Square Enix is continuing its trend of revisiting '90s classics with a remake of the Super Nintendo title, Romancing SaGa 3, titled Romancing SaGa 3: Destinies United. This remake promises a non-linear story, multiple protagonists, and unique minigames, echoing Square Enix's recent successful remakes like Live A Live and Dragon Quest 7 Reimagined.
During a preview event at New York Comic Con, the game impressed with its charming visuals and a distinct take on turn-based combat. The combat system is immediately engaging, with standard attacks and spells dealing thousands of points in damage, often escalating into five-figure damage numbers with combos and team-up attacks. This flashy presentation, characterized by swelling numerals and dramatic interstitials, evokes a sense of the satisfying spectacle found in Final Fantasy.
Unlike traditional RPGs, Romancing SaGa 3 eschews experience points. Instead, character stats and health increase based on actions performed repeatedly in battle, following a "you are what you eat" philosophy for character development. New abilities can be learned through the Glimmer system, indicated by a light-bulb icon, though players must manage limited skill slots, replacing older abilities with newer, more potent ones.
The game introduces unconventional HP and revival mechanics. While HP regenerates after battles, Battle Points (BP) used for skills do not. If a character's HP drops to zero, they can be revived with a healing item, but they will lose a Life Point (LP). Losing all LP results in permanent removal from the party. Players can recruit up to four optional characters to join the main protagonist, leading to a party of five.
The preview highlighted the game's cast of peculiar characters, including a snowman named Flurry and a character called Fat Robin, an overweight impersonator of the Zorro-esque Robin. These oddball recruits, along with others like a lobster-person, contribute to the game's unique charm. The visuals possess a vibrant, candy-colored aesthetic reminiscent of Dragon Quest 11.
Romancing SaGa 3: Destinies United is scheduled for release on February 16, 2027, for Nintendo Switch, Switch 2, PlayStation 5, Windows PC, and Xbox Series X.