Preparing a new version of an older game can be quite a challenge. Especially when it is going from a 2D Super Famicom release to systems like the Switch, PS4, and PS5. That’s what happened with Square Enix and the Romancing Saga 2: Revenge of the Seven remake, which is available now worldwide. To learn more about how it came to be and its development, Siliconera spoke with Producer Shinichi Tatsuke about the new SaGa game.

Jenni Lada: Romancing SaGa 2 appeared in many forms, complete with an expanded and updated version for mobile devices and consoles that eventually appeared worldwide. How did that version and remaster influence the 3D remake’s development?

Shinichi Tatsuke:  Although the underlying goals of the remaster and this remake are different, we did keep some elements from the remaster, such as the Ninja and Diviner classes. We also kept a portion of events which were original to the remaster and the hidden boss that becomes available after beating the game.

Romancing SaGa 2 involved a number of revolutionary gameplay elements, such as the empire funding elements, the picking of heirs, and making former heroes the villains. What types of design decisions did you make with the remake to ensure certain elements were expanded upon and preserved?

Tatsuke: The general direction we took was to preserve elements that were characteristic of the SaGa franchise, such as the world, story, as well as the Inheritance System, Glimmers,

and Formation system, while modernizing the battle and character growth systems. By doing so, I believe we were able to preserve the appeal of SaGa titles, while ensuring the experience didn’t feel out-of-place as a modern RPG.

What sorts of balancing and adjustments did you make to make all the difficulty options and character growth systems added for this Romancing SaGa 2 remake feel fair and fulfilling? Is there any particular technique and approach you really enjoyed working on and recommend people pursue for a character build?

Tatsuke: We included difficulty options in this remake because we wanted not only fans of the original, but also a wide range of new s to also play the game. With the Hard (Classic) difficulty setting, we fine-tuned battles to be as neck-and-neck with players as much as possible, as we wanted to give them a taste of the compelling battles featured in the original game. With Normal difficulty, we adjusted the game so players accustomed to standard RPGs can have an enjoyable experience. With Casual difficulty, we adjusted the game for those unfamiliar with the SaGa franchise, or for those who wish to focus on the story.

Romancing SaGa 2 features a massive amount of choices, with things changing depending on the order you approach the Seven Heroes or certain situations changing depending on how you deal with problems. How did you tackle these scenarios and options in the remake and did you find yourself adjusting or building on any of them from the original game?

Tatsuke: In general, the story and choices presented to the player follows the original game. However, we’ve improved parts of the original game that were slightly unreasonable, as well as some irreversible elements, such as the feature that strengthened enemies corresponding to your number of battles.

When deg the 3D versions of the Seven Heroes, how influential were the original Romancing SaGa 2 sprites and artwork when working on their new designs for the remake? Which characters do you think most benefited from the extra attention possible with the new models?

Tatsuke: We referenced the original 2D pixel art and illustrations created by Tomomi Kobayashi while developing this game, so they were both quite influential on the 3D designs. The Seven Heroes even strike the same poses as their original pixel artwork in the cutscenes that play when you battle them. Rocbouquet looks charming now, so I believe she benefited the most among the characters.

Romancing Saga 2: Revenge of the Seven is available for the Nintendo Switch, PS4, PS5, and PC.

The post Interview: Preparing the Romancing SaGa 2 Remake appeared first on Siliconera.

Square Enix announced that when going through Romancing SaGa 2: Revenge of the Seven, people can select two difficulty levels new to the remake. However, both are also tied to New Game Plus save files. This means you can’t select either one when a game begins.

The announcement first showed where the two additional Romancing SaGa 2 remake difficulty options will appear after being unlocked and confirming their names. They are “Expert” and “Romancing.” Expert is more difficult than “Hard,” with Hard being described as what the game’s original difficulty level felt like. Romancing is noted to be the most challenging one you can select. Neither can be reselected if you choose them at the start, then opt to drop down to a lower level.

