In trying to go action focused they have settled on the most boring combat imaginable. Crisis core region, FF15 and FF16 have the most brain dead, systemless combat I've ever seen in games and they get praised for this. Are journalists imbeciles? Tap square. Tape square some more. Tap it again. Finish with square. 

Squaaaaaare. 

FThe FF 7 remake has a slightly better system but not that you really need engage with it, the sucking of potions takes precedence over actually using the combat system, the game is better on easy. You don't have to use your AP on potions so you can actually engage with the combat and skills usage. It's pretty decent now that I have lowered the difficulty. They NEED to create something better or they'll soon be selling really badly. Ff16 is their Fallout 4 moment, if they don't step up next time people are gonna leave this series behind. 

In defence of FF 7 remake the game is better on easy. You don't have to use your AP on potions so you can actually engage with the combat and skills usage. It's pretty decent now that I have lowered the difficulty.

I haven't played 16 or Rebirth yet, but I did enjoy 7 remake. My preference would be just give me 2D-HD high quality Final Fantasy games with the old school combat. But I'm sure I'm in the minority there.

I've been playing Final Fantasy games since the early 1990s with Final Fantasy IV on SNES being my first FF game.

Since then I've played every single FF game except for 11 and 14 because they are MMOs.

But have to say after playing the demo for FF16 and actually playing through FF7 Remake Intergrade.....I'm loving the gameplay choices they made.

There's plenty of games that are turn based (like the Shin Megami Tensei, Persona and Bravely Default series) and honestly I think FF going action RPG is the way to go.

Tapping square is okay because you have the ability to guard, roll, use abilities and spells. The square button is the designated button for doing normal attacks, its not a fighting game.

The opposite for me. VII combat shines on hard mode where you can't refill your MP and have to manage your spending carefully. It has great depth I wasn't aware of on normal mode.

Regarding XV and XVI I agree the combat was the weakest aspect of both games. But I still enjoyed both. XV more than Xvi, which I found to be the most forgettable FF to date.

For me personally, I loved FF16's combat because I always loathed random battles. I loved everything else about all the main Final Fantasy games except that. So playing through Final Fantasy 16 was just a thrill. I could finally love the story and the combat. It was a true win win for me haha.

I enjoyed the combat in both. But they're only barely RPGs at this point. Given that Square keeps taking all these risks with Final Fantasy and they don't really seem to be paying off, I wonder if they might reign things back in for 17. Could we see a turn based combat again? I'd certainly welcome it.

It's not a fighting game bit you'd expect a small bit of depth. Their are 2d games with more depth than FF16. Or at least some flashing for the trouble, FF15 kind of got away with it because of the spectacle of the combat but FF16 is ridiculous. 

Rebirth Combat is good. Crisis Core doesn't count it's a game from 2007.

Yes, 15. 16 combat is absolute trash esp 16. Mash mash mash mindless trash.  HOWEVER, Rebirth's is great. Stranger in Paradise Combat is GREAT! It's Ni-Oh as a Final Fantasy Spinoff and SOP is a great game so is Rebirth.

 Final Fantasy has just an issue with awful writing. Sexism (FF16s hatred of women is concerning) and just chasing the same AAA visual goals as ever and just looks dull now.  It may not have the same sales but Xenoblade is an infinitely better series right now. Persona has taken off. RPGs are hot and FF aside from Rebirth is trying to drift away being an RPG in the worst possible time. FF16 isn't even an RPG anymore it's a bad action game where elemental attacks in a so called RPG DO NOT EXIST! WHAT THE FUCK! Then what is the point of having them?  Kill a fire enemy with fire. A water enemy with water and so on.

2024 had a ton of amazing RPGs. Metaphore. Granblue Relink. Ys X. Persona 3 Reload. SHin Megami Tensei V-Vengence. Dragon Quest III HD 2D. Paper Mario Thousand Year Door. Like a Dragon Infinite Wealth. FF7 Rebirth. Dragon's Dogma 2. Eiyuden Chronicles Hundred Heroes. Fantasion Neo. Cosmic Fantasy Collection. Just to name a few.

These games range from action combat to turn based and all are good. Ys has been doing great action combat since 1986 and always evolving. Granblue Relink great action combat designed by Platinum Games. Rebirth is a more refined system of Remakes and it's great. The others are turn-based. So switching to action is not what is wrong with 15 or 16. It's that the combat in 15-16 is FUCKING AWFUL.

I don't think they need to go with turn based, they have a solid structure with FF7 remake for action turn based hybrid combat if they'd just flesh it out more and have healing items not use AP along with a few intricacies. It's actually perfect, the reasons it fails to work as well as intended are just small little mistakes.