The PlayStation 3 might’ve been off to a fairly rocky launch after a rather torrid handling of the console’s launch by Sony, but the console soon made up ground after cheaper variants of the console were released and Sony ended up launching a ton of exclusives on the platform that ended up cementing the PlayStation 3 as a must-have for anyone who wanted to play the latest genre-defining AAA games.
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A massive source of surprise was the fact that the JRPG genre — something that people assumed to be dying for the longest time — was still flourishing on the PlayStation 3, with a ton of excellent titles releasing on this platform that have become legendary for a whole host of reasons… including some brilliant and innovative combat systems that any fan of good JRPG combat would definitely appreciate.
Keeping this in mind, here are ten JRPGs with amazing combat systems that were released on the PS3.
10Final Fantasy XIII
While most JRPG fans attempt to giveFinal Fantasy XIIIthe widest berth possible, there’s no denying the fact that the game definitely excels in terms of providing an excellent combat experience.
Battles inFinal Fantasy XIIImight feel a bit chaotic, but chaining together moves and shifting paradigms is genuinely a ton of fun and make for a fast-paced and energetic experience in battle.
9Odin Sphere Leifthrasir
Odin Spherewas Vanillaware’s first game, and it was only fitting that they would try and remake this game entirely for a new generation. This was accomplished with the development and release ofOdin Sphere Leifthrasir.
Featuring a revamped combat system, additional levels, and a ton of other QoL changes — including a bunch of other additions —Odin Sphere Leifthrasiris easily the best game for fans of action JRPGs to try out.
8The Legend Of Heroes: Trails Of Cold Steel II
The Legend of Heroesseries is famous among JRPG veterans for featuring excellent stories, memorable characters, and fun combat systems that will keep fans hooked for the longest time. TheTrails of Cold Steelseries is especially notable in this regard, with all the games in the series making for a fun and enthralling ride from start to end.
Trails of Cold Steel IIwas the last game from the series to release on the PS3, and fans who played the prequel would be introduced to a title that was bigger, better, and more polished. This was especially true for the combat system, which included a Tactic Link Function that would make battles all the more enjoyable to fight in.
7Nier
Most people associateNierwith the famous and brilliant game designed by PlatinumGames. WhileNier: Automatais definitely great in its own right, long-time fans of theDrakengardseries and other works by Yoko Taro have always rated the originalNiertitle highly as well.
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Featuring a wealth of gameplay changes and combat options that make for a unique experience, Nier definitely fulfills the role of being one of the strangest yet most enjoyable JRPGs ever made.
6Fairy Fencer F
Most people would take one look atFairy Fencer Fand find it to be a bit of an odd series, for reasons that are perfectly understandable. However, players who end up getting past this initial hurdle will definitely enjoy what is easily one of the better JRPGs released for the PS3.
While the story might not be anything particularly noteworthy, the dynamic nature of the game’s combat and the satisfying rewards one can reap for managing their tactics properly can be quite entertaining indeed.
5Resonance Of Fate
Resonance of Fatemight not have the greatest first impression — what with the weird hexagonal exploration and the increased focus on drab grays as opposed to something colorful — but there’s no denying that the combat in this game is truly excellent in many ways.
The story might take a while to pick upandthe filler can be a pain to get throughat times, but the amazing run-and-gun JRPG combat more than makes up for this experience. That being said,Resonance of Fateis by no means an easy title, and the smallest slip-up in battle can lead to the party encounter a premature Game Over screen.
4Eternal Sonata
The idea of roaming through a dying composer’s mind and exploring the beauty that lies within can sound like a rather hard concept to execute, soEternal Sonatashould definitely be given due props for making the most of this concept and creating one of the best JRPGs on the PS3.
The marriage of turn-based and real-time combat is executed to a T, and the use of light and dark areas to govern the strength and usability of abilities is a pretty neat touch as well.
3Tales Of Berseria
TheTales of…series is one of the most popular action JRPGs around, withTales of Berseriagetting a notable mention due to the improvements it makes to the established systems of past games in the series.
Taking on the role of Velvetand cutting down enemies in her quest for revenge is easily one of the most satisfying parts of the game, makingTales of Berseriaan infinitely enjoyable experience for any JRPG fan.
2Lightning Returns: Final Fantasy XIII
WhiletheFinal Fantasy XIIItrilogyis something that fans of the series — and JRPG fans in general — look down upon, there’s no denying the fact that the final game in the series ended up taking major strides when it came to the combat system.
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Option for a more traditional battle system as opposed to the frenetic chaos of previous games,Lightning Returns: Final Fantasy XIIIis bound to be an enjoyable experience for any fan of good JRPG combat systems.
1Persona 5
Easily the most popular JRPG on this list,Persona 5made waves in the industry when it was finally released after some lengthy delays, allowing players to experience what is essentially an evolution of the JRPG concept in the best way possible.
The art style, story, andcharacters of the gameare all great in their own right… but it’s the combat system that deserves the most praise.Persona 5features a turn-based combat system thatfeels extremely easy to understand and execute, allowing for fights to take on a rhythm of their own as players exploit enemy weaknesses and unleash stylish All-Out Attack to take care of any enemies in their way.
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