The reveal also included a recommendation. Square Enix noted that Expert could be selected after someone finishes a first run through Romancing SaGa 2. However, the company noted Romancing might need a New Game Plus save file from multiple runs.

Here is the full announcement:

As a reminder, there is a Romancing SaGa remake demo available now. Save files do carry over to the full game.

Romancing Saga 2: Revenge of the Seven will release on October 24, 2024 for Nintendo Switch, PC, PS4 and PS5.

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Despite adoring JRPGs and playing essentially every major one that releases these days, there is one series that has never enticed me: SaGa. While I appreciate the non-linear nature and multiple playable characters in these games, every one I tried lost me one way or another. At least, that was true until now. Romancing SaGa 2: Revenge of the Seven finally helped me understand why players like this series.

I played the original Romancing SaGa 2 when it came to Switch. It also lost my interest quite quickly. Thankfully, this remake feels like a direct proposal to newcomers and uninterested JRPG fans like myself, while also being a victory lap for existing SaGa fans. The core of this experience is the same as the original, but with a new fully 3D coat of paint and some much-needed quality-of-life features.

No, you don’t need to play any other SaGa game to enjoy this non-linear experience. The story kicks off with seven memorable heroes that once (supposedly) saved the world, but are now apparently engaging in some less heroic deeds. After a pretty linear prologue, you are set off to do whatever you want in of building an empire to inevitably defeat these seven fallen heroes in whatever order you like.

The crux of this JRPG experience is its unique and surprisingly great emphasis on player choice. Pretty much every aspect of the game is up to you to decide. With few exceptions, you pick which hero to go after and fight next. You also get to choose who the emperor is and how to customize the capital city of Avalon to your liking.

Romancing SaGa 2: Revenge of the Seven is unlike any other JRPG I’ve played, including in its own Square Enix series. This is a true fantasy epic. Don’t go into this game expecting a typical linear group of heroes saving the world. Instead, this is a game that focuses on a thousand years-long saga of various heroes and parties.

Much of this thematic aspect comes from the permadeath feature, which might be my favorite part. Every character has their usual HP, BP (think mana or MP), and skills in battle. But if a character loses all of their HP, they also lose a life point, or LP. If their LP, which is extremely rare to restore, reaches zero, they die for good. And, yes, this even includes the emperor you play as.

However, this is just a feature of the game and not a “game over” like most JRPGs. If your emperor dies, you just keep moving on with the story. You move on to the next generation of the empire and pick the next successor. Better yet, this person also inherits the skills and powers of the previous emperor. This means you are encouraged to actually lose and move throughout the generations.

I will it, though, this aspect does make Romancing SaGa 2: Revenge of the Seven a bit too impersonal at times. Outside of a couple of key characters, I never really connected with anyone. Since I knew they could die at any moment, I didn’t get attached to any particular party member or ruler.

This is a general sacrifice this title makes for its element of player choice. It extends to the overarching plot as well. The story here is pretty barebones and nothing too special. This is possibly intentional to give focus on the player’s decisions. While I like the decent English voice acting, it also adds little to the overall experience.

If you’re looking for the next JRPG to wow you in of characters and plot, this might not be the one. That said, if you’re looking for a game with quirky features you won’t find anywhere else, I say give it a go. This even applies to the turn-based combat. This is by far my favorite turn-based battle system in the SaGa series so far. It is fast but flashy and full of many different skills.

There are about 30 different classes party could have throughout the adventure, plus a ton of weapon types. Someone might have a bow and spear, plus fire spells. Another character might have a shield and be more like a tank but also have healing. The title avoids the usual methods of progression and leveling up, too.

Characters learn new skills naturally as you battle with them. There will be a golden exclamation point next to an attack, such as using your spear. Keep using that skill enough and they will randomly learn a new move. It is always fun to see what new skill someone might learn. You have to be careful, though, as this game does use a resistances and weaknesses system. Oddly enough, it reminds me of Square Enix’s Octopath Traveler series in the presentation of the bar underneath the enemies, but not much beyond that.

