Exclusive: 'Romancing SaGa 2' Preview and Interview

Many longtime fans discovered the SaGa series through past console releases. For me, the iOS version of Romancing SaGa 2 was my introduction almost a decade ago. I initially struggled, treating it like a typical JRPG. Now, I'm a devoted SaGa enthusiast (as evidenced by the photo below), so I was thrilled by the recent announcement of Romancing SaGa 2: Revenge of the Seven, a complete remake for Switch, PC, and PlayStation.

For this review, I played an early demo on Steam Deck and interviewed Shinichi Tatsuke, the game's producer (and the mind behind the Trials of Mana remake). We discussed Revenge of the Seven, lessons learned from Trials of Mana, accessibility, potential Xbox and mobile ports, coffee, and more. This transcribed interview has been edited for brevity.

TouchArcade (TA): What's it like remaking beloved games like Trials of Mana and now Romancing SaGa 2?

Shinichi Tatsuke (ST): Both Trials of Mana and the SaGa series predate the Square Enix merger—they're legendary Squaresoft titles. It's an honor to remake them, especially considering they're nearly 30 years old. The remakes offered significant improvement opportunities. Romancing SaGa 2 is unique, with systems that remain innovative even today. Its uniqueness made it a compelling candidate for a modern remake.

TA: The original Romancing SaGa 2 was notoriously difficult. I nearly game overed in the first ten minutes! The remake offers multiple difficulty settings. How did you balance staying true to the original with improved accessibility? Many will experience SaGa for the first time with this remake's modern visuals.

ST: The SaGa series' difficulty is well-known, and many hardcore fans appreciate it. However, many potential players are intimidated by this difficulty. Many know about SaGa but haven't played it because it seems too hard.

We aimed to please both groups—veterans and newcomers. Our solution: adjustable difficulty. "Normal" mode caters to standard RPG players, while "Casual" mode prioritizes story and narrative. Our development team included core SaGa fans, making this a collaborative decision. Think of it like adding honey to spicy curry—the original is the spicy curry, and casual mode is the honey.

TA: How did you balance the original experience for veterans with quality-of-life improvements? How did you choose which features to modernize while maintaining challenge for veteran players?

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

TA: The Steam Deck demo impressed me. Considering my experience with Trials of Mana on various platforms, I'm curious: was the game optimized specifically for the Steam Deck?

Editor’s Note: This question predates the official Steam Deck compatibility rating.

ST: Yes, the full game will be compatible and playable on Steam Deck, as you experienced in the demo.

TA: How long was development for Revenge of the Seven?

ST: I can't give specifics, but main development began in late 2021.

TA: What did you learn from the Trials of Mana remake that you applied to Revenge of the Seven?

ST: Trials of Mana taught us player preferences for remakes. For example, regarding soundtracks, players prefer arrangements faithful to the originals, but with improved quality thanks to modern technology. We offered a choice between original and rearranged tracks in Trials of Mana, a feature we carried over to Revenge of the Seven.

Visually, Mana's characters are smaller and more adorable. SaGa's aesthetic is different—we made the characters taller and used lighting effects to create a more serious, realistic atmosphere, unlike the textured shadows used in Trials of Mana. We applied many lessons from Trials of Mana but also developed new techniques for Revenge of the Seven.

I thanked Tatsuke and the team for the English-language "Romancing SaGa 2 Primer" video.

TA: Trials of Mana eventually released on mobile. Are there plans for 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. Beer, too.

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 Revenge of the Seven demo was exciting but also slightly nerve-wracking. The reveal trailer looked amazing, but I worried about the Steam Deck experience. Thankfully, it's excellent out-of-the-box. The few hours I spent with the demo made me question the need for PS5 or Switch versions. It's that good on Valve's handheld.

Visually and aurally, the game is impressive on Steam Deck. The remake gradually introduces battle mechanics, stats, etc. Quality-of-life improvements enhance information presentation and combat flow, along with new audio options. For newcomers, this is a superb introduction to SaGa. The visuals enhance accessibility, but it's still classic Romancing SaGa 2 with a fresh coat of paint and new features. The original difficulty setting remains challenging.

The remake surpasses my expectations. While I loved the Trials of Mana remake, Revenge of the Seven might be superior (possibly due to my greater love for the original game). The PC port on Steam Deck is surprisingly good. Audio and visual options are extensive, including original/rearranged soundtracks, English/Japanese audio, and various graphics settings.

The PC port allows adjustments to screen mode, resolution (including 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. Even with mostly maximum settings, I achieved a near-locked 90fps at 720p on my Steam Deck OLED.

I used English audio for my first playthrough. The voice acting is good, but I'll likely try Japanese later. The remake successfully blends modern features while retaining the SaGa essence.

I eagerly anticipate the full game and the console demo. Romancing SaGa 2: Revenge of the Seven is a must-have for RPG fans. Hopefully, this sparks interest in other SaGa games—and Square Enix, please give us SaGa Frontier 2 next!

Romancing SaGa 2: Revenge of the Seven launches October 24th for Steam, Nintendo Switch, PS5, and PS4. A free demo is available on all platforms.