The SaGa series has a rich history that spans multiple console generations, captivating fans with its unique gameplay mechanics and challenging experiences. My own journey into the series began nearly a decade ago with Romancing SaGa 2 on iOS, a game that initially perplexed me as I approached it with the mindset of a typical JRPG. Over time, my appreciation for the SaGa series has grown immensely, as evidenced by the photograph at the bottom of this article. Recently, I was thrilled to learn about the announcement of Romancing SaGa 2: Revenge of the Seven, a full remake of the classic game, set to release on Switch, PC, and PlayStation.
For this double feature, I've had the opportunity to play the early demo of Romancing SaGa 2: Revenge of the Seven on Steam Deck and to interview Shinichi Tatsuke, the game's producer, who previously worked on the Trials of Mana remake. Our discussion covered a wide range of topics, including the development of Romancing SaGa 2: Revenge of the Seven, insights from Trials of Mana, accessibility, potential ports, and even personal preferences like coffee. The interview was conducted via video call, transcribed, and edited for clarity and brevity.
TouchArcade (TA): What was it like transitioning from working on the Trials of Mana remake to Romancing SaGa 2: Revenge of the Seven, both being remakes of iconic games from the pre-Square Enix era?
Shinichi Tatsuke (ST): Working on both Trials of Mana and Romancing SaGa 2 is a tremendous honor, given their legendary status from the Squaresoft days. Both titles were originally released almost 30 years ago, offering us a fantastic opportunity to enhance and modernize them. Romancing SaGa 2, in particular, is known for its unique systems that remain distinctive even today, making it an exciting project to bring to modern audiences.
TA: The original Romancing SaGa 2 was notoriously challenging. How did you balance staying true to the original game while making it more accessible for new players, especially with its modern graphics?
ST: The SaGa series is renowned for its difficulty, which is a defining feature for many fans. However, it's also a barrier for newcomers who find the games too hard to start. To address this, we introduced a new difficulty system with a Normal mode for traditional RPG fans and a Casual mode for those who want to focus on the narrative. This approach aims to cater to both new players and long-time fans, making the game more inclusive while maintaining its core challenge.
TA: How did you manage to deliver the original experience for veteran fans while incorporating quality-of-life improvements and modernizing the gameplay?
ST: The SaGa series' challenge often stems from the game's complexity rather than just its difficulty. In the original Romancing SaGa 2, many elements like enemy weaknesses and stats were hidden, making the game feel unfair. For the remake, we aimed to make these elements more transparent to ensure a fair and enjoyable experience for modern audiences. We displayed weaknesses and adjusted other areas to maintain the game's challenge without the unfairness.
TA: I've been playing the demo on Steam Deck, and it runs impressively well. Was the game specifically optimized for this platform?
Editor’s Note: This was asked before the game had an official Valve rating of Steam Deck Playable.
ST: Yes, the full game will be compatible with the Steam Deck, ensuring a smooth gaming experience for players using this device.
TA: Can you share how long the development of Romancing SaGa 2: Revenge of the Seven took?
ST: While I can't provide specific details, I can say that we began the main development towards the end of 2021.
TA: What lessons from the Trials of Mana remake did you apply to Romancing SaGa 2: Revenge of the Seven to ensure it resonates with fans?
ST: From Trials of Mana, we learned that players appreciate soundtracks that remain faithful to the original while benefiting from modern technology for higher quality. We also introduced an option to switch between original and newly arranged tracks, which was well-received and implemented in Romancing SaGa 2: Revenge of the Seven. Additionally, while some elements from Trials of Mana were adapted, we made unique adjustments to graphics and lighting to suit the SaGa series' more serious tone.
At this point, I thanked him and the team for creating the "Romancing SaGa 2 Primer" video, which was a great introduction to the game in English and helped share the game with friends new to the series.
TA: The Trials of Mana remake eventually came to mobile. Are there plans to bring Romancing SaGa 2: Revenge of the Seven to mobile or Xbox?
ST: Currently, there are no plans to release the game on those platforms.
TA: Lastly, how do you take your coffee?
ST: I don't drink coffee because I'm not a fan of bitter drinks. I can't drink beer either.
I’d like to thank Shinichi Tatsuke, Jordan Aslett, Sara Green, and Rachel Mascetti for their time and assistance with this interview and preview access over the last few weeks.
Romancing SaGa 2: Revenge of the Seven Steam Deck Impressions
Upon receiving a Steam key for the demo of Romancing SaGa 2: Revenge of the Seven, I was both excited and apprehensive. The trailer looked promising, but I was unsure how it would perform on the Steam Deck pre-release. To my delight, the game not only runs smoothly on the Steam Deck OLED but also offers a compelling experience that made me reconsider playing it on other platforms like PS5 or Switch. The demo was engaging enough to make me eager for the full release.
Visually and audibly, Romancing SaGa 2: Revenge of the Seven excels on the Steam Deck. The remake introduces battle mechanics, stats, and other elements gradually, making it more accessible for both new and returning players. Quality-of-life improvements enhance the flow of combat and information display, while the option to toggle between the new and original soundtracks adds to the experience. For newcomers, this remake serves as an excellent entry point into the SaGa series, with its approachable visuals and modern features, yet it retains the challenging essence of the original game.
The visuals and overall feel of the remake surpass my expectations. While I enjoyed the Trials of Mana remake, I believe Romancing SaGa 2: Revenge of the Seven might outshine it, possibly due to my deeper connection with the original game. The PC port on Steam Deck is remarkably well-optimized, offering various customization options for screen mode, resolution, frame rate, and more. I achieved a near-locked 90fps at 720p with most settings on high, demonstrating the game's impressive performance.
For my initial playthrough, I opted for English audio, which was well-executed, though I plan to experience the full game with Japanese audio as well. The developers have put significant effort into modernizing the game while preserving its unique SaGa identity.
I eagerly anticipate exploring the full game and testing the demo on consoles. Romancing SaGa 2: Revenge of the Seven is a must-try for RPG enthusiasts, and I hope it encourages more players to explore other titles in the SaGa series. My next wish is for Square Enix to consider remaking SaGa Frontier 2.
Romancing SaGa 2: Revenge of the Seven is set to launch on October 24th for Steam, Nintendo Switch, PS5, and PS4 worldwide, with a free demo available on all platforms today. I highly recommend giving it a try.
You can keep up with all our interviews here, including recent discussions with Sukeban Games, FuturLab, Shuhei Matsumoto from Capcom about Marvel Vs Capcom, Santa Ragione, Peter 'Durante' Thoman about PH3 and Falcom, M2 on shmups, and more, along with Digital Extremes for Warframe mobile, Team NINJA, Sonic Dream Team, Hi-Fi Rush, Pentiment, and others. As always, thank you for reading.
