Megalosaro
Banned
I'm a huge fan of the franchise, and since there isn't much love here on GAF, I figured we could use a thread to discuss it.
Makaitoshi SaGa/The Final Fantasy Legend
Platform: Gameboy/Wonderswan Color/Cell Phone
This groundbreaking first game follows the adventures of a small band of adventurers as they explore a tower situated in the middle of their world. It is said that whoever can reach the top of the tower will reach Paradise. However, the Tower is a gateway to other Worlds. In order to reach the top of the tower, you must explore those worlds and solve their problems.
What really set this game apart for me was the fact you can pick your own party. Your choices? Humans, which have well rounded stats. Mutants/Espers, which are capable of learning magic but are physically weaker than Humans. And then Monsters. Monsters do not earn stat increases from battle. Instead, they can occasionally eat the meat of fallen monsters, triggering a transformation that makes them stronger.
SaGa 2: Hihou Densetsu/Final Fantasy Legend 2
Originally released GameBoy, remade for DS
This second game starts off with your dad bidding you farewell as he jumps out the window. Some odd years have passed and he hasn't returned. Determined to find him, you embark on a journey to find him. Along the way, you get caught up in a conspiracy. Several powerful figures are competing to find magical artifacts called Magi, so that they can become New Gods. Once again, your adventure takes you through several different worlds.
Like SaGa 1, SaGa 2 also lets you pick your party members. However, now you can have a robot on your party. Robots cannot learn magic. However, any item you equip on them gets repaired when you stay at an inn.
In 2009, the game was remade for DS. It was given a visual upgrade, but plays almost exactly the same, with the exception that random encounters were removed in favor enemies being able to be seen on the map. Sadly, the game was never released in America.
Jikuu no Hasha SaGa 3/ Final Fantasy Legend III
Originally released on Gameboy, remade for the DS
This final game in the Gameboy trilogy tells the story of a group of children sent back in time to prevent a great flood from destroying the world. It is quite the departure from the other two games. An entirely separate team developed SaGa 3, which would go on to make Final Fantasy Mystic Quest. Unlike the first two games, you have a set party you must use. Weapons no longer have durability as well.
Like SaGa 2, this game was later remade for DS, though it also never was released stateside
Romancing SaGa
Platform: Super Famicom, Remade for PS2
The first Super Famicom release tells the story of of eight adventurers who must stop the revival of an evil god named Saruin from reviving. This game stands out in that the game has an open world, a new concept for JRPGs back in the early 90s. You pick one of the 8 characters. Each one has their own starting point and special sidequests pertaining exclusively to them. This encourages multiple playthroughs.
The game was remade for the Playstation 2 in 2004 and is quite different from its original release. While the scenario and characters are the same, the game play is COMPLETELY different. Systems introduced in later games were placed here, such as the awesome glimmer system.
Plus it has one of the best theme songs ever:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pjKD77dwyQY
Romancing SaGa 2
Super Famicom
Romancing SaGa 2 is a multi-generation story about the Royal family of Avalon and their war against 7 legendary heroes who have become corrupted by their anger after having been imprisoned in another dimension.
Like RS1, the game is pretty much an open scenario. You can fight the villains in the game in any order you wish. Furthermore, at certian points in the game, you will be forced to pick an heir. Your heir inherits any abilities their parent had.
The game also features some pretty rocking battle themes:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gS7GAoEcbyk
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5eZGnTuBHGg
Romancing SaGa 3
Platform: Super Famicom
Romancing SaGa 3's plot centers around a phenomena called the "Death Ecilpse". Every 300 years, this eclipse occurs. During that time all new life on the planet dies off. However, eventually one singular baby is born with immense powers, who then grows up to either be the next Demon King or the planet's savior. 16 years have passed and the world is still waiting to see if the child born during the eclipse is either a demon or a savior...
Like RS1, you have eight people you choose from. The plot is largely the same though there are some scenes that play out differently or are seen from a different perspective depending on which character you are, especially early on.
