A deep dive into the SaGa series often begins with its classic console releases. For me, Romancing SaGa 2 on iOS served as my introduction almost a decade ago. Initially, I struggled, treating it like a standard JRPG. Now, however, I'm a devoted SaGa fan (as evidenced by the photo below), so I was thrilled to see Romancing SaGa 2: Revenge of the Seven, a complete remake, announced for Switch, PC, and PlayStation.

This dual-review features my hands-on experience with the Romancing SaGa 2: Revenge of the Seven Steam Deck demo 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. The 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?

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 room for improvement. Romancing SaGa 2, with its unique systems, remains distinctive even today. Its unique gameplay makes it a compelling candidate for a modern remake.

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

ST: The SaGa series' difficulty is well-known, attracting hardcore fans worldwide. However, this difficulty also creates a high barrier to entry. Many know about SaGa but haven't played it due to perceived difficulty. We aimed to please both veteran and new players. The solution? A new difficulty system. "Normal" mode caters to standard RPG players, while "Casual" mode prioritizes narrative experience. Our development 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 the casual mode is the honey, making it more palatable.

TA: How did you balance delivering the original experience for veterans with quality-of-life improvements? How did you choose which features to modernize while maintaining the challenge?

ST: SaGa isn't just about difficulty; it's about understanding the game's mechanics. The original lacked visible enemy weaknesses and other crucial stats, forcing players to figure things out. We felt this was unfair, so the remake displays weaknesses and other stats, creating a fairer experience. We addressed other overly challenging aspects to make the game more enjoyable for modern audiences.

TA: Romancing SaGa 2: Revenge of the Seven runs exceptionally well on my Steam Deck. Considering your experience with Trials of Mana on multiple platforms, has the team optimized specifically for the Steam Deck?

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

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

ST: Trials of Mana taught us what players want in a remake. For instance, players generally prefer soundtrack arrangements faithful to the originals, with improved quality given modern technology. We also learned that offering a choice between original and rearranged tracks is well-received, a feature included in Romancing SaGa 2: Revenge of the Seven. Visually, Trials of Mana had more of an adorable aesthetic, while Romancing SaGa 2 needed a more serious tone. We used lighting effects instead of textural shadows to achieve this realism. We leveraged past experiences but also innovated in new areas.

TA: Will Romancing SaGa 2: Revenge of the Seven come to mobile or Xbox?

ST: There are 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 for their time.)

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 fantastic, but I worried about Steam Deck compatibility. Thankfully, Romancing SaGa 2: Revenge of the Seven is excellent on the Steam Deck OLED, making me question the need for PS5 or Switch versions.

The game looks and sounds superb. The remake gradually introduces core mechanics, offering quality-of-life improvements, improved combat flow, and new audio options. For newcomers, it's an excellent introduction to the SaGa series. The visuals enhance accessibility, yet the game retains its core Romancing SaGa 2 identity. Even on the original-difficulty setting, the challenge remains.

Visually, the remake exceeded expectations. While I enjoyed Trials of Mana's remake, Romancing SaGa 2: Revenge of the Seven might be superior (though time will tell). The Steam Deck port is remarkably good. The game offers numerous audio and visual customization options, including selectable soundtracks (original or remake), English or Japanese audio, and various graphical settings. I achieved a near-locked 90fps at 720p on my Steam Deck OLED with high settings. I used English audio for my initial playthrough but may switch to Japanese later.

I eagerly anticipate the full release and exploring the console versions. Romancing SaGa 2: Revenge of the Seven is a must-have for RPG fans. Hopefully, this will encourage more players to explore the SaGa series. 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.