The beloved RPG classic returns, fully remastered for modern platforms! SaGa Frontier 2 Remastered brings back its signature watercolor visuals, deep strategic battles, and the event-based narrative that lets you experience the story from multiple perspectives.
Follow Gustave, a royal heir forging his own destiny, and Wil Knights, a fledgling digger pursuing the mystery of the enigmatic Egg—their stories shape the history of Sandail across generations.
Story
Our tale starts with two protagonists: Gustave, heir to an esteemed royal line, and Wil, a young man who makes his way in the world performing excavation work.
Though born in the same era, their circumstances could not be more different, and as Gustave is faced with strife and conflict between nations, Wil finds himself confronting a world-threatening calamity that lurks in the shadows.
Their stories gradually coalesce to form a single history.
Systems
The game’s “History Choice” system gives players the freedom to choose which events to play, and in doing so has them assume the roles of various characters and experience the world’s history in fragments.
In addition to the Glimmer and Combo mechanics that the SaGa series is known for, this title also features one-on-one duels.
Players will find themselves confronted with battles both strategic and highly compelling.
New Features
Fully Enhanced High-Definition Visuals – The game’s signature warm watercolor-style graphics and are more defined and vibrant, and original character sprites are upscaled for modern resolutions. New sprites have been prepared for characters who did not have unique sprites in the original game.
Revamped User Interface – History Choice, chronology, a revamped screen layout and a multitude of other gameplay systems have been reconstructed to facilitate more intuitive and comfortable gameplay.
Brand-New Story Content – Under the supervision of SaGa franchise general director Akitoshi Kawazu, Benny Matsuyama introduces new story events that provide additional insight into the events of SaGa Frontier 2.
New Gameplay Features – Added elements like Parameter Inheritance, postgame content and New Game+ make for an enhanced and expanded gameplay experience.
New Minigame for Western Fans – The excavation minigame, created for the Japan-exclusive PocketStation peripheral for the PlayStation, is playable in the west for the first time as “Dig! Dig! Digger” in SaGa Frontier 2 Remastered.
And here is the full game overview:
■ About
SaGa Frontier 2, originally released in 1999 in Japan and 2000 in North American and European regions, is coming to the latest platforms as a high-definition remastered version.
Gustave, born heir to a royal family but unable to cast Spells, and William Knights, a fledgling adventurer. Players experience a history that transcends generations by unravelling scenarios depicting different perspectives, focusing on these two men born in the same era but in different circumstances.
This game not only features higher resolution graphics, but also a revamped user interface and polished game system, including the addition of a Parameter Inheritance system. New historical scenes that were never shown in the original story have been added, and additional characters from the original will join the battle, allowing for a deeper enjoyment of the story. SaGa Frontier 2 Remastered is here, evolved to be more intuitive and enjoyable to play!
■ Story
Anima, said to reside in all of creation. The world of Sandail, where Spells that utilize Anima are widespread.
The curtain rises on a new era with the birth of Gustave. Although born into the Finney royal family, which excels in the use of Spells and places great importance on Anima, Gustave is completely unable to cast Spells.
And behind the scenes of history, a mysterious object called the Egg that manipulates its owner’s consciousness awakens after a long period of dormancy, and begins to interfere with mankind…
Anima – A type of intangible energy that is believed to reside in all things. The word is also sometimes used to represent abstract concepts such as life or soul.
Spells – The skill to manipulate Anima and thereby influence objects.
■ Event System
History Choice System
Players will select between various scenarios which depict incidents and events in the history of Sandail.
—Players can freely select historical events and incidents from a chronological table and follow the story.
—The playable characters and party members are fixed for each selected story, and the battles are structured in such a way that they are part of the story.
Two Intersecting Stories
The Gustave arc, depicting the widely known version of history, and the Wil Knights arc, depicting the struggle with the Egg taking place behind the scenes, progress simultaneously, sometimes intersecting.
—Gustav Arc: The Gustave arc depicting Gustave’s life and the battles he caused. Events that follow the battle for supremacy between major nations and political strife.
—Wil Knights Arc: The Wil Knights arc depicting the struggle between the Knights family and the Egg. The story spanning three generations of the Knights family as they confront the secrets and threats of the Egg.
■ New Features of the Remaster
Higher Resolution Graphics (New)
The warm, watercolor-style backgrounds and pixel art characters appear more vivid than before.
—Original vs. Remaster
Revamped User Interface (New)
While the design follows the original, the user interface has been revamped for intuitive and comfortable gameplay.
—Original vs. Remaster
Additional Events (New)
New stories written by Benny Matsuyama under the supervision of Akitoshi Kawazu, SaGa Franchise General Director, have been added to complement the main story.
—1251 Gustave Arc “The Joining of Kelvin and Marie”: Marie has left Cantal and is being sheltered by Gustave. Experience how she joins with Kelvin in matrimony.
