Many longtime fans discovered the SaGa series through past console releases. For me, the iOS version of Romancing SaGa 2 was my introduction almost a decade ago. Initially, I struggled, approaching it like 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.
For this review, I played the Romancing SaGa 2: Revenge of the Seven Steam Deck demo and interviewed producer Shinichi Tatsuke (also behind Trials of Mana's remake). We discussed the remake, lessons learned from Trials of Mana, accessibility, potential Xbox and mobile ports, coffee preferences, and more. This interview, conducted via video call, has been transcribed and edited for brevity.
TouchArcade (TA): What's it like remaking beloved classics 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, 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 room for improvement. Romancing SaGa 2, with its unique systems, remains distinctive even today. Its originality made it a compelling candidate for a remake.
TA: The original Romancing SaGa 2 was notoriously challenging. I got a game over in the first ten minutes! The remake offers multiple difficulty levels. How did you balance faithfulness to the original with accessibility, especially for newcomers encountering SaGa for the first time with modern visuals?
ST: The SaGa series' difficulty is well-known, and many hardcore fans appreciate it. However, this high barrier to entry prevents many from experiencing the series. We aimed to satisfy both veteran and new players. The solution was a new difficulty system: Normal and Casual modes. Normal caters to standard RPG players, while Casual prioritizes narrative enjoyment. Our team included core SaGa fans, making this a collaborative decision. Think of it like adding honey to spicy curry—the original game's difficulty is the spice, and Casual mode is the honey, making it more accessible.
ST (cont.): SaGa isn't just about difficulty; it's also about understanding the game mechanics. The original lacked visible information, such as enemy weaknesses and defenses. This wasn't necessarily difficult, but unfair. The remake addresses this by displaying weaknesses, making the experience fairer and more enjoyable for modern audiences. We adjusted other overly challenging aspects to improve accessibility.
TA: The Steam Deck performance impressed me. Considering your experience with Trials of Mana on various platforms, was the game optimized specifically for the Steam Deck?
ST: Yes, the full game will be compatible and playable on the Steam Deck.
TA: How long did development take?
ST: I can't provide exact details, but main development began in late 2021.
TA: What did you learn from Trials of Mana that you applied to Romancing SaGa 2: Revenge of the Seven?
ST: Trials of Mana taught us player preferences regarding remakes. For example, players generally prefer soundtracks that closely resemble the originals, even with modern technology allowing for higher quality arrangements. We offered a choice between original and rearranged tracks in Trials of Mana, a feature we've included in Romancing SaGa 2: Revenge of the Seven. Visually, Mana's character designs are more "cute," while SaGa maintains a more serious tone, necessitating different graphical approaches. We utilized lighting effects in SaGa, unlike the texture-based shadows in Mana. We leveraged previous knowledge but also incorporated new approaches.
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.
Romancing SaGa 2: Revenge of the Seven Steam Deck Impressions
Receiving a Steam key for the Romancing SaGa 2: Revenge of the Seven demo filled me with excitement and apprehension. The trailer looked amazing, but I worried about Steam Deck compatibility. Thankfully, the game runs exceptionally well on the Steam Deck OLED. My demo experience made me reconsider getting it on PS5 or Switch; it's that good on Valve's handheld.
The visuals and audio are superb. The remake gradually introduces gameplay mechanics. Returning players will notice quality-of-life improvements and new audio options. Newcomers will find it a great introduction to the SaGa series. The visuals enhance accessibility, but this remains true to the spirit of Romancing SaGa 2. The original difficulty setting remains challenging.
The visuals exceeded my expectations. While I loved Trials of Mana's remake, this might surpass it (though that remains to be seen with the full release). The PC port on Steam Deck is excellent. Extensive graphical and audio settings are available, including selectable soundtracks (original or remake), English or Japanese audio, and various graphical options. I maxed out most settings and still achieved a near-locked 90fps at 720p on my Steam Deck OLED.
I played with English audio initially, and the voice acting is good. I'll likely try Japanese in the full game. The remake successfully modernizes Romancing SaGa 2 while preserving its essence.
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 introduce more players to the SaGa series—and inspire Square Enix to release SaGa Frontier 2 next!
Romancing SaGa 2: Revenge of the Seven launches October 24th on Steam, Nintendo Switch, PS5, and PS4. A demo is available on all platforms.
