Romancing SaGa 2: Revenge of the Seven

93%
Game Brain Score Based on 700 reviews
  • story
  • gameplay
  • music
Romancing SaGa 2: Revenge of the Seven Game Cover
Romancing Saga 2: Revenge of the Seven remakes an overlooked gem into a modern-looking feast for old-school JRPG fans, though some wrinkles still show.
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In "Romancing SaGa 2: Revenge of the Seven," players embark on a journey to save their empire from impending doom, as the legendary Seven Heroes return after thousands of years. This full remake of the 1993 RPG features non-linear gameplay, Japanese and English voiceovers, and newly arranged compositions. Carry over your demo save data and immerse yourself in an exciting adventure suitable for newcomers and franchise fans alike.

  • Nintendo Switch
  • PC
  • Play​station 4
  • Play​station 5
  • Windows
  • Play​Station
Genres & TagsPlay Modes

Reviews

93%
Audience ScoreBased on 700 reviews
story82 positive mentions
grinding40 negative mentions
  • The game features a unique generational system that allows players to pass down skills and abilities to new emperors, adding depth to the gameplay.
  • Combat is engaging and strategic, with a variety of character classes and the ability to exploit enemy weaknesses, making battles feel rewarding.
  • The graphics and music have been beautifully remastered, enhancing the overall experience while maintaining the charm of the original game.
  • The game can be punishingly difficult, especially on higher difficulty settings, which may frustrate some players.
  • The story lacks depth and character development, making it feel less engaging for those who prefer narrative-driven RPGs.
  • The time skip mechanic can feel abrupt and may lead to missed quests or character opportunities, which can be frustrating for players.
  • story368 mentions

    The story of the game is generally described as basic and straightforward, with a focus on gameplay mechanics rather than deep narrative development. While it features a non-linear structure that allows players to make impactful choices and explore quests in various orders, many reviewers noted that character development is minimal and the plot lacks complexity. Overall, the game is appreciated for its engaging mechanics and replayability, but those seeking a rich story may find it lacking.

    • “The story reminded me of the campaigns of Tactics Ogre and Fire Emblem.”
    • “Overall, the story was amazingly fun.”
    • “The world, story, and characters are all really cool, and you get to learn about all of this through a mix of actually playing and progressing, but also finding flashbacks (memories of the seven) so you understand more about them.”
    • “The plot and characters that do exist are paper thin, so you're playing for the gameplay and generational vibe which is old school goodness.”
    • “The story is shallow, with no character development.”
    • “The story isn't anything extraordinary, but where this game stands out above all else is in its gameplay and accompanying music.”
  • gameplay259 mentions

    The gameplay of "Romancing Saga 2: Revenge of the Seven" is characterized by its deep strategic mechanics, including a unique generational system and the "glimmer" mechanic that allows characters to learn abilities mid-battle. While some players appreciate the addictive gameplay loop and the variety of classes and strategies, others criticize the basic nature of certain mechanics and the lack of character attachment due to the game's permadeath and inheritance systems. Overall, the game is praised for its engaging combat and innovative mechanics, making it a standout title for fans of the genre, despite its narrative shortcomings.

    • “The game's true strength lies in its addictive gameplay loop; the deep, strategic battle system keeps players constantly engaged, demanding careful planning and quick thinking.”
    • “The gameplay is addictive, and I'm having trouble putting it down.”
    • “Romancing Saga 2 offers a refreshingly unique experience, blending gameplay-focused mechanics with an unusual story progression that keeps things unpredictable.”
    • “The gameplay is incredibly basic; they keep you strung along with Pokémon-esque mechanics (training abilities, unlocking new classes, sparking techs), but ultimately the gameplay is so one-dimensional (you get more damage, or HP!). This is the core problem with this game.”
    • “Gameplay is one-dimensional and basic as all hell.”
    • “It sucks because the story and game mechanics are good, but worthless if you die in one hit every battle with zero way to stop it.”
  • music68 mentions

    The music in the game has received widespread acclaim, with many praising the remastered soundtrack by Kenji Ito as both beautiful and fitting for the gameplay. While the original compositions are cherished, some players express a desire for more variety in the tracks, particularly during battles. Overall, the soundtrack enhances the gaming experience, contributing significantly to its nostalgic charm and emotional depth.

