Romancing SaGa 2: Exclusive Interview and Hands-On Impressions

A deep dive into the SaGa series often begins with its extensive library 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, as the photo below demonstrates, I'm a devoted SaGa fan. The recent announcement of Romancing SaGa 2: Revenge of the Seven, a complete remake for Switch, PC, and PlayStation, was a welcome surprise.

This dual-feature review involves my hands-on experience with a pre-release demo of Romancing SaGa 2: Revenge of the Seven on Steam Deck and an interview with Game Producer Shinichi Tatsuke (also behind Trials of Mana's remake). Our discussion covered the game's development, lessons learned from Trials of Mana, accessibility, potential ports to Xbox and mobile, and more. 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: 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, released nearly 30 years ago, offered significant opportunities for improvement. Romancing SaGa 2, with its unique systems, remains distinctive even today, making it a compelling candidate for a modern remake.

TA: The original Romancing SaGa 2 was notoriously challenging. I experienced a game over within ten 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 graphics?

ST: The SaGa series' difficulty is well-known, particularly among its dedicated fanbase. Some consider it essential to the series' identity, while others see it as a significant barrier to entry. Many are familiar with SaGa but haven't played due to perceived difficulty.

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, making this a collaborative decision. Think of it like 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 delivering the original experience for veterans while incorporating quality-of-life improvements? How did you choose which features to modernize while maintaining challenge for longtime fans?

ST: SaGa isn't just about difficulty; it's also about accessibility. The original lacked visible information, such as enemy weaknesses and defenses. This wasn't necessarily difficult, but unfair. For the remake, we made weaknesses visible and adjusted other challenging aspects for a fairer, more enjoyable experience.

TA: Romancing SaGa 2: Revenge of the Seven runs exceptionally well on my 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: Can you comment on the development time for Romancing SaGa 2: Revenge of the Seven?

ST: I can't provide specifics, but main development began towards the end of 2021.

TA: What did you learn from the Trials of Mana remake that informed the development of Romancing SaGa 2: Revenge of the Seven?

ST: Trials of Mana taught us player preferences regarding remakes. For example, soundtracks: players generally prefer arrangements close to the originals. While the original tracks were limited by Super Famicom technology, the remake allows for higher quality while maintaining faithfulness to the originals. We also learned that players appreciate the option to choose between original and rearranged tracks, a feature included in Romancing SaGa 2: Revenge of the Seven. We also adapted the graphics, opting for taller characters and realistic lighting effects, distinct from the more stylized Trials of Mana approach.

TA: Trials of Mana eventually released on 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 also don't drink beer.

(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 a pre-release demo filled me with excitement and apprehension. The trailer looked fantastic, but Steam Deck compatibility was uncertain. Thankfully, Romancing SaGa 2: Revenge of the Seven is excellent on the Steam Deck OLED. The demo convinced me to skip PS5 and Switch versions. The game looks and sounds superb, and the remake gradually introduces core mechanics. Quality-of-life improvements enhance combat flow and information presentation. New audio options cater to both veterans and newcomers. The visuals enhance accessibility, yet it remains true to the Romancing SaGa 2 experience. Even on the original-difficulty setting, the challenge is preserved.

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 affection for the original. The Steam Deck port is exceptionally well-optimized. Sound and language options include original and new soundtracks, English and Japanese audio, and extensive graphics settings. The PC port offers adjustments for 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 achieved near-locked 90fps at 720p on my Steam Deck OLED with mostly maximum settings.

I'm eager to play the full game and compare the console and Steam Deck experiences. Romancing SaGa 2: Revenge of the Seven is a must-have for RPG fans. I hope this sparks interest in other SaGa titles. 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.