
	Platform PlayStation 2 Genre Role-Playing Publisher Square-Enix Developer Square-Enix ESRB E (10+) Released October 2005

- Non-linear gameplay - Lots of exploration - Have to figure things out for one's self - Lots of character customization - An interesting aesthetic - Good music

- Lots of inconsistency in the types of monsters one has to fight - Voice acting is really bad - Camera issues

Review: Arc the Lad: Twilight of the Spirits (Playstation 2) Review: Kingdom Hearts (Playstation 2) Review: Final Fantasy X (Playstation 2)
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Romancing SaGa

Score: 8.0 / 10

In recent years, Square-Enix has slowly been introducing some of their series that for some time had only been released in Japan. Starting in the late 1990s, gamers have slowly had a chance to sink their teeth into the SaGa series, among other franchises from the publisher. While the games have never been a hit with the critics, they’ve managed to carve out a niche for those that want a very different experience from their console RPGs. Now Square-Enix has re-released the very first game in this series that started on the SNES, Romancing SaGa, now for the PS2. This particular game will do nothing to change the minds of those who have never cared for the series, but for everyone out there that has enjoyed the SaGa games since they first started coming to North America, Romancing SaGa is an entertaining, non-linear romp that will help satiate fans’ curiosity as to how the series first started.

As popular as role-playing games have been on consoles over the years, there is one consistent complaint leveled against these games: they’re too linear. Players always go from point A to point B to C to D to E like clockwork, as the game spoon feeds them exactly where to go, and what to do next. Romancing SaGa does no such thing. Players simply fire up the game, pick between eight different main characters to play as and are dropped into the game world. Players are quickly brought up to speed on the basics of whatever dilemma is facing their chosen character, and after that it’s up to the player to figure out how they’re going to fulfill that person’s ambitions. There’s no handholding here. One has to wander the world, talking to everyone, helping people out where they can, and with some luck maybe they’ll slowly be able to piece together the clues and make some progress. While this is happening, it also slowly becomes obvious that on the world stage something much bigger is going on, but again there isn’t the handholding that one normally sees in a console RPG. In Romancing SaGa, players won’t find legions of NPCs handing out insultingly explicit instructions as to what they must do next. The role-playing genre has suffered from a lot of this highly scripted spoon-feeding for years now on the console market. The SaGa series has always been the antithesis of this, and Romancing SaGa is no exception. This non-linear approach to presenting the game’s adventure forces players to do some detective work, and explore the world. Players need to take notes, keep track of a number of different events, and generally use their brain a lot more. The whole process is extremely satisfying, and a welcome departure from the scores of other RPGs out there where players need only remember the name of the next NPC they need to talk to in order to advance the game’s plot.

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The fun in Romancing SaGa comes from the process of discovery. In most console RPGs, players have a good idea of what they’re getting themselves into when they step into a new dungeon, because a couple dozen NPCs have already told them. This isn’t always the case in this game. There were a number of times when I found myself wandering into a tomb, or some ruins and knowing there was something mysterious and special about the structure, and then felt compelled to

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explore it and figure out its secrets. Sometimes there would be a neat little story behind what I had found, and other times it remained a mystery, but going through the process was immensely satisfying because it gave my imagination a chance to run wild putting together all sorts of scenarios as to why the building was there.

Helping to strengthen this feeling is the artistic style used in the game, which is quite different. Some people may not take to the wholly unique aesthetic in the game, but those who are getting tired of seeing one anime-inspired RPG after the next will certainly welcome this game’s approach to visuals. What makes the graphics in Romancing SaGa particularly pleasing, though is its use of color throughout the game world’s environments. There’s a lushness to them that is very pleasing to the eye. Unfortunately, players have no control over the camera, which makes it difficult at times to properly see what is going on in game.

Besides exploring, and figuring things out for one’s self, the other key area of interest in this game comes from the high level of custom-ability of one’s characters. Over time, the party slowly earns jewels that can be used to learn new jobs like being a hunter, a pirate, a sorcerer, and so forth. On a basic level this gives players more choice in what sort of line-up they want in their party. However, Romancing SaGa takes things a step further. After a character has learned enough jobs, and taken them to a high enough level, they can focus learning on specific skills within a given job. So, not only can players have their characters focus on a specific type of job, they can make that character highly specialized within that job. The way this works brings a lot more choices to the table, and will give players a reason to spend a lot of time on this title fiddling around with their characters. And if that weren’t enough, each character can also learn proficiencies that they can use while exploring dungeons. The party can have a handful equipped at any time, ranging from treasure hunting, to jumping chasms, to mining. As players juggle these abilities while going through the dungeons, they have more reasons to come back and explore some more with different proficiencies equipped. Most of the time it’s worthwhile too, since it can often lead players to previously unexplored chambers, as well as some fancy loot.

Speaking of loot, there is also the ability to customize weapons, armor, and various other items. Obviously, the first place to look for these kinds of services is in one of the towns where one can find at least a few skilled craftsmen that can make various potions, or modify the abilities of a weapon. In terms of weapons and armor, players will occasionally find various items dropped by defeated monsters that can be used to augment their equipment. Take it to a blacksmith, and they’ll attach it for a fee. What is particularly interesting about this process is the sheer number of checks and balances that have been put in place. Unlike other RPGs where crafting can often times result in terribly overpowered characters running around, there are some very significant sacrifices players need to make in order to get an enhancement in another area with their weapons or armor. It’s extremely fun modifying weapons and armor, but what brings it all together is that the game forces players to think long and hard about what they’re going to do.

But despite all of these good points in Romancing SaGa, the game does have its issues. Firstly there are quite a few instances of inconsistency in the types of monsters one may encounter during the game. Usually one can expect a steady progression in difficulty as they travel through a RPG, or at least see that certain monsters are indigenous to certain areas, so that we can have some sort of mental preparedness when entering battle. Unfortunately, the battles in this game like to throw random enemies at players. One battle can be against easy enemies, and the next could be horrifically difficult as players face off against hugely powerful foes. There’s just no rhyme or reason behind how enemies are thrown at the player. The other problem with the game that will slowly wear on players is the game’s voice acting. While most of us have long since given up on the possibility of living in a world where voice talent is palatable, the voices in Romancing SaGa are just too awful to ignore. The actors in this game assault players’ ears with a one-two punch of putting too much emotion into every word, and having this strange halted style of talk that is incredibly aggravating. It's tempting to want to write this off as parody, but the subject matter of the game just doesn't match up well enough for that to be the case.

However, regardless of a few shortcomings, Romancing SaGa is a worthwhile adventure for those who have been following the SaGa games for a while now. Between the exploration and customization, players will have plenty to keep themselves busy for a very long time.

- Mr. Nash

(November 6, 2005)