Experience the Reimagined Classic: Romancing SaGa 2: Revenge of the Seven
Many longtime gamers discovered the SaGa series through its numerous releases across past console generations. For me, Romancing SaGa 2 on iOS served as my introduction almost a decade ago. I initially struggled, approaching it like a typical JRPG. Now, I'm a devoted SaGa fan (as evidenced by the photo below!), and I was thrilled by the recent announcement of Romancing SaGa 2: Revenge of the Seven—a complete remake—for Switch, PC, and PlayStation.
For this review, I played the Romancing SaGa 2: Revenge of the Seven Steam Deck demo and interviewed its producer, Shinichi Tatsuke (also behind Trials of Mana's remake). We discussed the game, lessons learned from Trials of Mana, accessibility, potential Xbox and mobile ports, coffee, and more. The interview, conducted via video call, has been transcribed and lightly edited.
TouchArcade (TA): What's it like remaking beloved titles like Trials of Mana and now Romancing SaGa 2?
Shinichi Tatsuke (ST): Both Trials of Mana and the SaGa series predate the Square Enix merger, hailing from the Squaresoft era. They're legendary Square titles. It's an honor to remake them. Nearly 30 years have passed since their original releases, providing ample room for improvement. Romancing SaGa 2 is unique, its systems still innovative today. Its uniqueness made it a compelling remake candidate, even after 30 years.
TA: The original Romancing SaGa 2 was notoriously challenging. I received a game over within ten minutes! The remake offers multiple difficulty settings. How did you balance staying true to the original while enhancing accessibility?
ST: The SaGa series' difficulty is well-known, attracting hardcore fans worldwide. However, this difficulty also creates a high barrier to entry for newcomers. Many know of SaGa but haven't played it due to perceived difficulty. We aimed to please both veteran and new players. The solution? A new difficulty system. "Normal" mode caters to standard RPG players, while "Casual" mode prioritizes narrative enjoyment. Our development team included core SaGa fans, making this a collaborative decision. Think of it like adding honey to spicy curry—the original game is the spicy curry, and casual mode is the honey.
TA: How did you preserve the original experience for veterans while adding quality-of-life improvements?
ST: The SaGa series isn't just about difficulty; it's about understanding. The original game hid crucial information like enemy weaknesses and defenses, making it unfairly challenging. We corrected this for modern players. Weaknesses are now visible, creating a fairer, more enjoyable experience. We addressed other overly difficult elements to improve fairness and enjoyment.
TA: The Steam Deck performance is impressive. Was it optimized specifically for the Steam Deck?
ST: Yes, the full game will be compatible and playable on the Steam Deck.
TA: How long was the development process?
ST: I can't give specifics, but main development began in late 2021.
TA: What did you learn from the Trials of Mana remake that benefited Romancing SaGa 2?
ST: Trials of Mana taught us player preferences regarding remakes. For example, players prefer soundtracks faithful to the originals, but with enhanced quality. We offered a choice between original and rearranged tracks in Trials of Mana, a feature carried over to Romancing SaGa 2. We also adjusted the graphics. The Mana series' characters are shorter and more adorable. SaGa's characters are taller and the visual style is more serious, utilizing lighting effects for realism.
TA: Will Romancing SaGa 2 come to mobile or Xbox?
ST: No current plans.
TA: Finally, what's your coffee preference?
ST: I don't drink coffee; I dislike bitter drinks. I also don't drink beer.
Romancing SaGa 2: Revenge of the Seven Steam Deck Impressions
Receiving a Steam key for the demo filled me with excitement and apprehension. The trailer looked fantastic, but I worried about Steam Deck compatibility. My concerns vanished quickly. Romancing SaGa 2: Revenge of the Seven is not only excellent on the Steam Deck OLED but also surpasses my expectations. The few hours I spent with the demo made me reconsider getting it on PS5 or Switch.
The game looks and sounds superb on the Steam Deck. The remake gradually introduces combat, stats, and more. For returning players, quality-of-life improvements enhance information presentation and combat flow. Newcomers will find it a welcoming entry point into the SaGa series. The visuals are more approachable, but it retains the core Romancing SaGa 2 experience. Even on the hardest difficulty, it remains challenging.
The remake's visuals exceeded my expectations. While I enjoyed Trials of Mana's remake, I believe Romancing SaGa 2: Revenge of the Seven is superior (possibly due to my preference for the original game). The PC port, at least on Steam Deck, is exceptionally well-optimized. Audio and language options allow switching between the new and original soundtracks, English and Japanese audio, and various graphics settings.
The PC port allows adjustments to screen mode, resolution (720p support on Steam Deck), frame rate, v-sync, dynamic resolution, graphics presets, anti-aliasing, texture filtering, shadow quality, and 3D model rendering resolution. Even with high settings, I achieved a near-locked 90fps on my Steam Deck OLED at 720p.
For my first playthrough, I used English voice acting, which was good. I plan to try Japanese in the full release. The game successfully modernizes the experience while preserving its SaGa identity.
I eagerly anticipate the full game and its console versions. Romancing SaGa 2: Revenge of the Seven is a must-have for RPG fans. I hope this encourages others to explore the SaGa series. Square Enix, please give us SaGa Frontier 2 next!
Romancing SaGa 2: Revenge of the Seven launches on October 24th for Steam, Nintendo Switch, PS5, and PS4 worldwide. A free demo is available on all platforms.
