1877:
28:
106:
though they can be sped up using magic like Haste. In Action mode, even menus do not stop the ATB bars, allowing characters to be attacked and die while choosing an action. Additionally, actions may take longer or shorter depending on how powerful they are. Being attacked while preparing to cast a spell, for example, would cancel the spell outright.
197:"an exquisite but flawed attempt to blend the rhythms of the old FF7 battle system with action movie choreography". He noted that "ATB obliges you to think of party members as individuals, dancing to their own beats", stating his opinion that it was "an appropriate development, given the increasing elaborateness of
215:, similar to later entries in the series, utilized an action battle system, but retained the original's game's ATB mechanics in a reversed way, allowing players to fight in real-time but optionally pause the game once the bar had been filled to choose special actions from a menu. The company continued to make
74:
gameplay, allowing both protagonists and enemies to attack at their own pace, even while navigating menus. Different types of techniques caused the timer to move at different rates until the character could move again. The system's success led to it being used in most subsequent mainline turn-based
105:
In an ATB system, each character and enemy has their own "internal clock", distinct from previous turn-based systems that proceeded in alternating turns of player, then enemy. This is usually determined by the character's initiative, or speed, stat. The clocks proceed in an independent fashion,
181:
called ATB "both elegantly simple and unendingly complex", noting that it "creates tension in a genre that had long been about a more drawn out and thoughtful series of encounters", and stating that it created an "impending sense of urgency".
118:
stated that the initial version of Active Time Battle simply had characters attacking based on who had the fastest speed. He claimed that Ito came up with the idea for the final version of Active Time Battle while watching
503:
140:
decided to remove the ATB system entirely, making the game strictly turn-based, but adding the ability to switch out onscreen characters for others in the party. The mechanic, however, returned in its sequel,
114:
Active Time Battle mechanics were initially created out of a desire to add additional realism to games, with the patent stating that typical turn-based games were "static". In an interview, designer
289:
171:
games more for their pure action mechanics. He argued that RPG battles could not be captivating unless they either had an additional strategic layer, such as positional manipulation in
358:
413:
326:
256:
130:, one of the first games with preset character names, classes and biographies, reflecting the newly expanded storytelling within the game. It continued to be used until
495:
85:
gameplay for mainline titles. Active Time Battle has been noted by critics as a revolutionary step in the genre as well as a defining aspect of the series'
1818:
473:
281:
1899:
1505:
1319:
542:
177:, or a means to keep the player active akin to ATB, calling "standing in a single line trading attacks" an outdated system. Colin Stevens of
1276:
348:
877:
627:
708:
666:
443:
1448:
380:
405:
1581:
316:
246:
1762:
1430:
1313:
1108:
929:
123:, in which some cars were behind on laps. This gave him the idea that fast characters could attack more than once per turn.
1665:
1560:
1342:
655:
86:
1852:
1783:
695:
535:
147:, which also added mechanics such as timing, player positioning and dresspheres that granted characters new abilities.
17:
1926:
1892:
1769:
1362:
1213:
701:
1959:
1546:
1441:
966:
935:
191:
explained that "most Final
Fantasies circle back to ATB in some way, striving to rebottle the lightning", calling
136:
in 2001, which represented a "fresh start" for the series as its first PlayStation 2 game. Battle system director
1964:
1840:
1811:
1460:
1425:
1190:
1155:
639:
621:
1609:
1388:
1348:
1055:
866:
794:
465:
1804:
1797:
1790:
1616:
1355:
1305:
766:
528:
1376:
1369:
1887:
1658:
1536:
1293:
993:
567:
1651:
1588:
1498:
1472:
1337:
1207:
1173:
1147:
650:
589:
1574:
1435:
1281:
1179:
1097:
949:
917:
907:
861:
683:
385:
167:
165:
games because it was difficult to navigate the spells in time, he later came to enjoy the combat of
1776:
1529:
1135:
942:
783:
689:
211:
193:
1679:
1630:
1090:
70:, though the patent expired in 2010, allowing it to be used in any game. It added a timer bar to
49:
1954:
1931:
1881:
1689:
1553:
1332:
1070:
844:
221:
1623:
1521:
1408:
1161:
1080:
90:
1672:
1644:
1299:
1200:
1195:
1123:
1118:
1085:
8:
1393:
897:
819:
435:
82:
1637:
1244:
755:
496:"Chibi RPG World of Final Fantasy coming worldwide on October 25, new trailer released"
353:
120:
67:
1742:
1265:
1251:
1141:
1044:
912:
748:
603:
143:
1515:
1403:
1258:
1037:
1023:
741:
610:
596:
390:
216:
173:
137:
58:
33:
1835:
1707:
1030:
976:
971:
902:
839:
814:
734:
132:
81:
games, up until the series eventually abandoned turn-based gameplay in favor of
1721:
1714:
1398:
1075:
887:
809:
799:
771:
115:
1948:
1846:
1728:
1065:
1060:
892:
854:
552:
77:
1413:
998:
882:
849:
834:
671:
282:"The Evolution of Final Fantasy Battle Systems – Part 2: 16-Bit Revolution"
53:
161:
wrote that while he initially turned off the Active Time Battle system in
27:
1465:
1418:
986:
824:
804:
563:
349:"Final Fantasy's ATB battle system was originally inspired by race cars"
317:"29 years on, has Final Fantasy broken the spell of Active Time Battle?"
