Unlimited Saga

 PlayStation 2
User Score
4.8

Generally unfavorable reviews- based on 44 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 15 out of 44
  2. Mixed: 8 out of 44
  3. Negative: 21 out of 44
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  1. swoke12345
    Sep 20, 2020
    10
    I loved this game. My only problem was, the fact that, the game doesn't give you enough information on what your attacks do, what tile bonuses do; how to get tile bonuses, and how to get panels. There are guides on game faqs you should read about these things before playing. The game isn't really overcomplicated at all like people might think. I also like the stories within the game asI loved this game. My only problem was, the fact that, the game doesn't give you enough information on what your attacks do, what tile bonuses do; how to get tile bonuses, and how to get panels. There are guides on game faqs you should read about these things before playing. The game isn't really overcomplicated at all like people might think. I also like the stories within the game as well. The graphics still hold up today, in my opinion. If you like rogulikes, old school rpg's, pen and paper like rpgs. you'll love this just read the game faq guide first.… Expand
  2. qand_macena7
    Feb 11, 2021
    10
    what an amazing game. I feel like most people giving it really low scores have no idea what they're talking about. It's a really great alternative dungeon crawler
  3. Odiema
    Feb 16, 2021
    10
    The "mystique" of a SaGa game is simultaneously its strongest and weakest point. I love all the surprises and curve-balls a SaGa game throws at you, both in terms of story and gameplay, especially if you go in blind and figure out those things yourself. Then you play the game for a couple more playthroughs, think you've figured it out, only to visit the forums and realize that youThe "mystique" of a SaGa game is simultaneously its strongest and weakest point. I love all the surprises and curve-balls a SaGa game throws at you, both in terms of story and gameplay, especially if you go in blind and figure out those things yourself. Then you play the game for a couple more playthroughs, think you've figured it out, only to visit the forums and realize that you overlooked a huge chunk of the game! Time for another run! To me, it's all in good fun, but most people don't have the time or patience to go through that.

    I remember the first time my entire party in SaGa Frontier was wiped except for Red, only to realize that he can transform into a superhero when everyone is down. Or, in Unlimited Saga where the battle system is all about switching formations every single turn. To even heal at all in that game, you have to put the injured on standby, so you're constantly rotating characters in and out from your entire roster. Or, recently in Romancing SaGa 3, where there is a whole, separate battle system (Commander Mode) that actually makes your party far stronger than the normal one in many situations. A battle system that barely, if any, reviewers ever mention.

    I remember how Unlimited Saga was so incredibly opaque, even for a SaGa game, that there was a huge rift in review scores between the Japanese and the US version, just because the US version got a manual that explained nothing in the game. Imagine playing an RPG without knowing how to heal at all - how much fun would you have? I wonder how many USaga players today even know how to activate multi-art combos in USaga. You have to hit a skill on the FIRST rotation of the combo slot ring so that multiple characters can activate their abilities in a combo. People think that the minimalist board game design was its downfall, but such games have been and are still successful today. It's the extreme lack of handholding for a game that is incredibly deep mechanically and very experimental.

    Unlimited Saga is the most underrated game of the franchise. Don't let the reviews fool you - barely any of them probably even played the game correctly. Unlike other SaGa titles, it is hard to play this one blind (I'd argue that veterans of the series might be able to). If you're interested in revisiting this old, lost gem, here's a rundown of things to expect:

    1.) Dungeons & Dragons-like board game design.

    2) Complex Exploration - For example, it can take up to optional 5 steps (Fortuneteller, Sharpeye, Defuse, Locksmith, Melee) to open a trapped treasure chest safely without it blowing up in your face.

    3.) Experimental Battle System completely unlike anything you can find ever:

    4.) HP is not HP, it's an MP-like resource that also absorbs damage. The more HP you have, the less chance you have of taking LP damage. The same is true of bosses, so you would do a lot of HP damage first, then switch to LP-damaging attacks. Unlike other SaGas, you don't collapse at zero HP.

    5.) Standby Healing - You constantly rotate out characters in your party each turn from your entire roster. Those on standby (not fighting that turn) heal HP. Fights are epic, since the whole party is involved by design. Believe it or not, but the amount you heal is also affected by the weather of the environment (snowy means you heal less).

    6.) Tactical Position - Each turn, you choose who to attack first in what order. This determines aggro from enemies. Correctly rotating defenders is vital to beat bosses.

    7.) Skill Reel - Instead of skill points, you activate stronger skills by pressing attack at the right time on a spinning reel. To activate all skills in a combo attack, you need to press on the first pass of the skill, otherwise other characters' skills won't be aligned.

