Release Date: 12/15/2020
Developer: Square/Akitoshi Kawazu da gawd
Publisher: SquareEnix
Genre: JRPG
Platform: Switch
Price(s): $19.99/£14.99/€19.99/¥3,100 (Currently ¥2,790 until 12/20/2020)
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What is this?
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Collection of SaGa: Final Fantasy Legend is a compilation of the three original Game Boy entries in the SaGa series, originally localized in North America as Final Fantasy Legend. These are three extremely solid portable RPGs that will take you on three adventures that span time and space across a series of worlds that reflect all sorts of different settings. If you have any passing interest in the SaGa franchise, read on!
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THE GAMES
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Makai Toushi SaGa / The Final Fantasy Legend
Originally Released: 12/15/1989 (JP), 9/30/1990 (NA)
It has been said
that the tower in
the center of the
World is connected
to Paradice.
Dreaming of a life
in Paradice,
many have challenged
the secret of the
tower,
but no one knows
what became of them
Now,
there is another who
will brave the
adventure....
In the wake of his work on Final Fantasy 2, Akitoshi Kawazu was given a basic concept by another coworker. This became the seed that would sprout into what would become his first game as director. As such, this game very much reflected Kawazu's previous experience designing core ideas in both FF1 and 2. In a way that blended ideas from both games, you create a party of characters from one of three core classes (Human, Monster, and Mutant/Esper) similar to FF1, but the development of those characters is actually different between classes, with Mutants in particular echoing elements of Final Fantasy 2. Each of the character classes have their quirks, but just about any combination can reasonably work once you start to pick apart those quirks and learn how the game functions (which, as noted, is a common expectation for the series). As such, FF2's spirit of experimenting with characters lives on in SaGa 1.
The world itself establishes a lot of norms for the SaGa franchise by breaking a lot of norms for the JRPG genre. Instead of a typical fantasy world, SaGa was set against a sprawling heavenly tower that connected many different worlds together, all overseen by the Creator who lived atop the tower. The heroes start from the beginning of the tower and are tasked with climbing the tower so they can meet (and defeat) the Creator. Along the way, you'll often break off from ascending tower to explore the worlds connected along the way, several of which are beset by the four saint beasts of Chinese mythology.
What do I need to expect with character building?
SaGa 1 has you picking from three distinct styles of characters when you build your party of four characters.
Humans are the most basic type of character in SaGa and the ones you have the most direct control over how they grow. They can equip any weapon, armor, or item and have the most slots on hand for them. They do not grow from combat, however. Leveling human characters requires you to purchase stat items to boost specific stats. This is costly, but it gives you direct control over your build. There's no randomness here. As they are based around gear, they do run afoul most directly of weapons degrading, as their equipment will also need to be replaced on a regular basis.
Mutants (Espers) function like characters in later SaGa games. All their stat gains are entirely randomized, influenced only slightly by how you function in combat. They also randomly gain new spells from combat, which can be a blessing or a curse due to how sometimes you can learn something good and sometimes you lose a good spell to something less good. Mutant abilities have the benefit of being able to be replenished by resting at an inn, making it to where Mutants don't need to rely as much on having new gear bought for them like humans require.
Monsters don't level nor can they be improved by equipment. What you get in terms of stats and skills with a monster is what they will always have while they are in that form! Thankfully, monsters can evolve by eating the meat of slain enemies. The power level and family of that monster both contribute into determining what your evolution will be. Like Mutant spells, monster skills can also be restored at an Inn. Unlike humans and mutants, which all start the same no matter what, you get a choice between a few starting monster forms if you pick a monster.
Just remember, all characters have Life Points (LP) that can run out, leaving your characters permanently dead if you don't purchase more hearts for them.
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SaGa2: Hihō Densetsu / Final Fantasy Legend 2
Original Release: 12/14/1990 (JP), 11/1/1991 (NA)
....MAGI....
The symbol of
great power.
The legacy of
the ancient gods
who made
this world.
Many fought for
the mighty power.
Some won
and some failed.
Now....
another legend
of bravery is
about to begin....