Of the three Super Famicom games, this is the only one to get an English fan translation. To this day, Romancing SaGa 1 and 2 SFC are both only in Japanese.
SaGa Frontier
Playstation
SaGa Frontier features 7 different scenarios that weave around each other but are largely independent. Storie include:
- a young man becoming a Kamen Rider-esque super hero in order to get revenge against a criminal organization that murdered his father.
- an arrogant mage must track down and defeat his older brother in order to learn the ultimate magic
- A young women is injured in an accident and rescued by a powerful Mystic. She awakens 12 years later only to find out she is now a Half-Mystic. Desperate to escape her benefactor's help, she must come to terms with her new powers
- A famous model takes the fall for her boyfriend's murder. She must escape prison and track down her boyfriend's killer
- A robot is reconstructed by a young boy. It attempts to remember what its true mission is.
- A monster is sent to the world of the humans in order to recover a set of magical rings
The game has a sort of weird eclectic mix of settings. Some are super science fiction-y. While others are more contemporary or fantasy-based. It doesn't seem like it should mix, but it does.
SaGa Frontier 2
Platform: Playstation
The second entry in the series tells the story of two men as their fates become intertwined in mysterious artifact called The Egg. One of the men is a disgraced prince who is exiled when it is discovered he has no anima, a sort of spiritual energy. The other story is that of a young treasure hunter who is trying to uncover the cause of his parent's death.
The game is unique in that it has two battle systems. The first battle system is similar to other games in the franchise. Your party faces the enemy party and you select your attacks from a menu much like you would any other JRPG. The other battle system is a one-on-one battle system where you pick a string of basic commands like "smash" or "cut". If you issue the commands in the right order, you will unleash powerful skills.
SaGa Frontier has the best graphics on the playstation one, by the way.
Unlimited SaGa
Most fans of the series like to pretend this game doesn't exist. I personally think it's "okay" but wouldn't want any other game in the franchise to follow this game's direction. It plays sort of like a table top RPG. The battle system is pretty bad though. It relies too much on its roulette system. It IS pretty to look at though, and Hamauzu really did a bang up job on the soundtrack.
Makaitoshi SaGa/The Final Fantasy Legend
Platform: Gameboy/Wonderswan Color/Cell Phone
This groundbreaking first game follows the adventures of a small band of adventurers as they explore a tower situated in the middle of their world. It is said that whoever can reach the top of the tower will reach Paradise. However, the Tower is a gateway to other Worlds. In order to reach the top of the tower, you must explore those worlds and solve their problems.
What really set this game apart for me was the fact you can pick your own party. Your choices? Humans, which have well rounded stats. Mutants/Espers, which are capable of learning magic but are physically weaker than Humans. And then Monsters. Monsters do not earn stat increases from battle. Instead, they can occasionally eat the meat of fallen monsters, triggering a transformation that makes them stronger.
SaGa 2: Hihou Densetsu/Final Fantasy Legend 2
Originally released GameBoy, remade for DS
This second game starts off with your dad bidding you farewell as he jumps out the window. Some odd years have passed and he hasn't returned. Determined to find him, you embark on a journey to find him. Along the way, you get caught up in a conspiracy. Several powerful figures are competing to find magical artifacts called Magi, so that they can become New Gods. Once again, your adventure takes you through several different worlds.
Like SaGa 1, SaGa 2 also lets you pick your party members. However, now you can have a robot on your party. Robots cannot learn magic. However, any item you equip on them gets repaired when you stay at an inn.
In 2009, the game was remade for DS. It was given a visual upgrade, but plays almost exactly the same, with the exception that random encounters were removed in favor enemies being able to be seen on the map. Sadly, the game was never released in America.
Jikuu no Hasha SaGa 3/ Final Fantasy Legend III
Originally released on Gameboy, remade for the DS
This final game in the Gameboy trilogy tells the story of a group of children sent back in time to prevent a great flood from destroying the world. It is quite the departure from the other two games. An entirely separate team developed SaGa 3, which would go on to make Final Fantasy Mystic Quest. Unlike the first two games, you have a set party you must use. Weapons no longer have durability as well.
