http://www.themoderndaypirates.com/pirates/wp-content/uploads/2011/02/Final-Fantasy-3-Image-3.gif
=sideview, shows players and monsters evenly

http://www.snesclassics.com/snes-roms/images/boxart/final%20fantasy%20-%20mystic%20quest-1.jpg
=bottom to top, shows little player characters, big monsters

http://www.gamingdale.com/games/role_playing/might_and_magic_v_darkside_of_xeen/screen_1.jpg
= just portraits with monsters, with buttons to the side

making an iphone game(zombie survival rpg), wondering which would be better, each seems to have advantages and disadvantages

1) monsters don't look all that menacing, but players look cool
2) monsters look good, but players look a little bland
3) monsters look good, but i don't know if a portrait is enough, or if it seems cheap

I'm a fan of the top to bottom. Since you said you were making a zombie rpg/survival thing. Your characters and monsters can be the same size and so they can have the same amount of detail.

Side has always been my favourite. You get to see every character and enemy in full, and it leaves room for some simple(but visually pleasing) battle animations.

The [color=#1C2837]portraits system feels to constricting for me, very little possibility for animation, and you never get to see yourself.


Top down isn't so bad, though it could be hard to avoid it looking static(players will have to move left and right to hit specific enemies. And it may be hard to tell certain types of opponents apart without good sprite design.

The best for me was the golden sun battle system, only that it's pretty complicated to make (at least when I look at it).

Golden Sun, skip to 1:20

If it wasnt an iphone game or handheld quality I would go for number 3. I vote for 1and would had visual effects to monster attacks.