Romancing SaGa 3, the acclaimed JRPG first released in Japan in 1995, returns in a full 3D remake. Whether you’re a longtime SaGa fan or a newcomer, this reimagining offers a fresh take on a classic adventure.
Story
Every 300 years, Morastrum, the Star of Death, rises, dooming all born beneath it except the mysterious Child of Destiny. Nearly twenty years after its last appearance, an insurrection in Loanne uncovers a far greater threat: the Four Sinistrals seek to reopen the gates to the Abyss. Eight heroes bound by fate must unite to save the world.
Key Features
Characters – Choose from eight protagonists, each with a unique story, and recruit over twenty allies to your party
Graphics – Inspired by the original pixel art and Tomomi Kobayashi’s illustrations, the remake features character designs by Yoshiro Ambe and fully realized 3D environments.
Freeform Scenario System – Your choices shape the adventure, from the stories you pursue to the order in which you challenge the Sinistrals, creating a unique experience every playthrough.
Battle and Character Power Systems – Classic SaGa features such as Glimmer and Formation return alongside a new timeline-based battle system and United Attacks for deeper tactical combat.
Difficulty – Choose from Casual, Normal, or Classic difficulty to tailor the challenge to your playstyle.
Music and Voices – Original composer Kenji Ito supervised newly arranged music, with players able to switch between original and arranged tracks.
And here are the first details:
■ Introduction
The classic, best-selling Japanese RPG game from 1995 rises again—Romancing SaGa 3 returns as a full remake!
Romancing SaGa 3: Destinies United brings this classic back to the modern age with a plethora of features, including all-new 3D graphics, overhauls to combat and other mechanics, difficulty levels to match both newcomers and long-time fans of the SaGa franchise, and fully-voiced cutscenes in both Japanese and English, breathing further vitality to the ensemble cast!
■ Key Visual
■ Story
…The Rise of Morastrum…
A disaster that repeats once every 300 years, in which the star of death eclipses the sun and destroys all newborn life in the year of its occurrence… save for one survivor, who is then hailed as the Child of Destiny.
The Child of Destiny of 600 years ago became the Archfiend who brought ruin, while the Child of Destiny of 300 years ago became the Matriarch who drove back the darkness.
Now in the present day—a little over a dozen years after the latest Rise of Morastrum. The Four Sinistrals who once served the Archfiend have returned to the world, prying open the Abyss Gates that separate the mortal world from the Abyss.
A young and noble marquis, Mikhail. A princess bearing a royal burden, Monika. An unfaltering knight loyal to her nation, Katarina. A mercenary from a lost kingdom, Khalid. A righteous youth with a large heart, Julian. A cool-headed man of keen eye and logic, Thomas. A girl still finding her place in the world, Sarah. And a sister who will stop at nothing to protect her only family, Ellen.
Here begins the tale of eight heroes and their journey to deliver their world from the coming end.
■ Characters
Players can select one of eight protagonists and begin the search for the Child of Destiny from their perspective.
Each character has seven base attributes: Strength, Dexterity, Magic, Speed, Stamina, Will, and Charisma.
A character’s base attributes can be further affected by their Nonastrum—the star of fate that defines their destiny. The player can select a Nonastrum for any of the eight protagonists. Nonastrums can also change a character’s affinity with techs and spells.
Julian Nohl (voiced by Edward Mendoza in English, Junya Enoki in Japanese)
An earnest youth hailing from Sinon with a strong sense of justice imparted on him from his late father. He holds a strong resentment towards Morastrum due to its impact on his life.
Ellen Carson (voiced by Rebecca Wang in English, Ikumi Hasegawa in Japanese)
A strong-headed youth hailing from Sinon and elder sister to Sarah. Determined and stubborn on occasion, she pushes forward even in the harshest of circumstances if it’s to protect her family.
Sarah Carson (voiced by Michelle Marie in English, Kaede Hondo in Japanese)
A shy girl hailing from Sinon. Having been protected fiercely by her older sister Ellen her entire life, she hopes to grow and change such that she can stand on her own.
Thomas Bent (voiced by Brandon McInnis in English, Takuya Eguchi in Japanese)
A young man hailing from the esteemed House Bent of Messana. Armed with sharp wit and a talent for strategic brilliance, he rises to stand against the Abyss.
Khalid (voiced by Ryan Colt Levy in English, Katsuyuki Konishi in Japanese)
A skilled and respected mercenary, often known by the moniker of “The Tornado.” The curved sword he wields holds special significance to him, being a reminder of his lost homeland.
Mikhail Ausbach von Loanne (voiced by Kevin Andrew Rivera in English, Satoshi Hino in Japanese)
The young leader who sits at the throne of the marquisate of Loanne, and Monika’s elder brother. A noble ruler who never hesitates to take to the front lines in order to protect his country.
Monika Ausbach (voiced by Madeline Dorroh in English, Akari Kito in Japanese)
Mikhail’s younger sister and princess of Loanne. Gentle and kind, she is well-loved by her people. Though soft-spoken, under her mild demeanor lies a stalwart strength.
Katarina Lauran (voiced by Stephanie Southerland in English, Asami Seto in Japanese)
A noblewoman skilled in swordsmanship and retainer to House Loanne. She wields her sword in loyal service to her nation and her beloved lord, Mikhail.
A Colorful Ensemble Cast
In addition to the main eight, players will be able to meet over 20 other characters during their journey and recruit them.
Each recruitable ally possesses unique stats and abilities. The strategic possibilities are endless thanks to flexibility in party composition and synergy.
Advance the story with a party that is uniquely yours!
