![]() ![]() Perhaps because its story is more cohesive at the onset, SaGa Frontier 2 is able to hit emotional highs that Frontier does not. ![]() The content of the story can be quite affecting, and the execution is strange and exciting. I personally hold both SaGa Frontier games as series high points, representing the best of the line in terms of story, combat, and presentation, in a way that has not been matched since. However, battles feel more accessible to series newcomers with the new ability to expend Life Points (LP) in battle for a full heal. Generally, combat is pure SaGa: a flashing lightbulb in battle either means something to you or it doesn’t. Thankfully, these battles are few and far between. Some combat changes are helpful, like allowing players to fight enemies in one to one combat however the larger scale strategic battles feel clumsy. SaGa Frontier 2 strives to innovate in terms of gameplay, although it is not always successful. The high quality visual approach is only met by the exceptional soundtrack from Masashi Hamauzu, who provides dramatic flourish during moments of fiery combat and drama alike. When the narrative excels, the graphical presentation assists in making it feel like you are playing a storybook. ![]() A remaster could help sharpen up the backgrounds, spell effects, and character models, but the game is already beautiful. The art style is timeless and gorgeous, with beautiful watercolor hand drawn backgrounds. This unique storytelling approach complements the astounding aesthetic of the game. This is complemented by the way the story unfolds, with players given the choice to largely determine the pacing of the competing pathways with a Choose Your Own Adventure-esque feel. This generational storytelling mechanic is reminiscent of Romancing SaGa 2, although it benefits from occurring in a world and with characters that are more fleshed out. The two boys – then men – could not be more different, and their paths across generations collide in fascinating, if not entirely successful ways. His tale is juxtaposed with that of Will Knights, an up-and-coming treasure hunter from a wealthy family. Players largely observe the tale of Gustave XIII, would-be King, on his quest for recognition and power as he forms his own kingdom. Its timeline is bifurcated between two lineages across a handful of generations. SaGa Frontier 2 has a compelling plot told in an interesting manner. Gustave and his mother are tossed from the castle, living in poverty on the outskirts of town until they escape to a neighboring kingdom. Set to occur on his seventh birthday, the joyous occasion quickly sours as Gustave is unable to display a showing of magical ability, known as Anima. We watch the young boy’s royal education as he prepares for the Firebrand Ceremony, a royal rite of passage. After the opening battle, players are treated to scenes of a royal birth and the early years of young Prince Gustave. I won’t try to convince anyone that Unlimited SaGa deserves a remaster (not today, anyway), but perhaps a gentle reminder of Frontier 2’s strengths will remind someone at Square Enix to get this game on my Switch in due course.įirst, the opening provides a stark contrast to it's predecessor: SaGa Frontier opens with a tranquil tableau whereupon players choose to start from 7 characters Frontier 2 begins with bombast, tossing players quite literally into the heat of battle before a title screen appears. ![]() Square Enix has seemingly skipped over SaGa Frontier 2 and the oft-maligned Unlimited SaGa. Yet here we are, two years later, and there has been no announcement. The revisited 1997 PlayStation classic was warmly received by critics and fans alike and it seemed like SaGa Frontier 2 was coming on the horizon. In 2021, Square Enix released SaGa Frontier Remastered. ![]()
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