    • “The music is absolutely phenomenal—every track is a burst of energy and emotion that keeps you hooked throughout.”
    • “The remastered soundtrack complements the visual enhancements, offering a rich auditory backdrop to the adventure.”
    • “Kenji Ito did an amazing job transforming his old MIDI OST into HD.”
    • “While they added several quality of life features, there was way more that they could have improved upon: needed more music variety, battles dragged on overly long, and as far as I could tell there wasn't a way to disable battle animations (watching the full animation of the same tech 400 times gets super tedious).”
    • “Kenji Ito, being the only returning member of the original staff, has delivered a fantastic OST, but outside of two new tracks for the Dread Queen fight, the OST leaves something to be desired as again, the game needed more content on that too, especially since normal bosses still reuse Kujinshi's battle theme for no good reason.”
    • “Like the original, there's a low amount of unique music for areas.”
  • graphics63 mentions

    The graphics of the game have received a mixed but generally positive reception, with many praising the art style and attention to detail in environments and character models, which evoke a nostalgic charm reminiscent of classic JRPGs. While some players noted that the graphics can appear basic or slightly pixelated, especially on lower-end systems, others appreciated the smooth performance and customizable settings that enhance visual quality. Overall, the visuals are described as captivating and well-executed, contributing to an immersive gaming experience despite some minor technical limitations.

    • “Its captivating graphics, though not hyperrealistic, possess a timeless charm enhanced by a fantastic soundtrack and sound effects.”
    • “The environments and character models are crafted with attention to detail, providing a fresh yet nostalgic aesthetic.”
    • “The graphics, sound, and music are all top-notch.”
    • “The graphics are a little muddy for a PC port but otherwise fantastic.”
    • “The dev team was lazy using the same character graphic on all the playable characters and just renaming them.”
    • “If you're feeling nostalgic for PS2 era JRPGs, this is where this game takes its roots, not just in the designs but down to the graphics and animations which are unfortunately very dated, not an issue for fans of the genre, but will obviously drive away potential newcomers.”
  • grinding43 mentions

    The reviews indicate a mixed perspective on grinding in the game, with some players appreciating the balance it strikes by discouraging excessive grinding while still requiring some level of engagement in battles. Many noted that grinding can feel tedious and may even penalize players by increasing enemy difficulty, which encourages strategic gameplay rather than mindless combat. Overall, while some found the grinding aspect to be a necessary part of the experience, others felt it detracted from the enjoyment, highlighting a need for a more streamlined approach.

    • “Not too grindy; in fact, it technically discourages grinding, which is a common complaint with JRPGs specifically.”
    • “The icing on the cake is that, for once, the post-game content isn't grindy. It isn't some maze or tower that you mindlessly hack your way through; it actually makes you hyped for more and is exactly what you're looking for at the end of an RPG.”
    • “The game is so well designed that even on hard mode, you can beat the whole thing with no grinding, just by using the correct equipment, spells, evasions, and skills.”
    • “Half of your first playthrough will be spent in battle, and it can feel tedious at times.”
    • “I really enjoyed the leveling system but was super bummed out when I realized grinding levels was actually punishing me.”
    • “The battle system seems interesting, but the way you level up your skills is way too grindy for me.”
  • character development29 mentions

    Overall, reviews indicate that character development in the game is minimal, largely due to a timeskip mechanic that hampers emotional depth and investment in the characters. While the character designs are praised for their vibrancy and creativity, many players express disappointment over the lack of substantial narrative and character growth, making the story feel shallow. Despite some positive mentions of backstory and unique character designs, the consensus is that those seeking rich character development may find this game lacking.

    • “The game masterfully combines deep storytelling, rich content for completionists, and engaging character development.”
    • “If you are looking for interesting character development and team composition, tactical engagement and innovative concepts with generation skip, class development and engaging encounters, this game is for you.”
    • “Peak JRPG story, character development, excellent graphics, and inheritance system.”
    • “Not much character development for your party due to the timeskip.”
    • “However, the story and character development are thin, and the complex quest design paired with time skips can overwhelm new players like me.”
    • “There's absolutely no character development because of the resurrection mechanic.”
  • replayability19 mentions

    The game offers significant replayability through its New Game Plus mode, multiple characters, and varied storylines, allowing players to experience different outcomes based on their choices. The open-world design and customizable difficulty further enhance replay value, as players can explore in diverse ways and tackle challenges uniquely. However, some players may find the abundance of replay options overwhelming, potentially diminishing the stakes of subsequent playthroughs.

    • “Endless replayability is guaranteed through multiple characters and storylines, each playthrough offering a unique challenge.”
    • “The game feels like a true open-world JRPG sandbox where you can walk away from the marker and do something completely different. This has a lot of replayability potential because the order you do areas and bosses has no restrictions. The game is massive, areas are different, chests and items are truly hidden, and the combat and customization are just fantastic.”
    • “The two New Game Plus difficulties add a bunch more replayability as you can see all of the variations to the main campaign across multiple playthroughs.”
    • “Now to some this adds replayability while to those like me who struggle to replay a game, this can be upsetting.”
    • “The replayability is up to the player, as playthroughs can be quite different based on choices and the order the heroes are tackled.”
    • “My final verdict will lie in how truly replayable this game is.”
  • optimization17 mentions

    Overall, the game's optimization is generally praised, with smooth performance on various platforms, including low-end hardware and the Steam Deck. While some users report minor issues like FPS drops and stuttering, the majority highlight quick load times and a well-optimized experience that enhances gameplay. The use of Denuvo is noted as a potential concern, but past experiences suggest it may be removed swiftly by the developers.

