SaGa 2 Delights: Interview & Steam Preview

A deep dive into the SaGa series for newcomers and veterans alike: Romancing SaGa 2: Revenge of the Seven. Many long-time gamers discovered the SaGa franchise through older console releases. For me, Romancing SaGa 2 on iOS served as my introduction almost a decade ago, a journey marked by initial struggles due to my conventional JRPG approach. Now, a devoted SaGa enthusiast (as evidenced by the image below), I 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 includes my hands-on experience with the Steam Deck demo (via an early access code) and an exclusive interview with Romancing SaGa 2: Revenge of the Seven Game Producer, Shinichi Tatsuke (also behind Trials of Mana's remake). Our conversation covered various aspects, including the game's development, lessons learned from Trials of Mana, accessibility features, potential future ports (Xbox and mobile), and even coffee preferences. The interview, conducted via video call, has been transcribed and edited for brevity.

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 Romancing SaGa series predate the Square Enix merger, originating from the Squaresoft era. These are legendary Square titles, and it's an immense honor to helm their remakes. Both games, originally released nearly 30 years ago, offered significant opportunities for improvement. Romancing SaGa 2, with its unique systems, remains innovative even today. Its distinctive gameplay makes it a compelling choice for a remake, even after three decades.

TA: The original Romancing SaGa 2 was notoriously challenging (I personally experienced a game over within 10 minutes!). The remake offers multiple difficulty settings. How did you balance faithfulness to the original with improved accessibility, especially for newcomers encountering the SaGa series for the first time with modern visuals?

ST: The SaGa series' difficulty is well-known, particularly among its dedicated fanbase. Many consider this difficulty integral to the SaGa experience. However, this also presents a significant barrier to entry for potential players. Many are aware of the series but haven't played it due to perceived difficulty.

To address this, we aimed to cater to both veteran and new players. The solution was a new difficulty system: Normal and Casual modes. Normal mode targets standard RPG players, while Casual mode prioritizes narrative experience. Our development team included core SaGa fans, ensuring a balanced approach. Think of it like adding honey to spicy curry – the original Romancing SaGa 2 is the spicy curry, and Casual mode is the honey, making it more palatable for newcomers.

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?

ST: The SaGa series isn't solely about difficulty; it's also about understanding the game mechanics. The original lacked visible information, such as enemy weaknesses and defense stats. This wasn't necessarily difficult, but unfair. For the remake, we addressed this by making weaknesses visible, creating a fairer and more enjoyable experience. We adjusted other overly challenging aspects to enhance modern accessibility.

TA: Romancing SaGa 2: Revenge of the Seven runs exceptionally well on Steam Deck. Considering your experience with Trials of Mana on various platforms (PS4, Switch, mobile), was there specific optimization for the Steam Deck?

ST: Yes, the full game will be compatible and playable on Steam Deck.

TA: How long was the development process for Romancing SaGa 2: Revenge of the Seven?

ST: I can't give specifics, 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 player preferences for remakes. For example, regarding soundtracks, players generally prefer arrangements faithful to the originals, but with improved quality to leverage modern technology. We also learned that offering a choice between original and rearranged tracks is well-received, a feature included in Romancing SaGa 2: Revenge of the Seven. Visually, we adjusted character proportions and lighting effects to suit the SaGa aesthetic, differing from the more "adorable" style of Mana. We combined lessons learned with new approaches specific to this remake.

TA: Trials of Mana eventually released on mobile. Are there plans for Romancing SaGa 2: Revenge of the Seven on 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.

(Thanks to Shinichi Tatsuke, Jordan Aslett, Sara Green, and Rachel Mascetti for their time and assistance.)

Romancing SaGa 2: Revenge of the Seven Steam Deck Impressions

Receiving a Steam key for the pre-release demo filled me with excitement and apprehension. The reveal trailer looked stunning, but Steam Deck compatibility was uncertain. Thankfully, Romancing SaGa 2: Revenge of the Seven is not only excellent on the Steam Deck OLED but so good that I'm reconsidering playing it on PS5 or Switch.

The game looks and sounds fantastic. The remake gradually introduces core mechanics, offering quality-of-life improvements, smoother combat, and new audio options. For newcomers, it's a welcoming entry point into the SaGa series. The enhanced visuals improve accessibility, yet the core Romancing SaGa 2 experience remains intact. Even on the "original" difficulty setting, the challenge is significant.

Visually, the remake surpasses expectations. While I enjoyed Trials of Mana's remake, Romancing SaGa 2: Revenge of the Seven might be superior (possibly due to my greater fondness for the original). The Steam Deck PC port is remarkably well-optimized. Audio and language options include selectable soundtracks (original or remake), English or Japanese audio, and various graphics settings. Even with maximum settings (except for medium shadows), I achieved a near-locked 90fps at 720p on my Steam Deck OLED. I initially played with English voice acting, but may switch to Japanese for the full game.

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 others to explore the SaGa series. Square Enix, please give us SaGa Frontier 2 next!

Romancing SaGa 2: Revenge of the Seven launches October 24th for Steam, Nintendo Switch, PS5, and PS4. A free demo is available on all platforms.