The life-or-death struggle with the “Seven Heroes,” etched deep in memory, has returned with a brilliant transformation in the Reiwa era. Romancing SaGa2 Revenge of the Seven is a remake of the 1993 masterpiece, Romancing SaGa 2, entirely rebuilt in full 3D. It goes beyond a simple graphical refresh; the story and even the system have been polished to be more approachable to modern players. Yet, the atmosphere and tension of the original have not been lost at all, possessing a fervor that appeals equally to players who know “those days” and those touching it for the first time “now.” It is truly the perfect opportunity to savor the essence of the SaGa series once again.

At the core of this game is the epic record of the successive Emperors of the Varennes Empire, told through the unique concept of the “Succession System.” The Seven Heroes, once believed to have saved humanity, now stand as a calamity. The peace lost by their betrayal, the anger of losing loved ones, and the mission that must be fulfilled. The structure, in which these elements are passed down from Emperor Leon's resolve to the next generation and the generation after that, possesses a weightiness akin to a historical epic, despite being a role-playing game. As the state of the country, people's values, and even the reasons for fighting change with each passing generation, the one axis that consistently remains is “conviction.” The depth of that drama repeatedly moved my heart.

The SaGa series is known for its unique battle systems like “Glimmer” and “Formations,” and these are alive and well in this title. If anything, they have been significantly refined compared to the past, allowing for intuitive yet strategic gameplay. The joy of “Glimmering” new techniques, the depth of battle due to formations, and the tension of figuring out how to survive powerful enemy attacks—all of this unfolds rhythmically within beautiful 3D presentation, elevating mere combat into “edge-of-your-seat direction.” Furthermore, the growth system and difficulty settings have been carefully reviewed, which is a welcome feature as the balance is designed to be gentler for those who felt the original had a somewhat high barrier to entry.

What is most impressive is that the evolution of the graphics is not merely an improvement in appearance. The breathing and emotional turmoil of the characters, which had to be supplemented by imagination in the pixel art era, now “speak” to you through 3D models and full voice acting in this title. Gerard's determination, Leon's anguish, the Seven Heroes' madness—these are conveyed more intuitively, leading to a vastly different depth of emotional involvement. At the moment old memories “rise up as visuals,” you feel a mysterious emotion as if the past and present are merging. Event scenes also have voice acting, which dramatically increases the sense of presence, further enhancing the depth and impact of the story.