Old Black Man wrote: ↑Sat May 08, 2021 3:29 am
I’ve seen the newer ports of the Romancing Saga games and thought they looked neat. What sets it apart from other JRPGs of the time and where do I start with the series?
Also I snagged a cheap copy of Viewitful Joe for the PS2. It’s such an easy remaster, Capcom be lazy bitches.
Romancing Saga 3 is probably the best entry point. Its difficulty is mild for a Saga game unless you're fighting an Archfiend. You can engage NG+ mode at any time in your playthrough and carry over all skills and items into a second run, so it's easy to get overpowered that way if you find your run has stalled and you can't get past a boss. But you'll get a lot more benefit from NG+ the longer you wait to do it.
Overleveling/raising your battle rank too high is hard to do and takes a long time. The benefit you get from leveling far outstrips the benefit enemies get from raising battle rank. This is NOT true of all saga games imo.
It's easy to play the early game taking almost no fights and just going place to place, recruiting a strong team. You can get early money and items by accepting quests but not completing them. Pidona has a few early game quests that are super smooth at introducing you to the game and providing good rewards for minimal effort. The only real newbie trap is the stock market quest. Do not accept that one (at Thomas' house) until you are ready, because it will lock you out of many sidequests until you finish it. But it's easy enough to avoid taking since you have to agree to do it when Fullbright asks. Avoid fullbright until ready.
Romancing Saga 3 is just weird enough to introduce you to all the Saga elements, without being so overbearing as to feel incomprehensible or like the game is cheating. I struggle to think of an easier Saga game overall. Boston, Meiniang, Undine, Black, even the main character with Archfiend gear... It's easy as hell to get overpowered. Most non-boss enemies in my current run deal 0-50 damage at most and I regen 50-100 every turn. I'm not even really OP yet. That's the power of Genbu stance and some decent gear.
Romancing Saga 2 is NOT a great entry because enemies can outlevel you and it's hard to avoid combat. Bosses are hard as fuck and dungeons are brutal. If you die, you lose your party permanently and progress to the next in line for the throne, aka it's basically a new run with inherited skills and items. Dying to a boss is devastating and loses a ton of time.
Minstrel Song is probably ok if you have a game guide to tell you where to go to finish quests.
Saga 1 and 2 are probably ok if you're fine with gameboy visuals.
Saga Frontier might be ok, haven't played it yet but I will. Some scenarios are mega unfinished and jank. Game overall is programmed poorly (not even kidding.)
Scarlet Grace Ambitions is NOT a good entry to start with. It's arguably the hardest Saga game based on what I've read. I can see why too. You're given little guidance, yet some main character quests railroad you hard into story paths that put you up against very difficult challenges. The game has a beautiful, storybook look in motion and combat is great, but you will hate yourself if you start here.