Romancing SaGa

 PlayStation 2
Metascore
58

Mixed or average reviews - based on 23 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 5 out of 23
  2. Mixed: 16 out of 23
  3. Negative: 2 out of 23
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  1. eToychest
    90
    The game emphasizes role-playing over subscribing to the underlying story, and that is what makes Romancing SaGa such a terrific experience to be had.
  2. RPG Fan
    87
    A unique and aesthetically appealing work of art.
  3. Worth Playing
    85
    Some people are going to hate it on sight, but I believe that like SaGa Frontier before it, Romancing SaGa has a welcome place in the gaming library of anyone who appreciates a completely free-roaming experience and isn't above being patient with the quirks of gameplay it holds.
  5. Armchair Empire
    80
    Between the exploration and customization, players will have plenty to keep themselves busy for a very long time.
  6. Computer Games Magazine
    80
    Most certainly a pleasant console role-playing game of a faded breed. [Jan 2006, p.89]
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  7. GameShark
    67
    Offers a wide variety of things to do, but no real direction in a lot of important areas. Romancing SaGa is ultimately a role-playing game with a lot of gameplay substance but no cohesive storyline to back it up.
  8. Gamers' Temple
    66
    Romancing SaGa has areas that may prove to be interesting in the future, but the lack of a story and uninteresting characters prove too much to overcome.
  9. Just RPG
    63
    The game falls short in areas such as voice acting, graphics, story and actual fun!
  10. Electronic Gaming Monthly
    62
    Now, if they could just manage decent graphics-the game slides dangerously close to PS1 territory at times-ditch the freakish characters, and pen a halfdecent tale to go with the gameplay, SaGa could finally become a series worth paying attention to.
  11. GameSpot
    60
    Romancing SaGa is ultimately a role-playing game without any substance.
  12. 1UP
    60
    Romancing SaGa will please those gamers who want a very long game. There are many locations to discover and explore, and each is delightfully designed, although the tedium of fighting the same kinds of monsters may get in the way of leveling up.
  13. G4 TV
    60
    At best, Romancing SaGa is an eight-part RPG miniseries contained in one overflowing DVD. At worst, it's an unbalanced snooze-fest whose surface you won't feel too compelled to scratch.
  14. BonusStage
    52
    Lacks everything which makes the genre fun and engrossing.
  15. GamePro
    50
    Moderately pretty graphics and average sound don't offset the labored frustration that follows playing this stilted title. [Nov 2005, p.146]
  16. GameZone
    50
    The story isn’t worth a second of your time. A crappy story makes for a crappy RPG. Artistically Square Enix is on par with their top titles ("Final Fantasy," "Parasite Eve" and "Xenogears" excluded – they're still the best). But no matter what I do I can't get past the story.
  17. Game Informer
    50
    Barely even a game. [Nov 2005, p.154]
    All this publication's reviews
  18. Official U.S. Playstation Magazine
    50
    Too much choice, not enough direction, and the characters are really creepy looking. [Dec 2005, p.118]
  19. Game Chronicles
    50
    Without a good story, interesting characters, a good design or enveloping world, Romancing Saga fails as an RPG.
  20. Siliconera
    50
    While the open ended gameplay is a good concept, it falls flat because players often end up lost or on an incorrect path. Romancing Saga almost focuses entirely on being open ended and it neglects all the other RPG mechanics like a solid story.
  21. DarkStation
    50
    Square Enix's track record is questioned here, as the update to the 'SaGa' franchise fails miserably due to a disjointed plot and lack of directions.
  22. PSM Magazine
    50
    It's an expedition into the rugged unknown - not a luxury vacation. [Jan 2006, p.72]
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  23. Game Revolution
    42
    This could have easily been a great tribute to its SNES predecessor, had it paid any heed to what makes the tedium of an RPG tolerable... and that lies squarely in the saga that this game fails to describe.
  24. Gaming Age
    25
    Most traditional RPG fans will find themselves bored and frustrated with SaGa's extremely open-ended and unforgiving game design, but those select few who find themselves excited by these prospects will proclaim this one of the most satisfying experiences in recent memory.

