SaGa Emerald Beyond “Proves that Turn-Based Combat Can be Very Dynamic and Diverse,” Says Staff

Square Enix Blog recently interviewed SaGa Emerald Beyond staff, notably director Akitoshi Kawazu and localization director Neil Broadley.

In one question and response, Broadley went at length emphasizing how the combat throughout SaGa Emerald Beyond proves that turn-based systems can be dynamic and diverse, opposing the assumed notion that all games of the genre are “sluggish and samey.” The constant alterations with turn order and other factors actively mitigate repetition.

Throughout SaGa Emerald Beyond, players can step into the shoes of six distinct protagonists, each possessing a unique and intriguing storyline that sets the stage for an epic adventure. These characters have a remarkable ability to perceive emerald waves, which reveal choices that will shape their destinies in the game’s expansive universe.

Players will select their heroes and adventure through 17 interconnected worlds, with the story’s events up to you. Further, there are more paths than ever before in the series. Combat occurs in timeline turn-based battles, where turn order is crucial. Special techniques alter the order of actions, and team combos will significantly bolster your efforts.

• Check out our announcement coverage for additional details.
• Kenji Ito has composed over 50 songs for the game, with three currently revealed.
• The six playable protagonists all received character renders.
• Check out the Tokyo Game Show 2023 trailer.

You can view the quoted question and response below:

What can we expect from the game’s combat system?

Broadley: There’s a perception that turn-based combat is often “sluggish” and “samey”: attackers spam the same moves, you’ve got a healer, and maybe some buffs and debuffs that come up for one boss battle and are largely ignored the rest of the game. SaGa Emerald Beyond proves that turn-based combat can be very dynamic and diverse.

For example, in SaGa Emerald Beyond, the turn order changes from round to round and your available action points can fluctuate based on a number of user-controlled factors, you are heavily incentivized to adapt your tactics on the fly. What you did last turn just won’t work this turn. You won’t be spamming the same moves over and over, and you are rewarded for thinking two steps ahead.

If you’ve shied away from turn-based games because you think they’re a bit repetitive, you’ll find SaGa Emerald Beyond to be an eye-opener in just how strategic and tactical turn-based combat can be when done well!

You can view additional comments via Square Enix Blog’s full post.

SaGa Emerald Beyond will launch for PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Nintendo Switch, PC via Steam, and mobile devices via iOS and Android devices in 2024.