Home » RPG Games » Romancing SaGa 2: Revenge of the Seven Review
Romancing SaGa 2: Revenge of the Seven, developed by Square Enix, is an RPG masterpiece that has stood the test of time. Originally released for the Super Famicom in 1993, it has since been remastered and ported to modern platforms, including the Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4, Steam, and mobile devices. What sets this game apart is its groundbreaking gameplay mechanics, compelling narrative structure, and an emphasis on player freedom.
This in-depth review explores every aspect of the game, including its story, gameplay, art style, soundtrack, and legacy. Whether you’re a long-time fan or a curious newcomer, this comprehensive analysis will reveal why Romancing SaGa 2 is an enduring classic. With over 3,000 words of detailed insights, this review leaves no stone unturned.
The Story: A Tale of Legacy and Sacrifice
At the heart of Romancing SaGa 2 lies an ambitious narrative that spans centuries. The game centers on the Avalon Empire, where players take on the role of a succession of rulers tasked with defeating the Seven Heroes. These legendary figures, once hailed as saviors of the world, have returned as corrupted villains, spreading chaos across the land.
Generational Storytelling
A standout feature of the game is its generational storytelling. As rulers age, abdicate, or die, their successors take up the mantle, creating a continuous sense of progression. Decisions made by one emperor can ripple across future generations, shaping the empire and the world itself. This mechanic not only enhances immersion but also raises the stakes of every choice.
Themes of Morality and Legacy
The story explores themes of morality, ambition, and the cost of power. The Seven Heroes—once revered—become a cautionary tale of hubris. Players must grapple with the burden of leadership, ensuring the survival of their empire while confronting the darkness that threatens to consume it.
Branching Paths
The non-linear nature of the story allows players to tackle the Seven Heroes in any order. Each hero has their own backstory and domain, adding layers of depth to the world-building. Side quests and optional events further enrich the narrative, rewarding exploration and curiosity.
Gameplay: A Revolution in RPG Design
The gameplay of Romancing SaGa 2 is a masterclass in innovation. It deviates from traditional RPG norms, offering players a sandbox-like experience where experimentation and strategy are paramount.
Freeform Exploration
Unlike most RPGs of its time, Romancing SaGa 2 grants players an open world to explore. The game’s map expands as the story progresses, revealing new regions, dungeons, and cities. Players can prioritize objectives based on their preferences, creating a personalized experience.
Imperial Succession System
The generational progression system is one of the game’s most iconic features. When a ruler dies or steps down, a successor is chosen from a pool of candidates. These successors inherit skills, magic, and equipment, maintaining continuity while allowing players to adapt their strategy.
Benefits: This mechanic adds a layer of strategy, as players must consider long-term planning.
Challenges: Losing a ruler unexpectedly can disrupt plans, forcing players to adapt on the fly.
Combat Mechanics
Combat in Romancing SaGa 2 is turn-based, but it incorporates several unique elements:
Formations: Players can assign characters to specific formations, each with distinct advantages and disadvantages. For example, some formations enhance defense, while others prioritize offense.
Skill Sparks: Characters can learn new skills mid-battle, adding an element of unpredictability and rewarding persistence.
Resource Management: Managing HP, SP (Skill Points), and LP (Life Points) is crucial. LP is especially critical, as a character with depleted LP cannot be revived.
Progression and Customization
Character growth is tied to the weapons and abilities they use. Magic is learned through research conducted in the empire’s capital, while weapons and armor can be upgraded by investing resources.
Graphics and Art Style
The original 16-bit art of Romancing SaGa 2 remains iconic. The remastered editions retain this charm while incorporating modern enhancements.
Pixel Art Excellence
The game’s pixel art is detailed and vibrant, with each region boasting its own distinct aesthetic. From lush forests to desolate ruins, the environments feel alive and immersive.
Modern Improvements
The remastered versions feature high-resolution graphics, improved animations, and a refined user interface. These updates make the game more accessible without sacrificing its retro appeal.
Character Design
The character sprites are expressive, and each hero and villain is meticulously designed to reflect their personality and role in the story. The Seven Heroes, in particular, are visually striking, with designs that evoke both awe and dread.
Soundtrack: A Symphony of Adventure
Composed by Kenji Ito, the soundtrack of Romancing SaGa 2 is a masterpiece. Its music perfectly complements the game’s epic scope and emotional depth.
