As a seasoned RPG enthusiast with decades of gaming under my belt, let me tell you, Romancing SaGa 2: Revenge of the Seven has piqued my interest like few games have in recent memory. The demo I had the pleasure to explore was nothing short of captivating, offering a tantalizing glimpse into its vast and unpredictable world.
In the past ten years, not many contemporary video game franchises have managed to consistently thrive as the SaGa series has. These Role-Playing Games (RPGs) are not Square Enix’s most famous titles, nor do they lead in sales figures. However, fans of SaGa, including myself, recognize that the recent surge in remasters and new releases is largely due to the continued success of the mobile game Romancing SaGa Re;univerSe. We understand this, we accept it, and to some extent, we appreciate it
Over the past three years as a gamer, I’ve been treated to some fantastic SaGa releases like “SaGa Frontier Remastered”, the “Collection of SaGa Final Fantasy Legend”, “Romancing SaGa -Minstrel Song- Remastered”, and most recently in April, “SaGa Emerald Beyond”. I’ve been eagerly waiting for a remastered version of “SaGa Frontier 2”, so you can imagine my surprise when Square Enix unveiled “Romancing SaGa 2: Revenge of the Seven” a few months back
It’s hard to believe that I could ever imagine such an extravagant remake for this SaGa installment, given its reputation and the quality of recent releases within the series. Yet, Romancing SaGa 2 stands out as unique even among the unconventional games in the franchise, showcasing a production value that surpasses many of its contemporaries
It is beloved for sure, though it is mechanically dense and offers a huge nonlinear experience that embodies the “play your own way” philosophy of the SaGa series. There are many choices for players to make that they will have to commit to; there are little-to-no universal “right” or “correct” answers in how to play Romancing SaGa 2 which, to some degree, has gradually become antithetical to the expectations of the mainstream audience for RPGs.
In a heartbeat, I’d say that my favorite game, Romancing SaGa 2, and its remake, Revenge of the Seven, tell an epic tale that unfolds across millennia against a formidable foe: the Seven Heroes. Once revered as legendary heroes, their tales and deeds were gradually lost to time, causing them great anger. Resurrected now as demons, they pose a grave threat to humanity’s very existence. Throughout the game, I, along with other players, assume control of various rulers from the kingdom of Avalon, fighting tirelessly to eradicate these evil forces—a battle that may span generations, but one we are determined to win
During my brief experience with Romancing SaGa 2: Revenge of the Seven, I got a taste of the game’s grandeur and was left in awe at how cohesively it was put together. The 1993 Super Famicom version was charming and forward-thinking, but its creative scope was undoubtedly limited by technological constraints. Revenge of the Seven strives to faithfully bring to life the original vision in an expansive manner
The demonstration starts right at the beginning of the game, when the second Emperor of Avalon, Gerard, has recently taken over from his deceased father. To teach combat basics, my demo features a goblin raid in the streets of Avalon. As I navigated through the city, I encountered enemies on the map, triggering battle encounters with them
In the Revenge of the Seven, battles unfold distinctly compared to their turn-based nature in previous games like Romancing SaGa 2. Here, when you pick an action for your character during battle, they immediately execute that command rather than waiting for multiple commands to be entered sequentially and then playing out simultaneously to complete a single round of combat
In this game, there’s a useful feature that presents a sequence for both allies and enemies’ turns, including the present and future rounds, much like how Octopath Traveler organizes it. This feature is beneficial because it helps players understand the impact of attack attributes such as stuns and delays on the turn order during any given moment. Additionally, bosses have Hazardous Attacks, which are comparable to Desperation Attacks from a well-known RPG series; this timeline for turns clearly signals when these attacks will occur, giving players enough time to strategize appropriate countermeasures beforehand
In terms of revealing enemy weaknesses, Revenge of the Seven draws inspiration from Octopath Traveler. Each adversary will have a number of squares with question marks underneath them, each square representing a weakness – this could be to spears, greatswords, or specific magical elements. It’s important to note that the similarities to Octopath Traveler are only in the presentation, as Revenge of the Seven maintains the fundamental characteristics unique to SaGa games