The game is challenging enough but never too grindy in my experience. This is despite the general lack of traditional levels. Not only do you learn skills mid-battle, but you gain attributes like more HP the more fights you do. You also level up the weapons or spell type you used in combat, rather than the character’s basic level. I actually rather like this Final Fantasy II-like way of doing it since I would level up what I actually care to use for a character.

There are also other great additions in combat like United Attacks. This is essentially a Limit Break for the party that builds up over time and lets the player execute extraordinarily powerful moves. These are especially useful against the tough bosses.

There is a surprising amount of content, both old and new, on top of the base experience. There is a city builder-like system where you unlock buildings like shops and upgrade them throughout the generations. You can visit the university and take on fun little exams Yakuza: Like a Dragon-style for special rewards. And then there are the memories scattered throughout the world to find as collectibles. These give some much-needed insight into the seven heroes and why they seek revenge.

All of these systems come together to make for the first Romancing SaGa game I ever finished and truly enjoyed. Romancing SaGa 2: Revenge of the Seven is a great JRPG in a packed year of them well worth checking out. Whether you are new to the series or a familiar veteran, there is something to enjoy. Sure, the 3D visuals are colorful and pretty, but nothing too spectacular, and the title certainly lacks the dedicated characters and plot of other JRPGs. However, it makes up for this with the fantastic focus on player choice that is uniquely rewarding and memorable.

Romancing SaGa 2: Revenge of the Seven releases for the Nintendo Switch, PS4, PS5, and PC on October 24, 2024.

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Square Enix confirmed that when people play Romancing SaGa 2: Revenge of the Seven, there will be the option to go through New Game Plus after beating the remake once. It also shared screenshots of the process, to help better illustrate how that will work. In addition, there’s a launch trailer highlighting what we can expect from the story when it debuts this week.

To unlock New Game Plus in Romancing SaGa 2: Revenge of the Seven, people need to do more than just beat the seven. They also need to face the Dread Queen. Once she’s defeated, then you can select New Game+ in the main menu between the New Game and Load options. 

Here’s the full list of everything that carries over if you do that:

• Almanac Entries
• Battle Formations
• Dread Queen Challenge Stats
• Crowns
• Field Map Status
• Inventory (some items)
• Maximum BP
• Maximum HP
• Mr. S Stickers
• Overall Standing
• Spell Levels
• Tech Levels
• Unlocked Abilities

And this is Square Enix’s set of screenshots showing how the Romancing SaGa 2 remake New Game Plus option works.

Here’s the Romancing SaGa 2: Revenge of the Seven launch trailer, which goes over what to expect from the remake. It starts by explaining how the seven heroes were banished as “thanks” for saving the world. They’ve returned, this time as villains. Players following the rulers of a kingdom rebuilding and restoring the world, developing their homeland while also heading off to face the heroes. If you fall in battle or choose to abdicate, a new avatar takes your place as emperor. After getting into the story, we get to see gameplay highlighting its battles and kingdom management elements.

While the original Romancing Saga 2: Revenge of the Seven didn’t appear outside Japan, later versions and this remake are worldwide releases. We saw it for the first time everywhere when Square Enix released it on the PS4, Switch, Vita, Xbox One, PC, and mobile devices in 2016 and 2017. 

Romancing Saga 2: Revenge of the Seven will release on October 24, 2024 for Nintendo Switch, PC, PS4 and PS5.

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CESA has announced the winners of Japan Game Awards 2024's Future Division award winners on the final day of Tokyo Game Show 2024. Square Enix's Dragon Quest III HD-2D Remake and Capcom's Monster Hunter Wilds are among the titles that received this award.

