Romancing SaGa 2 Producer Interview and Steam Deck Preview

A deep dive into the SaGa series, focusing on the upcoming Romancing SaGa 2: Revenge of the Seven remake. This article features an interview with Game Producer Shinichi Tatsuke, along with hands-on impressions from a Steam Deck demo.

This double feature explores the remake, its accessibility improvements, and the development process. The interview with Shinichi Tatsuke, also behind Trials of Mana’s remake, covers various aspects, including balancing classic challenge with modern accessibility, optimization for Steam Deck, and future platform possibilities.

TouchArcade (TA): Reflecting on remaking Trials of Mana and now Romancing SaGa 2, both pre-Square Enix merger titles, what's it like to revisit these legendary SquareSoft games after nearly 30 years?

Shinichi Tatsuke (ST): It's an incredible honor. Both games offered opportunities for significant improvement. Romancing SaGa 2, with its unique systems, remains uniquely compelling even today. Its distinctiveness makes it a perfect candidate for a modern remake.

TA: The original Romancing SaGa 2 was notoriously challenging. The remake offers multiple difficulty settings. How did you balance preserving the original's spirit with enhanced accessibility for newcomers?

ST: The SaGa series has dedicated fans who appreciate its difficulty. However, many potential players are deterred by this. We aimed to satisfy both groups by introducing a casual mode alongside a normal mode. The casual mode allows players to experience the story without the intense challenge, while the normal mode retains the original's difficulty. Think of it like adding honey to spicy curry – the casual mode sweetens the experience.

ST: (continued) The original's challenge wasn't just difficulty, but also unfairness. Hidden enemy weaknesses and stats created an uneven playing field. The remake addresses this by explicitly displaying enemy weaknesses and other relevant stats, creating a fairer and more enjoyable experience.

TA: The Steam Deck demo ran exceptionally well. Considering Trials of Mana’s multi-platform release, has the team optimized Romancing SaGa 2: Revenge of the Seven 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 the development of Romancing SaGa 2: Revenge of the Seven?

ST: The Trials of Mana remake taught us what players value in remakes. For example, players generally prefer soundtrack arrangements faithful to the originals, but with enhanced quality. We incorporated this, offering both original and rearranged soundtracks as an option, as well as different graphical styles tailored to the SaGa aesthetic.

TA: Are there plans to bring Romancing SaGa 2: Revenge of the Seven to 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.

Romancing SaGa 2: Revenge of the Seven Steam Deck Impressions

The Steam Deck demo exceeded expectations. The game looks and sounds fantastic, offering a smooth experience even with maximum settings. The remake’s gradual introduction to gameplay mechanics benefits both newcomers and veterans. Quality-of-life improvements enhance combat flow and accessibility. Visuals are significantly improved, making the game more approachable while retaining its core SaGa challenge. Extensive graphical and audio customization options are available, including selectable soundtracks and language options.

The PC port's performance on Steam Deck is impressive, achieving near-locked 90fps at 720p with high settings. Both the English and Japanese voice acting are well-done. The remake successfully modernizes the game while preserving its unique SaGa identity.

Romancing SaGa 2: Revenge of the Seven launches October 24th on Steam, Nintendo Switch, PS5, and PS4. A free demo is available now.