Romancing SaGa 2: Exclusive Interview and Hands-On Preview

A deep dive into the SaGa series, focusing on the upcoming Romancing SaGa 2: Revenge of the Seven remake. This article features an interview with the game's producer and impressions of the Steam Deck version.

This double feature delves into a hands-on preview of Romancing SaGa 2: Revenge of the Seven on Steam Deck, alongside an interview with producer Shinichi Tatsuke (also behind Trials of Mana's remake). The discussion covers the remake's development, balancing accessibility with the series' renowned difficulty, potential future ports, and more. The interview, conducted via video call, has been transcribed and edited for clarity.

TouchArcade (TA): What's it like remaking beloved classics 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 Square 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 uniquely designed, with systems that remain unique even today. Its uniqueness made it a compelling choice for a remake, even after 30 years.

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 for newcomers?

ST: The SaGa series has dedicated fans who appreciate its difficulty. However, many potential players are deterred by its reputation. We aimed to satisfy both groups. The "normal" mode caters to standard RPG players, while "casual" mode prioritizes story accessibility. The development team included core SaGa fans, ensuring a balanced approach. 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.

ST (cont.): The challenge wasn't just difficulty, but also the obscurity of certain game mechanics. In the original, enemy weaknesses and defense stats weren't explicitly shown, creating unfairness. The remake addresses this by clearly displaying weaknesses, making the experience fairer and more enjoyable for modern players. We focused on removing unfair elements while retaining the core challenge.

TA: The Steam Deck version runs exceptionally well. Considering Trials of Mana's multi-platform release, was the game specifically optimized for Steam Deck?

ST: Yes, the full game will be compatible and playable on 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 Trials of Mana informed the development of this remake?

ST: Trials of Mana taught us player preferences regarding remakes. For example, players generally prefer soundtrack arrangements faithful to the originals, but with enhanced quality due to modern technology. We incorporated the option to switch between original and rearranged soundtracks, a feature well-received in Trials of Mana. Visually, we adjusted character proportions and lighting to better suit the SaGa series' aesthetic. We learned a lot, but also developed new approaches specific to this remake.

TA: Will Romancing SaGa 2: Revenge of the Seven be coming to mobile or Xbox?

ST: There are no current plans for those platforms.

TA: Finally, what's your coffee preference?

ST: I don't drink coffee; I dislike bitter drinks.

Romancing SaGa 2: Revenge of the Seven Steam Deck Impressions

The Steam Deck version exceeded expectations. The visuals and audio are excellent. The remake gradually introduces core mechanics, making it accessible to newcomers while offering quality-of-life improvements for veterans. Even playing on the most challenging difficulty setting, the experience remains engaging.

The visuals are impressive, potentially surpassing Trials of Mana's remake. The Steam Deck port's performance is exceptional, achieving near-locked 90fps at 720p with high settings. Audio options include selectable soundtracks (original and remake) and languages (English and Japanese). The voice acting is good, although I may opt for Japanese audio in my full playthrough.

Romancing SaGa 2: Revenge of the Seven is a must-have for RPG fans. Its success hopefully paves the way for more SaGa titles to receive the remake treatment.

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.