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Should main series Pokémon games use real-time combat?
In a recent video uploaded to Gamefreak's official YouTube channel, it was mentioned that they wanted to move away from the series' classic turn-based battle system and move to something more real-time. Pokémon Champions was offered as the place where fans of the original system could still experience turn-based battles.
How do you feel about this? Do you think that turn-based battle is antiquated and overdue to be replaced, or a classic part of the series core to its DNA for which their is no substitute?
Do you think Legends Z-A's system should be the real-time model, or would you like to see something else?
Should main series Pokémon games use real-time combat? 19 votes
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Comments
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No, the series should stay turn-based
I like how classic it is. It feels like something they shouldn’t change.
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No, the series should stay turn-based
I'm inclined to keep things as is. The thing that turned me off on it with Z-A is that you, the trainer, were apart of combat such that if you got incapacitated, you lose. In other words, why fight the Pokémon? Just target the trainer and auto-win. Granted the incapacitated issue only applied on Rogue or Alpha encounters but it just bothered me that a thing that was never on a person's mind for 9+ Generations would now suddenly be front and center and would yield auto-fail outcomes.
I'm not against a RTS battle system but they'd have to take the trainer out of the equation. Plus the RTS system made Traps, Protect and other reliable stall mechanics that would deal damage on switch, could be easily avoided.
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No, the series should stay turn-based
I agree with most said... they won't risk changing completely a formula that has worked for so long.
While Legends ZA's real time battles it's fine, the main series should keep the classic turn based system.
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No, the series should stay turn-based
While I do think Pokemon should do new things, the turn-based system is classic, and it would be shame if they got rid of it. I also like the real-time mechanics, so I think the right balance could be struck by keeping the real-time stuff in the legends games.
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Yes, and Z-A is the perfect model
Don’t get me wrong, turn-based is amazing, but I don’t like how fully 3d games are just Pokémon doing idle animations half the time. Turn-based works so much better for 2d. I’m the only one lol, but real-time with a bit of tweaking could be a good next step.
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No, the series should stay turn-based
There is a way we could have our cake and eat it. The existence of the Legends games already presents the solution.
Have a series of Pokémon games that keep the classic turn-based combat and a series that offers real-time combat. Whether the main series becomes real-time and the spin-off keeps the turn-based combat, or vice versa, is immaterial. The point is that there is a Pokémon game that appeals to both types of player.
Gamefreak could alternate between real-time and turn-based combat projects, or they could outsource one series to another company. There are plenty of studios in the Nintendo stable that specialise in games of either system.
I really liked the old sprite style, so I would like to see a spin-off series that resembled the old combat and art styles of the classic games. Make it 2D or "2.5D", and perhaps lean into the older, more hardcore audience by removing features like exp share and giving enemy trainers more Pokémon of higher levels.
There are so many fans making romhacks and fangames that could do something really special if TPC and Nintendo hired them instead of suing them. Small, low-cost studios making budget games that don't require powerful hardware or 3D modelling. Pump out a classic Pokémon game every few years and I think it would satisfy a large part of the audience that has been dissatisfied with modern Pokémon.
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