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, a journey initially marked by struggles due to my misapplication of typical JRPG strategies. Today, however, my fondness for the SaGa franchise is evident (see the image below), and I was pleasantly surprised by the recent announcement of Romancing SaGa 2: Revenge of the Seven, a complete remake of Romancing SaGa 2, for Switch, PC, and PlayStation platforms.

This dual-focus piece details my experience with an early demo code of Romancing SaGa 2: Revenge of the Seven on Steam Deck, alongside an interview with Game Producer Shinichi Tatsuke (also behind Trials of Mana's remake). Our conversation covered Romancing SaGa 2: Revenge of the Seven, lessons learned from Trials of Mana, accessibility features, potential Xbox and mobile ports, coffee preferences, and more. This 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 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, making it a compelling candidate for a modern remake.

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

ST: The SaGa series' difficulty is well-known, attracting a dedicated fanbase both domestically and internationally. While some consider difficulty integral to the SaGa experience, others find it a significant barrier to entry. Many are familiar with the series but haven't played due to perceived difficulty.

To address this, we introduced adjustable difficulty settings: normal and casual modes. Normal caters to standard RPG players, while casual prioritizes narrative enjoyment. This decision, reached collaboratively with core SaGa fans within the development team, aims to engage both veterans and newcomers. Think of it like adding honey to spicy curry—the original Romancing SaGa 2 is the intensely spicy curry, and the casual mode is the honey, making it more palatable.

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

ST: The SaGa series isn't solely about difficulty; it's also about accessibility. The original lacked visible information, such as enemy weaknesses and defense stats, forcing players to deduce them. We deemed this unfair, opting for transparency in the remake by displaying weaknesses. We addressed other overly challenging aspects to create a fairer, more enjoyable experience 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 various platforms, was there specific Steam Deck optimization?

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

TA: How long was the development process for Romancing SaGa 2: Revenge of the Seven?

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

TA: What did you learn from the Trials of Mana remake that you applied to Romancing SaGa 2: Revenge of the Seven?

ST: Trials of Mana taught us player preferences regarding remakes. For example, regarding soundtracks, players generally prefer arrangements faithful to the originals, while maintaining higher audio quality afforded by modern technology. We provided a choice between original and rearranged tracks, a feature carried over to Romancing SaGa 2: Revenge of the Seven. Visual differences also arose; Mana's characters are more petite and adorable, while SaGa's characters are taller and the visual style is more serious, necessitating different approaches to lighting and shadow effects. We combined lessons learned with new innovations for this remake.

TA: Trials of Mana eventually released on 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 beverages. Beer, too, is not for me.

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 pre-release demo filled me with excitement and apprehension. The trailer looked fantastic, but Steam Deck compatibility was uncertain. Thankfully, Romancing SaGa 2: Revenge of the Seven not only excels on the Steam Deck OLED but made me question the need for PS5 or Switch versions. The quality is exceptional.

Visually and aurally, the game is impressive. The remake smoothly introduces core mechanics and features quality-of-life improvements. Whether you're a veteran or newcomer, the game is well-polished. The visuals enhance accessibility, yet the core Romancing SaGa 2 experience remains intact. Even on the original difficulty setting, the challenge is significant.

The visuals are far better than anticipated. While I enjoyed Trials of Mana's remake, Romancing SaGa 2: Revenge of the Seven may surpass it, possibly due to my personal preference for the original game. The PC port, at least on Steam Deck, significantly exceeded expectations. The game offers extensive audio and visual customization options, including selectable soundtracks (original or remake), language options (English or Japanese), and various graphical settings. Even with maximum settings (except for medium shadows), I achieved a near-constant 90fps at 720p on my Steam Deck OLED.

I eagerly await the full game's release and plan to compare the demo experience across different platforms. Romancing SaGa 2: Revenge of the Seven is a must-have for RPG fans. Hopefully, this will encourage exploration of other SaGa titles, but Square Enix needs to deliver SaGa Frontier 2 next.

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