1861:
829:
247:"Five game mechanics legally protected by the companies that made them"
71:
922:
321:
219:
that utilized Active Time Battle in a more traditional form, such as
187:
251:
1914:
1909:
1567:
1286:
1219:
981:
776:
520:
1919:
955:
157:
63:
406:"Why Final Fantasy X-2 Holds Such A Special Place In My Heart"
1128:
1113:
676:
1735:
379:
Mielke, James; Bettenhausen, Shane (September 2001).
1819:
Brave Father Online: Our Story of Final
Fantasy XIV
378:
1946:
466:"Final Fantasy VII Remake still has ATB … kinda"
314:
389:. No. 146. pp. 118, 120 – via
536:
543:
529:
433:
403:
493:
26:
463:
279:
14:
1947:
346:
37:, showing ATB bars on the lower-right.
524:
315:Evans-Thirlwell, Edwin (2020-05-17).
310:
308:
306:
275:
273:
244:
240:
238:
24:
25:
1976:
550:
434:Eisenbeis, Richard (2012-12-21).
404:Eisenbeis, Richard (2014-01-25).
303:
270:
235:
1876:
1875:
494:Renaudin, Clement (2016-06-07).
56:. It was first used in the 1991
1841:Final Fantasy Trading Card Game
1812:Final Fantasy XIV: Dad of Light
506:from the original on 2024-02-17
476:from the original on 2023-12-03
446:from the original on 2024-02-17
416:from the original on 2024-02-17
361:from the original on 2024-02-17
329:from the original on 2022-12-06
292:from the original on 2022-10-04
259:from the original on 2023-03-18
487:
457:
427:
397:
372:
340:
109:
13:
1:
436:"Make My Battles Active-Time"
347:Morton, Lauren (2021-07-19).
280:Stevens, Colin (2018-01-15).
228:
126:The system was first used in
464:Minotti, Mike (2019-06-11).
150:
100:
7:
245:Peel, Jeremy (2021-02-22).
10:
1981:
1871:
1828:
1752:
1699:
1601:
1490:
1237:
1016:
727:
582:
575:
560:
386:Electronic Gaming Monthly
204:
185:Edwin Evans-Thirlwell of
212:Final Fantasy VII Remake
194:Final Fantasy VII Remake
1960:20th-century inventions
50:role-playing video game
1965:Video game terminology
1763:Legend of the Crystals
1690:World of Final Fantasy
1561:Fabula Nova Crystallis
1449:The Dawn of the Future
222:World of Final Fantasy
38:
1666:The 4 Heroes of Light
155:Richard Eisenbeis of
52:mechanic invented by
44:(also abbreviated as
30:
628:Stranger of Paradise
83:action role-playing
66:in 1995 by Ito and
1900:Recurring elements
1770:The Spirits Within
1638:Mario Hoops 3-on-3
1547:Crystal Chronicles
1506:War of the Visions
1245:Final Fantasy XIII
756:Final Fantasy VIII
354:Rock Paper Shotgun
121:Formula One racing
68:Hironobu Sakaguchi
42:Active Time Battle
39:
18:Active-Time Battle
1942:
1941:
1854:Final Fantasy VII
1743:Super Smash Bros.