Memorable Themes
Each region, battle, and pivotal moment is accompanied by a unique track. The overworld theme inspires exploration, while the battle music energizes players during intense encounters.
Adaptive Soundtrack
The music evolves with the story, reflecting the player’s progress and the shifting tone of the narrative. This dynamic approach enhances immersion and keeps the experience fresh.
Legacy and Influence
Romancing SaGa 2 has left an indelible mark on the RPG genre. Its innovative systems and bold design choices have influenced countless games, from Final Fantasy Tactics to modern open-world RPGs.
Critical Reception
While the game was initially overshadowed by more mainstream titles, its re-releases have garnered widespread acclaim. Critics and players alike praise its originality and depth, though its difficulty remains a point of contention.
Cultural Impact
The game’s themes of legacy and sacrifice resonate with players, making it a timeless classic. Its generational storytelling has inspired similar mechanics in titles like Fire Emblem: Genealogy of the Holy War.
Pros and Cons
Pros:
Innovative Gameplay: The generational system and freeform exploration set it apart from traditional RPGs.
Deep Strategy: Combat and resource management require careful planning and adaptation.
Rich Storytelling: A narrative that spans centuries, with meaningful choices and consequences.
Timeless Presentation: Gorgeous pixel art and a phenomenal soundtrack.
Replayability: Multiple paths and outcomes encourage repeat playthroughs.
Cons:
Steep Learning Curve: The game’s mechanics can be overwhelming for newcomers.
Punishing Difficulty: Mistakes can have lasting consequences, which may frustrate casual players.
Sparse Guidance: Limited tutorials and hints can leave players feeling lost.
Final Thoughts
Romancing SaGa 2: Revenge of the Seven is a triumph of design and storytelling. Its ambitious mechanics, compelling narrative, and timeless presentation make it a must-play for fans of the RPG genre. While its challenges may deter some, those who embrace its complexities will be rewarded with an unforgettable experience.
Whether you’re revisiting it on modern platforms or discovering it for the first time, Romancing SaGa 2 is a game that deserves your attention. Its legacy as a bold and innovative RPG is well-earned, and it continues to inspire new generations of players and developers alike.
Customer reviews for Romancing SaGa 2: Revenge of the Seven
One of the biggest (pleasant) surprises I've had in a game in quite some time! A challenging, ambitious and very lovingly crafted jRPG.- Combat is tough while also avoiding the great jRPG sin of grinding (there's soft level scaling that means it's usually not worth your time). I often found myself having to change equipment and spells based upon the boss I was fighting. You really have to use your head here (I jumped into Classic difficulty). Some fights took quite a few goes before I figured out how to survive. Weaknesses and formations have to be thought about carefully. Very satisfying and not the usual mindless jRPG "grind until you become OP and equip the sword with the highest number" stuff (though if you want that you could play on an easier difficulty). Sometimes you will need to play a fight the long way, healing and using defensive powers while others your only bet is too kill the bastard as quickly as possible.- A rather original plot and setting. You play eight generations of emperors, inheriting the skills and powers of the ones before you. One generation you might play a mage, another a warriors, another a martial artist, the next a mermaid etc with your character slowly gaining the abilities and skills of each class (of which there's a lot, even more so when you consider the male and female version of classes can be quite different from each other). The 'empire management' feel is quite different to most RPGs with you acquiring new lands, investing in new weaponry and magic research etc. I also ended up feeling quite bad for the game's 'villains' (the Seven Heroes). Well some of them anyway.- Reactivity and consequences. I really like that time marches on in some quests if you leave them too late or procrastinate. If you get a quest that a volcano is about to explode and muck around doing other stuff too much, the volcano really does explode and wipe out the inhabitants (locking you out of a class but also interestingly opening up a new avenue of magic). Likewise some quests can play out differently if you have a male or female emperor present or even if you lose certain fights.I think any RPG fan will have a lot of fun with this. This is a big and tough game with a lot to sink your teeth into. The devs really put some serious effort into this remaster (unlike the usual lazy cash-grabs) and I feel I've definitely gotten my money's worth (and then some).
