FF7 is turn-based, but without pauses in the action.

[DakonBlackblade]

Hynad said:

And how does the game decide when a character gets to act?

It is turn based. You're only looking at it from a rigid point of view. You can't issue commands over and over. A character's turn comes up, based on his speed stats (monster or party members), and then that one gets to act. That's a turn. Not one like when you're playing monopoly in which every player's turn is set in stone. But still a turn.

Thats why I said this is the precursor to a cooldown based system, the "turns"in the ATB system are a global cooldown basicaly, when youre off GCD you act, when youre on GCD you dont act but its not truly a turn exactly because its not set in stone, 2 ppl can act simultaneously for instance. Next step was making movement free, than the next one was making normal attacks free and voila, its 100% action based.