Saga Frontier 2 for PlayStation 1

Saga Frontier 2

A beautifully illustrated fantasy role-playing game, SaGa Frontier 2 features lush, hand-painted watercolor backgrounds that give this animated title a rich, storybook look. Two-dimensional graphics have rarely looked this good in an adventure game. Pretty pictures aside, the battle system in SaGa Frontier 2 is outstanding, allowing for combat to be as micromanaged or as mindless as players see fit. In addition to assigning in-battle character roles (such as support, intimidation, and so on), players can choose between multiple battle modes and execute elaborate attack combos (similar to that of fighting games). Like its predecessor, SaGa Frontier 2 puts a spin on the genre by featuring multiple storylines that converge at various points in the game. Events in the game are encapsulated into (mostly) playable scenarios, with new playable scenarios opening up as the existing ones are completed. While this feature enables gamers to experience nonlinear gameplay from different perspectives, it ultimately muddles rather than enhances the game's overall narrative. --Joe Hon Pros: Beautiful storybook look Outstanding battle system Multi-scenario feature allows for nonlinear gameplay Cons: Repetitive random battles Limited appeal outside of fans of the genre