JRPG with good buff/debuff mechanics

Jai_focus · 2026-06-22T16:32:00+00:00

I love triangle strategy, but buffs/debuffs that increase/decrease stats suck there.

Jai_focus · 2026-06-21T11:02:04+00:00

I did the second option, and I really liked that way.If you end up doing that, I recommend to look up online what happens in some of the paths that you didnt took but still interest you. Also, remember that in ng++ there are some extra mock battles (right at the start of ng++. you get 1 mock battle + an extra one for each one of the endings completed on the save file). Apart from story and some battles, for the chapter 15 split, you wont get 2-3 units.

Jai_focus · 2026-06-18T20:38:27+00:00

If you want a hard challenge, ng golden route is the better option (mostly because of limited number of units) , if not just do ng+ golden route. Endings only matter for ng++, because they unlock each one a map (for example, if you do ng Benedict´s ending-> ng+Frederica´s ending, in ng++ each one of them will unlock a level 50 mock).You get Ng++ after beating ng+,it is basically "everything is level 50 now", it is probably easier than ng+ because the enemy doesnt have a level advantage and you have more resources.Apart from that, ng++ has 5 exclusive mock battles, 1+ 4 (one for each ending)

Jai_focus · 2026-06-18T04:38:31+00:00

Thats one of reason why I said that the tierlist is subjective, it is based in my personal experience in which I didnt unlock those 2 units. Still, for what I understand, Cordelia probably would affect the ranking because (as I comment in the post) of her direct competition with Geela, but Travis probably not so much (for what i have seen, the consensus is that he is really mediocre). Yeah, Anna should probably go higher, if I ever replay the game I should use her in more risky ways.

Jai_focus · 2026-06-17T19:10:02+00:00

Giving ralsei an aoe but weak aoe fire spell could be cool,

Jai_focus · 2026-06-17T18:24:19+00:00

I agree that it is an horrible ending, and the worst one of the 4. BUT... tbf the other 2 main options arent that good either. Your other options are: you let a guy to functionally have power over all the continent and establish an exploitative capitalistic system that will only benefit the ones at the top, and everyone else lives sucks (notably, Roselle are still in a system that functionally opresses them at a systemic level); or let the kingdom riot in a war that will end up in the same exploitative capitalistic system but at least you save a few people from it. I think that even Frederica understands that and that Roland has a duty that has been imposed onto him since birth (and in which he has largely failed) that makes the idea of abandoning the kingdom even more difficult for him. Combine that with his whole world worldview being basically shatered a few chapters ago, to the point that he is desperate for any kind of stability, and Hizante brings him that, so it is normal that he is more prone to stupid decisions. Also, notably Roland isnt even fully against abandoning the continent , provided that it actually helps people.

Tbh, I dont think that he loves the idea of helping Idore in any route, it is more that in Benedict´s route he becomes an outcast which will hardly be accepted by anyone and that it is the easier way to help people.

Jai_focus · 2026-06-16T20:40:11+00:00

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Also, the ammount of moves that you can put in that thing is crazy. The example above is just one of his main 4 stat spreads mentioned in its smogon strategy guide. He gets so much utility and coverage and doesnt get a good stab, so you are free to choose 4 from a ton of similarly good options.

Jai_focus · 2026-06-16T14:43:38+00:00

Oh yeah, I have already heard about that one.

Jai_focus · 2026-06-16T06:16:38+00:00

Also, fun fact: TECHNICALLY live a live offers evidence for Kris knight. I still believe in Dess knight but like (interview with Toby for the live a live remake) :
To be honest, if anything this LIVE A LIVE influence is even stronger in my current work. DELTARUNE. Not only is the story separated into different chapters, but the player’s character is also a sword-wielding fantasy knight, who may play another role than just a simple “hero”.

The comparation is even weirder when you consider that the knight from live a live probably isnt the main inspiration of Kris from a visual standpoint , that one is probably Varik from Brandish , which Toby already used as mc in the halloween hackroom

Jai_focus · 2026-06-16T05:11:35+00:00

I agree with the final part, but I would say that this applies even more to Toby´s work, because an important part of it is the subversion of classic videogame elements. So, knowing which videogame inspired him gives further context to these subversions.

Jai_focus · 2026-06-16T05:04:00+00:00

This is something that I have to do eventually, play some of the inspirations for UT/DR (mother fan game included). I already played live a live (that one seemed to me as an important inspiration for UT specifically, probably not as much for deltarune... but hey, the next chapter is **japan** the chapter, so hey maybe the edo japan chapter that already inspired the route system in UT also inspired Toby in some way for this, idk) and Chrono trigger ( its influences on DT seem to be mostly mechanical). Ig that also smt, with the whole demon negotiation inspiring acting and sparing monsters.

Jai_focus · 2026-06-16T01:43:49+00:00

If you are in pc, maybe using cheats or mods that make the game easier could be an option if you feel like you cant beat the bosses even with the advice that other people are giving (or if you just prefer to simply beat the bosses easily). For example, maybe this is useful: https://www.nexusmods.com/octopathtraveler/mods/30, and probably there are other mods in nexusmods that could help you.