1486:
1485:
1481:
1480:
1314:Lightning Returns
1266:Final Fantasy XVI
1252:Final Fantasy XIV
1233:
1232:
1228:
1227:
1045:Final Fantasy XII
1012:
1011:
1007:
1006:
749:Final Fantasy VII
723:
722:
718:
717:
604:Final Fantasy III
381:"Final Fantasy X"
144:Final Fantasy X-2
93:era games and of
16:(Redirected from
1972:
1879:
1878:
1610:Airborne Brigade
1343:Original version
1259:Final Fantasy XV
1240:
1239:
1235:
1234:
1038:Final Fantasy XI
1024:Final Fantasy IX
1019:
1018:
1014:
1013:
742:Final Fantasy VI
730:
729:
725:
724:
611:Final Fantasy IV
597:Final Fantasy II
585:
584:
580:
579:
545:
538:
531:
522:
521:
515:
514:
512:
511:
491:
485:
484:
482:
481:
461:
455:
454:
452:
451:
431:
425:
424:
422:
421:
410:Kotaku Australia
401:
395:
394:
391:Internet Archive
376:
370:
369:
367:
366:
344:
338:
337:
335:
334:
312:
301:
300:
298:
297:
277:
268:
267:
265:
264:
242:
174:Radiant Historia
138:Toshiro Tsuchida
128:Final Fantasy IV
59:Final Fantasy IV
34:Final Fantasy VI
21:
1980:
1979:
1975:
1974:
1973:
1971:
1970:
1969:
1945:
1944:
1943:
1938:
1867:
1836:The Black Mages
1824:
1784:Advent Children
1754:
1748:
1708:Bravely Default
1695:
1617:All the Bravest
1597:
1482:
1477:
1454:
1382:
1326:
1229:
1224:
1184:
1166:
1102:
1031:Final Fantasy X
1008:
1003:
960:
871:
815:Edgar and Sabin
788:
735:Final Fantasy V
719:
714:
702:The After Years
660:
644:
633:
571:
556:
549:
519:
518:
509:
507:
492:
488:
479:
477:
462:
458:
449:
447:
432:
428:
419:
417:
402:
398:
377:
373:
364:
362:
345:
341:
332:
330:
313:
304:
295:
293:
278:
271:
262:
260:
243:
236:
231:
207:
153:
133:Final Fantasy X
112:
103:
23:
22:
15:
12:
11:
5:
1978:
1968:
1967:
1962:
1957:
1940:
1939:
1937:
1936:
1935:
1934:
1924:
1923:
1922:
1917:
1912:
1907:
1897:
1896:
1895:
1885:
1872:
1869:
1868:
1866:
1865:
1858:
1850:
1843:
1838:
1832:
1830:
1826:
1825:
1823:
1822:
1815:
1808:
1801:
1794:
1787:
1780:
1773:
1766:
1758:
1756:
1750:
1749:
1747:
1746:
1739:
1732:
1725:
1722:Kingdom Hearts
1718:
1715:Itadaki Street
1711:
1703:
1701:
1700:Related series
1697:
1696:
1694:
1693:
1686:
1685:
1684:
1669:
1662:
1655:
1648:
1641:
1634:
1627:
1620:
1613:
1605:
1603:
1599:
1598:
1596:
1595:
1594:
1593:
1589:Final Bar Line
1585:
1571:
1564:
1557:
1550:
1543:
1542:
1541:
1526:
1525:
1524:
1512:
1511:
1510:
1494:
1492:
1488:
1487:
1484:
1483:
1479:
1478:
1476:
1475:
1470:
1469:
1468:
1457:
1455:
1453:
1452:
1445:
1442:Pocket Edition
1438:
1433:
1428:
1423:
1422:
1421:
1416:
1411:
1406:
1401:
1396:
1385:
1383:
1381:
1380:
1373:
1366:
1363:Shadowbringers
1359:
1352:
1345:
1340:
1335:
1329:
1327:
1325:
1324:
1323:
1322:
1310:
1309:
1308:
1296:
1291:
1290:
1289:
1284:
1273:
1270:
1269:
1262:
1255:
1248:
1238:
1231:
1230:
1226:
1225:
1223:
1222:
1217:
1214:Revenant Wings
1210:
1205:
1204:
1203:
1198:
1187:
1185:
1183:
1182:
1177:
1169:
1167:
1165:
1164:
1159:
