RPGamers Network > Reviews > Game Reviews > SaGa Frontier 2
Visuals:
SaGa Frontier 2 doesn't offer the realism of Final Fantasy VIII, but the visuals aren't too bad. Sometimes the visuals will leave you bored, while some are simply lovely. Locations are beautiful, some views are breathtaking. Add in some anime-like movies(only a few, though)here and there and you have a game with adequate eye-candy.
The characthers are short, just a little bit bigger than the Chrono Trigger sprites. Characters look weird when in Duel battle mode, with their hands and feet bigger than their arms and legs. Some weapons are just so BIG compared to your characthers, you wonder how they manage to use it. When in battle, attack effects are medium, some are boring and dull, while others leave you wondering how that is possible.
Now come enemies: Throughout the game you will face many enemies, but mostly just rehashes of previous enemies, different color/name/power/attacks. On the game screen where you move around, enemies are represented by an enemy sprite(6 in all I think)each acting differently. Enemies, especially the bosses are somehow lacking in the awe factor. Even the last boss doesn't look too special.
Gameplay:
SaGa Frontier 2 is an easy game to get into. Game keys are customizable from the menu, and you can toggle Vibration on or off as well as set the sound to stereo or mono. You can also adjust the screen. There is even PocketStation support.
At the start of the game, if you don't have a save file, you are treated to the first scenario right away. No warning, just you hear the battle music and see the first event. And I think that is kinda cruel of them, if you forgot to insert your memory card, you'd have to sit through the entire of scenario which is quite long or reset. And the reset trick doesn't work in battles. Once past the first scenario, you are offered the chance to save(after every scenario in fact). You can decline or accept, then you are sent to the world map. The L2 and R2 buttons send you(left and right)to the next area, so it is easy to find the next scenario. However, new scenarios will only open once you have completed earlier scenarios. One gripe is sometimes, scenarios that are supposed to be available aren't. Even when you have finished events that take place AFTER aforesaid scenario.
Once a scenario has finished, you can jump straight into the next one or if you have visited them before, enter one of 4 towns. In each town (except Gruegel) there are places where you can build up your characters. One gripe is once you enter a town and exit it, you can't go there anymore until you have finished a scenario, and maybe not even then. This system really sucks.
The game itself is great, but some people might not like the "exp not needed" system that exists in all SaGas. Characters gain in strength not by gaining exp, but randomly. For example, using up WP in battle(I'll get to this later)sometimes might make your character's max WP or it might make your character's weapon level go up by one or both or neither. So building up characters becomes annoying at times.
Back to the system of the game, there are 12 areas of expertise which your characters may advance in. 6 require WP while the other 6 use SP. Each requires using that area of expertise to make it go up a level. Going up a level pays off, because each level of skill makes your damage go up. Each area of expertise has a number of "Arts" or special attacks. You have to be at a certain level to be able to learn that special attack. So the higher your skill level, the better attacks you learn.
Characters can equip one or two weapons in their hands, or a weapon and shield. They can also wear armor, shoes, helmets, gauntlets/gloves/rings/etc and/or equip items. However, each character has space only for 4 pieces of equipment. Some characters can't use some pieces of armor, while some armor can only be worn if no other equipment is worn(full body suits). One other issue about the gameplay is that equipment wears out. You see, in every SaGa game, weapons, armor and items each have a certain amount of durability. For example, a sword has 45 durability, which roughly means 45 uses. When the durability becomes 0, after the battle the sword would break. If in battle the durability reaches 0, damage is halved. So equipment management can be tricky. However, there are places which equipment can be repaired(not some special items though)but these are few in number.
