A deep dive into the SaGa series often begins with its classic console iterations. For me, Romancing SaGa 2 on iOS served as my introduction almost a decade ago, a journey initially marked by the struggle of approaching it like a typical JRPG. Today, however, I'm a devoted SaGa fan (as evidenced by the photo below), and was thrilled by the recent announcement of Romancing SaGa 2: Revenge of the Seven, a complete remake for Switch, PC, and PlayStation.
This dual-feature review involves my experience with an early access Steam Deck demo and an interview with Shinichi Tatsuke, the game producer behind Trials of Mana’s remake and Romancing SaGa 2: Revenge of the Seven. Our conversation covered the remake, lessons learned from Trials of Mana, accessibility, potential Xbox and mobile ports, coffee preferences, and more. The interview, conducted via video call, has been transcribed and edited for conciseness.
TouchArcade (TA): What's it like remaking beloved titles like Trials of Mana and now Romancing SaGa 2: Revenge of the Seven?
Shinichi Tatsuke (ST): Both Trials of Mana and the SaGa series predate the Square Enix merger, originating from the Squaresoft era. They're legendary Square titles, and remaking them is an incredible honor. Both games, originally released nearly 30 years ago, offered significant opportunities for improvement. Romancing SaGa 2, with its unique systems, remains distinctive even today, making it a compelling candidate for a modern remake.
TA: The original Romancing SaGa 2 was notoriously challenging. I experienced a game over within ten minutes! The remake offers multiple difficulty settings. How did you balance staying true to the original while enhancing accessibility, especially for newcomers encountering the SaGa series for the first time with updated visuals?
ST: The SaGa series' difficulty is well-known, especially among its dedicated fanbase. While some consider the challenge integral to the SaGa experience, others find it a significant barrier to entry. Many are aware of the series but haven't played due to perceived difficulty.
To address this, we introduced adjustable difficulty settings: Normal and Casual. Normal caters to standard RPG players, while Casual prioritizes narrative enjoyment. This decision involved both core SaGa fans and developers, aiming to attract newcomers while satisfying veterans. It's like adding honey to spicy curry—the original game's intense difficulty is softened by the Casual mode option.
TA: How did you balance preserving the original experience for veterans while incorporating quality-of-life improvements? How did you choose which features to modernize while maintaining the challenge for seasoned players?
ST: The SaGa series isn't solely about difficulty; it's also about accessibility. The original lacked visible information, such as enemy weaknesses and defense stats, forcing players to deduce them. This wasn't necessarily difficult, but unfair. The remake addresses this by explicitly displaying enemy weaknesses. We also adjusted areas that were excessively difficult in the original to create a fairer, more enjoyable experience for modern players.
TA: Romancing SaGa 2: Revenge of the Seven runs exceptionally well on my Steam Deck. Considering your experience with Trials of Mana on various platforms, was the game specifically optimized for the Steam Deck?
ST: Yes, the full game will be compatible and playable on the Steam Deck.
TA: How long was the development of Romancing SaGa 2: Revenge of the Seven?
ST: I can't provide specific details, but main development began towards the end of 2021.
TA: What lessons from the Trials of Mana remake informed the development of Romancing SaGa 2: Revenge of the Seven?
ST: Trials of Mana taught us about player preferences regarding remakes. For instance, regarding soundtracks, players generally prefer arrangements faithful to the originals, with improved quality leveraging modern technology. We also learned that offering a choice between original and rearranged soundtracks is highly valued, a feature included in Romancing SaGa 2: Revenge of the Seven. We also adjusted the graphics, opting for taller characters and lighting effects instead of textural shadows to maintain a serious tone more suitable for the SaGa aesthetic.
TA: Trials of Mana eventually released on mobile. Are there plans to bring Romancing SaGa 2: Revenge of the Seven to mobile or Xbox?
ST: Currently, there are no plans for those platforms.
TA: Finally, what's your coffee preference?
ST: I don't drink coffee; I dislike bitter drinks. I don't drink beer either.
Romancing SaGa 2: Revenge of the Seven Steam Deck Impressions
Receiving a Steam key for the Romancing SaGa 2: Revenge of the Seven demo was exciting yet slightly concerning. The reveal trailer was impressive, but the Steam Deck compatibility was uncertain. Thankfully, the game is excellent on the Steam Deck OLED, surpassing my expectations to the point that console versions feel unnecessary.
The game looks and sounds fantastic. The remake gradually introduces battle mechanics, stats, and other elements. Returning players will appreciate quality-of-life improvements, refined combat flow, and new audio options. Newcomers will find it a welcoming introduction to the SaGa series. The visuals enhance accessibility, but the core Romancing SaGa 2 experience remains, even on the original difficulty setting.
Visually, the remake exceeded expectations, potentially surpassing Trials of Mana’s remake in quality. The Steam Deck port is impressively well-optimized. Audio and language options include selectable soundtracks (original or remake), English or Japanese audio, and various graphical settings. I achieved a near-locked 90fps at 720p on my Steam Deck OLED with mostly high settings. I started with English voice acting but plan to try Japanese in the full release.
I eagerly anticipate the full game and exploring the console versions. Romancing SaGa 2: Revenge of the Seven is a must-have for RPG fans. Hopefully, this will encourage exploration of other SaGa titles. Square Enix, please give us SaGa Frontier 2 next!
Romancing SaGa 2: Revenge of the Seven launches October 24th on Steam, Nintendo Switch, PS5, and PS4. A free demo is available on all platforms.
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