1152:
1151:
1150:
1138:
1133:
1132:
1131:
1126:
1121:
1116:
1105:
1103:
1101:
1100:
1095:
1094:
1093:
1088:
1083:
1078:
1073:
1068:
1063:
1052:
1049:
1048:
1041:
1034:
1027:
1017:
1010:
1009:
1005:
1004:
1002:
1001:
996:
991:
990:
989:
984:
979:
974:
963:
961:
959:
958:
953:
946:
939:
932:
927:
926:
925:
920:
915:
910:
905:
900:
895:
890:
885:
874:
872:
870:
869:
864:
859:
858:
857:
852:
847:
842:
837:
832:
827:
822:
817:
812:
807:
802:
791:
789:
787:
786:
781:
780:
779:
774:
772:Faris Scherwiz
763:
760:
759:
752:
745:
738:
728:
721:
720:
716:
715:
713:
712:
705:
698:
693:
686:
681:
680:
679:
674:
663:
661:
659:
658:
653:
647:
645:
643:
642:
636:
634:
632:
631:
624:
618:
615:
614:
607:
600:
593:
583:
577:
573:
572:
561:
558:
557:
548:
547:
540:
533:
525:
517:
516:
486:
456:
426:
396:
371:
339:
302:
286:Hardcore Gamer
269:
233:
232:
230:
227:
209:Square Enix's
206:
203:
179:Hardcore Gamer
152:
149:
116:Takashi Tokita
111:
108:
102:
99:
87:Super Nintendo
9:
6:
4:
3:
2:
1977:
1966:
1963:
1961:
1958:
1956:
1955:Final Fantasy
1953:
1952:
1950:
1933:
1930:
1929:
1928:
1925:
1921:
1918:
1916:
1913:
1911:
1908:
1906:
1903:
1902:
1901:
1898:
1894:
1891:
1890:
1889:
1886:
1884:
1883:
1874:
1873:
1870:
1864:
1863:
1859:
1857:
1855:
1851:
1849:
1848:
1847:8-Bit Theater
1844:
1842:
1839:
1837:
1834:
1833:
1831:
1827:
1821:
1820:
1816:
1814:
1813:
1809:
1807:
1806:
1802:
1800:
1799:
1795:
1793:
1792:
1788:
1786:
1785:
1781:
1779:
1778:
1774:
1772:
1771:
1767:
1765:
1764:
1760:
1759:
1757:
1751:
1745:
1744:
1740:
1738:
1737:
1733:
1731:
1730:
1726:
1724:
1723:
1719:
1717:
1716:
1712:
1710:
1709:
1705:
1704:
1702:
1698:
1692:
1691:
1687:
1682:
1681:
1677:
1676:
1675:
1674:
1670:
1668:
1667:
1663:
1661:
1660:
1659:Record Keeper
1656:
1654:
1653:
1649:
1647:
1646:
1642:
1640:
1639:
1635:
1633:
1632:
1628:
1626:
1625:
1621:
1619:
1618:
1614:
1612:
1611:
1607:
1606:
1604:
1600:
1591:
1590:
1586:
1584:
1583:
1579:
1578:
1577:
1576:
1572:
1570:
1569:
1565:
1563:
1562:
1558:
1556:
1555:
1551:
1549:
1548:
1544:
1539:
1538:
1534:
1533:
1532:
1531:
1527:
1523:
1522:List of media
1520:
1519:
1518:
1517:
1513:
1508:
1507:
1503:
1502:
1501:
1500:
1496:
1495:
1493:
1489:
1474:
1471:
1467:
1464:
1463:
1462:
1459:
1458:
1456:
1451:
1450:
1446:
1444:
1443:
1439:
1437:
1434:
1432:
1429:
1427:
1424:
1420:
1417:
1415:
1412:
1410:
1407:
1405:
1402:
1400:
1397:
1395:
1392:
1391:
1390:
1387:
1386:
1384:
1379:
1378:
1374:
1372:
1371:
1367:
1365:
1364:
1360:
1358:
1357:
1353:
1351:
1350:
1346:
1344:
1341:
1339:
1336:
1334:
1331:
1330:
1328:
1321:
1318:
1317:
1316:
1315:
1311:
1307:
1304:
1303:
1302:
1301:
1297:
1295:
1292:
1288:
1285:
1283:
1280:
1279:
1278:
1275:
1274:
1272:
1271:
1268:
1267:
1263:
1261:
1260:
1256:
1254:
1253:
1249:
1247:
1246:
1242:
1241:
1236:
1221:
1218:
1216:
1215:
1211:
1209:
1206:
1202:
1199:
1197:
