Romancing SaGa 2: Revenge of the Seven

About

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.

Genres & Tags

Role Playing

Play Modes

Single-Player Play through the game's story or campaign solo

Romancing SaGa 2: Revenge of the Seven screenshot

94%

Audience ScoreBased on 1,214 reviews

story142 positive mentions

grinding71 negative mentions

The game offers a unique generational system where players can pass down skills and abilities to successors, creating a dynamic and engaging gameplay experience.
Combat is strategic and rewarding, with a glimmer system that allows characters to learn new skills mid-battle, encouraging experimentation and tactical planning.
The visuals and soundtrack have been beautifully remastered, enhancing the overall experience while maintaining the charm of the original game.

The story lacks depth and character development, making it difficult for players to form emotional connections with the characters.
The enemy scaling system can be frustrating, as it punishes players for grinding and can lead to sudden spikes in difficulty.
Some players may find the time skip mechanic jarring, as it can abruptly change the game state and lock players out of certain quests or characters.

story
623 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
23%
73%
4%
The story of "Romancing Saga 2: Revenge of the Seven" is generally considered simple and somewhat predictable, focusing on the player's journey through multiple generations of emperors battling the seven heroes. While the narrative allows for non-linear exploration and player choices that impact the world, many reviewers noted that character development is minimal and the plot lacks depth, often serving as a backdrop to the gameplay. Overall, the game prioritizes mechanics and combat over a rich narrative, making it more appealing to those who enjoy gameplay-focused RPGs rather than story-driven experiences.
- “The game carries out the story and world progression in the form of 'generation', where the world moves on as each person carries the legacy of those who came before to complete the grand mission bestowed upon them against the struggling world tormented by the seven heroes.”
- “The story offers a lot of freedom, allowing you to explore in any order you like, and your choices can shape the way the story plays out.”
- “The intricate storytelling, unforgettable characters, and the sheer joy of discovering hidden secrets make it a game that lingers in your mind long after the credits roll.”
- “The story is also very boring, you can choose whatever branch you want making it seem like you have choices but the game scales with your character so it really doesn't matter what path you choose.”
- “The story itself is still... basically non-existent. It's just a major plot beat per location to retake it that's affected by which ones you do in order, and none of them are bad.”
- “The point of playing an RPG is to feel a part of the story, and Romancing Saga 2 fails to integrate the player with the story in any meaningful manner.”
gameplay
447 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
31%
66%
3%
The gameplay of "Romancing Saga 2: Revenge of the Seven" is highly praised for its depth and strategic elements, featuring unique mechanics like the glimmer system, time skips, and a generational inheritance system that keeps battles engaging and encourages experimentation with character builds. While the story is considered weak and simplistic, the focus on gameplay offers a refreshing experience for JRPG fans, with a solid turn-based combat system that rewards careful planning and quick thinking. Overall, the game is seen as a faithful and improved remake of a classic, appealing to both newcomers and veterans of the genre.
- “The gameplay is so much fun too, I've developed a strong allergy to turn-based RPGs about a decade ago, but this game is like 90% gameplay and 10% story, and I'm still having fun blasting everyone away with fun classes like martial artist and corsair (pirate).”
- “In terms of gameplay, this is my favorite JRPG of all time.”
- “The gameplay is highly addictive, and the visuals are stunningly beautiful, offering a refreshing and vibrant aesthetic.”
- “It sucks, because the story and game mechanics are good, but worthless if you die in 1 hit every battle with zero way to stop it.”
- “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.”
- “The game is stressful and unfun in all the worst ways, and the choices you have in your direct combat gameplay are boring.”
music
117 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
56%
41%
3%
The music in the game has received widespread acclaim, particularly for the remastered soundtrack composed by Kenji Ito, which offers players the option to switch between the original and remake versions. While many praise the quality and emotional impact of the tracks, some reviewers express a desire for more variety and unique compositions, particularly in battle themes. Overall, the soundtrack enhances the game's nostalgic charm and complements its gameplay, though a few players feel it could have benefited from additional content.
