A deep dive into the SaGa series often begins with its extensive library across past console generations. For me, Romancing SaGa 2 on iOS marked my entry point almost a decade ago. Initially, I struggled, mistaking it for a typical JRPG. Now, my affection for the SaGa franchise is evident (see the photo below). I was thrilled to see Romancing SaGa 2: Revenge of the Seven, a complete remake, announced for Switch, PC, and PlayStation.
This dual feature covers my experience with an early demo code of Romancing SaGa 2: Revenge of the Seven on Steam Deck, along with an interview with Game 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. 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 Romancing 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, making it a compelling remake candidate.
TA: The original Romancing SaGa 2 was notoriously challenging (I got a game over in the first 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 its modern visuals?
ST: The SaGa series' difficulty is well-known, attracting hardcore fans globally. However, this difficulty also creates a barrier to entry for many. We aimed to cater to both veteran and new players. The solution? Multiple difficulty modes: Normal and Casual. Normal targets standard RPG players, while Casual prioritizes story accessibility. This is akin to adding honey to spicy curry – the original game's difficulty is the spice, and the Casual mode is the honey, making it more palatable.
TA: How did you balance preserving the original experience for veterans with quality-of-life improvements? How did you choose which features to modernize while maintaining the challenge for long-time fans?
ST: The SaGa series isn't just about difficulty; it's about the understanding of the difficulty. The original lacked visible enemy weaknesses and other stats, forcing players to figure things out. This wasn't challenging, but unfair. The remake displays weaknesses and other crucial information, creating a fairer, more enjoyable experience. We adjusted areas that were unnecessarily difficult in the original to make it more accessible to modern players.
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 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 remakes. For instance, regarding soundtracks, players prefer arrangements faithful to the originals, but with improved quality due to modern technology. We added an option to switch between original and rearranged tracks, a feature well-received in Trials of Mana and carried over to Romancing SaGa 2: Revenge of the Seven. We also learned about graphic styles and adapted our approach accordingly for the SaGa remake.
The interviewer thanks Tatsuke for the "Romancing SaGa 2 Primer" video.
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 demo generated excitement and apprehension. The reveal trailer was impressive, but Steam Deck compatibility was uncertain. Thankfully, Romancing SaGa 2: Revenge of the Seven excels on the Steam Deck OLED. The demo convinced me to skip PS5 and Switch versions.
The visuals and audio are fantastic. The remake gradually introduces core mechanics. Quality-of-life improvements enhance battles and information presentation. New audio options cater to both veterans and newcomers. The visuals enhance accessibility, yet the core Romancing SaGa 2 experience remains. Even playing on the original's difficulty level, the challenge is satisfying.
The PC port offers extensive customization: screen mode, resolution (720p support 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. Even with high settings, I achieved near-locked 90fps at 720p on my Steam Deck OLED.
I used English audio for the demo, finding the voice acting good. I might try Japanese later. The remake successfully blends modern features with the classic SaGa feel.
I eagerly await the full game and console versions. Romancing SaGa 2: Revenge of the Seven is a must-have for RPG fans. Hopefully, this will inspire more interest in 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.
