Romancing SaGa 2: Google-Optimized Interview and Hands-On

Romancing SaGa 2: Revenge of the Seven – A Remake Fit for Modern Gamers: An Interview and Steam Deck Impressions

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, mistaking it for a typical JRPG. Now, I'm a devoted SaGa fan (as evidenced by the photo below), and I was thrilled to see the announcement of Romancing SaGa 2: Revenge of the Seven, a complete remake for Switch, PC, and PlayStation.

For this review, I played the early demo on Steam Deck and interviewed Shinichi Tatsuke, the game producer behind the remake and 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. This 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, originating from the Squaresoft era. They're legendary Square titles. Remaking them is an incredible honor. Both games, released nearly 30 years ago, offered significant opportunities for improvement. Romancing SaGa 2, with its unique systems, remains distinctive even today. Its uniqueness made it a compelling choice for a remake.

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

ST: The SaGa series' difficulty is well-known, attracting dedicated fans worldwide. Some believe difficulty is essential to the SaGa experience. However, many are deterred by its perceived high barrier to entry. Many know the series but haven't played it due to this.

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 lets players focus on the story. Our development team included core SaGa fans, making this a collaborative decision. It's 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.

TA: How did you balance the original experience for veterans with quality-of-life improvements? How did you choose which features to modernize while maintaining the challenge?

ST: The SaGa series isn't just about difficulty; it's about understanding the game. The original lacked visible information, such as enemy weaknesses and defenses, forcing players to figure it out. This wasn't difficult, but unfair. In the remake, weaknesses are clearly displayed. We addressed other overly challenging aspects to create a fairer, more enjoyable experience for modern audiences.

TA: Romancing SaGa 2: Revenge of the Seven runs exceptionally well on Steam Deck. Considering your experience with Trials of Mana on various platforms, was the game specifically optimized for Steam Deck?

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

TA: How long was the development of 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 example, players prefer soundtracks faithful to the originals, with improved quality to match modern platforms. We added an option to switch between original and rearranged tracks, a feature well-received in Trials of Mana. We also adjusted the graphics; SaGa characters are taller than in Mana, reflecting the series' more serious tone. We used lighting effects instead of texture shadows, maintaining realism. We utilized past experiences but also innovated for this remake.

The interviewer thanked Tatsuke for the "Romancing SaGa 2 Primer" video.

TA: Trials of Mana came to 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 filled me with excitement and apprehension. The trailer looked amazing, but I worried about Steam Deck compatibility. Thankfully, Romancing SaGa 2: Revenge of the Seven is fantastic on the Steam Deck OLED. The few hours I spent with the demo made me reconsider getting it on PS5 or Switch. It's that good.

The game looks and sounds great on Steam Deck. The remake gradually introduces battle mechanics, stats, etc. For returning players, quality-of-life improvements enhance combat flow and audio options. For newcomers, it's a welcoming entry point into the SaGa series. The visuals enhance accessibility, but it's still Romancing SaGa 2 with a fresh coat of paint and new features. Even on the original difficulty setting, it remains challenging.

The visuals exceeded my expectations. While I loved Trials of Mana's remake, Romancing SaGa 2: Revenge of the Seven might be the superior remake (though my preference for the original game might influence this). The PC port on Steam Deck is surprisingly good. The game offers extensive customization options: screen mode, resolution (up to 720p 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 maxed out most settings, achieving a near-locked 90fps at 720p on my Steam Deck OLED.

I used English audio for my playthrough. The voice acting is good, but I'll likely play the full game in Japanese. The remake successfully balances modernization with the essence of SaGa.

I eagerly anticipate the full game and the console demo. Romancing SaGa 2: Revenge of the Seven is a must-have for RPG fans. Hopefully, this will encourage more players to explore the SaGa series. 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.