A year later, Kawazu and team brought us SaGa 2. There's not too terribly much for me to say here, because SaGa 2 is largely SaGa 1 but bigger and better. You have a lot of the same ideas of a party of generated characters traveling between worlds to eventually fight a godlike figure. It's the improvements that really matter and make the difference in going from SaGa 1, a genuinely good game, to what is honestly one of the finest JRPGs available on the Gameboy. The class system is overhauled from SaGa 1, with tweaks made to existing classes and a new class (Robot) being brought in to increase party variety. Also the game introduces the Magi system, a very early pass at what would become the Materia system in FF7 where you equip magic orbs to give yourself special abilities. On top of all the mechanical changes, the story, though similar in concept to SaGa 1, is vastly more in depth with what you experience, with named NPCs now joining you along your quest to save the world.
What do I need to expect going into character building?
Though SaGa 2 technically has you playing as a character with a pre-determined family and living in town with friends (party members) who themselves have pre-determined families, you still generate a party of four characters from a pool of four classes
Humans now function more closely to Mutants, gaining stats as they fight and now being able to use spells (though they have to be equiped with limited use spells, rather than learning them like Mutants).
Mutants are as they were in SaGa 1, though they are a little more predictable in how they level.
Monsters are virtually unchanged from SaGa 1, though there are more monster options this time around.
Robots take the place of SaGa 1 style Humans as the completely gear/item based class. They function a little differently, however. Their core stats are determined directly by their equipment. Likewise, weapons they equip see their durability cut in half in exchange for the ability to replenish them at an inn. They are expensive, but very powerful if used right.
Unlike SaGa 1, you aren't going it alone this time. You have a constantly rotating fifth party member who tags along and assists in battle. As previously noted, you also can acquire Magi, a number of magical stones that you can equip to get special abilities.
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SaGa 3: Jikuu no Hasha / Final Fantasy Legend 3
Original Release: 12/13/1991 (JP), 8/1993 (NA)
The Pureland Water
Entity appeared
and flooded this
world's present,
past and future.
The water brought
monsters, which
hunted people day
and night. Cities
fell one by one,
covered by
the sea...
However, a few
individuals
prepare for a
journey that may
determine the
fate of the world
While Kawazu and his series regulars focused on the leap to the Super Famicom, a ringer team came in to finish out the original Gameboy trilogy of SaGa games in the form of SaGa 3. As this would be the team that would largely go on to make Final Fantasy Mystic Quest and Secret of Evermore, you can imagine that this game would be a little more basic than its bretheren, and you wouldn't necessarily be wrong. SaGa 3 does dump a lot of the series standards for something that plays more functionally like a traditional JRPG. With that said, the monster eating mechanic returns here, with your four main characters being able to either eat monster meat or apply robot parts to turn themselves into varying beasts, monsters, cyborgs, and robots similar to how the previous games handled Monster party members. Also bringing SaGa 3 more in line with traditional RPGs, you have a more straight forward adventure, with the game featuring a set of defined characters who go on a world saving quest through time to end a future world ending scenario. Along the way, you'll find parts to upgrade your time machine, giving you more freedom to explore the different time periods available to you and eventually expanding your time machine's capabilities to allow it to become a primary means of travel and even a mobile town.
Character Building in SaGa 3
Things work a little differently in SaGa 3. Instead of building four player-defined characters, you have four static characters (two humans and two mutants) who are actual named characters and everything. These characters function, however, similarly to monsters from the first two games. All enemies can drop meat or parts that can be used by any of the four characters to
Human/Mutant: These are your base characters. They still level like SaGa characters, but the humans trend towards being stronger fighters and the mutants trend towards being stronger mages. They both can equip all equipment, but they get no talents.
Beasts: These are hybrids between Human/Mutants and Monsters. They can equip gear like humans and can get talents like monsters.
Monsters: These are full on monsters like in previous games. They are what they are when you get them.
Cyborgs: These actually function like SaGa 2 style Robots, and rely on equipment to determine their stats. They also get talents.
