Sci-Fi Epic Remastered
Romancing SaGa 3 is a role-playing game developed and published by Square Enix. It is an enhanced remake of the classic JRPG that features nonlinear gameplay, as well as open-world exploration. In this game, players dictate the flow of the story through their choices.
A Classic JRPG Finally Introduced to the World
Romancing Saga 3 was first introduced in Japan in 1995. However, it was only exclusive for the Super Famicom and has not received a westernized port for the Super Nintendo Entertainment System. Come 2010, and the game was re-released on the Nintendo’s Virtual Console service. The remastered version, along with the English support, was then announced in 2017. Eventually, Square Enix announced the availability of the game in multiple platforms in 2018. The remake enhances the original graphics and music despite using pixel graphics and stylized soundtrack. The new gameplay also comes optimized for gaming platforms.
Breaking the Cycle of Death
Romancing SaGa 3 retains its original plot and fundamental gameplay. Every 300 years, a supernatural phenomenon called The Rise of Morastrum causes the apocalyptic Death Eclipse, and anyone born from that day dies with only one survivor who becomes a ruler. The first survivor 600 years ago was an Archfiend who ruined the world, while the second one became the holy Matriarch who saved the world and overthrew the great evil. The game takes place on the third Rise of Morastrum, and there can be only one savior or destroyer of the world. Players select eight characters with different adventures to conquer. These characters are the swordsman Julian Naul, the merchant Thomas Bent, the marquis Mikhail Ausbach von Loanne and his sister Monica Ausbach, the bodyguard Katharina Lauran, and the mercenary Harid and siblings Elen and Sarah Carson. Upon picking one character, the other characters will join the party along the way. There are also friendly NPCs that players can recruit to their party. Player choices and sidequests affect the outcome of the story.
Deviating From the Usual JRPG Formula
The activity-based progression system encourages players to use specific characters, as well as train on specific skills. This system deviates from the traditional level-up system that Square Enix is famous for. The more the player uses a certain character on the battle, the better that character becomes in combat. More so, these characters upgrade their skills by being repeatedly used. The level-scaling system balances the game by scaling the enemy strength depending on the character stats.
The LP meter is another unique system in Romancing SaGa 3. Each character has an LP meter, and getting knocked down reduces the bar. Companions with zero LP meter gets removed out of the party, but if the main character gets zero LP, it’s automatically game over. Players can also earn skills during the battle mode called Spark, which they can choose to evade enemy attacks and use newly-learned sparks.
There is also the Commander Mode that lets players arrange the party with the main character at the back lines. Teamed-up characters can learn new techniques depending on their formation. The game’s Combo System allows chained attacks, and up to five characters can team up for devastating combos.
Romancing Saga 3 also includes a mini-war campaign, where players select Mikhail as the main character. It involves commanding squads instead of individual characters, and players get to issue tactical commands to the squad. Some mini-campaigns require players to win to progress. Otherwise, a defeat is equal to a game over.
Eight Adventures in One Game
With this release, Romancing SaGa 3 will finally receive it’s well-deserved attention to the Western audience. It’s been decades since it was first released from Japan, and now Western gamers will finally enjoy Square Enix’s other masterpiece. Its 8-character campaigns and branching story paths provide hours of engaging gameplay.
