Romancing Saga 2: Revenge of the Seven is going to ruin my life - Demo Impressions

As a seasoned RPG enthusiast and long-time follower of the SaGa series, I must say that this demo for Romancing Saga 2: Revenge of the Seven has me absolutely hooked! Being a fan of the original, I can appreciate the careful balance they’ve struck between staying true to its roots and enhancing it for modern audiences.


At RPG Site, we’re particularly fond of the SaGa series, and the upcoming remake of Romancing SaGa 2 has sparked quite a bit of enthusiasm among us. Josh had a sneak peek at two sections of Revenge of the Seven during PAX West, while Adam just shared his interview with producer Shinichi Tatsuke.

Square Enix has shared an early demo of the game’s prologue chapter, offering a sneak peek into the storyline that lays the groundwork for your upcoming journey and the gameplay style. They graciously extended an invitation to us to preview this demo prior to its public launch. Naturally, we accepted, as there’s always room for more SaGa in our gaming lives, even after a recent preview.

As a devoted fan, I’m excited to share that in this captivating segment of the game, I find myself stepping into the shoes of young Gerard, embarking on his journey towards succeeding his father Leon as Emperor of Varennes. The demo takes us through the initial chapters, allowing us to traverse the capital of Avalon and delve into the first few dungeons, leading up to the poignant moment before Gerard fully assumes control. This thoughtful design by Romancing SaGa 2 creators enables us to grasp the essence of one of this esteemed series’ most cherished installments, making it more accessible for newcomers like myself.

Romancing Saga 2: Revenge of the Seven is going to ruin my life - Demo Impressions

In my review, Josh thoroughly covered the mechanics of the game from PAX, so I won’t go into detail about that. However, I do share his sentiment that the combat system in this title is exceptional. The developers have made some subtle updates to modernize it, enhancing its clarity and making it shine even more. The battles are different but still feel swift and dynamic. During a fight, potential weapon advantages will appear in your battle menu. A notable new feature is the United Attack system, which encourages experimentation and exploiting enemy weaknesses by allowing you and the character who comes after you in the timeline to attack together. This seems like a balance between the classic gameplay and the unique combat design of the latest SaGa games.

Avalon, in the grandeur of its size, retains the essence of a typical RPG town without becoming excessively large and difficult to navigate. The caves you’re assigned to delve into provide an authentic exploration experience.

If you’re accustomed to playing high-end AAA games, the graphics in this title might not be mind-blowing. However, I believe it ranks among Square’s more visually appealing games of this scale in recent times. The lower resolution graphics make it compatible with a wider range of systems and allows for a greater focus on creating diverse environments that maintain a high visual quality. This game represents an improvement over developer Xeen’s previous SFC remake, Trials of Mana, while still preserving its unique visual style.

Romancing Saga 2: Revenge of the Seven is going to ruin my life - Demo Impressions

As a devoted fan, I must say that my most thrilling experience during the demo was when I encountered the ominous mimic chests reminiscent of the original game. In an instant, one of my party members met their untimely demise at its claws, disrupting my battle formation and sending a chilling tutorial message about permadeath still being in effect – a feature that adds an extra layer of tension to the series I’ve come to cherish.

In this demo, everything I experienced closely echoed the original’s distinctive feel. While the content and narrative progression remain consistent, there seems to be an extra layer of energy throughout the gameplay. This is particularly noteworthy considering it was developed using the constraints of creating an open-world pixel-based RPG for Super Famicom hardware. It appears that a great deal of reverence is being shown towards the original game, and even the streamlined storytelling has been given sufficient depth to cater to those unfamiliar with SaGa’s narrative style. The voice acting is quite commendable, which isn’t surprising for most modern Square Enix productions.

As a dedicated gamer, I’ve got to say that the team behind this remake has really outdone themselves by meticulously transforming every map into a sprawling 3D environment. Just like how Trials of Mana breathed life into its original 2D maps, making them explorable and immersive, this game takes it to another level. The sense of scale they’ve managed to create is nothing short of mind-blowing – it’s as if I could reach out and touch the world of Xeen. It’s clear that this team was the right choice for this project, and I must admit, this remake sets a new standard for what a faithful adaptation can be. Redesigning a Super Famicom game in such an impressive manner is nothing short of extraordinary.

Romancing Saga 2: Revenge of the Seven is going to ruin my life - Demo Impressions

What I found most disappointing about the demo was its abrupt ending, just as things were starting to get exciting. The initial stages seem to follow a linear path like the original game, but my past experiences with games in this series have shown me that I was on the brink of it becoming more open-ended. I was already captivated by how well it managed its dungeons and battle system, so being able to explore the world freely from now would have made it even better.

To summarize for those eager about Steam Deck’s performance: It appears quite promising! After adjusting settings, I managed to maintain a smooth 60 FPS without significant loss in graphics quality. This has me intrigued about how the Switch will fare, and we can only anticipate they deliver a stable 30 FPS experience that doesn’t compromise much on resolution. The prospect of spending countless hours playing this game as autumn gives way to winter is tantalizing.

The demo for Romancing SaGa 2: Revenge of the Seven offers a tantalizing glimpse into the game, leaving you eagerly anticipating more but stopping just short of the full experience. My longing for this game has grown significantly, and the wait over the next month and a half is becoming increasingly difficult to bear. I crave this game as much as I need a morning espresso shot before starting work. However, realistically speaking, I’m left wondering how the full remake will manage to scale up the scope of the SFC version for modern times. The demo is an incredibly promising start, and it’s heartening to know that Xeen is ready to give Romancing SaGa 2 the attention it deserves.

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2024-09-19 04:26