Romancing SaGa 2: Revenge of the Seven – A Remake Worthy of the Name? A TouchArcade Interview & Steam Deck Impressions

Many discovered the SaGa series through its classic console releases. For me, Romancing SaGa 2 on iOS was my introduction almost a decade ago, a game I initially found challenging due to my JRPG preconceptions. Now, a devoted SaGa fan (as evidenced by the photo below), I was thrilled by the recent announcement of Romancing SaGa 2: Revenge of the Seven, a complete remake for Switch, PC, and PlayStation.

This review combines my hands-on experience with an early Steam Deck demo and an interview with Game 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 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, originating from Squaresoft's legendary catalog. Remaking these titles, nearly 30 years after their original release, is an incredible honor. The remakes offered significant opportunities for improvement. Romancing SaGa 2, with its unique systems, remains distinctive even today, making it a compelling choice for a modern update.

TA: The original Romancing SaGa 2 was notoriously difficult. The remake offers multiple difficulty settings. How did you balance faithfulness to the original with improved accessibility?

ST: The SaGa series' difficulty is well-known, appreciated by its dedicated fanbase. However, this difficulty also presents a significant barrier to entry for newcomers. Many know of SaGa but haven't played it due to perceived difficulty. To address this, we introduced a difficulty system: Normal mode for standard RPG players and Casual mode for those prioritizing story and narrative. This is like adding honey to spicy curry – the original game's difficulty is the spice, and the Casual mode is the honey, making it more accessible.

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

ST: SaGa's challenge isn't just about difficulty but also about obscured information. In the original, enemy weaknesses and certain stats weren't explicitly shown, creating unfair challenges. In the remake, we've made this information readily available, creating a fairer and more enjoyable experience. We've addressed specific areas that were overly difficult in the original to improve the modern experience.

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

ST: Yes, the full game 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 did you learn from the Trials of Mana remake that you applied here?

ST: Trials of Mana taught us player preferences, such as a preference for soundtracks that are faithful to the originals but with improved quality due to modern technology. We offered the option to switch between original and rearranged tracks in Trials of Mana, a feature we've included here. We also learned about graphic styles, adapting the visual approach for SaGa's more serious tone through lighting effects rather than texture shadows, as used in Trials of Mana.

TA: Any plans for mobile or Xbox releases?

ST: No plans currently.

TA: Finally, what's your coffee preference?

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

(Note: The interviewer thanked Tatsuke for the "Romancing SaGa 2 Primer" video.)

Romancing SaGa 2: Revenge of the Seven Steam Deck Impressions

Receiving a Steam key for the pre-release demo filled me with excitement and apprehension. The reveal trailer looked fantastic, but Steam Deck compatibility was unknown. Thankfully, Romancing SaGa 2: Revenge of the Seven not only looks and sounds great on the Steam Deck OLED but also provides a superior experience compared to other platforms.

The game's visuals and audio are superb. The remake gently introduces gameplay mechanics, and quality-of-life improvements enhance combat and information presentation. Newcomers will find this an excellent introduction to the SaGa series, while veterans will appreciate the updated visuals and features. Even on the "original" difficulty setting, the challenge remains.

The PC port offers extensive graphical customization options, allowing for a near-locked 90fps at 720p on my Steam Deck OLED even with high settings. Audio options include selectable soundtracks (original or remake) and English/Japanese voice acting.

Romancing SaGa 2: Revenge of the Seven is a must-have for RPG fans. I hope this remake encourages players to explore other SaGa titles. (And 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.