SaGa (series)

nihongo|"SaGa"|Sa·Ga, サガ| is a series of console role-playing games produced by Square, now Square Enix. The series originated on the Game Boy in 1989 as the creation of Akitoshi Kawazu. It has since continued across multiple platforms, from the Super Nintendo Entertainment System to the PlayStation 2. The series has separated itself from its fellow Square franchises such as "Final Fantasy" and the "Mana series" due its non-linear and sometimes apparently experimental gameplay.

Overview

There are currently nine games in the "SaGa" series, along with a few ports and enhanced remakes. Although the series has been long-running, as of 2008 none of the ten production teams at Square Enix is assigned to the franchise. Akitoshi Kawazu and production team 2 are devoted to "Final Fantasy Crystal Chronicles" series. [cite web | author=Chris Winkler | date=2003 | title=Square Enix Talks Current Status | url=http://www.rpgfan.com/news/2003/1934.html | work=RPGFan.com | accessdate = 2008-06-15]

Common elements

The "SaGa" series follows the more traditional model of western role-playing games established by the "Ultima" series; its open-ended plot and free style of character development separate it from the more linear "Final Fantasy" series. Like the "Final Fantasy" series, however, the story in each "SaGa" game is independent of its counterparts.

The early games in the series also feature some common gameplay elements and themes first established in "Final Fantasy", such as random enemy encounters, but most of these disappear with the "Romancing SaGa" games, providing a unique gameplay experience. It also features a similar turn-based battle system, where a character's prowess is driven by numerical values called "statistics;" statistics, in turn, increase with combat experience. Given the open-ended aspect of gameplay and the ability to play through multiple character scenarios, heavy emphasis is placed upon the replay value of "SaGa" games.

Games

Development

Music

Music in the "SaGa" series have been composed by a number of people, the most prominent of which is Kenji Ito, who also composed many soundtracks for the "Mana" series. Ito scored a majority of scores for the series. Nobuo Uematsu, responsible for a large portion of the music of the "Final Fantasy" series, solely composed "The Final Fantasy Legend" and co-composed "Final Fantasy Legend II" with Ito. Ryuji Sasai and Chihiro Fujioka worked on "Final Fantasy Legend III" together. "SaGa Frontier 2" and "Unlimited Saga" are credited to Masashi Hamauzu.

Reception

In their September 2004 "Overrated/Underrated" article, "Official U.S. PlayStation Magazine" cited the SaGa series as one ruined in the transition to the PlayStation 2, citing primarily "Unlimited SaGa". [OPM staff (September 2004). "Overrated/Underrated" ( [http://www.extremecroquet.com/Ziff/Flashwork/UnderOver/overrated.swf SWF transcript] ). "Official U.S. PlayStation Magazine"]

References

External links

*moby game|id=-group/saga-universe|name="The SaGa Universe"
* [http://hg101.classicgaming.gamespy.com/saga/saga.htm Hardcore 101 Gaming article]