't freeze (Divinity Voids), but they can be easily avoided with proper jump timing anyway.

There's nowhere I can't reach.

Yeah, I love ToS, but I didn't mention it in my post since the PS2 version is Japan only. I dunno any other games without random battles though.

This thing is sticky, and I don't like it. I don't appreciate it.

Yeah, I forgot to put Valkyrie Profile 2: Silmeria on the list, that too is worth getting, along with Atelier Iris 3: Grand Fantasm, even though I know a lot of people would disagree. As for other Tales games besides ToS and Tales of the Abyss, the earlier Tales games had random battle systems, but are otherwise great games.


How ya doing, buddy?

I'm rather surprised no one has mentioned Shadow of the Colossus. No random battles whatsoever, you have free reign while traveling around the world... it simply comes down to fighting the Colossus (Colossi?) themselves. Might be boring for some, though.

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Originally Posted by Temari

I'm rather surprised no one has mentioned Shadow of the Colossus

I'm surprised you think it's an RPG.

What kind of toxic man-thing is happening now?

*shrug* Yeah, I suppose that story-wise its lacking, but it had a bit of that RPG feel to me. Good game, whatever its classified as, and there certainly aren't any 'random' battles. =\

FELIPE NO

Originally Posted by Temari

story-wise its lacking

Oh, but that isn't what I'm contesting. Shadow of the Colossus is not an RPG in any conventional or even unconventional sense.

How ya doing, buddy?

It can only be defined as a puzzle/action game with very, very light RPG undertones (in the form of stamina and health growth). I really wouldn't consider Shadow of the Colossus an RPG.

Jam it back in, in the dark.

Originally Posted by Temari

*shrug* Yeah, I suppose that story-wise its lacking, but it had a bit of that RPG feel to me. Good game, whatever its classified as, and there certainly aren't any 'random' battles. =\

Does Tetris feel like a fighting game to you?

But in serious response to the question: Mana Khemina is one.

There's nowhere I can't reach.

I'm afraid none of these are for the PS1 or PS2, but I thought I'd mention them anyway:

Blue Dragon has no random fights and is most certainly an RPG. You can add the entire Legend of Zelda series, as they have no random fights. I believe The World Ends With You also has no random battles.

Going back to PS1 days I believe the Alundra games, which had a distinct Zelda vibe, had no random battles, but I could be wrong on that one.

How ya doing, buddy?

Originally Posted by valiant

Does Tetris feel like a fighting game to you?

When you said that, I knew it had to exist.

YouTube Video

I am a dolphin, do you want me on your body?

Originally Posted by Zephyrin

When you said that, I knew it had to exist.

Certainly his words were the clarion call of retards fighting at a cosplay event.

How ya doing, buddy?

Dragon Quarter (Breath of Fire V) for PS2 doesn't have random battles. You can see your enemies on the field similar to the Lunar series. However, since BoF V is fought mainly in underground dungeons, I find that the ability to by-pass enemies is limited.

What kind of toxic man-thing is happening now?

I just looked up Breath of Fire V and it seems pretty interesting. It seems that a lot of people think Breath of Fire V was extremely difficult and very short. How was the difficulty for you (and if it was difficult for you, why)? How often do you get to save? Also, how many hours did it take you to beat it?

FELIPE NO

Originally Posted by Hush and Cool

I just looked up Breath of Fire V and it seems pretty interesting. It seems that a lot of people think Breath of Fire V was extremely difficult and very short. How was the difficulty for you (and if it was difficult for you, why)? How often do you get to save? Also, how many hours did it take you to beat it?

The game was designed to make you start over from the beginning (with some items and exp carried over) multiple times; the difficulty and overall length is designed with this in mind.

Things that ramp up the difficulty:
- You can only save by using a "Save Token" or suspending your game. The tokens are in rather short supply and can't be carried over.

- Limited inventory. There is no healing magic, only items, and even when you expand the inventory through gameplay, space is still at a premium.

- Time limit. Every step you take, every turn in battle, and every use of your dragon power fills up a meter. When it reaches 100%, it's game over (though you can of course restart).

That said, I was able to beat it in about 25 hours, and only had to re-start 3 times (always near the beginning, so not a lot of backtracking). By saving your dragon powers and only using them on the tough final bosses, it's quite possible to slog through.

(Incidentally, I'd add Radiata Stories to the list.)

What, you don't want my bikini-clad body?

Originally Posted by OmagnusPrime

Going back to PS1 days I believe the Alundra games, which had a distinct Zelda vibe, had no random battles, but I could be wrong on that one.

Alundra did indeed have no random monsters and was a lot like Zelda. It was wicked difficult too, awesome game.

Again, not PS games but there were no random battles in the Knights of the Old Republic games or Mass Effect.

Also, how could you ever consider Shadow of the Colossus to be an rpg? It's an action platformy game, out and out. The only element of character development is an increasing health/grip bar. It's no more an rpg than the Tomb Raider games were, less so in fact as at least you find new weapons in those as you progress.

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