Many longtime fans discovered the SaGa series through past console releases. For me, the iOS version of Romancing SaGa 2 was my introduction nearly a decade ago. I initially struggled, mistaking it for a typical JRPG. Now, I'm a devoted SaGa enthusiast (as evidenced by the photo below), so I was thrilled to see Romancing SaGa 2: Revenge of the Seven, a complete remake, announced for Switch, PC, and PlayStation.
This review covers my hands-on experience with an early demo on Steam Deck and an interview with the game's producer, Shinichi Tatsuke (also behind Trials of Mana's remake). We discussed Romancing SaGa 2: Revenge of the Seven, 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 brevity.
TouchArcade (TA): What's it like remaking beloved games 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 (the Squaresoft era). They're legendary Square titles. Remaking them is an incredible honor. Both games' original releases were nearly 30 years ago, providing ample opportunity for improvement. Romancing SaGa 2 is uniquely designed, with systems considered unique then and now. Its distinctiveness made it a compelling remake candidate, even after 30 years.
TA: The original Romancing SaGa 2 was notoriously challenging. I got a game over in the first ten minutes! The remake offers multiple difficulty settings. How did you balance faithfulness to the original with accessibility, especially for newcomers encountering the SaGa series with modern graphics?
ST: The SaGa series' difficulty is well-known, and it's cherished by many hardcore fans. However, many potential players are deterred by its reputation. Many know the series but haven't played it due to perceived difficulty.
We aimed to satisfy both veteran and new players. The solution? Multiple difficulty levels: normal and casual. Normal mode caters to standard RPG players, while casual mode prioritizes narrative enjoyment. Our development team included core SaGa fans, ensuring a balanced approach. It's like adding honey to spicy curry – the original game's difficulty is the spice, and the casual mode is the honey, making it more accessible.
TA: How did you balance delivering the original experience for veterans with quality-of-life improvements? How did you choose which features to modernize while preserving the challenge?
ST: The SaGa series isn't just about difficulty; it's about the challenge of understanding the game. The original lacked visible information, such as enemy weaknesses and defenses, forcing players to figure it out. We considered this unfair, so the remake explicitly displays weaknesses. We addressed other overly difficult elements to create a fair and enjoyable experience.
TA: The Steam Deck performance is impressive. Considering Trials of Mana's releases on various platforms, was the game optimized for Steam Deck?
ST: Yes, the full game will be compatible and playable on Steam Deck.
TA: How long was development?
ST: I can't give specifics, but major development began in late 2021.
TA: What did you learn from the Trials of Mana remake that informed Romancing SaGa 2: Revenge of the Seven?
ST: Trials of Mana taught us player preferences for remakes. For example, regarding soundtracks, players prefer arrangements faithful to the originals, but with enhanced quality due to modern technology. We offered a choice between original and rearranged tracks in Trials of Mana, a feature carried over to Romancing SaGa 2. The graphics also differed. Mana's characters are shorter and more adorable, while SaGa's aesthetic is more serious, requiring different lighting and shadow techniques. We used our experience from Trials of Mana, but also developed new approaches for Romancing SaGa 2.
Note: The interviewer thanked Tatsuke for the English introduction video.
TA: Trials of Mana reached mobile. Are there plans for Romancing SaGa 2: Revenge of the Seven on mobile or Xbox?
ST: No current 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.
Romancing SaGa 2: Revenge of the Seven Steam Deck Impressions
Receiving a Steam key for the demo was exciting but also slightly concerning. The trailer looked amazing, but I was unsure about Steam Deck compatibility. Thankfully, Romancing SaGa 2: Revenge of the Seven is excellent on the Steam Deck OLED, exceeding my expectations. The few hours I spent with the demo made me question the need for the PS5 or Switch versions.
The game looks and sounds fantastic. The remake gradually introduces battle mechanics, stats, etc. For veterans, there are quality-of-life improvements, refined combat flow, and new audio options. For newcomers, it's a great entry point into the SaGa series. The visuals enhance accessibility, but it's still very much Romancing SaGa 2 with modern enhancements. Even on the highest difficulty, it remains challenging.
The visuals are better than anticipated. I enjoyed Trials of Mana's remake, but Romancing SaGa 2: Revenge of the Seven might be superior (though my preference for the original game may influence this). The PC port is surprisingly good, especially on Steam Deck. Options include screen mode, resolution (720p supported on Steam Deck), frame rate (30 to unlimited), v-sync, dynamic resolution, graphics presets, anti-aliasing, texture filtering, shadow quality, and 3D model rendering resolution. I achieved near 90fps at 720p on my Steam Deck OLED with mostly high settings.
I used English audio for my first playthrough. The voice acting is good, but I'll likely try Japanese later. The remake successfully blends modernization with the essence of the SaGa series.
I eagerly await the full game and will compare the demo's console performance. Romancing SaGa 2: Revenge of the Seven is a must-have for RPG fans. Hopefully, this will encourage more players to explore other SaGa titles. 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.
