Romancing SaGa 2: Revenge of The Seven marks a return for a 1993 classic. For long-time fans of the SaGa series, this 3D remake by Square Enix is an opportunity to revisit a beloved title with fresh eyes, while newcomers get the chance to discover what made the original so special. The game features a great balance between nostalgia and modern updates, making it a great pickup for fans of the genre. Here’s our Romancing SaGa 2: Revenge of The Seven review.
The original Romancing SaGa 2 had a great blend of family dynamics, political intrigue, and punishing but rewarding gameplay. You take control of a royal family tasked with defending their empire from seven legendary heroes who have inexplicably turned evil. The remake preserves this narrative, but now in stunning 3D, with beautiful, colorful environments and character designs that pay homage to the original’s charm.
The updated visuals are great. While the old 2D sprites were iconic in their own right, the reimagined 3D art style adds a new layer of depth. From the highly detailed character models to the stunning enemy and boss designs, it’s clear that a lot of care has gone into revamping this classic for today’s audience. The shift to a fully 3D environment also enhances exploration, allowing players to roam the world more freely, find hidden treasures, and interact with NPCs.
Of course, while the visuals for this game look quite nice, this isn’t a remake with visuals that are on the level of something like a mainline Final Fantasy game (think the FF7 Remake titles or FF16). Still, the graphics of this game are good overall and make for a much more immersive experience, especially when compared with the original game.
Let’s talk about the game’s turn-based combat. Unlike traditional RPGs, character progression is tied to weapon usage—if you want a character to become a bow expert, they need to keep using a bow in battle. The same goes for every other weapon type or magic user. Over time, they’ll unlock new moves, adding an extra layer of decision-making to each encounter. A lightbulb icon will be flashed next to a move, signaling the chance to learn a new skill, keeps combat fresh and exciting. This is a signature mechanic of the Romancing SaGa games, and it’s what makes it unique.
The game also has strategic depth through enemy telegraphing. Enemies signal their next moves, allowing you to plan whether to go on the offensive, set up defenses, or support a weakened party member. The Overdrive feature, which lets characters unleash powerful moves, adds another element of strategy, can be the difference between a winning a hard-fought battle or a complete reset.
However, the game isn’t without its challenges. The difficulty spikes can be unforgiving, especially when characters lose all their Life Points (LP), permanently removing them from your party. This high-stakes system means that careful planning is crucial, especially in later battles where one wrong move can cause a wipe of your entire team. That said, the game’s tactical depth makes these challenges feel fair and rewarding, rather than frustrating.
While the core gameplay remains faithful to the original, the remake introduces an array of quality-of-life improvements that make it more accessible to modern audiences. The menu system, while not as stylized as some contemporary JRPGs, is clean, functional, and easy to navigate. For those new to the series like me, the extensive tutorial logs are a lifesaver, offering clear and concise explanations of the game’s mechanics.
The game’s deep JRPG combat system may be a lot to take in at first, but the game does help ease you into the gameplay, enough that it can even be fun for players who are new to JRPGs. Plus, even long-time genre fans will enjoy a unique experience here, especially considering the game’s generation-spanning structure.
The Romancing SaGa 2 was defined by the fact that the main character changes as the game progresses. These characters are the rulers of Avalon in the next generations. This remake retains this mechanic, though instead of starting out as a clean slate, players can inherit the abilities of the previous ruler. What this also means is that the main bosses (aka the Seven Heroes) are made more epic given that the conflict in the game literally happens over generations.
Another welcome addition is the option to switch between the original and remastered soundtracks. The game also features fully voiced dialogue in both English and Japanese, with excellent performances from both voice casts.
The developers have clearly taken the time to respect the source material while also expanding on it. Veterans of the original game will notice some new character developments and additional story content that flesh out the world even further. The original Romancing SaGa 2 may have had a great generation-spanning premise, but its storytelling wasn’t exactly deep compared to modern standards. This remake addresses that by giving certain characters more personality and backstory, making the players feel a bit more for them which further adds to the stakes.
Small touches, like the inclusion of the original 2D sprites in loading screens, show just how much love and care has been poured into this project. It’s not just a cash-in remake—it’s a heartfelt revival that honors the legacy of the original while bringing it into the modern era.
Romancing SaGa 2: Revenge of The Seven Review Final Verdict – 8.5/10
Romancing SaGa 2: Revenge of The Seven is more than just a remake—it’s a celebration of one of Square Enix’s hidden gems. The beautiful 3D visuals, engaging combat, and smart updates make it accessible for both long-time fans and newcomers alike. While the game’s difficulty spikes may prove challenging, the depth of its combat system and the fun of experimenting with different strategies more than make up for it.
For those who never got the chance to play the original, this is the perfect time to dive in. And for those who did, this remake offers the chance to experience it all over again, but in a whole new light. This could be the revival that catapults the SaGa series back into the spotlight, and it’s well-deserved.
This review was made using a game code for the PS5 provided by the publisher.