As someone well-versed in JRPGs but coming into Romancing SaGa 2 fresh, the remake was a surprisingly enjoyable experience. The non-linear progression and generational mechanic felt unique even by modern standards, and the tactical combat system kept battles engaging throughout. While the story is light by today’s standards, the game oozes old-school charm and reminded me why I fell in love with the genre in the first place. The retro aesthetic combined with quality-of-life improvements struck a great balance between nostalgia and accessibility, making it a satisfying journey from start to finish.
It's been a few months since I actually finished this game, just getting to a review now, but......Yeah. Wow. Incredible. A good reminder of what Squaresoft was, before Square Enix. I grew up on the Final Fantasy games, but never really touched a SaGa game before this.I could definitely see how the Classic difficulty (Hard mode), would have been deemed "too hard" (not too mention possibly too complex, given that this game was made in a time where Japanese game developers did not have the highest opinion of western gamers) to make the game successful in the west at the time of the game's original development. The game is fairly unforgiving, even on normal (which I played on, as it was recommended by the game itself for a more 'standard RPG experience').I found the systems enthralling, and the lighter focus on narrative and the open-ended nature of how you can interact with the world to be incredibly refreshing, and pretty mind-blowing for 1993. I love many of the pre-PS2 Final Fantasy games, but, after being introduced to the series by my brother when I was very young with a mix of VII and IV... none of the classic FF games ever surprised me. There's many I loved after that, but I always knew, generally, what to expect. This game, however, shattered my expectations. The audacity of some of the ideas, for the time, is staggering. A real eye-opener to the nature of Squaresoft at the time, and it really puts into stark relief just how much the Final Fantasy games were the "made for widest consumption" version of what the company was actually capable of. Not necessarily "dumbed-down", but just... simpler. Easier to pick up and engaging for a broader audience. Hence their wild popularity.This is exactly the game I needed at the time I played it, and I will definitely revisit it in the future. There is just something perfectly magical to me, personally, about this era of 90s JRPGs. Even, apparently, when completely remade. As long as the remake does the game justice and pays service to what made the game special in the first place, and this game very much does.I came to this came because I was a bit burned out on games, and was craving some sort of systems-heavy, turn-based JRPG experience. I left the game reminded of why I fell in love with games- and RPGs- in the first place.
Very fun and fast gameplay, many pretty and varied environments, many cool bosses and villains, plenty of content; a 30 to 50 hour game depending on your play style, simple to learn for newcomers yet also challenging enough for hardcore players depending on what difficulty you choose, one of Square's most polished and memorable games in years.
7.5/10 (8/10 if you’re into RPGs from the early 20s and 90s)HOLY MOLY THIS GAME WAS GOOD. Not great, unfortunately, but man, it was fun. Didn’t see it coming either. There’s not a ton of buzz or content floating around for Romancing SaGa 2, and that’s a shame.The combat? Solid. The overworld? It's alright. The quests? Decen. But then you realize this thing is full of that classic RPG nonsense from the ‘90s and early 2000s. Like, “Did I just lock myself out of an entire questline because I fixed a town and accidentally skipped a generation?” Yes. Now enjoy your 100 % completionist brain having a meltdown.Maybe you had a nice little underwater dance with a mermaid? Generation skipped. Killed a boss? Congrats, generation skipped. Helped an old lady get her cat back? Well look at that.The game hides everything from the player like it’s guarding state secrets. How does skill glimmering work? Why do quests vanish into the void? Why is my only reliable source of information some dude named "VicariousExp” on Reddit?I’d love to give this a proper review, but honestly, I don’t even know how. It was fun. It gave me vibes from an era I didn’t even live through. But it still hit the nostalgia bone somehow.Critique time:
The “story” is practically non-existent. There are characters, you kinda care about them, but the plot? It’s like seven teleporting heroes and you, the eternal emperor, chasing them. It’s fun.It’s 2025. Turn-based RPGs need a speed-up option. It’s not optional anymore. Speedhacking worked, but it should not be the solution.Oh, and don’t let anyone guilt you into playing on Hard. You have free will. I farmed on Casual and fought bosses on Hard. Do what's enjoyable for you.Bottom line: Do you like JRPGs? Turn-based combat? Can you handle a lack of qol features and some delightfully esoteric nonsense? Then this game is absolutely for you. You’ll have fun, get confused, rage a little, and in three months, you’ll look back fondly.
