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A deep dive into the SaGa series often begins with its classic console releases. For me, Romancing SaGa 2 on iOS served as my introduction almost a decade ago. Initially, I struggled, approaching it like a typical JRPG. Now, my fondness for the SaGa franchise is evident (see photo below). I was thrilled to see Romancing SaGa 2: Revenge of the Seven, a complete remake, announced for Switch, PC, and PlayStation.

This review covers my experience with an early demo on Steam Deck and an interview with the game's producer, Shinichi Tatsuke (also behind 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. 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 it's an honor to remake them. Both games, originally released nearly 30 years ago, offered significant room for improvement. Romancing SaGa 2 is uniquely structured, with systems that remain innovative today. Its uniqueness made it a compelling choice for a remake, even after three decades.

TA: The original Romancing SaGa 2 was notoriously challenging. 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 the difficulty is integral to the SaGa experience. Others find it a barrier to entry. Many are familiar with the series but haven't played due to perceived difficulty.

We aimed to cater to both groups. The solution was a new difficulty system: Normal and Casual modes. Normal mode suits standard RPG players, while Casual mode prioritizes story enjoyment. The 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 like the spice, and Casual mode is the honey, making it more palatable.

TA: How did you balance preserving the original experience for veterans while incorporating quality-of-life improvements?

ST: The SaGa series isn't just about difficulty; it's also about understanding the game mechanics. The original lacked visible information, like enemy weaknesses and defense stats. This wasn't necessarily difficult, but unfair. For the remake, we made weaknesses visible and adjusted other overly challenging aspects to create a fairer, more enjoyable experience for modern players.

TA: The Steam Deck performance is impressive. Was the game specifically optimized for it?

ST: Yes, the full release will be compatible and playable on the 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: Working on Trials of Mana taught us player preferences. For example, regarding soundtracks, players generally prefer arrangements faithful to the originals, but with improved quality due to modern technology. We also learned that players appreciate the choice between original and rearranged soundtracks, a feature included in Romancing SaGa 2: Revenge of the Seven. The graphics differed; Mana's style is more adorable, while SaGa maintains a more serious tone, impacting lighting and shadow effects. We leveraged previous experience but also innovated in new areas.

TA: Are there plans for mobile or Xbox releases?

ST: Not currently.

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 was exciting yet concerning. The trailer looked fantastic, but Steam Deck compatibility was uncertain. Thankfully, it's excellent on the Steam Deck OLED. The few hours spent with the demo made me reconsider playing on PS5 or Switch. The game looks and sounds great. The remake gradually introduces core mechanics. Quality-of-life improvements enhance combat flow and information presentation. For newcomers, it's a great introduction to the SaGa series. The visuals enhance approachability while retaining the core Romancing SaGa 2 experience. Even on the original difficulty, the challenge remains.

Visually, it surpasses expectations. While I enjoyed Trials of Mana's remake, Romancing SaGa 2: Revenge of the Seven might be superior, possibly due to my preference for the original game. The Steam Deck port is exceptionally well-optimized. Audio options include original and new soundtracks, English and Japanese audio, and various graphical settings. The PC port allows adjustments to screen mode, resolution, frame rate, v-sync, dynamic resolution, graphics presets, anti-aliasing, texture filtering, shadow quality, and 3D model rendering resolution. Even with high settings, I achieved near 90fps at 720p on my Steam Deck OLED. I used English audio for my playthrough, but will likely try Japanese later. The game successfully blends modernization with its SaGa identity.

I eagerly anticipate the full game and console versions. Romancing SaGa 2: Revenge of the Seven is a must-have for RPG fans. Hopefully, this will encourage exploration of 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.