Games Happy

Again originally of the 12 months, one in every of my gaming resolutions for 2024 was to moist my toes within the pool that’s Sq. Enix’s SaGa franchise. Whereas this collection had grown up alongside its extra well-known sibling, Remaining Fantasy, these have been all the time video games that, for one motive or one other, I simply handed on. However no extra! The SaGa collection has had a surprisingly good 12 months with the discharge of not solely a very new entry, Emerald Past, but additionally a ground-up remake of Romancing SaGa 2 within the type of Romancing SaGa 2: Revenge of the Seven — a recreation that I discover fairly beautiful.

The primary launch of Romancing SaGa 2 was on the Tremendous Famicom within the 90s. It was locked to Japan till 2016 once we within the West received a redone cellular model. Previous to this new launch, I had spent perhaps three hours with that model, so I went into Revenge of the Seven almost fully blind as a relative newcomer. Subsequently, I gained’t have the ability to communicate a lot on the minute variations between the unique model and remake. Nonetheless, talking with buddies who’re much more accustomed to the franchise, I realized that Revenge of the Seven has added lots.

As a substitute of specializing in a single character or celebration of heroes, Revenge of the Seven’s theme facilities extra on inheritance and lineage, in addition to how one can go away issues higher than if you discovered them. Unfold over lots of of years and a number of generations, you management the Emperor/Empress of Avalon within the realm of Verennes, build up and increasing your kingdom whereas contending with the Seven Heroes prophesied to destroy the world. Going into the sport, I knew that SaGa titles are identified for his or her open-ended nature, permitting gamers to determine how they need to sort out the story, and Revenge of the Seven isn’t any completely different. The way you go about it’s as much as you, with moments that allow you to form your realm, making every particular person’s SaGa expertise distinctive.

Each time I booted up the sport, I all the time felt like I used to be going off on a brand new journey, with little thought of what was in retailer for me. I’d decide a degree on the massive overworld map that wanted my assist, or take a random path in one of many bigger zones, and off I went. More often than not, I used to be much more curious and anxious about what cool reward — be it a brand new capacity, character class, or secret — was ready for me on the finish of the search, or the place Mr. S (the little yellow mascot of the SaGa collection) was hiding, than I used to be in regards to the looming risk of the nefarious Seven Heroes. I used to be all about seeing what lay past the subsequent hill.

This open-ended method extends to nearly each side of the gameplay, from celebration make-up to stat development. You select your celebration from an inventory of premade characters belonging to particular lessons, akin to tanky heavy infantry or spell-slinging mages, with loads of choices unlocking as you progress via the sport, finishing quests all over the world. Each class can use each kind of weapon and wield any college of magic, as long as their respective ability in it’s excessive sufficient. Lessons primarily dictate the overall areas they excel in (i.e. greater energy, higher well being, and so on.) and a singular capacity that may be unlocked. For essentially the most half, everybody you decide is a clean slate so that you can mould, so if you need a magic-slinging Monk or a greatsword-wielding archer, go proper forward.

Your celebration members don’t provide a lot when it comes to story or character; they’re primarily outlined by their abilities in fight. Even their designs are somewhat static, with solely slight modifications in hairstyles and colour palettes differentiating characters from one technology to the subsequent. I do want there had been extra effort put into making me care about my celebration members, however outdoors of some particular characters, they have been there for his or her utility, not as a result of I preferred them personally. This disconnect is exacerbated by the truth that, as you full quests, chances are you’ll instantly leap ahead greater than 100 years, with all of the characters you have been utilizing being changed by their similar-looking descendants.

Studying abilities, often known as “Glimmers” within the SaGa collection, is determined by likelihood and the extent of the weapon or magic concerned. The extra a personality makes use of one thing, the extra harm they are going to do with it. New to this launch is a small lightbulb icon that seems subsequent to a ability, indicating the prospect of studying one thing new in case you use it. For SaGa purists, this graphic will be turned off, however for somebody like me, who continues to be getting their toes moist with the collection, I beloved this little element. It doesn’t change the truth that studying one thing continues to be largely a recreation of luck, however understanding there was a doable reward ready elevated the entire Glimmer hunt expertise for me.

Revenge of the Seven options delicate UI enhancements that make it essentially the most approachable SaGa entry I’ve performed. Seeing the flip order throughout fight, standing results or buffs on targets, and even an enemy’s weaknesses and resistances goes a good distance. On the flip facet, I applaud the builders for providing the choice to show off most of that data for these wanting an expertise nearer to the unique launch.

The updates right here transcend beauty or accessibility enhancements, with new mechanics and story parts that ought to delight even these accustomed to Romancing SaGa 2. By exploiting an enemy’s weaknesses, you fill a bar that, as soon as full, allows you to activate a United Assault. These particular team-up assaults unleash highly effective variations of abilities a number of characters have, they usually can shortly flip the tide of inauspicious fights. I misplaced depend of what number of instances these saved me in battles with the Seven Heroes. Every character class additionally has a particular capacity they will be taught, akin to regaining BP (this recreation’s equal to MP) when utilizing primary assaults or enhancing merchandise efficacy in battle. As soon as a personality learns a capability, their descendants will inherit it, which is useful.

Maybe essentially the most intriguing addition for returning gamers are the particular pedestals discovered all over the world. Interacting with these will teleport you to the distant previous to witness the hidden origins of the Seven Heroes and get clues about how they grew to become what they’re within the current. I all the time loved stumbling upon these, and the sport does job signaling when one is close to, with glowing blue strains main you to them in case you get shut sufficient. I believe SaGa followers will actually admire the depth these tales add to Romancing SaGa 2.

Romancing SaGa: Revenge of the Seven is sort of a bowl of scorching soup on a cool autumn day — pure consolation meals. This can be a recreation I can simply get pleasure from and calm down with, grinding out abilities, discovering villages in bother, and seeing what I uncover alongside the best way. The story was enjoyable, with some neat twists and surprises, however it was by no means the primary motive I stored enjoying. That accolade goes to the gameplay. I beloved unwinding from an extended day with a chilly drink, my toes up, and simply enjoying.

The distinctive method to style staples is probably not for everybody, however for anybody wanting to take a look at one in every of Sq.’s legacy franchises, I’d advocate Romancing SaGa 2: Revenge of the Seven in a heartbeat, or on the very least try the free demo that’s out and see to your self. Regardless, it’s nice to see new life being breathed into the franchise, and I hope Romancing SaGa 3 receives an identical remake remedy at some point as effectively.

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