Romancing SaGa 2: Revenge of the Seven Interview With Game Producer Shinichi Tatsuke and Steam Deck Hands-On Preview

Experience the Reimagined Classic: Romancing SaGa 2: Revenge of the Seven

Many discovered the SaGa series through past console generations. For me, Romancing SaGa 2 on iOS was my introduction almost a decade ago – a challenging but ultimately rewarding experience. Now, I'm a devoted SaGa fan (as evidenced by the photo below!), and thrilled by the recent announcement of Romancing SaGa 2: Revenge of the Seven, a complete remake for Switch, PC, and PlayStation.

This review covers my hands-on time with an early demo on Steam Deck, alongside an interview with Game Producer Shinichi Tatsuke (Trials of Mana remake). We discussed Romancing SaGa 2: Revenge of the Seven, lessons learned from Trials of Mana, accessibility, potential future ports, and more. The interview, conducted via video call, has been transcribed and edited for clarity.

TouchArcade (TA): Remaking beloved classics like Trials of Mana and now Romancing SaGa 2 – how does that feel?

Shinichi Tatsuke (ST): Both Trials of Mana and the SaGa series predate the Square Enix merger, hailing from the Squaresoft era. They're legendary titles, and remaking them is an incredible honor. Nearly 30 years after their original release, there was ample 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 recall a game over within ten minutes of my first playthrough! The remake offers multiple difficulty settings. How did you balance faithfulness to the original with accessibility, especially for newcomers experiencing their first SaGa game?

ST: The SaGa series' difficulty is well-known, particularly among its dedicated fanbase. Some consider it essential to the series' identity. However, many potential players are deterred by its reputation. We aimed to please both veteran and new players. The solution? Multiple difficulty modes. "Normal" caters to standard RPG players, while "Casual" prioritizes narrative enjoyment. Our development team included hardcore SaGa fans, making this a collaborative decision. 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 preserving the original experience for veterans while incorporating quality-of-life improvements?

ST: The SaGa series isn't just about difficulty; it's about the unfairness of the original. Hidden enemy weaknesses and obscured stats created an uneven playing field. We addressed this by making this information visible in the remake, creating a more fair and enjoyable experience for modern audiences. We adjusted areas that were excessively difficult in the original, aiming for a balance between challenge and enjoyment.

TA: Romancing SaGa 2: Revenge of the Seven runs exceptionally well on Steam Deck. Considering your work on Trials of Mana's various ports, was there specific optimization for Steam Deck?

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

TA: How long was the development process?

ST: I can't give 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 what players value in remakes. For example, regarding the soundtrack, we learned that players generally prefer arrangements faithful to the originals. While the original tracks were limited by Super Famicom technology, the remake allows for higher audio quality while maintaining the original feel. We also retained the option to switch between original and rearranged tracks, a feature well-received in Trials of Mana. Graphically, we adopted a different approach than Trials of Mana, opting for lighting effects to create realism and seriousness, rather than texture shadows, to suit the SaGa aesthetic.

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

ST: No plans at this time.

TA: Finally, what's your coffee preference?

ST: I don't drink coffee; I dislike bitter drinks. Beer, too.

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 amazing, but I worried about Steam Deck compatibility. Thankfully, it's excellent! The few hours spent with the demo made me question the need for PS5 or Switch versions.

The game looks and sounds fantastic. The remake gradually introduces core mechanics, offering quality-of-life improvements and new audio options. For newcomers, it's a superb entry point. The visuals are more approachable, yet it retains the core Romancing SaGa 2 experience. Even on the hardest difficulty, the challenge remains.

The visuals exceeded expectations. While I loved the Trials of Mana remake, Romancing SaGa 2: Revenge of the Seven might surpass it (though time will tell). The PC port is exceptionally well-optimized for Steam Deck, offering extensive graphical and audio options. I achieved a near-locked 90fps at 720p with mostly high settings.

I played with English voice acting, which was good, but I might try Japanese in the full game. The remake successfully balances modernization with the essence of the SaGa series.

I eagerly await the full release. If you enjoy RPGs, this is a must-have. 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 now – highly recommended.