    • “🔧 PC optimization that runs smoother than a bard’s best tune on the technical side; Romancing Saga 2 runs like a dream on PC.”
    • “The performance is optimized to minimize load times, ensuring you spend more time adventuring and less time waiting for your character to breathe.”
    • “The game is well optimized for low-end hardware.”
    • “Another negative is that, as explicitly stated on the store page, the game uses Denuvo (mostly a potential preservation issue; I'm not worried about the minimal performance impact that Denuvo may or may not have), but Square Enix has a good track record of removing it fairly quickly.”
    • “However, some performance issues, including FPS drops and stuttering, occur.”
    • “However, some performance issues, including FPS drops and stuttering, occur.”
  • humor12 mentions

    The humor in "Romancing Saga 2: Revenge of the Seven" is vibrant and engaging, with character designs and backstories that infuse the game with delightful quirks and comedic banter. Players appreciate the clever voice acting and timing that elicits laughter even during intense moments, alongside a soundtrack that complements the humor. Overall, the game successfully balances heartfelt storytelling with a fun, humorous atmosphere, making it a standout RPG experience.

    • “It’s like chess, but with dragons and way more explosive humor.”
    • “And let’s not forget the voice acting—every character’s lines are delivered with such passion and comedic timing that you might find yourself chuckling during even the most intense moments.”
    • “Each party member has a rich backstory and a personality that shines through with delightful quirks and humorous banter.”
  • emotional10 mentions

    The emotional aspect of the game evokes nostalgia and genuine connections, reminiscent of classic RPGs, though some players note a lack of character expression and development that can hinder deeper investment in the story. Moments of heartfelt storytelling and impactful events, such as character deaths, resonate strongly, leaving players with a mix of joy and sadness. Overall, while the narrative may be simple, it successfully creates a touching experience that feels both familiar and fresh.

    • “Building relationships with these characters feels genuine, like hanging out with friends who are always ready with a witty remark or a heartfelt moment.”
    • “I cried when Victor died.”
    • “That said, while the story is fairly simple, the ending was pretty touching, making it feel like there was a legacy being made and you had finally finished a struggle that lasted for centuries.”
  • stability2 mentions

    The game demonstrates strong stability, running smoothly at 60fps on the Steam Deck, particularly when played docked at 1080p. Users have noted that minor adjustments, such as disabling motion blur through config file edits, can enhance the experience without compromising performance. Overall, the game is praised for its solid performance and visual appeal.

    • “And to cap it all off, it runs great on the Steam Deck. I played mostly docked at 1080p and got mostly 60fps the whole time, with the only 'hack' I did being editing config files to disable motion blur, which I loathe.”
    • “The game is not next-gen or anything, but it looks and runs great. You can turn off the motion blur by adding some lines to a file, by the way.”
    • “I've liked everything this game offers so far. It looks and runs great, and I really like how much customization there is for your party with formations, equipment, techs, spells, and abilities.”
  • monetization1 mentions

    The monetization strategy of the game appears to prioritize attracting a broader audience over catering to its original fanbase, leading to feelings of alienation among long-time fans. This shift, likened to the approach taken with "Guilty Gear Strive," suggests a significant investment in marketing and budget at the expense of the core community's interests.

    • “As a fan, I do not know who this game was made for. The unicorn of the 'wider audience' the producer mentioned surely made this game more popular than the previous releases, largely because it's not really a saga game anymore. The executives decided this deserved more budget and advertisement than the others, so what we're left with is a Guilty Gear Strive situation where the original fanbase gets a fat middle finger in favor of pandering to people who never cared and probably will not care outside of this game.”
  • atmosphere1 mentions

    The atmosphere is reminiscent of classic Dragon Quest games, which some players find soothing, though it may also lead to a sense of drowsiness.

    • “It has a Dragon Quest-like atmosphere to it, and that really puts me to sleep.”
Positive mentions (%)Positive
Neutral mentions (%)Neutral
Negative mentions (%)Negative

Critic Reviews

78% average critic score

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Play time

50hMedian play time
46hAverage play time
50-50hSpent by most gamers
*Based on 7 analyzed playthroughs

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