Battle System:
First, a description of WP,SP and LP. WP is used for ordinary attacks which do not use the power of Anima. SP is for Anima attacks(read:spells) and LP is the characters willpower(so to speak). Each character starts with a set number of WP,SP and LP. Each special attack/spell takes up a number of WP/SP. Each character recovers a set number of WP, SP recovery can change depending upon the equipment the character is using. Usage of WP and SP will sometimes result in the characters maximum WP/SP go up. When WP and SP isn't enough to support the cost of an attack/spell, you can instead use LP. LP is the character's lifeblood. You can recover HP to max at the cost of one LP at the start of every round. Once a character is unconscious(HP 0), that character can still be hit. Being hit while unconscious takes away 1 LP. Once LP reaches 0, that character is dead.
There are 2 types of battles in SaGa 2, "Party" battles and "Duel" battles. In party battles, your entire team will be in battle, you can make combo attacks with the right specials. These combos are powerful and do major damage. In a combo, each character does 2x the damage done normally, making for a very damaging attack. Beware, enemies can also make combo. In Duel mode, you use one character to take on the enemy. You are given a choice of commands, up to 4 commands. Each weapon gives different commands, I.E swords give the commands "Slash" "Backslash" and "Cleave". Each command has an attack power, when the correct commands are given, the commands "combine" to unleash a single powerful attack. However, the characters skill level must be high enough to be able to use that special attack. Indeed, Duel mode is invaluable when it comes to acquiring new Arts and Special attacks. Sometimes when you enter a battle, you are given a choice of whether to battle as a team or using a single characther. When battling as a team, the enemy gets backup in the form of up to 3 other enemies of the same type or different.
During battles, a shield is a characters best friend. Pressing X at the correct time will make the character block with the shield(since there are many different attacks, it's hard to figure out the correct time to press X). Apart from that, sword users can "Deflect", spear users can use "Windmill", those using martial can "Counter", when using staff you can "Block" and using a bow you can use "Reaction Shot". The axe doesn't have anything. All of these(bar Reaction Shot) are activated by pressing X at the correct time. Other times when the X button is used is in the middle of an attack, pressing X at the right time will sometimes result in a critical hit, taking away the target's LP(1 or more, depending on the attack/combo). Even enemies can cause criticals. Overall, the battle system is good, but can get slightly annoying at times.
Music:
SaGa Frontier 2's music is absolutely wonderful. Though not by Nobuo Uematsu, the use of woodwinds, pianos and strings to name some instruments is masterful. However, almost every piece of music in the game has the theme song in it. Those few bars are everywhere! In the Overture, in every battle music, in towns, in dungeons, it's everywhere! Although this may seem to be a lack of originality, this is not necessarily a minus. Especially if the main theme song isn't half bad, in fact it is great. Overall, the music is the games greatest strength.
Story, Originality and Replay Value:
Well, I've never seen a story like this before. Especially where the villain is something so mundane. Well, anyway, at the start you have a choice of controlling Wil Knights, a digger on his first expedition or Gustave, son of a King; born without the ability to use anima and exiled because of it. Throughout the game, you will witness the history of the game through Wil and Gustave's actions.
Once the game has been won for the first time, you are given the option to save. This file would be something like a "New Game Plus" mode ala Chrono Trigger. You get to keep all the arts and special attacks you learned, and some treasures are upgraded to become more powerful. And you can access every scenario you went through in the past game. This makes for some replay ability. And getting all of the arts/special attacks is really difficult, since there are over 100 of them and it takes a lot of time to be able to get them. And finally, there is one last scenario, the final final battle.
Overall:
SaGa Frontier 2 is a great game, to truly beat it requires time and effort, around 40 hours. If you liked the SaGa series, go and get it, your sure to love it.