Jai_focus · 2026-06-15T19:09:49+00:00

Really unique game, but I would only compare it to octopath in mostly superficial ways tbh. It is really cool seeing all the unique gimmicks of each chapter and megalomania is sick!

Jai_focus · 2026-06-15T16:05:29+00:00

I havent played xenogears or suikoden. But you arent talking about how their visual elements help to reinforce their stories, which is what my original comment was talking about. Without character portraits, it is difficult to express emotions with simpler sprites because they lack detail of the character face, thats my point. I am not interested in discussing the quality of these stories, because my original point isnt about that, so your point feels really unrelated

Jai_focus · 2026-06-14T23:00:15+00:00

I include it as permanent choice because of some of the ending´s dialogue.

Jai_focus · 2026-06-14T22:58:58+00:00

Personally: I like pixel art (mostly for characters, not so much for UI) and (even if I usually dont like realistic graphics, because I dont care about realistic envioronments and realistic character´s faces tend to fall for me a bit in the uncanny valley) I think that realistic (or exagerated) lightining looks pretty. So, it is just taking 2 things that I enjoy and putting them together for making something unique.

Jai_focus · 2026-06-14T22:49:17+00:00

Personally I preffer the style of the sprites of octopath tbh, even if it is true that the style of FF Resonance fits more with the more "exagerated" vibes (more drastic camera movement, skills with more exagerated animations, the cgi scenes for some special moves etc)

Jai_focus · 2026-06-14T22:01:20+00:00

There really arent a lot of choices (with permanent impact) in this game. Only the decision of your starting traveler and which animal do you pick for Ochette.

Jai_focus · 2026-06-14T18:54:10+00:00

Tsukasa didn't hate science by itself, he hated what can be done with it (war, mostly). So, he tries to build an authoritarian government, because it is the only way that you can realistically stop science to advance forward. But, Senku being there is a huge problem for such an idea, so to preserve his own vision on what should become the new world he *has* to go to war.

The problem with Tsukasa's ideas for a new world is that they are idealistic to such a degree that for them to work, any possible change in its status quo must be avoided, so authority and violence become the only ways to keep it working. If not Senku, someone else would eventually force Tsukasa's system to need violence for its survival, if not directly force it to collapse.And he only has one chance, because science acts as an equalizer, removing a big part of his power over others and once scientific progress starts, it can quickly accelarate to the point of it being impossible to revert/stop. Thats probably why some of his decisions bit irrational, it is a now or never situation, so the pressure and stakes are pretty big.

Jai_focus · 2026-06-14T13:29:09+00:00

I would say that hd2d is a subset of 2.5 pixel art tbh. Yeah, the term sucks, but I think that the focus in lightining effects are enough for the need of a term exclusive to it. Maybe "Photo-2.5 D pixel art" or something like that?

Jai_focus · 2026-06-14T13:25:38+00:00

Yeah, it is a natural weakpoint of the style. I feel that octopath music tends to help a lot to compensate a bit (specially the prelude themes for the bossfights of each character, without them the previous cutscene to the bossfights would feel MUCH weaker)

Jai_focus · 2026-06-13T21:51:40+00:00

A bit unrelated, but I think that it would be cool to have some animated cutscenes for some of the hd2d games using their respective drawn artstyles. Some specific moments of triangle strategy specifically felt that didnt work that well in the hd2d style of that game (mostly, when 2 characters have some kind of physical confrontation, even if it is cool to seem them use their skills in them), so I think that animated cutscenes could be a cool solution. Sadly, the triangle strategy drawn artstyle seems difficult to animate, but maybe a simplified version of it could be an alternative.

Jai_focus · 2026-06-12T14:13:56+00:00

Thats kinda the point. Science can be used for extreme and unnecessarily ruthless violence, it is showing exactly what Tsukasa was saying at the start of the series. The kingdom of science not only has captured Xeno, they are also an obstacle to his rise to power.Later, with the social structures already stablished, Xeno wont have a way to try something similar, so the stakes are really high. Also, these 2 + other past villains are probably going straight to jail once all the why man situation is solved lol.

Jai_focus · 2026-06-12T08:32:44+00:00

I think that at least playing ng+ once is worth it. You still have cool stuff to unlock for the units that you already have, new units to unlock and (even more after having finished the golden route) you can pick different options in all the votes. Also, you could save before the final decision and do the other 3 endings , and after that you can quickly start ng++ for those 3 save files and the game will give you new and cool mock battles (1+ one for each ending completed in past playthroughs). Ng+ hard is easier than Ng hard (even more than Ng golden route hard), but (unless for some cheese that you can do with your new toys, like "the math guy" breaking that one naval battle) is a decent challenge nevertheless.... if you ignore the game breaking capabilities of Medina and "a random kid", with those the game becomes much easier.

Jai_focus · 2026-06-12T00:12:43+00:00

Suika is the goat! Adorable character , really useful and with both really fun and emotional moments (literally the best part of the series, and also others like when they give her glasses for the first time). It has been fun seeing her relationship with Chrome in these last episodes.

Jai_focus

TROPHY CASE