SaGa Scarlet Grace: Ambitions

At times brutally difficult, and others frustratingly random, SaGa Scarlet Grace: Ambitions takes some big risks to ensure it's highly satisfying and incredibly rewarding to play through.

SaGa Scarlet Grace: Ambitions blends the challenge of olden JRPG days with the aesthetic refinement of modern gaming to create a tantilizing final product. Difficulty waivers back and forth in odd ways, but the narrative and combat keep everything feeling engaging and enjoyable.

SaGa Scarlet Grace: Ambitions is an ambitious game that hides a lot of content beneath its surface whilst offering one of the best combat systems and strongest replay values for an RPG. Its main problem lies in its accessibility to the average RPGamer. The game’s difficulty can be unforgiving at times, and it’s definitely not a game for everyone. But those who like endless party customisation, good battle strategies, rich world-building, and choosing how the adventure plays out will find a very rewarding title here. The SaGa series has always been about going against the grain and innovation, and this one outdoes all its predecessors in that regard and raises the bar for any new entries to come.

Command-based RPGs are becoming a thing of the past but SaGa: Scarlet Grace shows that there’s still life to them when they are made passionately and effectively. Backed up by likable characters and bright outlook, the game lives up to the legacy of the series that while very niche, has been bubbling under more big-named franchises, only waiting to make a creditable return to players’ awareness. SaGa: Scarlet Grace - Ambitions is worth recommending to anyone looking for an unstrained and lively JRPG. An old cliché “easy to pick up but hard to put down” holds very much true to it.

If you're looking for an unconventional and rewarding RPG then SaGa: Scarlet Grace - Ambitions is a must-play. However, those who merely want to enjoy the same old tried and true formulas should definitely look elsewhere.

Even if its limitations are obvious considering its handheld origin, core systems like the combat and other aspects like the soundtrack are fantastic. If you can forgive these minor problems, you’ll find a great RPG.

A decent step forward for the SaGa Series that maintains the familiar features (replayabillity, high challenge etc.) of the franchise. However, the intense grinding will probably discourage even some of the most hardcore JRPG fans.

SaGa Scarlet Grace: Ambitions is a SaGa game through and through. Unfortunately, that means it’s not for everyone. Even JRPG fans could find it tedious and grind heavy. Those who do find SaGa Scarlet Grace Ambitions’ gameplay enjoyable will have a long, interesting campaign ahead of them, featuring tons of customization options and multiple storylines. The value of this game cannot be understated. For those unfamiliar with the SaGa series, the recent Romancing SaGa 3 might be a better series entry, as it’s a bit simplified, and has a more retro aesthetic. It can be much faster-paced and would be an easier place to try SaGa’s levelling up system. Still, SaGa Scarlet Grace: Ambitions is highly recommended.

We enjoyed our time with SaGa Scarlet Grace Ambitions, but we think Romancing SaGa 3 is a much better title overall and we recommend newcomers to begin with that one. Nonetheless, if you're looking for a difficult and somewhat unique JRPG, you can't go wrong with this one.