Fantasy games often embrace the concept of summoning, a mechanic that enhances gameplay by allowing players to call upon magical entities to aid them in combat. While spells and magic can empower a character, summoning a formidable creature or ally brings an entirely new dimension to the game experience.
Summoning encompasses a wide variety of forms, ranging from invoking powerful mythical beings to calling upon friends and allies you have made throughout the journey. This diversity in gameplay mechanics can manifest as a single-use spell or be integral to the primary combat system.
When discussing summoning systems, it’s crucial to recognize the myriad approaches taken by different games. Some summoning mechanics are designed to be entertaining and visually stunning, while others challenge players’ strategic thinking or provide moments of levity.
10 Final Fantasy X
Dreamlike Allies
Since its inception, the Final Fantasy series has prominently featured summon magic, with illustrious creatures like Shiva and Bahamut making recurrent appearances. In Final Fantasy X, however, the introduction of Aeons marked a significant evolution in the summoning mechanic. Unlike previous iterations where summons acted as oversized spells, Aeons are pivotal allies that can replace your party members in battle, offering a greater level of strategic control.
As players embark on Yuna’s pilgrimage, they can unlock various Aeons, each with distinct abilities that become crucial during challenging encounters. Moreover, players can discover optional Aeons, such as Yojimbo, whose unique summon mechanics and powerful attacks offer a mix of flair and effectiveness.
9 Octopath Traveler 2
Hire Helpers, Tame Beasts
In contrast to traditional RPGs, Octopath Traveler 2 and its predecessor utilize a unique summoning system. Players can harness the special skills of characters to recruit townsfolk and beasts during quests. For instance, charismatic characters like Partitio and Agnea enlist NPCs, who can act as AI partners in battle, unleashing formidable abilities without drawing resources from players.
Additionally, Ochette employs a different approach, as she captures weakened monsters in combat to summon them as allies. Unlike her predecessor, H’annit, Ochette’s ability to repeatedly summon a captured beast provides her with extensive tactical flexibility.
8 Shin Megami Tensei (Series)
Conjured From Demonic Realms
The Shin Megami Tensei series offers a distinctively strategic summoning system, where players assemble a personal roster of demons. Using the Cathedral of Shadows, players can sacrifice lower-ranked demons to summon more powerful ones into their party.
As players engage in negotiations with various demons, they unlock endless possibilities for creating new entities through fusion. Modern entries like Shin Megami Tensei V enhance this experience with streamlined systems to facilitate the summoning process, allowing for the meticulous crafting of a unique and potent team.
7 Persona 5
The Masks We Wear
Persona series, a spin-off of Shin Megami Tensei, adopts a unique utilization of summoning through the manifestation of Personas in battle. In Persona 5, main character Joker, as a Wild Card, can absorb Shadows and fuse them into an array of Personas in the Velvet Room. During combat, players can fluidly summon any collected Persona, all while maintaining limited tactical options on their turns.
Although party members are bound to their designated Personas, they can swap them in and out based on tactical needs, creating dynamic opportunities to adapt to various combat scenarios. This integration offers a rich and visually impressive representation of summoning, fitting seamlessly into the game’s vibrant aesthetic.
6 Dragon Quest 6
Sagely Spirits
Dragon Quest generally features a straightforward magic system focusing on classic offensive and support spells. However, Dragon Quest 6 introduced a summoning mechanic via the Sage vocation. By expending a small amount of MP, players can summon one of four helpful spirits to assist in battle. These spirits aren’t counted as official party members, allowing players to utilize their strengths without risk of damage from enemy-wide attacks.
5 Yakuza: Like A Dragon
Someone Order A Beating?
Yakuza: Like a Dragon incorporates a unique summon mechanic called Poundmates, where protagonist Ichiban summons characters resembling RPG-style allies through his mobile device. This mechanic allows players to call forth characters with various abilities during battles, akin to calling in an attack squad.
As players progress through the game and complete side quests, they unlock more Poundmates, including charismatic allies capable of unleashing powerful moves. This humorous twist on traditional summoning mechanics injects a fresh feel into combat, all while keeping the gameplay engaging and entertaining.
4 Tales Of Symphonia
The Elements Themselves
Summoning elemental Spirits has been a hallmark of the Tales series, with Tales of Symphonia significantly enhancing the narrative depth of this mechanic. Players join the protagonist Sheena on her quest to forge new pacts with elemental spirits, a central plot device that adds emotional stakes to summoning.
Once these pacts are established, Sheena can summon these spirits during crucial battles, employing their elemental powers while activating her Over Limit. However, casting them requires a careful expenditure of time and resources, preventing players from treating summoning lightly.
3 Kingdom Hearts
Everyone Loves A Cameo
Kingdom Hearts further diversifies summoning with its unique blend of Disney characters within its combat mechanics. Instead of relying solely on magical creatures, Sora summons characters such as Simba and Tinker Bell to offer support or unleash devastating attacks against foes.
As Sora gathers Summon Gems, he can manifest these characters during battles, aiding him while adding a vibrant touch to the gameplay. Despite their stature as allies, these characters exhibit familiarity with Sora, establishing a connection that enriches the narrative.
2 Golden Sun: The Lost Age
Piece It Together
The Golden Sun series boasts one of the most intricate summoning systems in the JRPG genre. Players must collect elemental Djinn and possess corresponding stone tablets to initiate summons. In The Lost Age, gathering Djinn from two elemental categories becomes essential for unlocking these powerful spirits.
Upon successful summoning, players unleash spirits that offer both offensive capabilities and valuable support. With a roster that features both returning and new summons, including the legendary Catastrophe, the strategic depth achieved through summoning remains unparalleled in JRPG lore.
1 South Park: The Stick Of Truth
They’ve Got Nothing Better To Do
South Park: The Stick of Truth features a humorous approach to summoning, allowing players to call on iconic figures such as Mister Hankey and even Jesus. By completing specific quests and forming friendships through the game’s social media elements, players unlock powerful summon items that can be used to call upon these characters during battle.
Each summon carries significant power, capable of clearing the field of enemies, albeit with a few limitations, such as only being usable once per in-game day. The characters may be unconventional allies, but their over-the-top abilities fit perfectly within the game’s comedic tone.
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