Plays great on the go. Try the original soundtrack. Game definitely reminds me why I still play JRPG these days. To get that childhood glee of adventuring back again.Great remake.
A very interesting succession mechanic (that I wouldn't mind seeing in more games) combined with kingdom-building are the the main positives for me. But the combat is very dated and boring imo.Don't get me wrong, I don't think it's a bad game per sé. But the absolute shamelessness of charging 50 euros for is commendable. I got it at a 30% discount and I still feel swindled.Wouldn't recommend to buy this for more than 20, unless you are really into these games.
Ngl this game is kinda ass. They should change the description from 'emperor' to janitor, 'cause that's what you are. Oh, also don't grind too much or you'll make the game harder and make fights impossible, because you can't get better gear.
Good graphics, interesting music, and absolutely asinine amounts of permanently misable content. The difficulty curve was created long ago, before common sense was invented, so leveling up makes enemies stronger than you. There's no way to achieve anything remotely close to completion without having a guide open and reading every single step for like twenty hours at the start of the game. Despite spending hundred of thousands on the graphics budget, they obviously didn't think to ask anybody to play the game and tell them how the balance was, for like twenty bucks of buying playtesters pizza they could have had a real classic. Instead, they drowned the game in absurd design decisions that sap the fun out of a game that otherwise has a lot to offer.
GOTY if you like gameplay driven jrpg with freedom in how you tackle the quests and progression.It's under Saga series so don't expect a FF story driven narrative. Gameplay is better than FF.PS: Tech sparking is pure dopamine rush.
Romancing SaGa 2: Revenge of the Seven is a remake of a classic JRPG that’s all about running an empire across generations. The combat’s is interesting—you’ve got this timeline showing who’s up next, and your characters level up skills by using them. Plus, new moves can just pop off mid-fight, which is unique. The time thing is cool too—every big move you make pushes the clock forward, sometimes jumping you to the next emperor. It’s a blast watching your choices shape the world over centuries.This game’s super fun, with tons to explore and a vibe that keeps you hooked. I’d totally recommend it—just heads-up, the systems are kinda tricky. Takes a bit to wrap your head around how it all works, but once you get it, it’s a good time. If you’re down for something different, give it a shot!
I really wanted to like this game, but all of the miss-able content makes it painful and annoying to play. Just tried completing the mermaid quest, but didn't clear 3 mandatory areas first, so the generation skipped while doing so and the quest auto-fails if you don't do it on a single generation.There is so much miss-able content in this game that requires meta knowledge of events, it honestly feels like they designed the "best" experience around doing ng+ 7 or 8 times. All-in-all, fun game-play loop that it ruined by strange story pacing and forced miss-able content, I honestly don't even want to finish the game anymore. It started out so strong and now I feel joyless and defeated.
Hands down one of the best JRPGs I have EVER played, I beat the game 3 more times after my 1st play through. This was my first saga game and I am now a fan of the franchise.Game was also pretty hard as well but it never felt unfair which was really nice since some JRPGs have trouble with that.If you are unsure about the game try out the demo cause that is what I did and I immediately bought the game after I completed it.
In the English language, "Seal" is synonymous with "preserve". In fact, sealed jars are often called preserves. Well in this game, the "seal" button does the opposite of that. It deletes your bloody skills permanently.Before the first boss, 2 hours into the game, I "sealed" all my skills in preparation for the big battle.Yeah, Game hard locked. Restart only option. Eff this game.
I am really enjoying this remake! I played the original a lot back in the day, though I forget some of the game, I remembered enough to appreciate what makes Romancing Saga 2: Revenge of the Seven stand out compared to a lot of remakes, even other's from SquareEnix.The graphics and navigating are going to be the largest, 2d to 3d, change and while three dimensional, there's a low technical impact on the pc (simple graphics) but used well so it's still beautiful! The attention to detail in things like stained glass signs, character classes having different skins (the original was palatte swaps since it was only 16 bit.) and keeping things colorful adds a lot of polish that older rigs can still play and look good! I should know.The gameplay itself is very similar and has the same unconventional loop, that takes a bit to wrap one's head around. The game has a checklist of a lot of checks, and if the player achieves SOME of those things, you will get a time skip. This is also a party wipe! Everyone falling in battle or the Emperor getting 0 life points (LP) is also a wipe but not always a time skip etc. What matters is that what your characters did in battle, gradually made them stronger and that carries through. The game's "final emperor" is the end of the time skips and the game knows which wipes should pass time and which won't because your power determines what gets checked off for the time skip.
