SaGa Frontier 2

"Amazing game with a few slight flaws"

SaGa Frontier 2 is one of those games that has its
problems, but in the end is still an enjoyable game. At first when I played it I was angry at it. I got mad at the constant changing characters in the story. I got angry at the weapons breaking. Then I realized that certain spells will not use up any tools at all thus allowing me to collect items won from battle. I can convert these tools to
chips which I can convert to money to repair the said weapon I am using which is a good axe for one of my favorite character. I won't say who it is, but he/she joins you really late. After awhile it came to me the idea of SaGa Frontier 2's story was not to have the whole game concentrate on a huge back round for one person. The idea was to show that everyone mattered even if they did not do much. That you didn't need to be the son of a King or kill several demons yourself to effect the story. Often Will and Gustave's stories cross paths. At one point you can make a city in a Gustave Scenario which effects items that you can buy in a Will Scenario. Now for a break down

Graphics 8: The graphics are colorful and pleasing, but they seem out of place in duel battle with some characters. The areas are very easy to see. I had no trouble telling where I was going at all in the areas of the game.

Music 7: The music in SaGa Frontier 2 is well done and I hope the composer comes back in the next SaGa along with the composer of SaGa Frontier so we can have an effect like FFT where 2 composers gave the music a good sense of variety. The music in SaGa Frontier 2 seems to be made up of re mixes. The bad is it can get annoying to hear the same tune over and over again with slightly different variations, but it is also good because it brings back memories.

Game Play 8: The weapons breaking may seem bad at first, but it makes the weapons that do not break even more special. I'm still using a staff that has a lower attack power than my other for leveling up my staff skill because the weaker one is unbreakable. Plus in this game if you cast a spell that is not under a tool thanks to learning a spell such Howling Heaven which is Beast-Tone and having a tone and beast Quell/tool(S) equipped along with the spell equipped you can cast it as often as you want with out ever using up a tool. This way you can just wait out until you can repair your tools or just earn money for later. Thanks to this system SaGa Frontier 2 certified magic had use unlike some RPGS I've played where magic is worthless. Plus the idea of leveling up each skill separately forces you to use that skill which is a good thing. One problem is the lack of choice in the game. It would have been better if it had more choice.

Story 9: I loved the way the story is represented. It showed that you didn't need to do much to be important. It showed everyone was important. Plus the ending through short surprised me with a scene I would never see an story where only one person mattered and that was it. No way I would have seen that type of scene. Beat it and you will see it.

Over All 8: SaGa Frontier 2 is a good game that has flaws that prevent it from gaining a higher status. Flaws such as lack of freedom and it is missing the feel of the first, but in the end it is still a good game in my humble opinion I just wish it had more freedom and variety to it then I may have given it a score of 10 instead of just a score of 8

To Rent or Buy: I'd say rent first. I enjoyed, but be warned you will spend a long time fighting in this game.

Reviewer's Score: 8/10, Originally Posted: 11/29/00, Updated 11/29/00