A closer look at Romancing SaGa 2: Revenge of the Seven
We take you inside the newly announced RPG to showcase the characters, battle system and much more!If you watched the recent Nintendo Direct, you’ll have seen us unveil Romancing SaGa 2: Revenge of the Seven - coming October 24, 2024, for Nintendo Switch, PS5, PS4 and PC via Steam.
It’s a game sure to delight classic RPG fans, offering everything you could want from the genre: a compelling story, memorable characters, beautiful and immersive environments and a seriously fun battle system.
It’s also one of the most unique RPGs out there thanks to its non-linear narrative that changes according to the choices you make along the adventure. You can get a sense of all that in the trailer - take a look here:
Of course, the video only gives you a tiny, but tantalizing, taste of the game. We’re sure that many of you would like to know more. We’re happy to help - read on and we’ll take you deep into the story, characters, and battle mechanics of this incredible new SaGa.
What is Romancing SaGa 2: Revenge of the Seven?
Romancing SaGa 2: Revenge of the Seven is an expansive new RPG that spans generations. You don’t just play as one protagonist - you follow a lineage of emperors in their ongoing battle against the Seven Heroes of ancient myth.
The game is a remake of 1993’s Romancing SaGa 2. Originally released solely in Japan for the Super Famicon, it eventually came to the West through a remastered edition in 2017. This new version is a full remake of that original game - it retains the elements that make it so acclaimed, such as the lineage system, but updates and reimagines things to make the game feel fresh and modern.
For example, the once 2D pixel art world has been fully reimagined in with 3D graphics, the battle system has been completely reworked and features such as new difficulty options have been added to make the game more fun and accessible. It’s also available with English and Japanese voiceover, and French, German and Spanish subtitles.
So, don’t worry if you never played the original - or any SaGa game at all for that matter. This is a whole new experience - a fully standalone adventure that’s specifically designed to welcome new players to this incredible series.
What’s the story of Romancing SaGa 2: Revenge of the Seven?
It is an age of unending war. Terrifying fiends plague the land and various nations struggle to contend with both this incursion and their own internal conflicts. The people wait in hope for the fulfillment of an ancient legend: the return of seven great heroes who once rose to save their ravaged kingdoms.
One fated day, Avalon, the capital of the Varennes Empire, sis suddenly attacked. The people are crushed underfoot and Prince Victor, the brave and noble heir to the throne, is brutally slain. The aggressor is none other than Kzinssie - one of the seven heroes of legend!
While the people weep in despair that the legends were false, Emperor Leon swears his vengeance on the Seven and their mighty powers. He uses the fabled ‘inheritance magic’ bestowewd by a seeress to pass his powers onto his surviving son, Gerard, trading his own life for a chance to strike back.
Thus begins an epoch-spanning struggle between the imperial line of Varennes and the Seven Heroes.
The characters of Romancing SaGa 2: Revenge of the Seven
The story of the game spans many generations, with the power of the Emperor passing on to new emperors throughout the ages (more on that later in the article).
There are more than 30 different character classes in the game, covering a wide range of races and professions. Each class has its own unique characteristics, with different proficiencies for weapons and spells.
Allow us to introduce some of the characters you’ll meet in the game and their classes (where relevant).
Emperor Leon
As the incumbent emperor of the Varennes Empire, Leon strives to unite the lands and bring peace amidst the growing fiendish threat.
When the Imperial Capital of Avalon is attacked by Kzinssie, he takes the fight to the invaders, but is slain in cold blood.
Gerard
Second in line to the throne of Varennes, Gerard has a mild temperament and dislikes conflict. After the attack on the capital, he is entrusted with the throne, the secrets of inheritance magic and the future of the Empire itself by his father Leon.
As the first generation of a new imperial line, he begins the war to defeat the Seven Heroes.
Bear
- Class: Imperial Heavy Infantry
Bear is a member of the Imperial Heavy Infantry unit and has sworn fealty to the Emperors of Varennes.
He fights in the front rank of the Empire’s unique ‘Imperial Cross’ formation, where his imposing physique and thick armor let him proudly the bear the brunt of enemy fire.
James and Liza
- Class: Imperial Light Infantry
James and Liza are both imperial soldiers with balanced combat skills.
James specializes in melee combat, though he prefers to use spears and greatswords when taking to battle.
Liza can wield a wide variety of weapons but prefers swords and shortswords.
Therese and Henry
- Class: Imperial Ranger
Therese is a warrior of the empire who survives off the land. She’s highly dexterous and skilled with bows and shortswords.
Henry operates as a tracker in the wilderness. He uses his archery skills to take out foes from afar.
Hector and Andromache
- Class: Mercenary
Hector is a skilled mercenary who follows those he considers to be strong. He’s a close quarters fighting expert who wields axes and greatswords.
Andromache follows those with power. She’s a well-rounded fighter, effective at both close quarters and range thanks to her skill with sword and bow.
Aries and Emerald
- Class: Court Mage
These powerful mages serve the Empire.
Aries’ talents lie in the manipulation of potent wind and water magic, while Emerald is adept at conjuring fire and wind.
Cat and Sparrow
- Class: Vagabond
These thieves operate out of the undercity of the Imperial capital Avalon.
Cat is quick and dexterous, and highly skilled with shortswords. Sparrow is a proficient close quarters fighter who relies on speed to take down foes.
The Inheritance System
The story of Romancing SaGa 2: Revenge of the Seven spans many eras, with new emperors taking up the fight throughout the ages. As for who those new leaders are… that’s up to you.