I still missed a lot to it but suffice to say get ready for you team to wipe, you want that for some things to progress including equipment upgrades and facilities. Some classes can't be unlocked if you don't willingly wipe the current team. It's all good! I found it fun, and you can pretty much rebuild your team again, much stronger than new teams were befor. I guess you could say this game has more plot weapons, than armor, for the party sometimes.Classes/character types are unlocked by quests, (which means new emperors can be them too). I use class loosely since even if you're a mage, you can use and up your skill with bow and arrow, or greatswords, it's just pennultimately your mages won't do as much damage, but anyone can be competent in anything but there are class stats that favor weapon and magic skills, and every class has quite a few options regardless. Will your mage do a lot of damage with all these martial art skills? No, but she could absolutely use that self heal martial arts skill! So keep an eye out for fighting skills that are more about healing or debuffs, those can work on a non-fighting character. Magic, everyone should have whatever works, but fighters should work on healing or buffing but not damaging.All these skills pass down to new generations and keep getting stronger, you can just do what the character is supposed to do and you'll be fine. Elements can't contradict so a fire/wind/moon mage build and a water/earth/light mage build will be a thing for example. There are many magic competent classes so you have a lot of options.Current quests can be referenced but only if you know they exist and happen to get them. Some can be missed and that can result in permanently missing classes. Few and far between, one quest-tree seemed very difficult and convoluted but I ended up vicariously unlocking 2 other classes with it and it was not as difficult as I thought..as long as I looked up how to! Make sure you're ready to do that if you're new to this game! There is new game+ this time and there are two classes where you have to choose one or the other, I hope that lets us get what we missed, I haven't made it there yet.I am really enjoying this game, I got it on a sale and find it well worth it wether you played the original or not. I don't think having to look up stuff is bad necessarily, I hope it helps the player appreciate the time passing system and other elements that were very unique and new for the time, and hold up today!
This game is extremely lackluster and an absolute disappointment. It's a straight graphics and ui update from the original game and shouldn't receive a "remake" classification for people that are interested. It lacks depth, and should have been properly updated on almost all fronts. The main selling points of the game are its generational emperors and retinue and they are simply reskins and there is almost no story to justify anything that happens in the game.
Definitely recommended.On a first look, the original game on Super NES looked like a continuation of its predecessors on Gameboy (SaGa aka Final Fantasy Legend) or a close cousin to the NES and SNES Final Fantasys.In practice, its specific system and mechanics differ in so many ways, it's really a game that's well deserving of a special separate status.It's not an easy game to figure out, actually not an easy game at all. You don't get attached to characters here. You get attached to a whole dynasty, and to a history that you are very free to steer in the direction you want. Such freedom can be a little bit intimidating, especially since there are meaningful choices and consequences. It's not only the order in which you'll defeat the heroes, it's how you do it, and what else you'll do. It's about permadeath, and embracing it. It's about breaking the system, and finding out you have to break it all over again. It's about planning, and having your plans fail.I loved it.Also, it's clearly a very well polished remake, truly a work of love. Development budget well spent. Bravo to the developers and thank you.
This is my first time playing the Romancing SaGa series, and i have to admit that this game is one of the best Turn Based JRPGs i have ever played! I have completed everything Main + Side in 60 hours in a 4 days span! I became addicted to this game! It has a lot of replayability due to making decisions in game that changes the story. I would recommend this game for everyone! It is so enjoyable and fun to play.
I recommend this game. It's fun! But there are a few things I want to talk about, that detract from the game.The game spans over multiple generations. The problem I have with this is, that you cant marry and have children. You just choose a new emperor from a few people with classes with no connection whatsoever to any of your previous characters.Because of that there are times where you only have generic characters in your party and its hard for me to care about them.There is so much potential in this game but a system of continuing the lineage of the emperor is sadly missing.The story itself is very interesting!All in all if you dont care much about characters this game is still pretty good. I would give it a 7.9/10