—1260 Knights Arc: “Labelle’s Wish”: Tyler visits Wil and tells him of a chance meeting with Labelle during his travels.
Besides these two, there are more additional events added throughout history, allowing players to witness the truth as it is portrayed for the first time.
Updated and Expanded Characters (New)
New playable characters and unique graphics to accompany the additional stories.
—Characters who did not join battles in the original are now playable.
—New designs have been prepared for characters and bosses that did not have their own unique sprites.
Post-Endgame Content (New)
After completing the game, players will unlock several completely new events and can fight ‘enhanced bosses’ as extra battle content.
With New Game+, the player can start a new game while carrying over a number of elements.
Reconstructed Screen Layout (New)
The History Choice and chronology systems have been reconstructed so that the year, area, and content of each episode are clearer.
—Original vs. Remaster
The years, areas, and episodes can all be viewed together.
Parameter Inheritance (New)
The stats of a character who has grown through battles can be transferred to another character in a different event.
—Characters grow through battles and can bequeath their stats to other characters for use in other events.
—The inherited stats can be added or removed like equipment.
Dig! Dig! Digger (New)
The ‘Dig! Dig! Digger’ minigame, originally playable through PocketStation, the Japan-exclusive peripheral for the PlayStation, has been arranged and implemented in-game. The player can obtain items by requesting diggers that have joined in the game to excavate for them.
—Up to three diggers can be managed unlike the original where there was only one. The minigame now also features additional character graphics.
More Intuitive and Comfortable Game System (New)
—Improved quality-of-life of battles by improving the pace of the “combo sequences” and “entry sequences.”
—Speed settings have been implemented. Battles, the overworld, and event scenes can be played at increased speeds.
—This title has a new storage feature. It is now possible to move items to and from storage, allowing the player to organize their inventory.
—A new “Library” feature where the player can view artwork and listen to music.
—There are also plenty of system settings and hints.
■ Main Characters: Gustave Arc
Gustave XIII
Born as the long-awaited heir of the Kingdom of Finney, but at 7 years old, he fails the Firebrand Ceremony, a rite of passage to become the successor to the throne. Branded as ungifted, he is exiled from the royal palace and seeks refuge in Jade.
At the age of 20, Gustave acquires his own territory. After long focusing on wielding steel weapons, which had fallen into neglect at the time, he leads a powerful steel army and seizes control of the Eastern Continent. This eventually makes him known as “Gustave the Steel.”
■ Surrounding Characters: Gustave Arc
Gustave XII
The King of Finney, known as a skilled politician and soldier. He banishes Gustave as he has no right to the throne.
Sophie
Gustave’s deeply compassionate mother. Exiled together with Gustave the ungifted for protecting him, they are frequently on the move.
Philippe
Gustave’s younger brother. He spent years developing a growing hatred for his brother who he thought was responsible for the exile of his beloved mother.
Marie
Gustave’s younger sister who was born in the year he was exiled. A beautiful woman who bears a striking likeness to her mother Sophie.
Flynn
Gustave’s follower since a young age. Like Gustave, he is also ungifted.
Leslie
A special person who has stood by Gustave’s side after exile since his childhood, and whom Gustave trusts with his heart.
Kelvin
Son of Count Thomas of Jade, he ascended to the position of Count of Jade upon his father’s retirement. He helps Gustave both publicly and privately as his right-hand man and best friend.
Johan
A senior assassin of the assassin group known as Red Scorpion. Questioning the state of the organization, he escapes and is saved by Gustave.
Cielmer
A highly respected spellcaster who served as Gustave’s tutor. He takes great interest in Gustave’s fate and spares no effort to assist him after his exile.
Cantal
The Marquis of Otto, followed by endless rumors of conspiracy. He has never forgotten the humiliation he suffered at the hands of Gustave XII and hates the Finney royal family.
■ Main Characters: Wil Knights Arc
William Knights
A member of the Knights family, a family of diggers who make their living mining quells, relics of a prior civilization that hold infinite Anima. Also known as Wil.
He begins his career as a digger at the age of 15 and later makes a name for himself as one of the greatest diggers of his time. While pursuing the mystery of his parents’ death, he learns of the existence of a mysterious object called the Egg that his late father is said to have brought back. He devotes his life to the struggle surrounding the Egg.
Richard Knights
Wil’s only son who inherits his talents. Also known as Rich.
He hates being compared to his father, so he leaves home and wanders the lands, honing his skills as a digger. However, during his adventures, he encounters his father’s sworn enemy, the Egg, and inadvertently follows in his father’s footsteps.
Virginia Knights
Rich’s only daughter, but she has never known her father. Raised from birth by her mother, Diana, and grandfather, Wil. Also known as Ginny.
