The Active Time Battle system used in many classic Final Fantasy games was originally inspired by F1 racing. The first three Final Fantasy games used turn-based combat systems inspired by Dungeons & Dragons, in which all characters on the battlefield took actions in order, but Final Fantasy 4 introduced real-time combat that made battles more active.
Final Fantasy's turn-based combat meant players could take on battles at their own pace. They were free to think over their next moves and form strategies, as enemies would never move unless it was their turn. FF4 then introduced the ATB system, giving each character a bar that filled up over the course of battle. Once full, they could perform an action, resetting the bar. This meant swift characters could perform multiple actions before a slower enemy could perform one. Some enemies also had special counterattacks that functioned outside of the Active Time Battle order (as in Bravely Default 2’s battle system), serving to throw a spanner into players' plans.
As time went on, the Final Fantasy series moved to real-time, action-RPG gameplay, though even the modern FF7 Remake still referenced the ATB system. The Active Time Battle meter was a mainstay of the JRPG genre for years, yet it was inspired by something far outside the realms of fantasy video games.
Final Fantasy's ATB Meter Let Players Lap Opponents
Speaking with the official Square Enix website for the game’s 30th anniversary in July 2021, Final Fantasy 4 game designer and scenario writer Takashi Tokita explained the ATB system was created by battle designer Hiroyuki Ito. The idea came to him when he was watching a Formula 1 race and saw slower cars being lapped. Ito realized the same system could be applied to a JRPG, with faster characters being able to perform multiple actions before others. This ended up being one of the benefits of Final Fantasy 4 character Edge: As the fastest in the party, he could usually perform two actions in the time it took an ally to perform one. Edge was balanced by not being as physically strong as characters like Cecil or Kain, but his extra actions also allowed him to quickly use a healing item in emergencies.
The ATB system added an extra element of challenge to the Final Fantasy series, but Square Enix did provide options for those who didn’t like the new mechanic. Several Square Enix JRPGs had the option to disable ATB and allow battles to play out as turn-based affairs. This was something of an early attempt at accessibility, as it allowed Final Fantasy players the option to take their time in a battle system designed to emulate the fast-paced racing of F1.
Source: Square Enix