| Game Stats | |
|---|---|
| Genre | RPG |
| Platform | PlayStation |
| Format | CD-ROM |
| # of Players | 1 |
| Released Jap | 04.01.1999 |
| Released US | 01.31.2000 |
| Released EU | 03.22.2000 |
| Aprox. Length | 15-25 hrs. |
| Reviewer Rankings | |
| Battle System | 7.0 |
| Gameplay | 7.0 |
| Music | 9.0 |
| Originality | 1.0 |
| Plot | 2.0 |
| Replay Value | 9.0 |
| Sound | 8.0 |
| Visuals | 11.0 |
| Difficulty | Medium |
| Overall | |
| 6.8 | |
SaGa Frontier 2
By: SquaresoftReviewed By: DarkFant
SaGa Frontier 2, another RPG by the legendary Squaresoft. Different from other types of RPGs, this game follows the footsteps of it's predecessors, the Sa.Ga series that started from what people know as Final Fantasy Legend on the gameboy. Since then, the SaGa series went to the SNES as Romancing SaGa and finally to the PSX as SaGa Frontier. SaGa Frontier 2 upholds the tradition well.Visuals:
SaGa Frontier 2 doesn't offer the realism of Final Fantasy VIII, but the visuals aren't too bad. Sometimes the visuals will leave you bored, while some are simply lovely. Locations are beautiful, some views are breathtaking. Add in some anime-like movies(only a few, though)here and there and you have a game with adequate eye-candy.
The characthers are short, just a little bit bigger than the Chrono Trigger sprites. Characters look weird when in Duel battle mode, with their hands and feet bigger than their arms and legs. Some weapons are just so BIG compared to your characthers, you wonder how they manage to use it. When in battle, attack effects are medium, some are boring and dull, while others leave you wondering how that is possible.
Now come enemies: Throughout the game you will face many enemies, but mostly just rehashes of previous enemies, different color/name/power/attacks. On the game screen where you move around, enemies are represented by an enemy sprite(6 in all I think)each acting differently. Enemies, especially the bosses are somehow lacking in the awe factor. Even the last boss doesn't look too special.
Gameplay:
SaGa Frontier 2 is an easy game to get into. Game keys are customizable from the menu, and you can toggle Vibration on or off as well as set the sound to stereo or mono. You can also adjust the screen. There is even PocketStation support.
At the start of the game, if you don't have a save file, you are treated to the first scenario right away. No warning, just you hear the battle music and see the first event. And I think that is kinda cruel of them, if you forgot to insert your memory card, you'd have to sit through the entire of scenario which is quite long or reset. And the reset trick doesn't work in battles. Once past the first scenario, you are offered the chance to save(after every scenario in fact). You can decline or accept, then you are sent to the world map. The L2 and R2 buttons send you(left and right)to the next area, so it is easy to find the next scenario. However, new scenarios will only open once you have completed earlier scenarios. One gripe is sometimes, scenarios that are supposed to be available aren't. Even when you have finished events that take place AFTER aforesaid scenario.
Once a scenario has finished, you can jump straight into the next one or if you have visited them before, enter one of 4 towns. In each town (except Gruegel) there are places where you can build up your characters. One gripe is once you enter a town and exit it, you can't go there anymore until you have finished a scenario, and maybe not even then. This system really sucks.
The game itself is great, but some people might not like the "exp not needed" system that exists in all SaGas. Characters gain in strength not by gaining exp, but randomly. For example, using up WP in battle(I'll get to this later)sometimes might make your character's max WP or it might make your character's weapon level go up by one or both or neither. So building up characters becomes annoying at times.
Back to the system of the game, there are 12 areas of expertise which your characters may advance in. 6 require WP while the other 6 use SP. Each requires using that area of expertise to make it go up a level. Going up a level pays off, because each level of skill makes your damage go up. Each area of expertise has a number of "Arts" or special attacks. You have to be at a certain level to be able to learn that special attack. So the higher your skill level, the better attacks you learn.
Characters can equip one or two weapons in their hands, or a weapon and shield. They can also wear armor, shoes, helmets, gauntlets/gloves/rings/etc and/or equip items. However, each character has space only for 4 pieces of equipment. Some characters can't use some pieces of armor, while some armor can only be worn if no other equipment is worn(full body suits). One other issue about the gameplay is that equipment wears out. You see, in every SaGa game, weapons, armor and items each have a certain amount of durability. For example, a sword has 45 durability, which roughly means 45 uses. When the durability becomes 0, after the battle the sword would break. If in battle the durability reaches 0, damage is halved. So equipment management can be tricky. However, there are places which equipment can be repaired(not some special items though)but these are few in number.
