turn based battle for me - action jrpgs largely just don't do it for me

There has only been a few turn based games that I have liked, and probably would of like them better real time. Icewinddal (thinks that the name or one of the games in a series RPG) and alpha centuar. I wouldn't say turnbased is less or more skillfull than the other, they each just use different skills. But for me it feels like i'm missing the action and that quick reponse to things chainging that I get in real time games as opposed to turn based. One of the reasons I can't get into alot of eastern RPGs

FFX = best game evah

I much prefer turn based RPGs to action RPGs, if I want to have to play an action game, I will play God of War

*sigh* I'm very disagreeing of Soriku's statements, but then again, I have absolutely no wish to discuss it - I just know, that when I'm playing a JRPG i'm expecting to be able to work out strategies and control every move of my characters, so action JRPGs are irritating to me

I doubt it has anything to do with turn-based battles, but boring battles. Regardless of story or whatever supposed to be a unique selling point of RPG game, 90% of time you're battlling someone, thus battles is regular gameplay for electronic RPGs and should be fun.

Though Mr. Horii has noted that "more startegy" involved in turn-based gameplay, but usually it's not. Sid Meier once said that "game is a series of interesting choices", but in great majority of turn-based jRPGs either choices are trivial or they really don't have any actual effect on end result (choose attack or whatever magic you have, there're no substantial difference, just don't forget to heal yourself). The good indicator of bad gameplay is if auto-battle is being used (or you're spamming one button while in battle), it means that player is avoiding playing boring parts of the game. In some games things are getting better in latter parts of the game with more unique boss battles and more party members to choose from, but usually I won't play 20 hours of boring game just to experience smth marginally better afterwards.

Of course, there're people who'd like to torture themselves with grinding, but I'm not one of them. But Mr. Horii is still wrong, I play turn-based and action-RPGs equally (Eschalon: Book 2 and Mass Effect 2 lately to be precise), but usually I won't enjoy turn-based jRPGs because of the things mentioned above (some notable exceptions are Personas, Fire Emblem series etc.).

Action RPG needs Skills? , hm... lets see

KH playtime 30 hours with all extra bosses

toughest boss : Sephiroth

easiest way to win : pressing , XXX , YYY, XXX ,YYY ,XXX and be sucked

FF Playtime 80 with all extra bosses

toughest bosses : all extra bosses

easiest way to win : to actually get experience.

Horii makes a great point about the strategy aspect of turn based games. Although I like both turn based and action games. Turn based games can be made far more challenging because you control all aspects of your battle party. You can't duplicate the rewarding difficulty of a Fire Emblem game with an action based system.

You're wrong, SE. Gamers are perfectly fine with turn-based combat, have been for over 20 years. You're just so desperately trying to appeal to the so-called "hardcore" and elitist media, who are not into your games anyway.

I think for depending on the person a real time or turn based would be more hard. Probably more on what you are used to or what you think skill/strategy is. While for me realtime games seem more diffucult/hard/strategic do to the need for quick reaction. Where as I take turn based a little differently with all the time to plan and make your decision/strategy. Too different to compare which one is more difficult/strategic more based on personal opinion

Well you know for example you can think and plan your actions ;) On the other hand action rpgs usually can be solved by grinding levels and button mashing ;)