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 often begins with its classic console releases. For me, Romancing SaGa 2 on iOS served as my entry point nearly a decade ago, a journey initially marked by the challenges of approaching it like a traditional JRPG. Today, my fondness for the SaGa franchise is evident (see the image below), and I was thrilled to see Romancing SaGa 2: Revenge of the Seven, a complete remake, announced for Switch, PC, and PlayStation.

This dual-review features my experience with an early demo of Romancing SaGa 2: Revenge of the Seven on Steam Deck and an interview with Game Producer Shinichi Tatsuke, the mind behind Trials of Mana's remake. Our conversation covered the game's development, lessons learned from Trials of Mana, accessibility, potential ports to Xbox and mobile, coffee preferences, and more. This interview, conducted via video call, has been transcribed and edited for clarity.

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

Shinichi Tatsuke (ST): Both Trials of Mana and the Romancing SaGa series predate the Square Enix merger, hailing from the Squaresoft era. They're legendary Square titles, and remaking them is an incredible honor. Nearly 30 years after their original release, these remakes offered significant opportunities for improvement, making the process incredibly rewarding.

Romancing SaGa 2, with its unique systems, remains distinctive even today. Its uniqueness, even after 30+ years, made it a compelling candidate for a remake, ensuring its appeal to modern gamers.

TA: The original Romancing SaGa 2 was notoriously challenging. I personally experienced a game over within ten minutes! The remake offers multiple difficulty settings. How did you balance faithfulness to the original with improved accessibility, especially for newcomers encountering their first SaGa game with modern visuals?

ST: The SaGa series' difficulty is well-known, particularly among its dedicated fanbase in Japan and globally. Many consider this difficulty integral to the SaGa experience. However, others see it as a significant barrier to entry. Many are aware of the series but haven't played due to perceived difficulty.

To address this, we aimed to cater to both veteran and new players. The solution was a new difficulty system: Normal and Casual modes. Normal mode targets standard RPG players, while Casual mode prioritizes narrative enjoyment. Our development team included core SaGa fans, making this a collaborative decision. It's like adding honey to spicy curry—the original's difficulty is the spice, and Casual mode is the honey, making the experience more accessible.

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

ST: The SaGa series isn't solely about difficulty; it's also about understanding the game mechanics. The original lacked visible information, such as enemy weaknesses and defense stats, forcing players to deduce them. We felt this was unfair, not challenging. The remake displays weaknesses, making it fairer and more enjoyable. We addressed areas of unfair difficulty to create a better modern experience.

TA: Romancing SaGa 2: Revenge of the Seven runs exceptionally well on my Steam Deck. Considering your experience with Trials of Mana on various platforms, was the game optimized specifically for the Steam Deck?

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

TA: Can you comment on the development time for Romancing SaGa 2: Revenge of the Seven?

ST: I can't provide specifics, but main development began towards the end of 2021.

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

ST: Trials of Mana taught us player preferences regarding remakes. For example, regarding soundtracks, players generally prefer arrangements faithful to the originals, but with enhanced quality due to modern technology. We included the option to switch between original and rearranged tracks, a feature well-received in Trials of Mana and carried over to Romancing SaGa 2: Revenge of the Seven.

We also adapted the graphics approach. While Trials of Mana used shadow effects on textures, Romancing SaGa 2 uses lighting effects for a more serious, realistic tone. We leveraged past experiences while also innovating in new areas.

TA: Trials of Mana eventually released on mobile. Are there plans for Romancing SaGa 2: Revenge of the Seven on mobile or Xbox?

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

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 for their time and assistance.

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 reveal trailer looked fantastic, but I was unsure about the Steam Deck experience. Thankfully, Romancing SaGa 2: Revenge of the Seven not only runs flawlessly on the Steam Deck OLED but also made me question the need for PS5 or Switch versions. The quality is exceptional.

The game looks and sounds superb on the Steam Deck. The remake gradually introduces battle mechanics, stats, etc. Returning players will notice quality-of-life improvements, enhanced combat flow, and new audio options. For newcomers, it's a welcoming introduction to the SaGa series. The visuals enhance accessibility, but it remains true to the original Romancing SaGa 2. Even on the original-difficulty setting, the challenge remains.

The visuals exceeded my expectations. While I enjoyed Trials of Mana's remake, Romancing SaGa 2: Revenge of the Seven might be the superior remake (though my preference for the original game might influence this). The PC port's performance on Steam Deck is excellent. Audio and language options include original/remade soundtracks, English/Japanese audio, and various graphics settings. I maxed out most settings (medium shadows) and achieved near-locked 90fps at 720p.

I used English audio for my initial playthrough, finding the voice acting good. I might try Japanese in the full game. The remake successfully modernizes Romancing SaGa 2 while preserving its essence.

I eagerly anticipate the full release and exploring the console versions. Romancing SaGa 2: Revenge of the Seven is a must-have for RPG fans. I hope this encourages exploration of 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.