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 extensive library across past console generations. For me, Romancing SaGa 2 on iOS served as my introduction nearly a decade ago. Initially, I struggled, mistaking its gameplay for a typical JRPG. Today, however, I'm a devoted SaGa fan (as evidenced by the photo below), and was thrilled to see Romancing SaGa 2: Revenge of the Seven, a complete remake, announced for Switch, PC, and PlayStation.

This dual-article feature covers my experience with an early demo code of Romancing SaGa 2: Revenge of the Seven on Steam Deck, alongside an interview with Game Producer Shinichi Tatsuke (behind Trials of Mana's remake). We discussed the remake, lessons learned from Trials of Mana, accessibility, potential Xbox and mobile ports, coffee preferences, and more. The interview, conducted via video call, has been transcribed and edited for conciseness.

TouchArcade (TA): What's it like remaking beloved games 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. Both games, originally released nearly 30 years ago, offered significant opportunities for improvement. Romancing SaGa 2, with its unique systems, remains distinctive even today, making it a compelling remake candidate.

TA: The original Romancing SaGa 2 was notoriously challenging (I got a game over within 10 minutes!). The remake offers multiple difficulty settings. How did you balance faithfulness to the original with improved accessibility, especially for newcomers encountering the SaGa series for the first time with modern graphics?

ST: The SaGa series' difficulty is well-known, particularly among its dedicated fanbase. While some consider it essential to the series' identity, others find it a significant barrier to entry. Many are aware of SaGa but haven't played it due to perceived difficulty.

We aimed to cater to both veteran and new players. The solution? A new difficulty system. "Normal" mode targets standard RPG players, while "Casual" mode prioritizes narrative enjoyment. Our development team included core SaGa fans, ensuring a balanced approach. Think of it like adding honey to spicy curry—the original game's difficulty is the spice, and the casual mode is the honey, making it more palatable.

TA: How did you balance the original experience for veterans while adding quality-of-life improvements? How did you choose which features to modernize while maintaining the challenge for longtime fans?

ST: SaGa isn't just about difficulty; it's also about accessibility. The original lacked visible information, such as enemy weaknesses and defense stats, forcing players to figure it out. We felt this was unfair, so we made weaknesses visible in the remake. We addressed other overly difficult aspects to create a fairer, more enjoyable experience for modern audiences.

TA: Romancing SaGa 2: Revenge of the Seven runs exceptionally well on my Steam Deck. Considering your work on Trials of Mana across multiple platforms (including mobile), was the game specifically optimized for Steam Deck?

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

TA: How long was the development process for Romancing SaGa 2: Revenge of the Seven?

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

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

ST: Trials of Mana taught us player preferences regarding remakes. For instance, soundtracks: players generally prefer arrangements faithful to the originals, but with enhanced quality afforded by modern technology. We offered a choice between original and rearranged tracks in Trials of Mana, a feature carried over to Romancing SaGa 2: Revenge of the Seven.

Visually, we adjusted character proportions and lighting effects to suit the SaGa aesthetic, differing from the Trials of Mana approach. We leveraged past experience while also innovating.

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, no plans exist for those platforms.

TA: Finally, what's your coffee preference?

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

Thanks to Shinichi Tatsuke, Jordan Aslett, Sara Green, and Rachel Mascetti for their time.

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 trailer looked fantastic, but Steam Deck compatibility was uncertain. Thankfully, Romancing SaGa 2: Revenge of the Seven not only excels on the Steam Deck OLED but made me question the need for PS5 or Switch versions.

Visually and aurally, the game shines on the Steam Deck. The remake gradually introduces core mechanics. Returning players will appreciate quality-of-life improvements, while newcomers will find it an excellent entry point. The visuals enhance accessibility, yet the core Romancing SaGa 2 experience remains intact, even on the original-difficulty setting.

The remake surpasses my expectations. While I enjoyed Trials of Mana's remake, Romancing SaGa 2: Revenge of the Seven might be superior (though this is subjective). The Steam Deck port is exceptionally well-optimized. The game offers choices for soundtrack (original or remake), audio (English or Japanese), and various graphics settings.

The PC port allows extensive customization: screen mode, resolution (including 720p on Steam Deck), frame rate (30 to unlimited), v-sync, dynamic resolution, graphics presets, anti-aliasing, texture filtering, shadow quality, and 3D model rendering resolution. Even with high settings, I achieved near 90fps at 720p on my Steam Deck OLED.

I used English audio for my initial playthrough, finding the voice acting good, but I'll likely try Japanese later. The remake successfully modernizes Romancing SaGa 2 while preserving its essence.

I eagerly anticipate the full release and console versions. Romancing SaGa 2: Revenge of the Seven is a must-play for RPG fans. Hopefully, this will inspire 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.