1194:
1193:
1192:
1189:
1188:
1186:
1181:
1178:
1176:
1175:
1171:
1170:
1168:
1163:
1160:
1158:
1157:
1153:
1149:
1146:
1145:
1144:
1143:
1139:
1137:
1134:
1130:
1127:
1125:
1122:
1120:
1117:
1115:
1112:
1111:
1110:
1107:
1106:
1104:
1099:
1096:
1092:
1089:
1087:
1084:
1082:
1079:
1077:
1074:
1072:
1069:
1067:
1064:
1062:
1059:
1058:
1057:
1054:
1053:
1051:
1050:
1047:
1046:
1042:
1040:
1039:
1035:
1033:
1032:
1028:
1026:
1025:
1021:
1020:
1015:
1000:
997:
995:
992:
988:
985:
983:
980:
978:
975:
973:
970:
969:
968:
965:
964:
962:
957:
954:
952:
951:
947:
945:
944:
940:
938:
937:
933:
931:
928:
924:
921:
919:
916:
914:
911:
909:
906:
904:
901:
899:
896:
894:
891:
889:
886:
884:
881:
880:
879:
876:
875:
873:
868:
865:
863:
860:
856:
853:
851:
848:
846:
843:
841:
838:
836:
833:
831:
828:
826:
823:
821:
818:
816:
813:
811:
808:
806:
803:
801:
798:
797:
796:
793:
792:
790:
785:
782:
778:
775:
773:
770:
769:
768:
765:
764:
762:
761:
758:
757:
753:
751:
750:
746:
744:
743:
739:
737:
736:
732:
731:
726:
711:
710:
706:
704:
703:
699:
697:
694:
692:
691:
687:
685:
682:
678:
675:
673:
670:
669:
668:
665:
664:
662:
657:
654:
652:
649:
648:
646:
641:
638:
637:
635:
630:
629:
625:
623:
620:
619:
617:
616:
613:
612:
608:
606:
605:
601:
599:
598:
594:
592:
591:
590:Final Fantasy
587:
586:
581:
578:
574:
569:
565:
559:
555:
554:
553:Final Fantasy
546:
541:
539:
534:
532:
527:
526:
523:
505:
501:
497:
490:
475:
471:
467:
460:
445:
441:
437:
430:
415:
411:
407:
400:
392:
388:
387:
382:
375:
360:
356:
355:
350:
343:
328:
324:
323:
318:
311:
309:
307:
291:
287:
283:
276:
274:
258:
254:
253:
248:
241:
239:
234:
226:
224:
223:
218:
214:
213:
202:
201:'s writing".
200:
199:Final Fantasy
196:
195:
190:
189:
183:
180:
176:
175:
170:
169:
164:
163:Final Fantasy
160:
159:
148:
146:
145:
139:
135:
134:
129:
124:
122:
117:
107:
98:
96:
95:Final Fantasy
92:
88:
84:
80:
79:
78:Final Fantasy
73:
69:
65:
61:
60:
55:
51:
47:
43:
36:
35:
29:
19:
1904:
1880:
1860:
1853:
1845:
1817:
1810:
1803:
1796:
1789:
1782:
1775:
1768:
1761:
1741:
1734:
1727:
1720:
1713:
1706:
1688:
1678:
1671:
1664:
1657:
1652:Mystic Quest
1650:
1643:
1636:
1629:
1622:
1615:
1608:
1587:
1582:Curtain Call
1580:
1573:
1566:
1559:
1552:
1545:
1535:
1528:
1514:
1504:
1499:Brave Exvius
1497:
1447:
1440:
1375:
1368:
1361:
1354:
1347:
1312:
1298:
1264:
1257:
1250:
1243:
1212:
1174:Grandmasters
1172:
1154:
1140:
1043:
1036:
1029:
1022:
999:Triple Triad
948:
941:
934:
754:
747:
740:
733:
707:
700:
688:
626:
609:
602:
595:
588:
551:
508:. Retrieved
500:Pocket Gamer
499:
489:
478:. Retrieved
469:
459:
448:. Retrieved
439:
429:
418:. Retrieved
409:
399:
384:
374:
363:. Retrieved
352:
342:
331:. Retrieved
320:
294:. Retrieved
285:
261:. Retrieved
250:
220:
210:
208:
198:
192:
186:
184:
178:
172:
166:
162:
156:
154:
142:
131:
127:
125:
113:
104:
97:as a whole.
