   Zelda with FF statistics
  I wonder how well the action based combat of Zelda, could be combined with the extra depth and strategy that the Final Fantasy series statistical base brings with it? Whilst still being good fun.Evidently, it is possible to use statistics that relate to weapon use (ie. doing low damage at low character levels).But how does realtime skill based play conflict with strategic use of abilities? Could they be combined in a satisfying hybrid? 
  Does not conflict much if done right, so yes. ;  Have you played the Seiken Densetsu series of games (Final Fantasy Adventure, Secret of Mana, Seiken Densetsu 3, Legend of Mana, Sword of Mana)? Those combine Zelda-style realtime combat with Final Fantasy-style stats and equipment. ;  I have no experience in the matter beyond watching my girlfriend on Zelda and having played FF6. But I''d think that the action-based combat would prevent me from playing FF6 properly. I spent a lot of time choosing the most effective move at any given point and was able to apply it regardless of position.   [ MSVC Fixes | STL Docs | SDL | Game AI | Sockets | C++ Faq Lite | Boost  Asking Questions | Organising code files | My stuff | Tiny XML | STLPort] ;  i was going to say they already made that game, but someone beat me to it. They called it "Secret of Mana" (with accompanying sequels). Awesome game BTW ;  Secret of mana was a great game.  Wasn''t it the first game to be developed by the us based development house of squaresoft?  I was unaware that it was part of an entire series of games.  I''m going to have to catch up on those.   ;  actually, Secret of Evermore was the first US-Square game. Mana was wonderfull, but Seiken Densetsu 3 (it''s JAP-only sequel) was not that good, although it had some interesting features. The whole weapon system was terrible. I''ve never played the two newer playstation games (SNES was the golden age, lets face it!). ;  I''m not sure which came first, but the nintendo''s Ys and Crystalis were more along the lines of the first action RPGs.  If those two are predated, I don''t know by what.Ys sucked.Crystalis had rather simplistic stats, and they basically just boiled down to damage rates. If you played according to the difficulty curve, then the game was more about solid action rather then stat tinkering, which is how it probably should be. 