SaGa Frontier 2

"A very different game altogether, yet still unique"

I feel that this game is a little under-rated. The only thing I did not like about this game is the difficulty level. The dual-plot was good, but reviewers often get good plot mixed up with unorganized plot. This game is not necessarily played in a chronological order, but even books can be like that. The book, Joshua Now and Then was not chronological, but it is still considered a good book. If you wanted to play it chronologically, there is a section that tells the chronological order of the events in the game, so use that. The cool thing about this game is that it has its own history and events, which makes it creative and original.

The graphics in this game are excellent. Most of the background scenes are drawn in 2-D watercolor (which looks really cool), but the perspective of the characters (how they walk, where they move) is 3-D. The background scenes are very pretty, certainly original (which most people fail to notice) but very beautifully drawn. It would be cooler if the characters could have been drawn in watercolor like the backgrounds, but keeping them the way they are makes them stand out from the background and easier to see. The battles also have background scenes, though not as crisp or pretty as the watercolor ones. In fact, they look blockier and clumsier, but that is because it is integrated into an actual 3-D environment. This is probably because of a bad transition from 2-D watercolor to polygonal blocky 3-D. However, the characters do not change too much between battle and outside of battle. Most of the animation in battle involves various arrangements of lights, but it still does not look too bad (unless you for some reason, have a sever case of nausea.). People say it looks bad because it is just light, but the way the light is arranged in the animation is quite original. What better way is there to show a simple slash than to add some lights for emphasis? The sound effects are cool. The attacks in battle do not really sound much like the weapons that make the sounds, but they still sound pretty cool. At least it still slightly resembles the sharp clang of metal against metal. The music sounds great the first time you hear it. The only complaint is that the tune tends to get repetitive, such as the battle soundtracks. Some tracks do not match the mood, but most of the ones in civilized settings do.
Graphics and Sound: 8 (for the blocky battle backgrounds and repetitive soundtrack)

The gameplay is split into two main plots, where you play as either the outcast of a royal family or a quell hunter. But as an RPG, it is very innovative and original, as it is not your typical RPG. Certainly, there is no MP, but there is WP, SP and LP, which makes the style unique and characters learn skills called ''arts''. However, the arts can be given to other characters that have not learned them, which makes the game easier. That is actually better because most of the game is very difficult. Enemies are harder and characters do not have a lot of HP. I think the reason people do not like the gameplay (apart from the fact that it is hard) is because it is different; it is more unique and has its own style, but others find it more difficult to learn it.
Gameplay: 7 (for difficulty level)

This is probably the other reason why reviewers rate this game so low. The plot is only confusing because of the order it is presented in. There are two plots that coexist, and you can switch between both of them. I can understand that playing as both characters for the chronological order would be confusing, but events rarely happen without the effect of more than one person (so there are two people that you play as, not one hero). Both plots are somewhat different, so in a sense, SaGa Frontier 2 is a dual-story in one game. So I find that it is better to play the game on one scenario before the other. If it is still confusing, that is why Squaresoft added the chronological events in the game. Some reviewers complain that the character development is shallow, but then so is their ability to detect development in dialogue. The game does not actually explain much of the characters, but it should not explain it anyways; it should be revealed. Well, in SaGa Frontier 2, the characters' personalities are revealed through their speech, tone and actions. Events sometimes are not very elaborated, but rather it is hinted in characters' speeches, and is thus revealed and not shown. So that actually makes a better story. Also, there are many characters that pop in and out of the plot occasionally, which I find reviewers also complaining about, but do remember that the time span in which this game occurs is almost three generations, not merely less than a year.
Storyline: 9

I find it hard to rate this as playable because of the difficulty. Certainly, novices would have a hard time with this game, but while it is difficult, there are people who have beaten the game (there are walkthroughs on this game) because they appreciate the game, not because they have an obsessive problem with trying to finish every game they play. However, I would play it again to see the pretty background scenes, but not all the way to the end because it is hard.
Replay Value: 7

I think that the main reason it is under-rated is because SaGa Frontier 2 is different, and nobody would accept anything that is too unique. However, I do not think reviewers should give it anything less than 5, just because it is not like other games. In fact, that is the main reason why this game is good; because it is unlike other games, and because it is innovative, original and creative.
Overall: 8

Reviewer's Score: 8/10, Originally Posted: 03/29/03, Updated 03/29/03