    8.) Weapon Weight & Attack Types - The Weight of your weapon determines what Attack Types it has, and each type has a different role, whether to attack first to split enemy combos (Quick/Throw), damage HP (Power), damage LP (Multi/Aim), or damage both (Dash). Crafting in this game is very detailed, since you can make weapons lighter or heavier to flesh out your strategy. Lighter weapons in your secondary hand are important for blocking attacks. And of course, none of this is explained.

    Sorry for the long rambling, but USaga's reputation makes me sad sometimes. USaga's brilliant, Formation-based battle system of constantly switching around characters is something too few players appreciate, even among SaGa fans to this day. And sadly, almost no reviewers understand.    … Expand
  4. Z45Core
    Feb 16, 2021
    10
    The negative reviews are truly terribly written and deliberately disingenuous to this game. So what if it plays like a board game? Are games not allowed to be different from each other? What are you even insinuating? Go give this game a shot. Not everyone likes it, but a 3.9/10 is far too low for what it is.
  5. zleonke123
    Feb 17, 2021
    10
    Not a single other RPG comes even close to its mechanical depth combined with fun dungeon design and absolutely stunningly good character-building system. It's a very good game.
  6. AcaciaTwentyTwo
    Mar 5, 2004
    9
    Extremely underated. This is the closest that I've come to finding a CRPG that relates to Pen N Paper origins. As the title suggests, the game is unlimited, and finally introduces to console gamers an aspect that has been lacking in 90% of the RPG's out there; FREEDOM, this teamed with numerous of manners in which to act with your surroundings, makes for an extremely deep Extremely underated. This is the closest that I've come to finding a CRPG that relates to Pen N Paper origins. As the title suggests, the game is unlimited, and finally introduces to console gamers an aspect that has been lacking in 90% of the RPG's out there; FREEDOM, this teamed with numerous of manners in which to act with your surroundings, makes for an extremely deep experience for those who want more thought, challenge, and joy of self discovery, as opposed to those who prefer brain candy. No pointless converations with midgets with big heads about peanut butter and kitty cats, no need to search through peoples homes for that one herb hidden in a dresser. U-Saga cuts out the crap. I give this one point less of a 10 for lack of documentation. Admitedly, there's a good amount of self rewarding fun in learning how to understand and play this title, but I still feel that there should've been more resources for those who cared to know more. The manual is small, and the game did not win enough support for a strategy guide to be realsed. Fortunately with sites like GameFAQs, the few of us that actually do find the value in the game have been able to share advice. U-Saga serves as a morale Western society; The more effort you put into something, the more reward you'll get back. U-Saga also serves as a diamond in the rough that challenges intillect; for the rest, I give you Enter the Matrix, and football.… Expand
  7. MarceloC.
    Oct 22, 2003
    10
    Unlimited saga sure is a very odd game but for sure is game that gets elements from other games and plays totally fresh, one of the most well balanced games i played so far.
  8. AneilT.
    Jul 22, 2003
    10
    AMAZING
  9. TwoPeopleDown
    Feb 17, 2021
    10
    This game's reputation sometimes makes me sad, especially since it is so incredibly obvious that the vast majority of people haven't even bothered to give it a fair try or were simply unable to admit that this particular niche does not appeal to them without blaming the game.
  10. LastResource
    Jan 14, 2023
    10
    worth it and glad to play this game again. so much memories and nostalgia within this spin off game in the series.

Awards & Rankings

64
#64 Most Discussed PS2 Game of 2003
55
#55 Most Shared PS2 Game of 2003

Critic Reviews

All reviews »
Metascore
45

Generally unfavorable reviews - based on 26 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 0 out of 26
  2. Mixed: 12 out of 26
  3. Negative: 14 out of 26
  1. Edge Magazine
    60
    New skills are simply triggered randomly during battles, resulting in the confusing hit and miss levelling up that so infuriates attention deficient westerners... Indeed, the manner of the execution makes for tough gaming but, paradoxically, it's the exclusivity of the gameplay that will attract a few. [Nov 2003, p.108]
  2. GameZone
    56
    I could do without fancy-schmancy visuals and professional voice-acting, all I require in my RPG is good solid gameplay and satisfying plot progression. Neither of which are present in this game.
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  3. eToychest
    60
    While I applaud the developers for shedding the trappings of contemporary role-playing games that opt for style over substance, that does not excuse the fact that the actual gameplay is many times awkward and cumbersome.
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