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

A deep dive into the SaGa series, focusing on the newly released remake, Romancing SaGa 2: Revenge of the Seven. This article combines a hands-on Steam Deck preview with an exclusive interview with Game Producer Shinichi Tatsuke.

This double feature explores the remake's development, accessibility features, and its impressive performance on the Steam Deck. The interview with Tatsuke, also behind Trials of Mana's remake, delves into the challenges of balancing faithfulness to the original with modern accessibility, the game's difficulty options, and the team's learnings from previous remake projects.

TouchArcade (TA): Reflecting on your work on Trials of Mana and now Romancing SaGa 2: Revenge of the Seven, both classic titles from the pre-Square Enix merger era, what's it like to be involved in these remakes?

Shinichi Tatsuke (ST): It's a tremendous honor. Both games are legendary, and remaking them after nearly 30 years presented a fantastic opportunity for improvement. Romancing SaGa 2 is uniquely challenging, even by today's standards, making it a compelling title for a remake.

TA: The original Romancing SaGa 2 was notoriously difficult. The remake offers multiple difficulty settings. How did you balance staying true to the original while enhancing accessibility for newcomers?

ST: The SaGa series has a dedicated fanbase who appreciate its difficulty. However, many potential players are intimidated by this. We aimed to cater to both groups by introducing a casual mode alongside a normal mode, offering a choice between a challenging experience and a more narrative-focused playthrough. Think of it like adding honey to spicy curry – the casual mode sweetens the challenge of the original.

ST: (continued) The original's challenge wasn't just difficulty, but also unfairness. Hidden enemy weaknesses and stats created an uneven playing field. The remake addresses this by explicitly displaying such information, making the experience fairer and more enjoyable for modern players. We focused on removing unfair elements while preserving the core SaGa experience.

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

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

TA: What lessons from Trials of Mana's remake informed the development of Romancing SaGa 2: Revenge of the Seven?

ST: Trials of Mana taught us valuable insights into player preferences. For example, players generally preferred soundtracks that closely resembled the originals, even with modern enhancements. We incorporated this into Romancing SaGa 2, offering both original and rearranged soundtracks. We also learned that visual styles should be tailored to each game's unique world. While Trials of Mana used shadow effects on textures, Romancing SaGa 2 utilizes lighting effects for a more serious and realistic aesthetic.

TA: Are there plans for mobile or Xbox releases?

ST: Currently, there are no plans for those platforms.

TA: Finally, what's your coffee preference?

ST: I don't drink coffee; I prefer non-bitter beverages.

Romancing SaGa 2: Revenge of the Seven Steam Deck Impressions

The Steam Deck version of Romancing SaGa 2: Revenge of the Seven is surprisingly excellent. The visuals and audio are stunning, and the game runs smoothly at near-locked 90fps at 720p on a Steam Deck OLED, even with high graphical settings. The remake offers a gradual introduction to the game's mechanics, making it accessible to newcomers while still providing a challenging experience for veterans. The ability to choose between original and remastered soundtracks, along with English and Japanese audio, adds to the overall appeal. The extensive graphical settings allow for customization to suit individual preferences.

This remake surpasses expectations, successfully modernizing the game while retaining its core SaGa identity. The Steam Deck port is particularly impressive. The voice acting is commendable, though I plan to experience the Japanese audio as well.

Romancing SaGa 2: Revenge of the Seven is a must-have for RPG fans, and hopefully, this will encourage more players to explore the SaGa series. The game launches on October 24th for Steam, Nintendo Switch, PS5, and PS4. A free demo is available on all platforms.