For years, fans of Square Enix’s library of JRPGs from the 1990s and 2000s have been asking for the publisher to bring those games back. Square Enix is now doing just that, with examples including theFinal Fantasy Pixel Remasters,Dragon Quest 3 HD-2D Remake, theLive A Liveremake, and re-releases forLegend of Mana,SaGa Frontier, and more. It’s time to add another classic JRPG to the list, as Square Enix has officially announced a remaster forRomancing SaGa: Minstrel Song.
Square Enix is updatingRomancing SaGa: Minstrel Songfor a new generation of video game fans. The remaster is confirmed to feature updated assets that should makeRomancing SaGa: Minstrel Songlook great even on modern platforms. Further, alterations are being made to the game that should improve playability, plus other unnamed usability features will be added to the game. The resulting product will be released on PC, PS4, PS5, Switch, iOS and Android this winter.
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For those unfamiliar withRomancing SaGa: Minstrel Song, it’s aturn-based JRPGthat tells the story of eight different protagonists. Players will choose one of the eight, with the remaining options becoming recruitable party members. What follows is a non-linear story where each of the eight characters has their own personal adventure while also fighting to collect the Fatestones and prevent the resurgence of the evil god Saruin.
Romancing SaGawas originally released in 1992 for the Super Famicom. It remained exclusively available in Japan until 2005 whenSquare Enixwould remake the game with 3D assets instead of 2D sprites. This remake added theMinstrel Songsubtitle, and it’s this version of the game that Square Enix is remastering for release in 2022.
TheSaGafranchise of JRPGs is split into multiple different series. The first trilogy was released under the nameFinal Fantasy Legend.Romancing SaGais the first game in the second trilogy ofSaGagames, which were released between 1992 and 1995. BothRomancing SaGa 2andRomancing SaGa 3were remastered and released in 2017 and 2019, respectively. This newRomancing SaGa: Minstrel Songremaster should make the fullRomancing SaGaseries available on modern platforms.
Square Enix’s decision-making regarding what games it brings back and how it re-releases them is always a curiosity.Final Fantasyreceived pixel remasters,Live A Liveis being near entirely remade, andRomancing SaGais only getting basic remasters. WhileSaGafans would likely have preferred a more substantial update, it’s still better to have a modernized version of the game than no access to it otherwise. Here’s hoping Square Enix continues to bring back as many classic JRPGs as it’s able.
Romancing SaGa: Minstrel Songreleases this winter on PC, PS4, PS5, Switch, and mobile devices.
