《圣剑传说2：七英雄归来》制作人访谈及 Steam Deck 实机体验

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

For this review, I played the Romancing SaGa 2: Revenge of the Seven Steam Deck demo and interviewed its producer, Shinichi Tatsuke (also behind Trials of Mana's remake). We discussed the game, lessons learned from Trials of Mana, accessibility, potential Xbox and mobile ports, coffee, and more. This 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 – they're legendary Squaresoft titles. It's an honor to remake them, especially since it's been nearly 30 years. Remakes offer a chance for improvement. Romancing SaGa 2 is unique, with systems that remain innovative today. Its uniqueness made it a compelling choice for a remake.

TA: The original Romancing SaGa 2 was notoriously challenging. I got a game over in the first ten minutes! The remake offers multiple difficulty settings. How did you balance staying true to the original with improved accessibility, especially for newcomers?

ST: The SaGa series' difficulty is well-known, and many fans consider it essential. However, it also presents a barrier to entry. Many know about SaGa but haven't played it due to perceived difficulty.

We aimed to please both veteran and new players. The solution? Difficulty settings! "Normal" mode caters to standard RPG players, while "Casual" mode prioritizes story and narrative. Our development team included core SaGa fans, making this a collaborative decision. It's like adding honey to spicy curry – the original is intense, but the casual mode softens the blow.

TA: How did you balance the original experience for veterans with quality-of-life improvements?

ST: SaGa isn't just about difficulty; it's about understanding the game. The original lacked visible enemy weaknesses and other stats, forcing players to figure it out. This wasn't challenging, it was unfair. The remake displays weaknesses and other crucial information, creating a fairer, more enjoyable experience. We addressed areas that made the original excessively difficult, aiming for modern player enjoyment.

TA: The Steam Deck version runs incredibly well. Considering your experience with Trials of Mana on multiple platforms, was it optimized specifically for the Steam Deck?

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

TA: How long was development?

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

TA: What did you learn from Trials of Mana that you applied to this remake?

ST: Trials of Mana taught us what players want in a remake. For example, regarding the soundtrack, players prefer arrangements faithful to the originals, but with improved quality thanks to modern technology. We added the option to switch between original and arranged soundtracks, a feature well-received in Trials of Mana.

We also adjusted the graphics. Mana characters are shorter and more adorable; SaGa needed a different aesthetic, so we used lighting and shadows differently to maintain a serious tone. We leveraged past experience but also innovated.

(I thanked him for the English "Romancing SaGa 2 Primer" video.)

TA: Trials of Mana came to mobile. Any plans for Romancing SaGa 2: Revenge of the Seven on mobile or Xbox?

ST: No current plans.

TA: Finally, what's your coffee preference?

ST: I don't drink coffee; I dislike bitter drinks. I don't drink beer either.

(Thanks to Shinichi Tatsuke, Jordan Aslett, Sara Green, and Rachel Mascetti.)

Romancing SaGa 2: Revenge of the Seven Steam Deck Impressions

Receiving a Steam key for the demo was exciting but also slightly nerve-wracking. The trailer looked amazing, but would it work well on Steam Deck? Thankfully, it's fantastic! The few hours I spent with the demo made me question the need for PS5 or Switch versions.

Visually and aurally, the game shines on Steam Deck. The remake gradually introduces core mechanics. For veterans, there are quality-of-life improvements and new audio options. For newcomers, it's a fantastic introduction to SaGa. The visuals improve accessibility, yet it retains the essence of the original Romancing SaGa 2. Even on the "original" difficulty, it's still challenging.

The visuals are better than expected. I loved Trials of Mana's remake, but this might surpass it. The PC port, at least on Steam Deck, is excellent. The options are extensive: screen mode, resolution (720p support on Steam Deck), frame rate (30 to unlimited), v-sync, dynamic resolution, graphics presets, anti-aliasing, texture filtering, shadow quality, and 3D model resolution. I maxed out most settings and still got nearly 90fps at 720p.

I used English voice acting, which was good, but I might play with Japanese audio later. The game feels modern while preserving its SaGa identity.

I look forward to the full release and exploring the console versions. Romancing SaGa 2: Revenge of the Seven is a must-have for RPG fans. Hopefully, this will encourage others 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 on all platforms.

(Further mentions of other interviews and games omitted for brevity.)