She admires her grandfather, aspires to become a digger herself and waits for the opportunity to go on an adventure. One day, she decides to set off in a similar fashion to running away from home, but through a twist of fate, she finds herself on the same path as her grandfather and father in the struggle against the Egg.
■ Surrounding Characters: Wil Knights Arc
Cordelia
A woman who accompanies Wil on his search as a sentry who escorts diggers. At times, she shows more than mere companionship to Wil.
Narcisse
A spellcaster who forms a party with Wil. After retiring, he continues to care for Wil’s son and looks after him in any way he can.
Tyler
A sentry who survives many adventures with Wil. He is taciturn and looks tough, but is in fact a caring and reliable man.
Alexei
A notorious digger hated by people for his arrogant attitude and dirty tricks. One of those obsessed with the Egg.
Misty
A woman who encountered the Egg as a young girl and grew up assimilating her consciousness with it.
Roberto
Simpleminded and easily elated, but a good-natured adventurer. After meeting Ginny, he becomes involved in the battle against the Egg.
Primiera
A female warrior who always maintains a firm demeanor. The youngest daughter of Cantal, she meets Ginny while wandering the lands after leaving home.
Meythia
A spellcaster who is a disciple of Cielmer’s disciple. During her adventures as part of her training, she joins Ginny and becomes involved in the battle against the Egg.
Gustaf
Roberto’s adventure companion. He is of the Finney royal blood, but pursues the Egg with Ginny while hiding his identity.
■ Battle System
Three Battle Types
This game features three types of battles depending on the story and party members.
A system where all party members fight against enemies that they encounter. The character positions and battle order within the party can be fixed beforehand.
—At the start of each turn, the player selects the commands for all characters, after which they and the enemies start their actions.
—The battle ends when the player defeats all enemies, escapes, or negotiates successfully. There are multiple conditions for escape and types of negotiations, which change depending on the status of battle.
—In this game, status ailments and changes during battle can be checked while selecting commands.
Duel
A system where one party member fights alone against the enemy that they encounter. If “duel” is available, the player can select between “Party Battle” and “Duel” at the start of battle. If there is only one member in the party, it will automatically become a duel.
—Four commands based on equipped items and the terrain are selected at the start of the turn, then the actions are performed. The actions and activated arts change depending on the order and combinations of the commands.
—While there is a higher risk of defeat with duels, as there is only one character, there is the benefit of a higher chance of learning new arts and spells that are harder to learn in party battles.
—In this game, the art and spell commands can be checked during battle. The player can also repeat the commands used in the previous turn.
Warfare
In the Gustave arc, “Warfare” between armies occur from time to time. The player must command their own units to fulfil the victory conditions.
—When one of the player’s units overlaps with an enemy unit, a battle occurs. A one-turn-only party battle starts. The unit that loses will be forced to retreat, and if all soldiers in a unit are annihilated, that unit will be gone for good.
—Victory conditions are not limited to defeating the enemy forces, so units must be utilized to suit the conditions.
—In this game, the grid can be toggled on or off. The player can correctly assess the relative positions between the enemy units and their own.
Art and Spells
Battles are mainly fought using physical attacks called Arts that use weapons or martial arts, and Spells that use Anima within equipment and the terrain to attack, heal, etc.
—Some pieces of equipment are imbued with Anima; equipping them lets the player use Spells of Anima drawn from them.
—Arts consume WP (weapon points) and Spells consume SP (spell points) when used. A certain amount of WP and SP are recovered every turn, depending on the character and equipment.
—There are “Fusion Spells” based on the combination of multiple Anima and ‘Hybrid Arts’ based on the combination of Arts and Spells. All of them are very powerful or effective.
Glimmer
Sometimes, a character may glimmer a new Art of the same weapon type during battle instead of activating the selected Art. The glimmered Art is immediately activated and will be available to use thereafter.
—Each character is skilled at using a specific weapon type and is more likely to glimmer Arts of that weapon type.
—After battle, the new glimmered Art can also be set to other characters.
LP
This parameter represents a character’s very life energy. Characters that have their LP reduced to zero will be rendered unconscious, making it impossible to restore them to fighting condition during battle. If the protagonist is rendered unconscious, it’s game over.
—LP can be lost with some enemy attacks.
—A character can consume 1 LP at the start of the turn to completely recover their HP.
—When they do not have enough WP or SP, the character can consume 1 LP to use an Art or Spell.
Combos
Sometimes, a “Combo” attack of multiple Arts or Spells is triggered. Whereas normally the selected commands are performed one by one, the characters act in quick succession during a Combo.
—Performing the attacks as a Combo causes more damage than if they were done individually.
—Each Art or Spell can only be combined with a specific selection of Arts and Spells. Depending on the combination, it is possible for all party members to perform a Combo.
Watch a set of trailers below. View a set of screenshots at the gallery.