94:
76:
57:
54:Hiroyuki Ito
45:
41:
40:
32:
31:A battle in
1893:video games
1805:Kingsglaive
1798:Brotherhood
1602:Other games
1575:Theatrhythm
1466:Dion Lesage
1426:Development
1349:Heavensward
1156:HD Remaster
936:Compilation
867:Opera House
564:Square Enix
470:VentureBeat
110:Development
91:PlayStation
1949:Categories
1862:Moguri Mod
1856:NES demake
1791:Last Order
1530:Dimensions
1461:Characters
1389:Characters
1356:Stormblood
1333:Hildibrand
1277:Characters
1191:Characters
1109:Characters
1056:Characters
967:Characters
878:Characters
795:Characters
767:Characters
690:Chronicles
667:Characters
576:Main games
566:(formerly
510:2024-02-17
480:2024-02-17
450:2024-02-17
420:2024-02-17
365:2024-02-17
333:2024-02-17
296:2024-02-17
263:2024-02-17
229:References
72:turn-based
1777:Unlimited
1755:animation
1753:Films and
1631:Explorers
1491:Subseries
1409:Lunafreya
1377:Dawntrail
1370:Endwalker
1282:Lightning
918:Sephiroth
908:Cait Sith
322:Eurogamer
217:spin-offs
188:Eurogamer
151:Reception
101:Mechanics
1932:concerts
1882:Category
1554:Dissidia
709:Complete
504:Archived
474:Archived
444:Archived
414:Archived
359:Archived
327:Archived
290:Archived
257:Archived
252:PC Gamer
64:patented
1915:Chocobo
1910:Cactuar
1829:Related
1683:
1624:Artniks
1592:
1568:Ivalice
1540:
1516:Chocobo
1509:
1404:Prompto
1287:Vanille
1220:Ivalice
1091:Beatrix
982:Selphie
950:Rebirth
913:Vincent
777:Exdeath
48:) is a
1920:Moogle
1673:Type-0
1645:Mobius
1394:Noctis
1300:XIII-2
1071:Garnet
1061:Zidane
972:Squall
956:Midgar
943:Remake
903:Yuffie
898:Aerith
888:Barret
850:Strago
845:Shadow
840:Setzer
696:Remake
656:Remake
568:Square
440:Kotaku
205:Legacy
158:Kotaku
62:, and
1927:Music
1888:Media
1473:Music
1436:Music
1419:Cindy
1414:Ardyn
1399:Ignis
1338:Music
1320:Music
1306:Music
1294:Music
1208:Music
1180:Music
1162:Spira
1148:Music
1136:Music
1129:Rikku
1114:Tidus
1098:Music
1081:Quina
1076:Freya
994:Music
977:Rinoa
930:Music
883:Cloud
862:Music
855:Kefka
830:Locke
805:Celes
800:Terra
784:Music
684:Music
677:Rydia
672:Cecil
651:Music
640:Music
622:Music
168:Tales
1736:SaGa
1729:Mana
1201:Fran
1196:Vaan
1124:Lulu
1119:Yuna
1086:Kuja
1066:Vivi
987:Edea
923:Zack
893:Tifa
835:Relm
810:Cyan
89:and
1905:ATB
1431:DLC
1142:X-2
825:Leo
820:Gau
562:by
46:ATB
1951::
1680:HD
1537:II
502:.
498:.
472:.
468:.
442:.
438:.
412:.
408:.
383:.
357:.
351:.
325:.
319:.
305:^
288:.
284:.
272:^
255:.
249:.
237:^
225:.
570:)
544:e
537:t
530:v
513:.
483:.
453:.
423:.
393:.
368:.
336:.
299:.
266:.
20:)
Text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License. Additional terms may apply.
