Many fans of the SaGa series first encountered it through various releases on older console generations. My personal journey into the series began nearly a decade ago with Romancing SaGa 2 on iOS, which initially posed a significant challenge as I approached it with typical JRPG expectations. Fast forward to today, and my love for the SaGa series is evident in the photograph at the bottom of this article. I was pleasantly surprised by the announcement of Romancing SaGa 2: Revenge of the Seven, a full remake of Romancing SaGa 2, set to release on Switch, PC, and PlayStation.
For today's double feature, I've been playing Romancing SaGa 2: Revenge of the Seven on Steam Deck through an early demo code. Additionally, I had the opportunity to interview the game's producer, Shinichi Tatsuke, who was also involved in the remake of Trials of Mana. Our conversation covered various aspects of Romancing SaGa 2: Revenge of the Seven, insights from the Trials of Mana project, accessibility features, potential ports to Xbox and mobile, and even personal preferences like coffee. The interview was conducted via video call, transcribed, and edited for clarity and brevity.
TouchArcade (TA): How does it feel to have worked on the remake of Trials of Mana, a beloved game, and now on Romancing SaGa 2: Revenge of the Seven, another classic title?
Shinichi Tatsuke (ST): Both Trials of Mana and the Romancing SaGa series are from the pre-Square Enix merger era, when it was still Squaresoft. These are legendary titles, and it's an incredible honor to handle their remakes. With over 30 years since their original releases, there was a lot of room for improvement. Working on Romancing SaGa 2 was particularly enjoyable because of its unique systems, which remain distinctive even today, making it a great candidate for a modern remake.
TA: The original Romancing SaGa 2 was notoriously challenging. I recall getting a game over within the first 10 minutes, which was a wake-up call for me as a newcomer to the SaGa series. The remake, Romancing SaGa 2: Revenge of the Seven, introduces multiple difficulty options. How did you balance staying true to the original while making it more accessible, especially for those who might be experiencing a SaGa game for the first time with its modern graphics?
ST: The difficulty of the SaGa series is well-known and cherished by its hardcore fans, yet it can be a barrier for newcomers. We aimed to cater to both groups by introducing new difficulty settings. The normal mode is tailored for standard RPG fans, while the casual mode allows players to focus on the narrative. We likened this to adding honey to a spicy curry to make it more palatable, with the casual mode being the 'honey' to ease the challenge.
TA: How did you approach delivering the original experience for veteran fans while incorporating quality of life improvements to modernize the gameplay?
ST: The SaGa series isn't just about difficulty; it's also about understanding the game's mechanics. In the original, many elements like enemy weaknesses and defenses were hidden, which we felt was unfair. In the remake, we've made these elements visible to ensure a fair and enjoyable experience for modern audiences, while still maintaining the challenge that veteran fans expect.
TA: The demo of Romancing SaGa 2: Revenge of the Seven runs impressively well on Steam Deck. Did the team specifically optimize the game for this platform?
ST: Yes, the full game will be compatible and playable on the Steam Deck, as you've already experienced with the demo.
TA: Can you share how long the development of Romancing SaGa 2: Revenge of the Seven took?
ST: I can't provide specific details, but main development began towards the end of 2021.
TA: What lessons from the Trials of Mana remake were applied to Romancing SaGa 2: Revenge of the Seven to ensure fans would love this remake as well?
ST: From Trials of Mana, we learned that players appreciate soundtracks that stay faithful to the originals but with improved quality. We also found that offering the choice between original and newly arranged tracks was well-received, so we included this feature in Romancing SaGa 2: Revenge of the Seven. Additionally, while we applied some learnings directly, we also introduced new elements, such as different graphical styles to suit the SaGa series' more serious tone.
TA: The Trials of Mana remake eventually came to mobile. Are there any plans to bring Romancing SaGa 2: Revenge of the Seven to mobile or Xbox in the future?
ST: We do not have any plans to release on those platforms at the moment.
TA: Finally, how do you like 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
When I received a Steam key to try out the demo of Romancing SaGa 2: Revenge of the Seven, I was both excited and apprehensive. The reveal trailer looked promising, but I was unsure about its performance on the Steam Deck pre-release. Thankfully, the game runs exceptionally well on the Steam Deck OLED, making me consider sticking to this platform over PS5 or Switch. The demo provided a few hours of gameplay that felt polished and engaging.
Visually and audibly, Romancing SaGa 2: Revenge of the Seven is impressive on the Steam Deck. The remake introduces battle mechanics, stats, and other elements gradually, making it more approachable for newcomers while retaining the essence of the original game. Quality of life improvements, such as better information display and combat flow, enhance the experience. Even on the original difficulty setting, the game remains challenging.
The visuals and overall feel of the remake exceeded my expectations. While I enjoyed the Trials of Mana remake, I believe Romancing SaGa 2: Revenge of the Seven might surpass it, perhaps due to my deeper connection with the original game. The PC port on the Steam Deck is notably better than anticipated, offering extensive customization options for screen mode, resolution, frame rate, and graphics settings. I achieved a near-locked 90fps at 720p with most settings on maximum or high and shadows on medium.
For my initial playthrough, I chose English audio, which was well-executed, but I plan to try the Japanese audio as well. The effort to modernize the game while preserving its SaGa identity is commendable.
I eagerly anticipate exploring the full game and comparing the demo experience across different consoles. Romancing SaGa 2: Revenge of the Seven is a must-watch for RPG enthusiasts and could potentially introduce more players to the broader SaGa series. I hope this leads to a remake of 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. A free demo is available today on all platforms, and I highly recommend giving it a try.
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