Poll of the Day > There any worthwhile games that has a combat system like Baten Kaitos?

(+) Yeah! (+)

I have a weird itch to revisit a few of my GCN games, an itch I am avoiding because I already have a back catalog the size of a mountain I'm trying to chip away at. But having only beaten BK once long ago, I feel the urge to boot it up again.

Don't suppose any modern or other games have attempted something like it, eh?
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I never played the BK prequel, but maybe that.
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My fave rpg

Might want to check out Children of the Zodiarcs. It's got a cool, turn-based card+dice battle system. Not all that similar to Baten Kaitos, but I was reminded of it a little bit.

The RNG can be frustrating at times in CotZ, but most of the time the battles feel fair.

Also, the Hand of Fate games have card-based combat and equipment.
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dragon504 posted...

I never played the BK prequel, but maybe that.

seriously if you haven't played origins, play it
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^I never did, actually...
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Phantasy Star Online Episode 3 is all about the Cards

There's also the Dragon Ball Z RPGs
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Wow I remember Baiten Kaitos. I first started playing when I was mad young and terrible at games so I remember dying to Giacomo a bunch. The whole premise of you being a guardian spirit was dope though.

Yeah though, I can't think of anything like it other than the prequel (which was also pretty good iirc). I mean, there are other card based RPG's like Kingdom Hearts Chain of Memories, but i doubt many others have the same mechanics like cards aging/changing over time like that did.

I kinda wanna dust off my Gamecube now.
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123pizza2 posted...

I kinda wanna dust off my Gamecube now.

I wanted to enjoy Baten Kaitos, but my inner 100% er was constantly trying to max all the cards and I went insane
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Greenfox111 posted...

dragon504 posted...

I never played the BK prequel, but maybe that.

seriously if you haven't played origins, play it

This. Which game had a better plot or music is debatable (as in, both are really good), but BK Origins streamlined and improved the combat system a LOT. It's easily the biggest and best change from BK, whose combat while fun was also extremely cumbersome to manage and a bit too random (literally would die horribly to a boss, reload, use the exact same tactics as the prior try, and coast through it...all because of how totally random the magnus card draws would wildly swing your chances).
I'd recommend BK Origins to anyone and certainly any fan of the first game; but if the thing you miss the most about BK is the combat you especially should try out Origins.

^That's a good pitch, thanks. I dunno why I passed up origins originally. I think something about the plot details I didn't like...like, you only have 3 characters in your party, rather than the 8 or so from BK? Or something? How is the plot, without any spoilers?

Maybe I'll pick up Origins soon, one of my local gameshops should have it.
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CyborgSage00x0 posted...

^That's a good pitch, thanks. I dunno why I passed up origins originally. I think something about the plot details I didn't like...like, you only have 3 characters in your party, rather than the 8 or so from BK? Or something? How is the plot, without any spoilers?

Maybe I'll pick up Origins soon, one of my local gameshops should have it.

There's only three characters, but they have great interactions with each other, so I never minded.
As for the plot, I personally think it's better overall. They're kind of different animals. BK's plot was deceptively simple and tame, then you get hit with possibly the greatest plot twist in video game history.
BK Origin's plot is more solid and well-structured all the way through and has some great surprises of its own, but none of its twists can compete w/ the one in BK. In my opinion, it wins for being consistently more interesting.

Yeah, that plot twist was awesome. I remember loving it instead of feeling angry about it.

Good write-up, I think I'll try and snag it sometime.
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Are you guys talking about Kalas Being artificial or His double betrayal?

Lokarin posted...

123pizza2 posted...

I kinda wanna dust off my Gamecube now.

I wanted to enjoy Baten Kaitos, but my inner 100% er was constantly trying to max all the cards and I went insane

Very true. I didn't know any better back then but if I played it now I'd probably be obsessed too haha.
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123pizza2 posted...

Are you guys talking about...

The latter. The main character turning on you, the player, and revealing he's been manipulating you the entire time is just simply a magical, masterfully executed swerve that you really don't/can't experience in other games.
The former didn't even really have much impact on me.

123pizza2 posted...

Very true. I didn't know any better back then but if I played it now I'd probably be obsessed too haha.

I was considering going for 100% late game, then discovered there's some sort of shampoo card or the like you can get in the first village that I missed, and after something like 255 hours in your inventory it changes into another card, and that's the only way to get it. Being so deep in the game w/ the counter at 0 hours...I quickly gave up on the notion.