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

Many long-time gamers discovered the SaGa series through past console releases. For me, Romancing SaGa 2 on iOS was my introduction almost a decade ago. I initially struggled, mistaking it for a typical JRPG. Now, I'm a huge SaGa fan (as the photo below shows!), so I was thrilled to see the announcement of Romancing SaGa 2: Revenge of the Seven, a complete remake for Switch, PC, and PlayStation.

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

TouchArcade (TA): What's it like remaking beloved games like Trials of Mana and now Romancing SaGa 2?

Shinichi Tatsuke (ST): Both Trials of Mana and the SaGa series predate the Square Enix merger (Squaresoft era). They're legendary Square titles. It's an honor to remake them, especially given they're almost 30 years old. The remakes offered significant improvement opportunities. Romancing SaGa 2 is exceptionally unique, with systems that remain innovative today. Its uniqueness made it a compelling remake candidate, even after 30 years.

TA: The original Romancing SaGa 2 was notoriously difficult (I got a game over in the first ten minutes!). The remake offers multiple difficulty settings. How did you balance fidelity to the original with accessibility, especially for newcomers encountering SaGa for the first time with modern graphics?

ST: The SaGa series' difficulty is well-known. Many hardcore fans appreciate it, but it also creates a high barrier to entry. Many know the series but haven't played it due to perceived difficulty.

We aimed to satisfy both veteran and new players. The solution? Multiple difficulty settings: Normal and Casual. Normal caters to standard RPG players, while Casual prioritizes story enjoyment. Our development team included core SaGa fans, making this a collective decision. It's like adding honey to spicy curry – the original is intensely difficult, so Casual mode provides a gentler experience.

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

ST: The SaGa series isn't just about difficulty; it's about understanding the game's mechanics. The original lacked visible information, like enemy weaknesses and defenses. This wasn't difficult, it was unfair. For a modern audience, we made this information visible. We addressed other overly difficult elements to create a fair and enjoyable experience.

TA: The Steam Deck demo runs impressively well. Considering Trials of Mana's releases on multiple platforms (including mobile), was the game optimized specifically for the Steam Deck?

Editor's Note: This question predates the official Steam Deck compatibility rating.

ST: Yes, the full game will be compatible and playable on the Steam Deck, as your demo experience demonstrates.

TA: How long was the development process?

ST: I can't give specifics, but main development began in late 2021.

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

ST: Trials of Mana taught us player preferences regarding remakes. For example, regarding soundtracks, players prefer arrangements faithful to the originals, but with enhanced quality possible on modern platforms. We offered a choice between original and rearranged tracks in Trials of Mana, a feature carried over to Romancing SaGa 2.

We also learned about graphics. Mana's characters are shorter and more adorable; SaGa has a different aesthetic, requiring taller characters and different lighting techniques (using lighting effects instead of texturing for shadows) to maintain a serious, realistic feel. We utilized past knowledge but also developed new techniques.

At this point, I thanked him and the team for the English "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 (and beer).

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 was exciting but also slightly concerning. The reveal trailer looked fantastic, but the Steam Deck compatibility was uncertain. Fortunately, Romancing SaGa 2: Revenge of the Seven is excellent on the Steam Deck OLED, surpassing my expectations. It's so good, I don't even want to play it on PS5 or Switch.

The game looks and sounds fantastic. The remake gradually introduces battle mechanics, stats, etc. For veterans, there are quality-of-life improvements to information presentation, combat flow, and audio options. For newcomers, it's a superb introduction to the SaGa series. The visuals enhance approachability, but it remains true to the original Romancing SaGa 2 with a fresh coat of paint and new features. Even on the "original" difficulty setting, it remains challenging.

The visuals are better than expected. I loved the Trials of Mana remake, but Romancing SaGa 2: Revenge of the Seven might be even better (though my preference for the original Romancing SaGa 2 may influence this). The PC port, at least on Steam Deck, is surprisingly good. Extensive graphical and audio options are available, including soundtrack selection (original or remake), English or Japanese audio, and various graphical settings. I maxed most settings (shadows on medium) and achieved a near-locked 90fps at 720p on my Steam Deck OLED.

I used English audio for my first playthrough. The voice acting is good, but I'll likely play with Japanese audio later. The remake successfully modernizes Romancing SaGa 2 while retaining its essence.

I eagerly anticipate the full game 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 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.

You can find our other interviews here. Thanks for reading!