Robots: These actually function even more like SaGa 1 style humans than SaGa 2 style Robots. They are improved entirely through consuming stat boosting items. They can learn Talents
Eating monster meat takes you one step closer towards being a monster and installing robot parts puts you a step closer to being a robot. Eating meat as a cyborg/robot will push you back towards being a human, as does installing parts as a monster/beast. As such:
Robot <-> Cyborg <-> Human/Mutant <-> Beast <-> Monster
You can find a Transformation chart for Monsers, Beasts, Cyborgs, and Robots here
Also worth noting is that, like SaGa 2, you occasionally recruit a temporary fifth party member to help you out on your quest.
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What's New?
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On top of collecting the first three games, Collection of SaGa includes the following quality of life improvements
-Speed Toggle (does not affect sound)
-Adjustable screen levels
-Different display modes
-Remixed music and art viewable in the menu
-Wallpapers
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FAQS
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Q: Why should I care?
A: If you are coming into this already hating SaGa games, these game won't likely change your minds, but please give them a shot. These are historically important games and were some of the best games available on the GB in their own day. They have some warts on them now (especially SaGa 1) but they are still highly playable games with a ton of replay value.
Q: I see the other title for these games are Final Fantasy Legend. What's up with that?
A: In order to tap into the limited consumer awareness of Final Fantasy 1 (which had only released a couple months prior), Square released the first game in the series as The Final Fantasy Legend. This naming system was kept going throughout the rest of the GB games, with Square only calling SaGa games by their proper names once the series hit the PS1 in the west. As such, unlike Final Fantasy Adventure (which is explicitly a Final Fantasy spinoff to begin with), these aren't necessarily Final Fantasy games. That said, they very clearly spin-off of the ideas of Final Fantasy 2, so it's not like there's no connection.
Q: Do I need to have played the other SaGa games?
A: No. Each SaGa game is effectively its own contained story, often in their own self contained setting. These are also the first three games in the series, so it's not like you have to worry about any connections to later games.
Q: SaGa games can sometimes get pretty different from game to game. Which ones do these mostly resemble?
A: While there are some mechanical similarities to later games, these all play fairly different from later SaGas. Beyond the weapon durability that has kept through much of the franchise, there's only a basic version of the glimmer system and no weapon/magic leveling. For those who are fans of SaGa Frontier 1, you'll find the way beast characters function (eating meat to evolve into different monsters) the same as how Riki plays.
Q: Do weapons degrade here?
A: They do in SaGa 1 and 2, but not in 3.
Q: Do characters die permanently?
A: Characters in SaGa 1 can die permanently if they run out of LP, but you can restore that by buying Hearts. SaGa 2 and 3 do not feature permadeath for characters.
Q: Does this collection have save states?
A: While pre-release info mentioned them, the collection does not. The games already allow you to save anywhere, however.
Q: Do I need to beat myself up to get stronger in this one?
A: No. Stop asking. That wasn't even a good strategy in FF2. You have less control over your stats leveling anyway.
Q: SaGa 1 is extremely hard! How do I make this easier?
A: While SaGa 1 can be a very brutal game, the game secretly has a party build that can effectively trivialize the entire game. See the Community Tips section
Q: Did these ever get remade? Why are we stuck with just some GB roms?
A: All three of these games have been remade. SaGa 1 was remade on the Wonderswan and SaGa 2 and 3 both got some relatively high profile remakes on the DS. With that said, none of those got localized outside of Japan, though they are all playable in English with fan translations. That said, the GB versions are historically important and are extremely good on their own!
Q: So...bananas
A: There will be no smack talk in here
Q: Is Akitoshi Kawazu really the best?
A: Yes
(Do it for him)
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MEDIA
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Community Tips (More to be added)
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-If SaGa 1 is a little too brutal for you, give this All Monster Party a shot, as it gets you an end-game worthy party very quickly and can carry you through much of the game with little effort.
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Resources (more to be added)
SaGa Project Website
NA eShop
SaGa 1/FFL1 Monster Transformation Calculator (website)
SaGa 2/FFL2 Monster Evolution Path Calculator (program)
SaGa 3/FFL3 Transformation guide (website)
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