The TGS 2024 organizers held a public poll on the event's first three days on September 26-28, 2024, to determine the winners of this award from among the titles exhibited at the event. A total of ten games won the Future Division award in the 2024 edition.

Here is the full list of the ten Japan Game Awards 2024 Future Division award winners based on the presentation's chronological order:

1. Dragon Quest III HD-2D Remake
   Square Enix will publish the remake of one of the most popular games in Japan for the Switch, PS5, Xbox Series X, and PC simultaneously worldwide on November 14, 2024.
2. Dynasty Warriors Origins
   Koei Tecmo will release the new Dynasty Warriors tactical action game for the PS5, Xbox Series X|S, and PC on January 17, 2025.
3. Metaphor: ReFantazio
   Atlus will publish the new fantasy RPG made by the creators of Persona 3, 4, and 5 on Xbox Series X|S, PS5, PS4, and PC on October 11, 2024. This is the second time the game received a Future Division award, as Atlus also exhibited it in the 2023 edition.
4. Romancing SaGa 2: Revenge of the Seven
   Square Enix will release the remake of the Super Famicom (SNES) title Romancing SaGa 2 for the PS5, PS4, Switch, and PC on October 24, 2024.
5. Arknights: Endfield
   Hypergryph will release the real-time strategy RPG spin-off of Arknights for iOS and Android mobile devices, as well as PC and PlayStation 5. This Chinese game is also the only completely non-Japanese title to win the Future Division award in the 2024 edition.
6. Persona 5: The Phantom X
   Atlus and Sega will bring Perfect World's Persona 5-themed PC and mobile free-to-play game that appeared first in China to Japan. The company group is also considering a global English release of the title.
7. Suikoden I&II HD Remaster: Gate Rune and Dunan Unification Wars
   Konami will release the remaster compilation of the first two Suikoden RPGs on PS5, PS4, Switch, Xbox Series X, Xbox One, and PC on March 6, 2025.
8. Monster Hunter Wilds
   Capcom will publish the new mainline Monster Hunter entry on the PS5, Xbox Series X, and PC simultaneously worldwide on February 28, 2025.
9. Like a Dragon: Pirate Yakuza in Hawaii
   Sega will bring the Like a Dragon: Infinite Wealth side story starring Goro Majima to PS5, PS4, Xbox Series X, Xbox One, and PC on February 28, 2025.
10. Professor Layton and the New World of Steam
    Level-5 will release the new entry in the Professor Layton puzzle game series for Nintendo Switch simultaneously worldwide in 2025.

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Only a few years ago, Romancing SaGa: Minstrel Song Remastered appeared as Square Enix's attempt to bring a beloved JRPG classic to modern systems. It clearly worked because Romancing SaGa 2 is also getting the full 3D remake treatment, with a release set for October.

I recently got a chance to play the PC demo of the remake ahead of its public release, which featured a small snippet of the game’s opening chapter. Specifically, a journey through two dungeons and a visit to the main hub town of Avalon. It stops right at the point where the game’s generational baton-ing happens for the first time. It was only a small snippet of the game and yet still said a lot about what to expect from this new version.

The first obvious difference between this and the original Romancing SaGa 2 is its visuals. This is no longer a Super Famicom game, as it features full 3D models, voice acting and a much more fleshed-out world. The demo opens on a flashback sequence detailing the game’s backstory. Unlike the original, the static screens and scrolling text are out, replaced with dramatic narration and close-ups of the shadowy forms of the Seven Heroes who are set to make their return.

This presentation is also excellent. There is strong art direction on show here, with the character models looking much closer to Tomomi Kobayashi’s original illustrations. Environments are a little less interesting, but considering that most of what was in the demo was a cave and a castle, there’s a chance more interesting locations will show up later. The last dungeon of the demo, an old mansion claimed by one of the Heroes, is a sign of this, with its grand interior design looking much more impressive than the original.

