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 introduction almost a decade ago. Initially, I struggled, mistaking it for a typical JRPG. Today, however, I'm a devoted SaGa fan (as evidenced by the photo below), thrilled by the recent announcement of Romancing SaGa 2: Revenge of the Seven, a complete remake for Switch, PC, and PlayStation.

This dual review features my hands-on experience with a pre-release Steam Deck demo of Romancing SaGa 2: Revenge of the Seven, alongside an interview with Game Producer Shinichi Tatsuke (also behind Trials of Mana's remake). Our conversation covered the remake, 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 conciseness.

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 a huge honor. Both games, released nearly 30 years ago, offered significant room for improvement. Romancing SaGa 2, with its unique systems, remains distinctive even today, making it a compelling remake candidate.

TA: The original Romancing SaGa 2 was notoriously challenging (I got a game over within ten 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 visuals?

ST: The SaGa series' difficulty is well-known, attracting a dedicated fanbase. However, this difficulty also creates a barrier to entry for many. Many know of the series but haven't played due to perceived difficulty.

To address this, we introduced difficulty settings: normal and casual. Normal caters to standard RPG players, while casual prioritizes narrative experience. Our team included core SaGa fans, ensuring a balanced approach. Think of it like adding honey to spicy curry – the original game's difficulty is the spice, and casual mode is the honey, making it more accessible.

TA: How did you maintain the original experience for veterans while adding quality-of-life improvements? How did you choose which features to modernize while preserving the challenge?

ST: The SaGa series isn't just about difficulty; it's about the challenge of understanding the game. The original lacked visible enemy weaknesses and other stats, forcing players to figure things out. We considered this unfair, so the remake displays weaknesses and other relevant information. We addressed other overly difficult aspects to create a fairer, more enjoyable experience for modern players.

TA: Romancing SaGa 2: Revenge of the Seven runs exceptionally well on my Steam Deck. Considering your work on Trials of Mana across various platforms (PS4, Switch, mobile), was the game specifically optimized for Steam Deck?

ST: Yes, the full game will be compatible and playable on the Steam Deck.

TA: Can you comment on the development time for Romancing SaGa 2: Revenge of the Seven?

ST: I can't give specifics, but main development began towards the end of 2021.

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

ST: Trials of Mana taught us player preferences regarding remakes. For example, soundtracks: players prefer arrangements faithful to the originals, but with improved quality due to modern technology. 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 learned about visual styles. Mana's characters are shorter and more adorable; SaGa requires a different aesthetic, with taller characters and lighting effects to maintain realism. While we leveraged past experiences, we also developed new approaches for this remake.

At this point, I thanked him and the team for the "Romancing SaGa 2 Primer" video.

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

ST: No current plans for those platforms.

TA: Finally, what's your coffee preference?

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

Thanks to Shinichi Tatsuke, Jordan Aslett, Sara Green, and Rachel Mascetti.

Romancing SaGa 2: Revenge of the Seven Steam Deck Impressions

Receiving a Steam key for a pre-release demo filled me with excitement and apprehension. The trailer looked fantastic, but I was unsure about the Steam Deck experience. Thankfully, Romancing SaGa 2: Revenge of the Seven is superb on the Steam Deck OLED, surpassing my expectations. The demo made me question the need for PS5 or Switch versions.

The game looks and sounds amazing. The remake gradually introduces battle mechanics, stats, etc. Returning players will appreciate quality-of-life improvements, smoother combat, and new audio options. Newcomers will find it a welcoming introduction to the SaGa series. The visuals enhance accessibility, yet the core Romancing SaGa 2 experience remains intact. Even on the original-difficulty setting, the challenge is present.

The visuals are better than anticipated. While I enjoyed Trials of Mana's remake, Romancing SaGa 2: Revenge of the Seven might be superior (though that's subjective and depends on personal preference for the original games). The PC port on Steam Deck is excellent. The game offers various audio and visual customization options, including soundtrack selection (original or remake), language (English or Japanese), and extensive graphics settings.

The PC port allows adjustments to screen mode, resolution (with 720p support on Steam Deck), frame rate (30 to unlimited), v-sync, dynamic resolution, graphics presets, anti-aliasing, texture filtering, shadow quality, and 3D model rendering resolution. Even with mostly maximum settings, I achieved a near-locked 90fps at 720p on my Steam Deck OLED.

I used English audio for my initial playthrough, finding the voice acting good. I'll likely try Japanese later. The remake successfully modernizes the game while retaining its SaGa essence.

I eagerly await the full game and console versions. Romancing SaGa 2: Revenge of the Seven is a must-have for RPG fans. Hopefully, this will encourage exploration of other SaGa titles. 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.