- “The music arrangements are all absolutely perfect and the visuals, while basic, are charming.”
- “Kenji Ito never disappoints when it comes to the soundtrack, and the ability to go between the original and remake compositions is a nice touch.”
- “The music is absolutely phenomenal—every track is a burst of energy and emotion that keeps you hooked throughout.”
- “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. The game needed more content on that too, especially since normal bosses still reuse Kujinshi's battle theme for no good reason. Minstrel Song and the DS remakes got this right; this game did not.”
- “I also wish they had taken the opportunity to add new music tracks like they did with Romancing Saga: Minstrel Song.”
graphics
110 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
33%
65%
3%
The graphics of the game have received mixed reviews, with many praising the charming art style and attention to detail in character and environment design, reminiscent of classic JRPGs. While some players appreciate the nostalgic aesthetic and modern enhancements, others criticize the graphics as basic or dated, particularly in the context of a PC port. Overall, the visuals are considered solid and enjoyable, especially for fans of pixel art and retro styles, though they may not appeal to newcomers seeking cutting-edge graphics.
- “Brilliant graphics and gameplay rebirth a classic.”
- “The graphics and quality of the game are remarkable.”
- “The voice acting is top notch and the graphics are just breathtaking.”
- “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.”
grinding
76 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
4%
3%
93%
Reviews on grinding in the game reveal a mixed reception. While some players appreciate the accessibility and lack of punitive grinding mechanics, others find the grinding tedious and excessive, particularly in terms of skill leveling and character management. Overall, the game encourages strategic play over mindless grinding, but many still feel that certain aspects of the gameplay could benefit from a reduction in grind-related tedium.
- “The game is so well designed that even on hard mode you can beat the whole thing with no grinding and by just using the correct equipment, spells, evasions, and skills.”
- “Not too grindy; in fact, it technically discourages grinding, which is the common complaint/issue with JRPGs specifically.”
- “The icing on the cake is that for once, the post-game content isn't grindy. It actually makes you hyped for more and is exactly what you're looking for at the end of an RPG.”
- “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).”
- “Beating the final boss offers expert mode and romancing mode which are exclusive to this remake and make your team practically useless, so all the time you spent grinding means nothing because they're gonna die in 2 hits.”
- “The battle system seems interesting, but the way you level up your skills is way too grindy for me.”
character development
46 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
30%
52%
17%
Character development in the game is a mixed bag; while some players appreciate the vibrant character designs and the potential for tactical engagement, many criticize the lack of depth and memorable arcs due to the timeskip mechanic and resurrection system. This has led to a perception that the story feels shallow and the emotional investment in characters is minimal. Overall, while the game excels in design and gameplay, it falls short in delivering a compelling narrative and character growth.
- “The game masterfully combines deep storytelling, rich content for completionists, and engaging character development.”
- “I've liked everything this game offers so far, combat is fantastic for someone addicted to turn-based combat like me, I love the character design, I love the areas and how different they can be from each other and the details in the towns, I really like how your choices matter and how they change the world around you or give you a new class if you do it right and I really like how much customization there is for your party with formations, equipment, techs, spells, and abilities.”
- “Romancing Saga 2: Revenge of the Seven shines when it comes to its story and unique take on character development.”
- “There's absolutely no character development because of the resurrection mechanic.”
- “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 not much in the way of character development or emotional depth, which makes it hard to feel fully invested.”
replayability
33 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
18%
73%
9%
The game offers significant replayability due to its open-world design, allowing players to explore areas and tackle bosses in any order, alongside multiple character choices and new game plus difficulties that enhance the experience. Players can enjoy varied playthroughs with different challenges and storylines, making each run feel unique. However, some players may find the abundance of options overwhelming, potentially diminishing the stakes in subsequent playthroughs.
- “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 NG+ difficulties add a bunch more replayability as you can see all of the variations to the main campaign across multiple playthroughs.”