The Inheritance System lets you select the next Emperor and pass down the powers of the previous generation to them.
Inheritance takes place when the current emperor is reduced to zero LP (life points), when the party is wiped out, when time moves on to the next era, or when the current ruler abdicates.
You can make one emperor abdicate and move onto the next ruler in the imperial line at a time of your choosing. However, you can’t have two emperors abdicate in a row.
You’re not stuck with a single option or bloodline when choosing the next leader. Any playable character can become an emperor and inherit the skills of their predecessor.
Battle
Next up, let’s get into the combat! When you run into an enemy in the field, you’ll trigger a battle!
Turn-based battles have evolved to a timeline system in Romancing SaGa 2: Revenge of the Seven, where (as the name implies) the turn order for every ally and enemy is shown on a timeline. When a character’s turn comes around, they can act immediately.
You’ll fight all kinds of dangerous foes in the game. Enemies are weak against certain weapons and spells and choosing attacks to exploit these vulnerabilities can give you a real edge in combat.
Of course, your foes will hit back. All characters have Life Points (LP), in addition to the RPG staples of HP and MP. If a character is incapacitated, their Life Points (LP) will reduce. If that value reaches zero, that character will die.
Abilities and spells
There are eight weapon types to wield in the game, and each opens up different abilities. You can fight with swords, greatswords, shortswords, spears, axes, clubs, and martial arts.
Mages can also use six magical disciplines, each with unique characteristics. You can try to master pyrology, hydrology, aerology, terrology, cosmology and umbrology.
Glimmer and Evasion
In Romancing SaGa 2: Revenge of the Seven, you learn new skills through in the heat of battle - a process known as ‘glimmering.’
If you use an ability with a lightbulb icon next to it, it can sometimes trigger a ‘glimmer’ and activate an entirely new technique. You’ll then be able to use this new ability whenever you like.
The icon means you’ll be able to see which skills can spark new techniques and work them into your battle strategy accordingly! It’s easier to learn new skills when facing powerful foes, so bear that in mind too!
You also have a chance to evade enemy attacks and avoid damage completely. An ability that has been evaded once can be automatically evaded in the future!
United Attacks
Whenever you use a spell or target an enemy’s weakness, the overdrive gauge will fill. Once it’s at maximum capacity, you can unleash a powerful United Attack!
Once the overdrive gauge is charged to maximum…
You can then trigger your mighty United Attack, which enhances your character’s abilities and spells!
Formations
Before a battle, you can arrange your fighters into formations to enhance them with advantageous effects and status boosts.
Different formations offer different benefits and new ones can be learned depending on the class of the character who becomes the Emperor.
The Free-Form Scenario system
Your actions have a major effect on how the story progresses. For example, the order you visit locations and the things you do there can change how the narrative plays out.
The overall story continues whatever you do, but there are countless variations over the events that take place. Here are a couple of basic examples:
The King of Cumberland asks for advice on the succession issues in his kingdom. The advice you choose will determine the kingdom’s future. Depending on your choices…
The succession crisis is solved, and Cumberland comes under the Empire’s control.
Civil war breaks out and the kingdom is destroyed.
Here’s another example.
The Canal Fortress has been occupied by a mysterious group. You need to take it, and how you do so will vary depending on the actions you take.
You can sneak in at night by boat…
…but enemy forces lie in wait inside.
Another approach is to ask a vagabond for aid.
They can find you a safer route inside.
The world
The world of Romancing SaGa 2: Revenge of the Seven is comprised of many different regions. Your goal: unite all the lands under your banner as the Emperor of Varennes!
Each region is beset by its own problems and solving these crises allows you to win over the local forces and bring them under your influence.
You’re free to visit regions in any order you please - and as mentioned, the story can play out very differently depending on the order chosen.
City Development
You can research and build various facilities in Avalon, the capital city of the Varennes Empire. These include the Smithy and the Incantations Lab , where you can develop new weapons and spells respectively.
Difficulty options
There are three difficulty levels in Romancing SaGa 2: Revenge of the Seven, making it accessible for SaGa newcomers and the most experienced of fans alike.
‘Casual’ is an easier and more accessible option. It’s perfect for newcomers to the SaGa franchise or RPG genre.
‘Normal’ is for players who are familiar with RPGs.
‘Hard (classic)’ offers more of a challenge, based on the difficulty of the original Romancing SaGa 2.
Don’t worry if you’re not sure which difficulty to play - you won’t be locked into a particular one. You can change it at any time from the options menu.
Switching soundtracks
If you know anything about the SaGa franchise, you’ll know that the games have some of the best soundtracks out there. Romancing SaGa 2: Revenge of the Seven is no exception.
The game features a new, fully rearranged soundtrack as well as newly composed tracks for this version of the game by the original composer Kenji Ito. But if you’re feeling nostalgic for that classic 16-bit sound, you can also switch to the original score from the options menu.
We hope you enjoyed this deep dive into Romancing SaGa 2: Revenge of the Seven. The launches on October 24, 2024!
The game’s available to preorder today - and if you do so, you’ll get the following in-game items when the game releases:
Shiyuan’s Tactical Primer - A tome with the wisdom of a brilliant military strategist. It boosts the number of Technique Points that can be acquired by 10% (until in-game year 1001).
Cat’s Amulet - An amulet made by a renowned thief. It boosts the tax revenue that can be collected by 10% (until in-game year 1001).
You’ll find these items in a treasure box on the ground floor of Castle Avalon after you start the game!
We’ll have much more to share about this amazing new RPG in the future, so be sure to follow SaGa on social media for news and updates: