Table of Contents:
Page 1: SaGa 1-3 (Gameboy)
SaGa Frontier - Playstation (1997)
Characters
SaGa Frontier is a fusion of elements taken from both the original Gameboy trilogy and the Romancing SaGa games. It marked the return of the races from the Gameboy games: Humans, Mutants (now called Mystics), Monsters and Robots have all returned, with most of their original defining traits. The setting, a string of connected worlds each with their own theme, is a clear homage to the settings of Saga 1 and 2. However, the open-ended method in which you are allowed to explore is taken from the Romancing SaGa trilogy. The battle system is also largely based off of the Super Famicom games, although some elements of the Gameboy trio were used for the Monster and Mech races. Gone, though, are party formations. The graphics are still mostly sprites, with prerendered backgrounds when exploring and polygonal backgrounds when fighting. During battle, the camera will pan and zoom around the field, giving a more dynamic feel to the action.
Introduced in SaGa Frontier is the combo system. Occasionally, several of your party members' special attacks will string together, resulting in considerably higher damage. Figuring out which skills comboed the best together was a key in defeating powerful bosses. This system would remain in place, with some tweaks, for the remainder of the series.
The fact that each of the seven main characters had a unique quest certainly gives SaGa Frontier great replay value. The fact that the plots tie together at places is especially cool, as it gives a sense of an overarching plot that encompasses all seven quests. Unfortunately, the game feels unfinished and unpolished in places. In fact, there was a planned eighth main character, Fuse, whose story would have helped tie the various plot threads together. Sadly, this was cut due to time restraints, and he merely appears as a minor character in the game. Combine this with a rather shoddy English translation, and you have a game that is somewhat difficult to fully grasp the overall plot.
SaGa Frontier is also notable as it was the last game that possessed the same overall feel that the series had developed until this point. The next two games would be very different than the rest of the series, though for entirely different reasons. Perhaps symbolic of this is the fact that it was also the last SaGa game scored by Kenji Ito until the remake of Romancing SaGa was made nearly eight years later.
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Opening
SaGa Frontier
SaGa Frontier
SaGa Frontier
SaGa Frontier
SaGa Frontier
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SaGa Frontier
SaGa Frontier
SaGa Frontier
SaGa Frontier 2 - Playstation (1999)
Characters
Perhaps to go along with the major break of SaGa tradition the game represents, the graphical style used is completely different than anything seen in the series. Hand painted backgrounds done in watercolor make the game look like a storybook, which fits its method of storytelling quite well. The soundtrack is composed by Masashi Hamauzu, who later went on to compose Dirge of Cerberus and contribute to Final Fantasy X. His music focuses on more classical instruments like the piano, melded with some electronic elements, rather than the guitar-driven songs of Kenji Ito's work. Despite being drastically different, it'ss still decent and goes well with the atmosphere of the game.
Despite the numerous differences that made SaGa Frontier 2 unique within the series, the battle system remains almost identical to the previous games. Weapon durability, not seen since SaGa 2 on the Gameboy, has returned, although it was now possible to repair weapons at a blacksmith. One new feature is the occasional one-on-one battles. When confronted by a single enemy, you have the option of sending only one member of your party to fight it. Rather than a standard battle, these one-on-one fights play out like a duel, with each side choosing from a list of commands in order to attack and counter each other. Thereare also strategy battles - however, they're infrequent and very bare bones.
While SaGa Frontier 2 is a well made game, some fans of the series were addled by the new style used. Some perhaps were misled by the name - despite being titled as a sequel to the first SaGa Frontier, it's a very different kind of game altogether. Other complaints stemmed from the scenario system; as you rarely use the same characters for many scenarios, you can often find yourself being forced to train characters, only to never use them again. However, the complaints were nothing compared to the backlash that would occur with the following game.
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Battle 1
SaGa Frontier 2
SaGa Frontier 2
SaGa Frontier 2
SaGa Frontier 2
SaGa Frontier 2
SaGa Frontier 2
SaGa Frontier 2
Page 2: Romancing SaGa 1-3 (Super Famicom)
Page 3: SaGa Frontier (Playstation)
Page 4: Unlimited Saga / Romancing SaGa: Minstrel Song (Playstation 2)
American Cover
Japanese Cover
SaGa Frontier
With SaGa Frontier, the series made its move to the Playstation. It also marked the triumphal return of the series to the United States. Like many of the previous games, there are several characters from which you can choose your main character. However, unlike Romancing SaGa 1 and 3, each character has their own entirely unique storyline. While there are still many sidequests common to all characters, each character has their own set of unique story quests, which culminate in a different last boss fight for each one.
Asellus
Originally, Asellus was a normal human girl. However, after an accident, she is abducted and given a transfusion of blood by the mysterious Mystic, Lord Orlogue. When she wakes up twelve years later, she finds herself as the world's first Half-Mystic. Her plot deals with her attempts to escape from Orlogue's clutches, and come to terms with her unique status.
Red
In a story clearly inspired by Kamen Rider, when Red's father is murdered by the criminal organization, Black X, he is saved by a mysterious figure, who grants him the ability to transform into the hero Alkaizer. Following the heroes' code of justice, he seeks to track down and destroy Black X's four generals. In an amusing homage to the superhero genre his story is based on, the rest of Red's party is unaware of his role as Alkaizer, thus forcing him to constantly find ways to transform without their knowledge.
Emelia
A gorgeous ex-model, whose life is turned upside down when her police officer fiance is murdered by the evil Joker, and she is convicted for the crime. After her release from prison, she is recruited and trained in gunplay by the secretive Gradius organization, and sets out to discover the truth behind the Joker. For those of you who enjoy playing dressup, Emelia is the character for you, as she has a variety of costumes to wear, ranging from military-style combat uniforms to playboy bunny outfits.
Blue
Blue is an arrogant, unfriendly mage-in-training, who has been sent on a quest to learn all of the elemental magic. His rival on this quest is his more sociable twin brother Rouge, whom he is fated to duel to the death. Interestingly enough, while you always start off using Blue, it is possible to switch to controlling Rouge for the remainder of the game by purposely losing the duel against him.
Lute
Lute is an easy going, overly friendly bard, who becomes embroiled in the legacy left by his dead father. Lute has, by far, the shortest story in the game, as it consists of only one dungeon.
Riki
Known as "Coon" in Japan, Riki is a young monster who is sent out on a quest to save his homeland, by seeking out the mysterious magical Rings of Margmel.
T260G
A wrecked robot who was found and rebuilt by the inhabitant of the town of Junk. When its memory is erased upon reactivation, it seeks out to discover and complete the mission it was constructed for.
Alkaizer's Theme
Asellus' Theme
Battle 1
Battle 2
Battle 5
The Cygnus
American Cover
SaGa Frontier 2
SaGa Frontier 2
SaGa Frontier 2 was the second game in the series to be released on the Playstation. In this installment, however, the open-ended gameplay that had been prevalent in the series until this point was largely abandoned in favor of a scenario system. You are given a choice of several possible scenarios to choose to play, and once it is completed, you are sent back to the list to choose again. While the order you choose them in is largely up to you, each one is completely straightforward and linear. In fact, many of them are simply story scenes that require no interaction from the player. Thus, unlike the rest of the series, SaGa Frontier 2 is not about exploration, but about telling a story. Perhaps as a throwback to Romancing SaGa 2, the plot tells the story of various individuals over the course of eighty years. Tying the various characters' plots together is the presence of a powerful, mysterious relic, known merely as "The Egg".
Gustave XIII
Born the prince of the kingdom of Finney, he is disowned and banished by his father when, as a child, it is discovered that he possesses no "Anima", the magical force that all living things are supposed to have. His story details his rise from a disgraced child to a powerful lord and hero, fueled by the desire to forge his own destiny. He wields a self-forged sword made out of steel, something that is unheard of in the game's world.
Will Knights
A young man who becomes a treasure hunter, or "digger", in order to uncover the secrets of The Egg, a relic that was responsible for the deaths of his parents. Decades after his own quest, when he is an old man, he joins his granddaughter in the final confrontation against The Egg.
Rich Knights
Richard is Wil's son, and a treasure hunter like his father. His journey for riches is halted, however, when he encounters The Egg, thought to have been defeated by Wil years before.
Ginny Knights
Rich's daughter and Wil's Granddaughter. As a teenager, she runs away from home against the wishes of her mother in order to become a digger. She soon finds herself involved in the final battle against The Egg.
Battle 2
Captain
Strategy Battle
Town Theme
