For me, it was games like Star Ocean, Valkyria Chronicles, or anything that begins in "Tales of" that ruined this battle system. If it at least doesn't have timed hits or something to keep you involved in fights, I'm done.

You better watch out, Dragon Quest. He knows about timed hits.

You are a bad person and should feel bad.

Yes, MMOs those bastions of combat that isn't brain-dead.

I think it's the improvement of technology that ruined this kind of combat for me. There's no reason to abstract this stuff anymore; it's time to put away the dice. If you're not going to include some meaty strategic elements, then there's no reason to just not make it an action game.

"You better watch out, Dragon Quest. He knows about timed hits."

Actually, the latest Dragon Quest (IX, release in NA last month) doesn't have random battles anymore. The combat is still turn-based, but you have to come into contact with visible enemies on the field to initiate it.

Although it's really not clearly from craptacular's craptacular post whether he was complaining about random fights, turn-based fights, or both.

Resident Evil Outbreak weeps at being forgotten.

To add to the immersion. It would be pretty jarring if it sounded like a steam engine.