Square Enix’s final TGS lineup title, 'Romancing SaGa 3: Destinies United' (hereinafter 'Romancing SaGa 3 Remake'), which had been kept tightly under wraps until the very end, was finally revealed. Since it was not unveiled even during Square Enix’s pre-event ahead of TGS 2026, anticipation for the game naturally soared. With high hopes in mind, I visited the Square Enix booth at TGS to get hands-on experience with 'Romancing SaGa 3 Remake.'
As for the visuals, long explanations hardly seem necessary. It has been 31 years since the original 'Romancing SaGa 3' was released on the Super Famicom in 1995. Considering that even state-of-the-art hardware from that era—or what people then called 'supercomputers'—paled in performance compared to today’s flagship smartphones, directly comparing the visuals of the original and the remake is almost meaningless.
However, there is another key aspect to consider in a remake: how well it captures the original’s design and atmosphere. Because the original game was created with pixel art, detailed comparisons must rely on character artwork. In that respect, the character designs generally translate the original’s characteristics well. They faithfully capture not only each character's personality but also their physical features.
Still, some elements feel slightly different—a shift in artistic sensibility, so to speak. Looking at the character designs of the original, there is a strong impression of sharp, piercing eyes. While some characters indeed had personalities to match, it is more natural to assume that the art style of that era simply gave off a sharper impression than today's.
From that perspective, the character designs in 'Romancing SaGa 3 Remake' might at first glance seem somewhat divergent from the original. While the fundamental designs are well preserved, they feel as though a bit of that edgy sharpness has been softened.
This shift is also noticeable with Muse. While the original Muse gave off a strong aura of mystery and frail health, 'Romancing SaGa 3 Remake' maintains her delicate, pure appearance while paring back the impression of extreme weakness. Given the 31-year gap, character interpretations appear to have been subtly adjusted to fit modern trends.
Setting aside comparisons with the original, purely from a visual standpoint, it looks decent. Compared to its predecessor, 'Romancing SaGa 2 Remake', it shows notable improvement, though it is hard to say it stands out drastically when compared to other games of a similar style.
That is not to say the visuals are disappointing. While it falls short when compared to photorealistic, high-end AAA titles, the unique flavor of 'Romancing SaGa 3 Remake', built upon the original's designs, is distinctly alive.
Ultimately, evaluation depends on what you compare it against. While it leaves something to be desired next to modern graphical showcases, if asked whether its visuals capture the spirit of the original, I can unhesitatingly answer yes.
It was difficult to thoroughly assess the story from this hands-on demo alone. With a limited timeframe of about 20 minutes, I had to play through both the regular story mode and the demo-exclusive boss battle content. It was literally just scratching the surface. Therefore, I will refrain from judging how faithfully it follows the original story based solely on this demo. Instead, I focused on core narrative elements: dialogue, character voice acting, and cutscene presentation.
In this regard, I could feel that considerable effort was put in. The voice acting was lively, and each character's personality came through clearly. Even though I played through the story mode without full knowledge of the background context, I had little trouble understanding the characters' personalities and current situations.
Given the limited demo time, combat naturally consumed the largest portion of my session. 'Romancing SaGa 3 Remake' does not simply import the original battle system; true to its title as a remake, it reinterprets combat to suit modern gameplay sensibilities.
The first thing that caught my eye was Formations. Formations were also present in the original game. In the original, there were various setups ranging from 1-character to up to 5-character formations, granting special effects such as attack power, defense, speed, and HP recovery depending on the arrangement.
'Romancing SaGa 3 Remake' maintains this core framework. However, rather than separating them into distinct 1-character or 2-character formations, it operates more by changing character positions within a standard 5-character layout.
In this demo build, three formations were available: Free Fight, Desert Lance, and Whirlwind. Free Fight places party members in a line to fight freely, providing no special formation effects. Desert Lance positions a single tank out front with the remaining characters in the back row, making it defense-oriented. Whirlwind offers special bonuses such as boosting the entire party's agility.
There was an interesting detail here. Even in formations like Free Fight that offer no inherent formation effects, certain characters still received base stat boosts. This suggests that synergy exists between specific characters and formations.
Another indispensable combat feature is 'Glimmer (閃き).' Glimmer faithfully reproduces the original system: as characters fight enemies, they suddenly spark new techniques—a form of randomized character growth.
During the demo, Glimmers triggered while using basic attacks or certain skills, unlocking new techniques on the spot. In particular, the chance of triggering a Glimmer increased against formidable foes, and the techniques learned this way were often significantly stronger than existing ones.
While I only caught a brief glimpse in the demo build, in actual gameplay, acquiring a new technique during a dire situation could serve as a dramatic turnaround, turning the tide of battle.
Unlike traditional RPGs where abilities are learned through level-ups or proficiency grinding, this feature is unique to 'Romancing SaGa'—in many ways, the series' core identity. As such, retaining the feel of the original is a welcome choice. It promises familiar enjoyment for longtime fans while offering newcomers a progression mechanic rarely seen in other RPGs.
Area-of-effect (AoE) attacks are also alive and well. The original featured techniques and spells that targeted vertical columns, horizontal rows, or all enemies, and these have been mostly recreated in 'Romancing SaGa 3 Remake.' However, as the word 'mostly' implies, there is a slight twist: the width of the AoE.
Even among column attacks, techniques are now differentiated by narrow or wide hitboxes. Rather than simply targeting a line, players must consider the width of the attack area, allowing for deeper strategic depth than before.
While the mechanics mentioned so far preserve or refine original features, the Overdrive gauge and United Attacks are newly added elements in 'Romancing SaGa 3 Remake.'
The Overdrive gauge is best understood as a shared ultimate meter for the entire party. Attacking enemies fills the gauge, and once maxed out, you can trigger a United Attack centered around a chosen character on any turn you desire.
There is an important condition here: you cannot execute a United Attack with just any character. By default, combos can only be performed between two characters who are connected within the formation. For example, if Thomas is placed at the center with Julian and Monica on his left and right, combos are restricted to Thomas and Julian, or Thomas and Monica.
Because it consumes a dedicated resource in the Overdrive gauge, its power is substantial. Not only do two characters strike simultaneously in a single attack, but the United Attack itself boasts high damage output, making timing crucial.
In this demo, only 2-Chain attacks were available. However, the explicit designation of '2-Chain' suggests that as characters progress, longer combo chains involving three, four, or more characters may become unlocked.
If I were to sum up my experience with 'Romancing SaGa 3 Remake' in a single sentence, it is a game that builds on overhauled visuals and cutscene presentation while staying as true as possible to the original battle mechanics.
This is a crucial balance for any remake. If fundamental gameplay changes too drastically during modern reinterpretation, the game risks alienating long-time fans who have waited years for the series' return.
In that sense, 'Romancing SaGa 3 Remake'—at least as experienced in this demo—chose to elevate visuals and presentation to modern standards while retaining the core of the original. It leaves an impression that aligns well with what original fans would expect.
Of course, that does not mean it is meant solely for returning fans. Strategic elements like Formations, Glimmers, and AoE attacks offer plenty to ponder during combat, now bolstered by the newly added Overdrive gauge and United Attacks. There are more than enough features for newcomers to find genuine enjoyment in the battle system.
Personally, however, I hope the visuals receive a bit more polish before launch. They are not bad as they stand, but they lack that wow factor that makes you marvel at how far the remake has come. After all, eye candy only enhances the feast. 'Romancing SaGa 3 Remake' is scheduled for official release on February 17, 2027. With roughly five months remaining until launch, I look forward to seeing an even more refined title when it arrives.
