Romancing SaGa

from Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Romancing SaGa
Original title ロ マ ン シ ン グ サ ・ ガ
developer Square / Square Enix
First title Romancing SaGa (1992)
Last title Romancing SaGa (2005)
Platform (s) SNES , PlayStation 2 , Wii , Wonderswan Color
Genre (s) Computer role playing game

Romancing SaGa is a series of computer role-playing games originally released only in Japan exclusively for the Super Nintendo Entertainment System . This series comprises three titles, which apart from the common name have no noteworthy similarities, and thematically represent the second part of the SaGa series.

Romancing SaGa

In 1992, the first part of the series, Romancing SaGa ( Japanese ロ マ ン シ ン グ サ ・ ガ ) appeared in Japan for the Super Nintendo. The game was developed by Square , whereby Akitoshi Kawazu was responsible as the main developer as with the rest of the SaGa parts. There was a port of this game for the Wonderswan Color in 2001 , which had only very minor changes. As Romancing SaGa: Minstrel Song ( Japanese ロ マ ン シ ン グ サ ガ - ミ ン ス ト レ ル ソ ン グ - ) a remake for the PlayStation 2 , which has been greatly improved in terms of graphics and content, was released in 2005 , which is the first and only part of the series that has also appeared outside of Japan. This remake of the game is less of a remake of the game and more of an entirely new title. Apart from the complete visual redesign with modern 3D graphics and a complete soundtrack for the dialogues, there were extensive changes and additions to the content. Additional quests, new skills, game mechanics from the later published parts that were subsequently integrated into this game, all of this changes the game completely.

In this game you choose one of eight different characters that differ both in the background and in the way they perceive their world. In addition, you can also influence the initial design and equipment of the character by choosing your parents. Each character starts in a different area and has certain tasks to perform that are only available for this character, but in the end all eight storylines come together into one. During the game you also sometimes meet the other, unselected characters who then act as NPC . The aim of the game is to collect ten jewels with which the evil god Saruin was once banished, as the ban became weaker and weaker over time.

The game itself is largely non-linear and instead relies on so-called check-fights (these are basically simple fights, which, however, can only be survived with certain minimum values ​​due to the combat design) as a measure of which areas are accessible and which are not. In addition, certain quests are only accessible or solvable at certain times in the game, but this is not always visible to the player. In addition to the main character, other NPCs usually belong to the group temporarily or permanently, whereby some of them only stay for certain periods of time depending on the quest, while others are freely recruited. During the game you move through a world viewed from above, which is designed in tile optics. Confrontations with opponents take place in a simple side view, which has a background that depends on the environment. The development of the characters is necessary for progress in the game and, in addition to an increase through the acquisition of experience, also takes place via a learning-by-doing system, which is especially necessary for the use of weapon skills. Magic exists in this game in the form of learnable spells that have a limited number of uses before they have to be learned again. For turn-based battles, simple tactical options such as choosing the line-up are possible.

Romancing SaGa 2

One year after the first part, Square released Romancing SaGa 2 ( Japanese ロ マ ン シ ン グ サ ・ ガ 2 ) in 1993, the successor to the Super Nintendo.

In contrast to its predecessor, this time there is no choice between different characters, but during the game you get the opportunity to determine the main character within certain limits for a certain period of time. This is done via the game mechanics of the heir apparent. Every time a certain plot point is reached, or the current hero dies, the player is offered the opportunity to choose his successor from a small group of possible candidates. What alternatives are offered depends on the course of the game and the decisions made by the player himself. The aim of the game this time is the fight against the Seven Heroes, who long ago saved the world from the demons, as the legend tells.

The companions of the main character can be recruited as in the first part, or join automatically in the course of a mission. There were also changes in the course of the game itself, there is now a clear linear course that one follows during the course of the plot. The controls and the combat system remain largely the same and are only supplemented by new game mechanics and additional skills. Overall, a much greater focus is placed on the acquisition and use of special skills than in the predecessor, and there are several aspects of the game that are more in the direction of strategy role-playing or economic simulation. In addition to a significant expansion of the strategic options available in combat, the possibility of permanent death of game characters was introduced, which can affect the course of the game.

Romancing SaGa 3

The last part of the series for Super Nintendo appeared in 1995 with Romancing Saga 3 ( Japanese ロ マ ン シ ン グ サ ・ ガ 3 ), like all parts again developed by Square.

Similar to the first part of this series, you choose one of eight possible main characters at the beginning of the game and give him or her a certain playful background that decides on the basic orientation of the character. In terms of content, the different characters differ this time mainly through a short intro, which introduces the game and explains the background of the selected character, and slightly different encounters in the game. Almost the entire rest of the game is otherwise identical for each character. The role and type of additional NPCs that can be picked up during the game has remained the same, as have the normal battles in the game. The aim of the game is to reach and defeat a final opponent again, this time against the backdrop of an eclipse, a regularly recurring catastrophe that destroys all life in the world except for a single survivor.

Compared to the two predecessors, there are again various changes in the game system. This ranges from the usual expansions of the abilities, magic and weapons available for combat to the introduction of new combat formations, which now allow a sixth person to take part in the confrontations as a commander, to a completely new form of combat. These are real-time battles in a strategy game style , in which large groups of your own units must be waged against the enemy using generic commands. There are also various new visual features. The world you are moving through is now shown in a secret-of-mana- like environment instead of the familiar square grid, and the enemies you encounter during the game are visible on the map.

Soundtrack

For the release of the remakes for the Playstation 2, the soundtrack of the game, mainly co-designed by Kenji Itō, was released by Universal Music in a 4-CD box.

Web links