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

This article delves into the recently announced remake of Romancing SaGa 2, titled Romancing SaGa 2: Revenge of the Seven, and features an interview with its producer, Shinichi Tatsuke. The remake is launching on Steam, Nintendo Switch, PS5, and PS4.

The interview covers various aspects of the development process, including the challenges of balancing fidelity to the original with modern accessibility. Tatsuke discusses the addition of multiple difficulty settings (Normal and Casual) to cater to both veteran SaGa fans and newcomers. He uses the analogy of adding honey to spicy curry to illustrate how they aimed to make the game more approachable without sacrificing the core challenge that defines the SaGa series.

The discussion also touches upon quality-of-life improvements, such as making enemy weaknesses visible to the player, which were previously hidden in the original game. Tatsuke highlights the lessons learned from the Trials of Mana remake, particularly concerning soundtrack options (allowing players to choose between original and rearranged music) and graphical adjustments tailored to the unique aesthetic of the SaGa series. He also mentions the optimization efforts for Steam Deck compatibility.

The article then shifts to a hands-on preview of the Steam Deck version. The reviewer praises the game's visuals and audio, emphasizing the smooth performance and extensive graphical settings available on PC, allowing for a near-locked 90fps experience at 720p on a Steam Deck OLED. The reviewer also comments on the improved accessibility for newcomers while maintaining the challenging nature of the original for veterans. The article concludes with a positive outlook on the remake, expressing excitement for the full release and suggesting that it might surpass the Trials of Mana remake in overall quality. It also encourages players to try the free demo available on all platforms.