SaGa 2: Producer Interview, Steam Deck Preview

A deep dive into the SaGa series often begins with its extensive library across past console generations. For me, Romancing SaGa 2 on iOS served as my entry point almost a decade ago. Initially, I struggled, mistaking it for a standard JRPG. Now, my affection for the SaGa franchise is evident (see the image below), and I was thrilled to see Romancing SaGa 2: Revenge of the Seven, a complete remake, announced for Switch, PC, and PlayStation.

This dual feature involves my experience with the Romancing SaGa 2: Revenge of the Seven Steam Deck demo (via early access code) and an interview with Game Producer Shinichi Tatsuke (also behind Trials of Mana's remake). We discussed the remake, lessons learned from Trials of Mana, accessibility, potential Xbox and mobile ports, coffee preferences, and more. This interview, conducted via video call, has been transcribed and edited for brevity.

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

Shinichi Tatsuke (ST): Both Trials of Mana and the Romancing SaGa series predate the Square Enix merger, originating from the Squaresoft era. They're legendary Square titles, and remaking them is an incredible honor. Both games, originally released nearly 30 years ago, offered significant opportunities for improvement. Romancing SaGa 2, with its unique systems, remains distinctive even today. Its uniqueness made it a compelling candidate for a remake, ensuring its appeal to modern gamers.

TA: The original Romancing SaGa 2 was notoriously challenging (I experienced a game over within 10 minutes!). The remake offers multiple difficulty settings. How did you balance faithfulness to the original with improved accessibility, especially for newcomers encountering the SaGa series for the first time with modern graphics?

ST: The SaGa series' difficulty is well-known, attracting a dedicated fanbase worldwide. While some consider difficulty essential to the SaGa experience, others find it a barrier to entry. Many know the series but haven't played it due to perceived difficulty.

To address this, we introduced a difficulty system: Normal and Casual modes. Normal caters to standard RPG players, while Casual allows players to focus on the narrative. Our development team included core SaGa fans, ensuring a balanced approach. It's 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 for new players.

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 the challenge for long-time fans?

ST: The SaGa series isn't just about difficulty; it's also about understanding the game mechanics. The original lacked visible information, such as enemy weaknesses and defenses. This wasn't necessarily difficult, but unfair. For the remake, we made weaknesses visible and adjusted other overly challenging elements to create a fairer, more enjoyable experience for modern players.

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

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 provide exact details, but main development began towards the end of 2021.

TA: What lessons from the Trials of Mana remake influenced Romancing SaGa 2: Revenge of the Seven?

ST: Trials of Mana taught us about player preferences for remakes. For example, regarding soundtracks, players often prefer arrangements faithful to the originals, while leveraging modern technology for improved quality. We offered a choice between original and rearranged tracks in Trials of Mana, a feature carried over to Romancing SaGa 2: Revenge of the Seven. We also adjusted the graphics; Mana characters are more adorable, while SaGa characters are taller and the backgrounds utilize lighting effects for a more serious tone. We combined lessons learned with new approaches specific to this remake.

TA: Trials of Mana reached mobile. Are there plans for Romancing SaGa 2: Revenge of the Seven on mobile or Xbox?

ST: Currently, there are no plans for those platforms.

TA: Finally, what's your coffee preference?

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

(Thanks to Shinichi Tatsuke, Jordan Aslett, Sara Green, and Rachel Mascetti for their time and assistance.)

Romancing SaGa 2: Revenge of the Seven Steam Deck Impressions

Receiving a Steam key for the demo filled me with excitement and apprehension. The trailer looked amazing, but Steam Deck compatibility was uncertain. Fortunately, Romancing SaGa 2: Revenge of the Seven not only runs exceptionally well on the Steam Deck OLED but made me question the need for PS5 or Switch versions. The quality is that impressive.

The game looks and sounds fantastic. The remake gradually introduces battle mechanics, stats, etc. For veterans, quality-of-life improvements enhance information presentation and combat flow. For newcomers, it's a welcoming entry point into the SaGa series. The visuals enhance accessibility, yet retain the core Romancing SaGa 2 experience. Even the original difficulty setting remains challenging.

The visuals exceeded expectations. While I enjoyed Trials of Mana's remake, Romancing SaGa 2: Revenge of the Seven might surpass it (though my preference for the original game might influence that). The PC port, especially on Steam Deck, is excellent. The game offers extensive audio and graphics options, including selectable soundtracks (original or remake), English or Japanese audio, and various graphics settings. I achieved a near-locked 90fps at 720p on my Steam Deck OLED with mostly high settings.

I used English audio for my initial playthrough, though I might switch to Japanese later. The voice acting is good, but I'm curious about the Japanese version. The remake successfully modernizes the game while preserving its 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 will encourage exploration of other SaGa titles (a SaGa Frontier 2 remake would be fantastic!).

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.