Romancing SaGa 2: Revenge of the Seven may sound like a romantic tale, but it’s actually a story focused on legacy. This Square Enix remake of a 1993 RPG introduces an Inheritance system where protagonists gain the skills of their predecessors, growing stronger with each generation. It takes multiple lifetimes to defeat the main antagonist, and the outcome may vary depending on the inheritor of the throne.
During a brief 30-minute demo at PAX West, I didn’t have much time to connect with the characters, but the engaging turn-based combat and the unique Glimmer mechanic indicated a promising experience for fans of turn-based RPGs.
Watch the throne
Romancing SaGa 2 narrates the story of seven heroes who saved the world but were sealed in another dimension, destined to return and save humanity once more. Upon their return, corrupted by the alternate dimension, they seek revenge on the world that abandoned them.
The Emperor of Avalon, from the Varennes Empire, takes on the task of defeating these heroes-turned-villains. However, they are so formidable that one lifetime isn’t enough to defeat them all. Revenge of the Seven follows three Emperors across the Varennes Empire, each inheriting skills from their predecessors. The demo featured Gerard, the first-generation protagonist and son of the late King Leon. The fate of the other two Emperors is in your hands.
Revenge of the Seven features classic turn-based combat with strategic type advantages. Similar to Shin Megami Tensei or Persona, enemies have weaknesses that can be exploited with different attacks. The game encourages players to adapt their party composition for each battle based on these strengths and weaknesses. Additionally, the Glimmer mechanic introduces an element of chance. By using certain attacks, characters can learn new moves and potentially unlock powerful abilities, adding depth to combat and character progression.
The demo only scratched the surface of Gerard’s story and combat mechanics, leaving room for further exploration in the full game. Despite this, the engaging combat and freedom of choice were enough to captivate me. The true test will be whether Revenge of the Seven can maintain this excitement across multiple generations.
Romancing SaGa 2: Revenge of the Seven launches for PC, PlayStation 5, and Nintendo Switch on October 24, 2024.