- “Endless replayability is guaranteed through multiple characters and storylines, each playthrough offering a unique challenge.”
- “Now that I think of it, it definitely lends itself to a higher replay value, but the stakes are mostly gone because of it.”
- “Now to some, this adds replayability, while to those like me who struggle to replay a game, this can be upsetting.”
- “My final verdict will lie in how truly replayable this game is.”
optimization
31 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
55%
35%
10%
Overall, the game is well-optimized, running smoothly even on low-end hardware and the Steam Deck, with minimal load times and a polished presentation. However, some users reported occasional performance issues, including FPS drops and stuttering, despite the game's generally impressive optimization and quality-of-life features. The graphics are faithful to the original while benefiting from a full 3D transition, contributing to a visually appealing experience.
- “The game is well optimized for low-end hardware.”
- “The performance is optimized to minimize load times, ensuring you spend more time adventuring and less time waiting for your character to breathe.”
- “Speaking of performance, the game runs silky smooth in almost every situation even on the Steam Deck.”
- “Motion blur is forced on to mask FPS drops and traversal stuttering.”
- “However, some performance issues, including FPS drops and stuttering occur.”
- “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.”
humor
15 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The humor in the game is highlighted by its vibrant character designs, witty dialogue, and engaging voice acting, which collectively enhance the overall experience. Players appreciate the quirky banter and comedic timing during battles, as well as the bizarre enemies that add a layer of fun to the turn-based combat. Overall, the game successfully balances heartfelt storytelling with delightful humor, making it a charming and entertaining RPG.
- “The pacing is great, and the turn-based combat is surprisingly engaging, with many bizarre and/or humorous enemies to face.”
- “The character designs are vibrant and full of life, each one bringing their own unique flair and a sprinkle of humor that keeps things lively.”
- “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.”
emotional
14 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The emotional aspect of these games resonates deeply with players, evoking nostalgia and genuine feelings through complex storytelling and character relationships. While some titles, like Xenogears, are praised for their emotional depth and impactful moments, others, such as Romancing Saga 2, struggle with character development, leaving players feeling less invested. Overall, the combination of heartfelt narratives and nostalgic elements creates a powerful emotional experience for many gamers.
- “I cried when Victor died.”
- “Building relationships with these characters feels genuine, like hanging out with friends who are always ready with a witty remark or a heartfelt moment.”
- “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.”
stability
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Overall, the game demonstrates strong stability, running smoothly on various platforms, including the Steam Deck, with consistent frame rates around 60fps. Players appreciate the performance, noting that minor adjustments, like disabling motion blur, can enhance the experience without compromising gameplay quality.
- “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. I like how hard the game can be on classic difficulty, and I really appreciate how your choices matter and change the world around you.”
- “I really like how much customization there is for your party with formations, equipment, techs, spells, and abilities.”
monetization
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
150%
The monetization strategy of the game has drawn criticism for prioritizing a broader audience over the original fanbase, leading to feelings of alienation among long-time supporters. This shift, likened to the approach taken with "Guilty Gear Strive," suggests that increased budget and marketing efforts were aimed at attracting new players rather than catering to existing fans.
- “The monetization strategy feels exploitative, as it seems more focused on maximizing profits than providing a fair experience for players.”
- “It's frustrating to see so many features locked behind paywalls, making it hard to enjoy the game without spending extra money.”
- “The game is riddled with microtransactions that detract from the overall experience, leaving players feeling like they have to spend more just to keep up.”
atmosphere
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
50%
50%
The atmosphere of the game is reminiscent of the Dragon Quest series, which some players find soothing and relaxing, though others feel it can be overly calming to the point of inducing sleepiness.
- “It has a Dragon Quest-like atmosphere to it, and that really puts me to sleep.”