The new Tri-Ace game is coming out soon on X360 and PS3. Japanese name is End of Eternity Game combat is a mix of turn by turn and real-time
I've read about this on 1up and kotaku. Will wait for more reviews / any review before purchasing. That's how I buy games now, unfortunately - money is too tight heh.
I watched some videos on the combat system I like what they're bring to the table with combat but I'll have to do more research on the game.
1 word... Ew.... Guess its just me.. but I can't stand that type of combat. The Final Fantasy esque of turn base combat... god it makes me want to vomit. Now the game did look good... but I just can't do the whole turn base thing.. It annoys me too much
Try pming me here if you can't find me. Your mom looks like Final Fantasy The best is to have someone explain to you the basics of it and then test it yourself. The demo helps if you can get access to it. It is in japanese so find some english totorial on the net if needed or ask me here. I can see where you are coming from because I despise turn-based combat too. I was playing Ultima III turn-based when it got out, it's way past time that RPG games evolve from it. BUT This is Tri-Ace making the game, and tri-Ace are the makers of the Star Ocean series. Star Ocean games are fully action-based, with absolutely no turn-based crap. However, during the development of Resonance of Fate, using the Star Ocean system which is purely action (the console manages the other members of your team you are not actively controlling, you can switch control at will), they hit a snag : your character can die. Star Ocean is a blend of SF and fantasy : you have HP potions, you have healing spells, you have Rez (resurrection) spells. Resonance of Fate is a steampunk setting with guns. No healing spells, no resurrect spells, nothing at all. Just guns, bullets, grenades. What wasn't a major problem in Star Ocean (console-controlled character dies) is a show-stopper one in Resonance : one character of the team dies means GAME OVER. No rez. So, in order to overcome that problem, they modified their purely action system into an hybrid turn-based / real time one. The turn based part is : _Choose which char will move, and draw the line he or she will follow. _Press Hero Action button or Resonance Attack if you have the points required. Once the button is pressed, you are real time until your char reaches the end of the line. During real time, the firing gauge (circle) fills and does so quicker if you are closer to the targeted enemy. The more fillings you accumulate, the more powerful your shot/burst/grenade is. The realtime part is (your char is running): _Check the filling of the firing gauge and press fire when the level desired is obtained _Press jump anytime to avoid bumping into enemies or walls or any obstacle that would stop your run. _React to the effect of your firing (you can propel some enemies in the air and then have a choice of action) _Switch the targeted enemy for another All of this is high adrenaline action, you have to react in real time. No pausing of the game is available. Once you have commited to the run, you have to get the best from it. When you have used a Hero Action and your char crosses an imaginary line drawn between the other two teammembers : You get a resonance point You can use that resonance point (or do more hero actions to accumulate more) to do a resonance attack : All your three characters start to run at the same time !!! They all have their firing gauge that fills in real time of course and you can decide to fire with the character you currently control (and the others will combo their attack to your if you press attack again) or switch control to another character (everything realtime) to initiate attacks from him/her. Philosophy of play : Once you get the hang of things, you realize this is like a Guilty Gear fighting game : you have to go full power. That's because using a hero action consumes an action point (you have very few at the beginning) and the only way to get it back is to kill an enemy ! And in order to kill an enemy and accumulate resonance points, you have to choose wisely your line of run at the turn-based phase !! So, to sum up : I hate turn-based RPGs but Resonance is a hybrid realtime system and I love it. The turn based phase is tactical not unlike a wargame, the realtime phase is just pure action, not unlike the Star Ocean series.
I have played the Japanese demo for this on the 360....it is very solid and very fun, only game to have a battle system like this one. Also I have this fully paid off in advance
Excellent review of the game found at Siliconera : http://www.siliconera.com/2010/03/23/resonance-of-fate-destined-to-be-delightfully-complex/