Battle System:
First, a description of WP,SP and LP. WP is used for ordinary attacks which do not use the power of Anima. SP is for Anima attacks(read:spells) and LP is the characters willpower(so to speak). Each character starts with a set number of WP,SP and LP. Each special attack/spell takes up a number of WP/SP. Each character recovers a set number of WP, SP recovery can change depending upon the equipment the character is using. Usage of WP and SP will sometimes result in the characters maximum WP/SP go up. When WP and SP isn't enough to support the cost of an attack/spell, you can instead use LP. LP is the character's lifeblood. You can recover HP to max at the cost of one LP at the start of every round. Once a character is unconscious(HP 0), that character can still be hit. Being hit while unconscious takes away 1 LP. Once LP reaches 0, that character is dead.
There are 2 types of battles in SaGa 2, "Party" battles and "Duel" battles. In party battles, your entire team will be in battle, you can make combo attacks with the right specials. These combos are powerful and do major damage. In a combo, each character does 2x the damage done normally, making for a very damaging attack. Beware, enemies can also make combo. In Duel mode, you use one character to take on the enemy. You are given a choice of commands, up to 4 commands. Each weapon gives different commands, I.E swords give the commands "Slash" "Backslash" and "Cleave". Each command has an attack power, when the correct commands are given, the commands "combine" to unleash a single powerful attack. However, the characters skill level must be high enough to be able to use that special attack. Indeed, Duel mode is invaluable when it comes to acquiring new Arts and Special attacks. Sometimes when you enter a battle, you are given a choice of whether to battle as a team or using a single characther. When battling as a team, the enemy gets backup in the form of up to 3 other enemies of the same type or different.
During battles, a shield is a characters best friend. Pressing X at the correct time will make the character block with the shield(since there are many different attacks, it's hard to figure out the correct time to press X). Apart from that, sword users can "Deflect", spear users can use "Windmill", those using martial can "Counter", when using staff you can "Block" and using a bow you can use "Reaction Shot". The axe doesn't have anything. All of these(bar Reaction Shot) are activated by pressing X at the correct time. Other times when the X button is used is in the middle of an attack, pressing X at the right time will sometimes result in a critical hit, taking away the target's LP(1 or more, depending on the attack/combo). Even enemies can cause criticals. Overall, the battle system is good, but can get slightly annoying at times.
Music:
SaGa Frontier 2's music is absolutely wonderful. Though not by Nobuo Uematsu, the use of woodwinds, pianos and strings to name some instruments is masterful. However, almost every piece of music in the game has the theme song in it. Those few bars are everywhere! In the Overture, in every battle music, in towns, in dungeons, it's everywhere! Although this may seem to be a lack of originality, this is not necessarily a minus. Especially if the main theme song isn't half bad, in fact it is great. Overall, the music is the games greatest strength.
Story, Originality and Replay Value:
Well, I've never seen a story like this before. Especially where the villain is something so mundane. Well, anyway, at the start you have a choice of controlling Wil Knights, a digger on his first expedition or Gustave, son of a King; born without the ability to use anima and exiled because of it. Throughout the game, you will witness the history of the game through Wil and Gustave's actions.
Once the game has been won for the first time, you are given the option to save. This file would be something like a "New Game Plus" mode ala Chrono Trigger. You get to keep all the arts and special attacks you learned, and some treasures are upgraded to become more powerful. And you can access every scenario you went through in the past game. This makes for some replay ability. And getting all of the arts/special attacks is really difficult, since there are over 100 of them and it takes a lot of time to be able to get them. And finally, there is one last scenario, the final final battle.
Overall:
SaGa Frontier 2 is a great game, to truly beat it requires time and effort, around 40 hours. If you liked the SaGa series, go and get it, your sure to love it.
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