Romancing SaGa -Minstrel Song- Remastered

Highly nonlinear, very old school, and like other Saga titles it is unconventionally structured around multiple protagonists....arguably difficult to get into if you are used to more conventional JRPGs but this is worth a try if you are willing to embrace just how oddly random it is. Also has the best intro song sequence of any JRPG ever.

Not my ideal way to play RS1 (SNES original is my preferred version and also one of my favourite games of all time) but it's about identical to the PS2 release. Unless you're willing to read up on the mechanics, this game will likely filter you as SaGa is well known for having unique mechanics that divert from what mainstream JRPGs use. Minstrel Song is a great remake that polishes the bugs from the original while also adding in all the content that was cut due to limitations, I believe you can now fight Sherah and get all of the fatestones (3 of them were never added in the original, unsure about the WSC port). The graphics are what I would dub an acquired taste, they divert heavily from the 2D sprite graphics of Romancing SaGa (1992) and uses a more modern 3D style with chibi characters, I don't mind it personally but the 2D sprites will always be superior. But for those who want a modern alternative, the graphics of this game are still amazing and the character models will eventually grow on you. Now then, if you're someone who has never played a SaGa game, you're certainly walking into the wrong territory with this game. RS1 is my favourite game ever but it isn't a good beginner SaGa game, unlike its sequels, it is this game specifically that has the Event Rank alongside other mechanics (especially in the original) that simply were refined or didn't transfer over. You also have a Battle Rank which is how the game knows when to toughen up enemies when it thinks you're making progress, it isn't nearly as intimidating as it sounds but it does heavily discourage grinding. The aforementioned Event Rank discourages grinding even further as the ER system is this game's version of a timer, the more fights you do, the higher it will raise and quests in this game are tied to your Event Rank so you can easily lock yourself out of early game quests and make your time a lot harder. Don't grind and trust in the mechanics and especially don't use a guide and you'll be in for an enjoyable SaGa experience. If you want my actual review of THIS version of the game instead of my mindless glazing of the SNES original, Minstrel Song is bloody fantastic and in many ways a much more improved version of its SNES counterpart. It offers a much more finished and complete game, all new voice acting, and tones down on the elements that made the original quite difficult while not dumbing down the challenge it presents. This game is hard, but it will toughen you up and grow on you to the point of obsession if you're willing to play by its terms. Just like most SaGa games, Minstrel Song is an open world and non linear JRPG which was shockingly revolutionary at the time. The established plot and story is simple but your main goal is to do quests and get stronger to prevent the evil god Saruin's resurrection. As you progress through the game doing quests, you will also have a reputation to manage. The reputation you get to the endgame with will determine which path the Minstrel will guide you in prepartion for Saruin. You also have the choice of 8 playable protagonists, all with their own goals and ambitions but ultimately all are given the same destiny to defeat Saruin. If you want a beginner friendly choice, Albert has a short but linear prologue and also encounters his first recruitable party member right off the bat so you aren't completely thrown into the world empty handed. You recruit these protagonists throughout the game, when and where they appear is tied to your Event Rank so you could either get them as early as the first pub or be spending hours looking for them. Do NOT grind, and especially do not avoid battles. As Minstrel Song has no traditional levelling, you unlock techniques depending on the class of weapon you're using. The more battles you fight, the higher your weapon level will go up which unlocks newer and stronger techniques. This game (going by the original) also has a 3x3 grid formation instead of the traditional back a…

One of my favorite video games of all time. The watercolor painted art style, the SD/Chibi character models, the beautiful music, and the wondrous lore/world of this game kept me engaged since the very first time I played this game on the PS2 after picking it up in a bargain bin at GameStop. Top 3 JRPGs in my list, and it was the reason I ended up making a YouTube series called "UnderRadar" where I spotlighted underrated games and hidden gems. I can't lie, you'll definitely want to follow a guide/walkthrough to get the most out of this game, but that is a small price to pay to enjoy a whimsical journey across this game's world, doing interesting quests and meeting colorful characters along the way. I absolutely love how you not only select a main character to play as from the 8 available ones, but you can even recruit those characters (and others) into your party! It truly is a fun game and I cannot recommend it enough!