User Reviews

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User Score
8.0

Generally favorable reviews- based on 42 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 29 out of 42
  2. Mixed: 7 out of 42
  3. Negative: 6 out of 42
  1. Arc_Inochi
    Dec 6, 2014
    9
    There are few rpgs that I miss more than this game. It had beautifully composed music, the freedom to explore, and a wealth of characters thatThere are few rpgs that I miss more than this game. It had beautifully composed music, the freedom to explore, and a wealth of characters that help develop the story. There may be some bumps and moments where you may want to walk away, but in the end, that very challenge is what makes rpgs into what they are.… Full Review »
  2. Raknis
    Sep 5, 2016
    9
    Ministrel song to me was a breath of fresh air in 2006 and even now.

    Let me make it clear that this game is not appealing to the casual rpg    Ministrel song to me was a breath of fresh air in 2006 and even now.

    Let me make it clear that this game is not appealing to the casual rpg fan. There is no clear progression, no direct narrative, no levels. You the player are thrown into this vast world with only the barest of information. Players will feel unfamiliar with the equipment, status, and mechanics the game offers to the player. Due to this, people turn away from the game and it is completely understandable. Even with an online guide and ingame guide, players can still be easily overwhelmed.

    But there within lies the beauty of Romancing Saga. You pick one out of 8 characters, learn about them, and are thrown into this world. You can stumble into a random town and pick up a quest. Maybe you explore the sewers and discover the catacombs. The player is left to make any choice. where they go and what quest they chose to do or not to do is up them. This opens up so much to the player because of the freedom of choice. You and a friend could have experienced two different things. Maybe they picked up a quest you didn't, or perhaps you decided to do X quest first while they decided to explore.

    There is no "Levels" in this game. Instead of that after "X" amount of Experience you get Stat up's. This is random, although every character have different growth rates (Character 1 might have a higher chance to get an increase of Strength then Character 2). This might come across as troubling for new players because it will eventually hard to gauge how strong you are. However by removing levels, the player is no longer restrained. Some area's may be more challenging to a player to the point of frustration, but it is always beatable (for most cases). Also 2 tip of advice.
    -The world and time advances with you (the stronger you get the stronger the enemies and the better quests). This means certain quest may become available the stronger you become, BUT at the same time you may miss quests. So keep in mind questing>grinding.
    -Tip #2. Stat's are crucial and important. Yes. But skils are just as, if not more, important. It's better to be specialized in this game than a jack of all trades in this game.

    I would dwelve further into the system mechanics but it's a lot to go through. Just understand that the skills and game mechanics is very deep and requires a lot of getting used too.

    Now the lack of narrative is also a main complaint of people who have played this game. I don't believe that is true. The game isn't only the story of you defeating some main villain. The story is within the quests itself and the tales told throughout. Some are deep and tell a deep tale, while some are short and sweet. These quests help build the culture of the world and its inhabitants. The best stories are always those you discover, not what you're shown.

    The game's graphic was visually appealing on its release in 2006 and I still think they hold up today. Romancing Saga Minstrel song is a remake of the original Romancing Saga. Although they took a strange approach into the art and models of the character, I think it adds a very unique look.

    The music for the game is something I loved when I heard and I still love to listen today. Simple and sweet.

    In closing (and TL;DR). The game is challenging, complex, hard and confusing. But I promise you that if you put in the time to learn it, you won't regret it. It has replay value with new game+. The music is great. The story is unique and the gameplay is deep and fun. It's not for everyone but at the same time I think every jrpg fan has to play it at least once. In today's market where the game literally holds the player hand, this gave the player so much freedom. I've clocked in over 120+ hours and I don't regret a single moment of it.    … Full Review »
  3. TorlisB.
    May 30, 2006
    10
    Romancing Saga is an awesome game and should definitely be played by all people who are big RPG fans, you won't be disappointed! The Romancing Saga is an awesome game and should definitely be played by all people who are big RPG fans, you won't be disappointed! The Battle system is awesome and different from other RPG's. IT ROCKS!… Full Review »
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