Like SaGa 2, this game was later remade for DS, though it also never was released stateside
Romancing SaGa
Platform: Super Famicom, Remade for PS2
The first Super Famicom release tells the story of of eight adventurers who must stop the revival of an evil god named Saruin from reviving. This game stands out in that the game has an open world, a new concept for JRPGs back in the early 90s. You pick one of the 8 characters. Each one has their own starting point and special sidequests pertaining exclusively to them. This encourages multiple playthroughs.
The game was remade for the Playstation 2 in 2004 and is quite different from its original release. While the scenario and characters are the same, the game play is COMPLETELY different. Systems introduced in later games were placed here, such as the awesome glimmer system.
Plus it has one of the best theme songs ever:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pjKD77dwyQY
Romancing SaGa 2
Super Famicom
Romancing SaGa 2 is a multi-generation story about the Royal family of Avalon and their war against 7 legendary heroes who have become corrupted by their anger after having been imprisoned in another dimension.
Like RS1, the game is pretty much an open scenario. You can fight the villains in the game in any order you wish. Furthermore, at certian points in the game, you will be forced to pick an heir. Your heir inherits any abilities their parent had.
The game also features some pretty rocking battle themes:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gS7GAoEcbyk
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5eZGnTuBHGg
Romancing SaGa 3
Platform: Super Famicom
Romancing SaGa 3's plot centers around a phenomena called the "Death Ecilpse". Every 300 years, this eclipse occurs. During that time all new life on the planet dies off. However, eventually one singular baby is born with immense powers, who then grows up to either be the next Demon King or the planet's savior. 16 years have passed and the world is still waiting to see if the child born during the eclipse is either a demon or a savior...
Like RS1, you have eight people you choose from. The plot is largely the same though there are some scenes that play out differently or are seen from a different perspective depending on which character you are, especially early on.
Of the three Super Famicom games, this is the only one to get an English fan translation. To this day, Romancing SaGa 1 and 2 SFC are both only in Japanese.
SaGa Frontier
Playstation
SaGa Frontier features 7 different scenarios that weave around each other but are largely independent. Storie include:
- a young man becoming a Kamen Rider-esque super hero in order to get revenge against a criminal organization that murdered his father.
- an arrogant mage must track down and defeat his older brother in order to learn the ultimate magic
- A young women is injured in an accident and rescued by a powerful Mystic. She awakens 12 years later only to find out she is now a Half-Mystic. Desperate to escape her benefactor's help, she must come to terms with her new powers
- A famous model takes the fall for her boyfriend's murder. She must escape prison and track down her boyfriend's killer
- A robot is reconstructed by a young boy. It attempts to remember what its true mission is.
- A monster is sent to the world of the humans in order to recover a set of magical rings
The game has a sort of weird eclectic mix of settings. Some are super science fiction-y. While others are more contemporary or fantasy-based. It doesn't seem like it should mix, but it does.
SaGa Frontier 2
Platform: Playstation
The second entry in the series tells the story of two men as their fates become intertwined in mysterious artifact called The Egg. One of the men is a disgraced prince who is exiled when it is discovered he has no anima, a sort of spiritual energy. The other story is that of a young treasure hunter who is trying to uncover the cause of his parent's death.
The game is unique in that it has two battle systems. The first battle system is similar to other games in the franchise. Your party faces the enemy party and you select your attacks from a menu much like you would any other JRPG. The other battle system is a one-on-one battle system where you pick a string of basic commands like "smash" or "cut". If you issue the commands in the right order, you will unleash powerful skills.
SaGa Frontier has the best graphics on the playstation one, by the way.
Unlimited SaGa
Most fans of the series like to pretend this game doesn't exist. I personally think it's "okay" but wouldn't want any other game in the franchise to follow this game's direction. It plays sort of like a table top RPG. The battle system is pretty bad though. It relies too much on its roulette system. It IS pretty to look at though, and Hamauzu really did a bang up job on the soundtrack.
