Oh joy, another remake to add to the ever-growing pile of rehashed games, but this time it’s actually worth getting excited about – Romancing SaGa 3: Destinies United is coming to town. When RPG fans think turn-based, they usually fawn over the usual suspects: Final Fantasy, Persona, Dragon Quest, and even Fire Emblem. But what if I told you there’s another true turn-based icon on the horizon, one that doesn’t require a numbered sequel or a fancy new battle system? Look no further than Romancing SaGa 3: Destinies United, the remade classic that’s been flying under the radar.
I’ve got good news for all you 90s kids out there – Romancing SaGa 3: Destinies United is back and better than ever. Although my time with the game was limited, it’s everything I wanted from the 2019 release and then some. From what I played, Romancing SaGa 3, with its multiple protagonist POVs and turn-based gameplay, has never been so back. The game embodies everything 90s fans love about turn-based RPGs, just like the previous Romancing SaGa 2 remake. As a big fan of the original, I was thrilled to get my hands on the game and see how it’s been revamped for modern audiences.
A Blast from the Past
For the uninitiated, Romancing SaGa is the other turn-based series developed originally by Square Enix (formerly Squaresoft), and it features a revolving door of viewpoints. Romancing SaGa ditched the typical RPG status quo and dropped players behind the visor of many characters. This new-at-the-time concept did wonders for world-building, and it’s safe to say Romancing SaGa walked so Octopath Traveler (and its sequels) could fly. The game’s unique approach to storytelling and gameplay has been updated for modern audiences, with a shiny new coat of paint and full voice acting for all characters.
Quality of Life Additions
Another quality-of-life addition to gameplay brought in from Romancing SaGa 2: Revenge of the Seven is the opportunity to adjust difficulty levels. This works incredibly well with the self-healing your party does after each skirmish; although each fight could be tailored from story to life-or-death, you don’t have to hoard healing items for each encounter. The game also features a revamped UI, oozing with efficiency, and a timeline of moves on the top of the screen that allows you to prepare for opponent turns. This allows for a lot more nuance than just waiting to attack again.
Strategy and Depth
Strategy is also expanded to how you set up your party members. I put Peony, the flying (and very squishy) fairy, in the back row so she can unleash her mighty wind abilities from afar and take less damage, and, on the contrary, Khalid led the charge to soak up all the damage. When you deploy strategy in Romancing SaGa 3: Destinies United, the game listens and rewards the player. The game’s battle system is a one-to-one copy of the updated battle system in Romancing SaGa 2: Revenge of the Seven, down to the timeline of moves on the top of the screen that allows you to prepare for opponent turns.
In conclusion, Romancing SaGa 3: Destinies United is shaping up to be the best version of the game, with all the quality-of-life additions, full voice acting, and character designs inspired straight from the 2D artwork from the original. If you’re a SaGa fan or a turn-based aficionado, you should set your calendar notifications for February 16, 2027, when the full release drops. I know I’m going to, and I won’t be surprised if this game ends up being one of the best remakes of the year. So, Square Enix, don’t mess this up – we’re watching you.
Pixel P. Snarkbyte, widely regarded as the “Shakespeare of Sh*tposts,” is a video game expert with a unique knack for turning pixels into punchlines.
Born in the small town of Respawn, Pennsylvania, Pixel grew up mashing buttons on an ancient NES controller, firmly believing that “blowing into the cartridge” was a sacred ritual passed down through generations.
Pixel P. Snarkbyte: proving that life, much like a buggy open-world game, is better with a little lag-induced chaos.
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