Romancing SaGa 2: Revenge of the Seven

Square Enix has long held the distinction of being one of the best studios when it comes to creating legendary RPGs. Romancing SaGa 2: Revenge of the Seven might not be one of its most well-known titles – a certain "Fantasy" beat it to the punch – but this remake aims to rectify that.

Updated with quality-of-life improvements and glorious 3D visuals, Romancing SaGa 2: Revenge of the Seven is exactly how you make a worthy remake. Despite the popularity of Square Enix's HD-2D ports, this port goes for the "updated" 3D treatment, bringing the world of SaGa to an entirely new dimension that works surprisingly well for the series.

An Epic of Epic Proportions

While games like Final Fantasy VII or even Chrono Trigger focus on a specific cast of characters through the game, Romancing SaGa 2 goes a step further and presents players with a story spanning multiple generations of heroes. The generation-spanning story gives players control over an entire lineage of emperors, with each character passing down their knowledge and skills to their successors.

Besides the ambitious plot, Romancing SaGa also branches from Square's most popular Final Fantasy by introducing a non-linear open world approach. In gameplay terms, it's mostly like the world of Xenoblade Chronicles X, where the only limitation for exploration was the player's current level. This massive world and epic story are brought to life better than ever before thanks to the remake embracing fully 3D graphics – a first for the SaGa series.

Visions of the Future

A few years back, Square Enix released a remake of Romancing SaGa 3. That remake looked more like an updated HD version of the 2D Super Famicom classic. Instead of going for the "Remaster" route, Romancing SaGa 2: Revenge of the Seven was built from the ground up as a modern RPG. The result is a game that looks gorgeous in every way. From its richly detailed worlds to the vibrant character design, Romancing SaGa 2 is sure to win over some new fans for the series. Revenge of the Seven also streamlined the menus and the UI in general, presenting players with a more "readable" experience that modern RPG fans will quickly grasp.

Retro RPG At Its Best (and Worst)

Despite the fresh coat of paint, the basics of what made Romancing SaGa 2 such a beloved hidden gem remain intact. Long-time fans of the series will recognize the same SaGa DNA in this game that kept them hooked in the first place – only now it's in 3D.

For players coming from modern RPGs like Dragon Quest XI, Romancing SaGa 2 can be a bit more than daunting. The old-school difficulty and complex mechanics are present just as they were in the Super Famicom classic – for better and for worse. This can lead to a frustrating experience for players who are more accustomed to modern difficulty standards. Expect lots of grinding.

If you can look past the somewhat dated core mechanics, what you'll find is a game that delivers a world worth exploring, with characters that feel uniquely alive and a rewarding progression system that will keep you coming back for more.

Pros

• Intriguing plot and characters
• Amazing non-linear open world to explore
• Seeing how the world and characters change with your decisions is always gripping

Cons

• Some obscure gameplay mechanics might turn away newcomers
• Steep difficulty curve