One key aspect that enhances the gaming experience for both newcomers and veterans of the SaGa series is the unique way Glimmers are displayed. In certain SaGa games, like Romancing SaGa 2, characters can wield multiple types of weapons for various job classes. Unlike in other games where skills are learned through leveling up or skill trees, in SaGa, a character may unexpectedly acquire a new Tech (skill) by attacking, with the choice to use a basic attack leading to a Glimmer, which is essentially learning a new skill on the spot. Even skills that have been Glimmered can lead to another skill being learned through another Glimmer. This may seem strange to first-time SaGa players, but it’s actually a standard feature in the series and a key part of its gameplay
In the game Revenge of the Seven, you’ll notice a small lightbulb icon next to some Tech skills. This means that the associated skill still holds a Tech that can be activated using Glimmer. While this detail might seem minor, it significantly reduces the uncertainty for players about whether a particular skill or battle command has any remaining Techs left to learn or activate via Glimmer. If you don’t see a lightbulb icon next to a command in Revenge of the Seven, then using that skill will not trigger a Glimmer, as all potential learnable moves have already been exhausted by the player
In the game Revenge of the Seven, there are two new strategies, Overdrive and United Attack, that come into play when you target an enemy’s weakness during battle. These mechanics have appeared in previous SaGa games, but they were missing from Romancing SaGa 2. If you manage to strike a monster before engaging in combat and keep hitting its weak points, the Overdrive gauge will gradually fill up. Once it’s full, you can activate the United Attack command, which allows multiple party members to attack one enemy consecutively in a single chain. In the demo I played, only two characters could participate in a United Attack, but more options are expected in the final release. This tactic deals a significant amount of initial damage, making it a crucial strategy to master consistently
Following the goblin attack on Avalon, I found myself at a crossroads in the storyline: Should I charge straight into the Goblin Hideout to curb the goblin invasion at its source or address one of the Seven Heroes, Kzinssie, promptly. As previously stated, Romancing SaGa 2 doesn’t have a single correct path; choose the direction that appeals to you most. The Revenge of the Seven allows players to decide the sequence of scenarios they wish to tackle next, but there’s no obligation to make an immediate choice based on that selection alone
When exploring the World Map to proceed to the next phase, there’s always the option to reconsider and choose a different scenario instead. Over time, as you complete various free-form scenarios and work on kingdom development, your progress will naturally lead to the next generation. At this point, you’ll get to choose the new ruler of Avalon, and any advancements and stats earned by your current party members will carry over to the new generation
Instead of setting off for the lair of my foes, the Goblin Hideaway, I first decided to enhance my team. Since the initial tutorial provided only four characters, I had the opportunity to add a fifth member to complete my party. I found this option at the tavern located on the upper level of Avalon Castle. The potential recruits could also be found scattered around that same floor if preferred. Eventually, I opted for a female Mercenary named Andromache, skilled in both swordplay and archery
Exploring the winding passages of the Goblin Hideout wasn’t much of a challenge. The tunnels formed a series with some forks leading to hidden treasures. Interestingly, landing a surprise attack on adversaries in combat is possible if your weapon makes contact with them, regardless of their direction – this meant that enemies were often caught off guard when Gerard’s sword came down upon them. Towards the end of the Goblin Hideout, I encountered the Goblin King boss who dealt a powerful blow, but I managed to win eventually due to some fortunate use of Glimmers
They did not yet have the opportunity to explore alternative options for saving files or loading data in the demo project, which is part of an unconventional system in the SaGa series, and it is not specified where this can be found. In a more significant way, it will be available through another means, but may also be located elsewhere
My brief time checking out Romancing SaGa 2: Revenge of the Seven was fantastic. This remake is shaping up to be something I’ll be playing for a long time; a lot of its presentation and battle enhancements made the experience refreshing. I was surprised at how much care was spent in the intricate cutscene choreography, since much of the Romancing SaGa 2 experience is left to a player’s decisions. Romancing SaGa 2 was such an expansive game that felt limitless for its time and I hope Revenge of the Seven is able to grant both newcomers and veterans alike that same feeling of a game with a seemingly infinite amount of possibilities shaped by the decisions you’ve made along every step of the way. Romancing SaGa 2: Revenge of the Seven is coming on October 24 to PlayStation 5, PlayStation 4, Nintendo Switch, and PC (Steam).
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2024-09-05 14:57