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SaGa
Feb 18, 2008 13:03:49 GMT -5
Post by Discoalucard on Feb 18, 2008 13:03:49 GMT -5
This is a mostly-done WIP: www.hardcoregaming101.net/saga/saga.htmThe SaGa series started off on the Gameboy, which all came to America under the Final Fantasy Legend moniker. The three SFC games, Romancing SaGa, were left in Japan, but the two SaGa Frontiers, and the PS2 Unlimited Saga, were released here, along with the PS2 remake of the first Romancing SaGa. They've all been more or less savaged in the reviews, but they have a fanbase in Japan, which is why I guess they keep getting made. At any rate, I still need to add MP3s and such, and the usual text brush-up, but otherwise, this is mostly done.
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SaGa
Feb 18, 2008 14:13:05 GMT -5
Post by zzz on Feb 18, 2008 14:13:05 GMT -5
The only games in this series that I've ever really liked have been the SFC games, which are FANTASTIC. FF fans tend to loathe this series, and Saga fans tends to feel that it has the gameplay that FF lacks. You rarely see anybody who's on the fence about which is better either.
Third paragraph, second sentence:
"Yet, it has never reached the level of popularity that many of their other series receive."
True, but the Romancing Saga games for SFC each sold over a million, despite never being released outside of Japan. So, it was pretty huge during the 16-bit era.
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SaGa
Feb 18, 2008 14:29:19 GMT -5
Post by YourAverageJoe on Feb 18, 2008 14:29:19 GMT -5
Very informative read, as always. One goof, though: The Japanese box art on Final Fantasy Legends 2 and 3 are the same image. You could also want to link to this. It's Mana Sword's Romancing SaGa 3 english translation project page. The project is mostly finished except for the credits. Very useful for those of us not versed in moonspeak.
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SaGa
Feb 18, 2008 15:31:00 GMT -5
Post by rorshacma on Feb 18, 2008 15:31:00 GMT -5
I think I mentioned this to you already, but just a reminder, in the RS3 character section, I accidentally have Monica and Katharina's descriptions switched, so you'll probably want to switch them back.
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SaGa
Feb 18, 2008 16:10:08 GMT -5
Post by DojoCasino on Feb 18, 2008 16:10:08 GMT -5
Great article ;D
Does anyone else here have any opinions on Unlimited Saga? It looks really interesting to me, and the music seems awesome from what i've heard.
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SaGa
Feb 18, 2008 17:07:41 GMT -5
Post by kyouki on Feb 18, 2008 17:07:41 GMT -5
Nice article! This is a great series of games. I am especially fond of FFL1/makaitoshi saga and RS:Minstrel Song.
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I've tried getting into Ultimate Saga twice. The second time was a lot more enjoyable but something still felt "off" for me. I ordered it again recently and it should be coming in a bit.
It's really like playing a computerized pen and paper RPG, but it's not as potentially detailed and freeform like a true PNP RPG would be. It's more like playing a computerized version of something like that Milton Bradley Heroquest board game, with more complicated systems. I found it to be pretty limiting actually, but I think the appeal is not so much experiencing a story like in a traditional video game rpg, but instead in trying to figure the system out.
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SaGa
Feb 18, 2008 19:39:33 GMT -5
Post by Revolver Ocelot on Feb 18, 2008 19:39:33 GMT -5
All I gotta say is.. HELL FUCKING YES. SaGa is my second favorite RPG series behind Breath of Fire. The only game I spent more hours on during the 32 bit era than SaGa Frontier 1 was Castlevania: SotN. I love these fucking games. Awesome work.
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SaGa
Feb 18, 2008 21:28:12 GMT -5
Post by vysethebold on Feb 18, 2008 21:28:12 GMT -5
Ugh....I think I got annoyed at the games just by reading about them. I like RPG's but they take a lot of effort for me to finish them even if they are traditional. I think that if I played these I'd get frustrated. But then again, I haven't played them so who knows?
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SaGa
Feb 18, 2008 22:44:45 GMT -5
Post by zzz on Feb 18, 2008 22:44:45 GMT -5
Ugh....I think I got annoyed at the games just by reading about them. I like RPG's but they take a lot of effort for me to finish them even if they are traditional. I think that if I played these I'd get frustrated. But then again, I haven't played them so who knows? Generally speaking, I tend to dislike turn-based RPGs, but I still dig the Romancing SaGa titles. They're kind of like "Final Fantasy for people who don't like Final Fantasy".
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SaGa
Feb 18, 2008 22:50:41 GMT -5
Post by Discoalucard on Feb 18, 2008 22:50:41 GMT -5
That sounds about right. The only person I knew IRL that liked the SaGa games (Frontier, specifically) grew up playing pen and paper RPGs and didn't really "get" Final Fantasy - he was of the "if you want a story, then go read a book" crowd.
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SaGa
Feb 18, 2008 23:13:10 GMT -5
Post by Ganelon on Feb 18, 2008 23:13:10 GMT -5
Excellent work, rorshacma.
Frontier (AKA Romancing SaGa IV) is the culmination of the series, I'd say.
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SaGa
Feb 18, 2008 23:19:38 GMT -5
Post by Revolver Ocelot on Feb 18, 2008 23:19:38 GMT -5
I like story, but I also like moderation. If I'm in the mood for a story, I'll play something like Xenosaga. But nothing beats the sheer gaming experience of a SaGa game. I also have never played a pen & paper RPG.
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SaGa
Feb 19, 2008 1:17:25 GMT -5
Post by Allie on Feb 19, 2008 1:17:25 GMT -5
I'll be honest, most of my draw to the SaGa series has been the god-awesome battle music that's permeated most of the series. One spends so much time in battle in most of these games (even though you're supposed to AVOID battle in the PS2 Romancing SaGa for the most part...) That having the overall best battle themes in RPG history does a lot to keep one motivated to play.
That, and sparking techniques is always pretty damned fun.
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SaGa
Feb 19, 2008 7:22:50 GMT -5
Post by kyouki on Feb 19, 2008 7:22:50 GMT -5
I really like the SaGa (later games anyway) approach to story telling. It's not so much a lack of story as it is a different kind of story. Instead of being about a group of people (like most console RPGs), the SaGa games tend to be about a world first, and then some people second.
I think that's pretty cool. It makes the world feel alive. I often get the feeling in most console RPGs that the world exists solely so the main character can tell his story.
Legend of Mana was like this too, and I really liked that one.
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SaGa
Feb 19, 2008 8:07:23 GMT -5
Post by Revolver Ocelot on Feb 19, 2008 8:07:23 GMT -5
I really like the SaGa (later games anyway) approach to story telling. It's not so much a lack of story as it is a different kind of story. Instead of being about a group of people (like most console RPGs), the SaGa games tend to be about a world first, and then some people second. I think that's pretty cool. It makes the world feel alive. I often get the feeling in most console RPGs that the world exists solely so the main character can tell his story. Legend of Mana was like this too, and I really liked that one. That's because Akitoshi Kawazu also directed Legend of Mana.
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