Count Leonid (voiced by Jalen K. Cassel in English, Takehito Koyasu in Japanese)
A vampire count and the acting lord of the sleepy town of Podorui. Being a long-lived immortal, he has acquainted himself with the previous Children of Destiny.
—Venastrum the Hunter’s Star
Peony (voiced by Emi Lo in English, Takako Tanaka in Japanese)
A mischievous faerie from the jungle. Though a being of whimsy, she is quick to become attached to any humans she comes to trust.
—Bellastrum the Warrior’s Star
Robin the Remarkable (voiced by Caleb Yen in English, Shoya Ishige in Japanese)
A mysterious masked young hero from Yarmouth. With his unwavering commitment to justice and dazzling defeat of ruffians all around, he ensures that villainy will never prosper.
—Aequastrum The Merchant’s Star
Count Leonid (voiced by Kimoy Lee in English, Chihiro Uno in Japanese)
A cheery sentient snowman from Frostburg. He is a formidable companion who adventured with the Matriarch herself three centuries ago.
—Aequastrum The Merchant’s Star
Stay tuned for information on other characters!
■ Systems
Progressing Your Journey
Players will select one of eight protagonists and set out on a journey to complete objectives unique to their circumstances.
You can also recruit allies across various regions to strengthen your retinue and progress the story.
—The eight protagonists, brought together by the guidance of fate. Pick whichever one you like and begin their journey!
—Follow the traces of legends across various lands or simply take a ship to see what awaits across the horizon to expand the map and see the world.
Freeform Scenario System
Your actions can significantly influence the characters you meet, the events that unfold, and the progression of the story. Which lands you visit and what decisions you make are entirely yours. Experience an adventure unique to you, shaped by your own freedom of choice.
—Ellen protests when Sarah voices wanting to join Khalid on his journey.
↓
—Defend Sarah
—The sisters fight and part ways.
OR
—Invite Ellen
—Both sisters join the retinue.
■ Battle
Battle Basics
Battles are conducted in a timeline format, displayed on the top left of the battle screen.
When characters reach zero HP, they will lose one Life Point (LP). When they run out of LP, they must withdraw, unable to join again in combat until they rest.
—Attacking enemies in the overworld will deal damage to them in advance. Ambushing them will even delay their action for a turn!
—Check the turn order of both allies and foes in the timeline to plan accordingly and turn the tides of battle.
Glimmers and Evasions
During encounters, characters will have a chance to glimmer (learn) new techniques. Newly glimmered techniques will be used once immediately and will be available for selection for the rest of the encounter.
Characters can also learn to evade enemy attacks
—The stronger the foe, the likelier the chance to glimmer.
—Attacks you’ve learned Evasions for can be dodged.
Formations
You can adjust the placement of your retinue members in battle by changing their formation.
Certain formations or a character’s placement in one can affect encounters, such as changing a character’s likelihood of being targeted, granting buffs, and more. Utilizing their effects is a key aspect of battle strategy.
You can obtain tomes that will teach you more formations.
—For example: placement in a formation can make foes less likely to target a character in exchange for lowered Speed.
—Formation tomes can be obtained from defeating enemies or from treasure chests.
United Attacks
Attacking enemies with weapons or spell schools they are weak to will charge the Overdrive gauge. Once the gauge is full, you can unleash a powerful combo move known as a United Attack.
United Attacks ignore enemy action order in the timeline and deal great amounts of damage regardless of enemy weakness types.
—Once the Overdrive gauge fills up…
—…retinue members can launch a powerful United Attack!
Mastering Skills
Learned techniques and spells can be mastered by using them enough times. Mastered skills can be taught to other characters you’ve recruited to your retinue.
—Techs and spells can be mastered by using them a certain number of times.
—“Evasions” can be mastered as well!
Options
There are three difficulty modes: Casual, Normal, and Classic (Hard). The difficulty can be adjusted at any point in the game through the Options menu.
The soundtrack can be toggled between the original versions or new arrangements made for the Remake!
—We recommend Casual for newcomers to the SaGa franchise: an easygoing mode oriented for story-focused gameplay.
—You can switch any time between the original soundtrack and new arrangements both composed by the spectacular Kenji Ito!
■ Minigames
Minigames return, even better than before!
War Mode
Depending on the chosen protagonist and selected story events, you may end up taking command of your own army in War Mode!
Commandeer troops that will act on their own following your orders to weaken enemy forces and break through their lines!
Business
Engage in thrilling bid battles in the Business minigame!
Speak with various Agents across the world to purchase properties, growing your assets through strategic investment of funds. Aim to grow your Company as large as you can!
■ Digital Deluxe Version
The Digital Deluxe Version includes the base game as well as the following extra digital content: additional costumes, equipment, battle background music toggling feature, formations, and items for the Business and War Mode minigames.
Furthermore, purchasing the Digital Deluxe Version prior to launch will grant early access to the game, allowing you to play the base game up to 72 hours before the official release.
■ Pre-Order / Early Purchase Bonuses
Bonus Accessories Set
Tatyana’s Piggy Bank – A special savings box from the youngest child of a merchant family. Increases aurums earned from battle by 10% when at renown rank 2 or lower.
“How to be a Hero” by Robin – A primer on how to be a hero, penned by Robin the Remarkable. Increases tech points earned from battle by 10% when at Renown rank 2 or lower.
Leon’s Crown – A traditional crown passed down from emperor to emperor of a very special realm. It allows the wearer to use the Solar spell, “Light Ball.”
Watch the announcement trailer below. View the first screenshots at the gallery.
