(Katerina route)
Firstly, this remake is disappointing in a few ways. Some of the backgrounds look badly compressed, the framerate is half what it should be and the interface is actually worse than the SNES version in some ways (no soft reset button, selecting towns on maps can be a pain).
The game itself, though. Wow! I bounced off RS2 because of the inflexibility of the LP system and the way it tried to push you forwards through generations and almost never allowed you to regenerate LP. This, though, doesn't do that and is a more traditional party-based game.
That's not to say this is traditional though - random character advancement, characters deciding they don't want to leave your party, a pretty much open-world structure (there are four main bosses before the end game and it turns out I did the hardest one first), and almost no explanations for pretty much anything seem to define Saga and this game is infused with an inscrutability combined with an ambition which means that it's full of surprises. Even if you play with a guide you only improve things; there is still plenty of stuff out there that's waiting for you to discover.
Overall then, a game that I thoroughly enjoyed and one with a number of events that I'll remember for years to come. The story itself might be a bit light, but much like Scarlet Grace the game is full of character and memorable moments.
Firstly, this remake is disappointing in a few ways. Some of the backgrounds look badly compressed, the framerate is half what it should be and the interface is actually worse than the SNES version in some ways (no soft reset button, selecting towns on maps can be a pain).
The game itself, though. Wow! I bounced off RS2 because of the inflexibility of the LP system and the way it tried to push you forwards through generations and almost never allowed you to regenerate LP. This, though, doesn't do that and is a more traditional party-based game.
That's not to say this is traditional though - random character advancement, characters deciding they don't want to leave your party, a pretty much open-world structure (there are four main bosses before the end game and it turns out I did the hardest one first), and almost no explanations for pretty much anything seem to define Saga and this game is infused with an inscrutability combined with an ambition which means that it's full of surprises. Even if you play with a guide you only improve things; there is still plenty of stuff out there that's waiting for you to discover.
Overall then, a game that I thoroughly enjoyed and one with a number of events that I'll remember for years to come. The story itself might be a bit light, but much like Scarlet Grace the game is full of character and memorable moments.