Square Enix Ships Romancing Saga To Retailers

Minstrel’s Legendary Tale Completely Renovated for First Stateside Release

Los Angeles, Calif., (October 13, 2005) – Square Enix, Inc., the publisher of Square Enix™ interactive entertainment products in North America, announces that Romancing SaGa™ is on sale now exclusively for the PlayStation®2 computer entertainment system. With creator Akitoshi Kawazu’s vision beautifully realized in this free-roaming challenge, the player’s actions truly affect the outcome of the game. The adventure is depicted for the first time in 3D, combining vibrant graphics, innovative gameplay and a story that can be played through the perspective of 8 different selectable characters.

Romancing SaGa’s story is based on the original Super Famicom (Super Nintendo Entertainment System in America) game which was never released in America. With outstanding graphics and playability made possible with the technological capability of the PlayStation 2, Kawazu brings a fresh feel to each SaGa title by staying true to his ideal of never reusing gameplay elements and incorporating a unique storyline in every game. In this reissue, fans of the series will find added event scenes and interactivity with previously non-playable characters.

Reactions from media have continued to stay positive from Preview to Review and include the following:

“While it can take hours of play before you even really begin the story, the sense of freedom granted should come as a welcome relief to those tired of riding rigid RPG rails... Vibrant characters and detailed towns are balanced by sparse landscape and battle environments that are more abstract watercolor than eye candy…” - GamePro Magazine, October 2005

“Add in features like the SaGa series’ tradition of leveling up stats individually after each fight instead of traditional experience gain, and you have one seriously hardcore RPG in the making.” - Play Magazine, September 2005

“…the SaGa series has always saved its sweetest, juiciest fruits for the fan willing to spend hours researching its complex battle system and non-linear story setup… Saying it’s “not for everyone” might seem like a cliché, but the kinds of demands it places on the player can’t be found anywhere else in modern game-dom…” - Newtype USA, August 2005

The story begins a thousand years ago, when Saruin was imprisoned. Now the barriers that contain him are weakening, and his foreboding shadow threatens to swallow the world of Mardias once again. Who will rid the world of Saruin’s scourge? A mysterious minstrel appears and guides the group to adventure, at times shielding them from adversity. Occasionally, the minstrel forces grave choices upon them, which change their world and twist the plots they encounter.

Features

• The free-roaming scenario system gives gamers a choice of eight intriguing playable characters, each with their own unique adventures and individual goals.
• Depending on the character and actions chosen, the plot and the subsequent events differentiate dramatically. This free-roaming scenario system promises the ultimate in open-ended adventure.
• Vivid 3D graphics: The characters and backgrounds are rendered in vivid 3D graphics, making the magnificent realm of Mardias a truly enjoyable place to explore.
•  Battle system: Players can learn multiple weapon skills based on the weapons they use. Various combinations of attack techniques and magic spells can be linked in order to unleash devastating attacks upon foes. The possibilities are endless with this open-ended system.
• Music: As with other games in the series, the background music, battle sound effects, and voiceovers play important roles in Romancing SaGa. The theme song is produced by Masayoshi
• Yamazaki, and composer Kenji Ito has provided the game’s delightful musical score.

Romancing SaGa will be available at North American retailers for a suggested retail price of $39.99 (USD). The Entertainment Software Rating Board (ESRB) has rated ROMANCING SAGA “E10+” for Everyone 10 and older.

Share | Digg This | Glink It

---