There’s also been a huge overhaul of the game’s localization and it’s a significant improvement over the mobile remaster’s dry presentation. While that version’s dialogue had a tendency to feel stilted and drab, the lines here carry a much more theatrical punch. The performances really help too. There aren’t many major standouts, and it’s generally what you’d expect from a modern JRPG dub, but those performances are still solid and sell every line.

However, while all this is to be expected for a full remake of a Super Famicom game, the Romancing SaGa 2 remake features plenty of gameplay improvements too. Combat is a major part of this, with the game’s battles offering players a lot more information than previous versions of the game. Moves that can manipulate turn order or enemy weaknesses are much easier to execute, as both of these elements are given stronger visual aids.

There’s a persistent timeline on screen in every battle that demonstrates the turn order, and it makes a huge impact on how you can approach fights. You can target weaker enemies who are likely to attack sooner, see exactly which characters will be able to use an item and immediately attack or see how your moves will push enemies back along the timeline. Not that I got to really play around with this due to the limited moves available in the demo, but it’s clear that visible timeline will play a huge role in later battles.

Enemy weaknesses are also easier to figure out, as enemies now come equipped with a bar that shows them off at all times. If you’ve played Octopath Traveler, you’ll know what to expect. When you encounter a new enemy, it will be accompanied by a series of question marks. Hit that enemy with the right weapons or elemental spells, and their weaknesses will gradually replace those question marks, and that weakness will now hover around that enemy every time they appear.

Elements such as these made the combat of Romancing SaGa 2 feel extremely easy to pick up right out of the gate. All the information you need is readily available, allowing you to make smarter decisions and plan ahead. This isn’t to say the combat is easy by any means, however. The final boss encounter of the demo definitely gave me a tough time and there are clear signs of hidden complexities awaiting players in the final game. I just never felt overwhelmed or confused by what I was doing because of how clear it all was. Some real quality of life improvements from the original on show here, and I loved the combat system as a result.

The new 3D perspective has also elevated the map design too. While the dungeons I played through were present in the original, the layout was completely reworked, making good use of the verticality the extra dimension can now provide. The initial cave was a multi-tiered affair full of winding ages, while the mansion had multiple floors that you had to traverse, including portions where you have to seek out hidden ages or drop through broken flooring to progress. My hope is the developers get to run with this in later dungeons, getting more creative in the redesigns.

What I would have loved to have seen more of was the generational aspect. This is a key aspect of Romancing SaGa 2, but the demo’s entire reference to it is a new Emperor taking charge right at the end. Genuinely, the demo announces there is a new emperor then asks you to leave. As such, I have no idea how this aspect will affect the rest of the game at present despite it being such a major part of its design.

The demo does provide some high hopes for the final release of the Romancing SaGa 2 remake, however. That combat system was a lot of fun, and if it builds on what was already there, I can see later battles being challenging in all the best ways. With all the visual improvements and localization tweaks, I can see this becoming the definitive way to enjoy the game.

Romancing Saga 2: Revenge of the Seven will release on October 24, 2024 for Nintendo Switch, PC, PS4 and PS5.

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A Switch remake of classic RPG Romancing SaGa 2: Revenge of the Seven was announced at the 2024 Summer Nintendo Direct. The game is set to come to the console on October 24, 2024.

The game is a full remake of the 1993 RPG originally released on the Super Famicom/SNES. Glimmers, empire building, and party formations will return, as well as the non-linear structure of the game that allows players to choose the order they tackle the titular seven heroes. The combat has also been shifted to a more modern timeline-based turn system, and each character has a new fully 3D model.

You can watch the announcement trailer via YouTube below:

Other announcements from the Nintendo Direct include a new collection of the Ace Attorney Investigations games and a new Mario and Luigi game subtitled Brothership.

Romancing SaGa 2: Revenge of the Seven Remake will release on October 24, 2024, for Nintendo Switch. The original game is already available on PC, PS4, Playstation Vita, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch, and mobile devices.

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