The SNES and you, 25 years of SUPER POWER!

[Sarge]

Ah, but the threat of dying at any turn adds to the tension.

I think that the various seeds basically bring you up to where you would be normally for leveling. I'm definitely going to finish the game one day. (I've technically "beat" it, but I was using someone else's save file.)

[Ack]

I would like to point out that many of the games we have beaten are also routinely derided by folks on GameFAQS for being "too hard." I have had folks look at me in awe that I could handle the likes of System Shock 2 or Weaponlord for example. I have at this point come to the realization that my perception of game difficulty is often far different from other people's. Now as for casters in 7th Saga, well, truth be told I don't know what it is like to start as one because I typically favor melee tanks. That can definitely color my opinion, though I know some people have played successfully as those characters.

Do they have a tough time at the start? Yes, that seems perfectly normal to me. I recall that a level 1 wizard in Dungeons and Dragons can easily be taken out by a house cat though, so for a weak and lonely mage to have a rough time at the start seems pretty typical, especially knowing that those characters will inevitably end up the most powerful by the end.

As for directional issues, that may just be translation errors. I find it better to look up world maps online in those cases.

Bottom line, I've seen what you play, and it's far harder than what most folks on GameFAQs would ever consider touching. You can handle the US version, Exhum.

[Exhuminator]

Bottom line, I've seen what you play, and it's far harder than what most folks on GameFAQs would ever consider touching. You can handle the US version, Exhum.

Alright coach, you sold me. I'll give the USA version a shot first. When I do, I'll hit you and Bone up for protips starting out.

[BoneSnapDeez]

Yeah, The 7th Saga is likely one of the hardest among 16-bit JRPGs..... Which means it's harder than Final Fantasy IV, Chrono Trigger, Breath of Fire, Phantasy Star IV, and so on.

It's still easier than most all old-school WRPGs. And I'm certain it's easier than most of From Software's output.

[Tanooki]

Now it's a genre I basically loathe almost complete, but you have one shining beacon here and there I can get into, so I'm kind of surprised I'm going to have to be the one to throw out here Ogre Battle the March of the Black Queen. That game is fantastic, and I hate that whole s-rpg hands off the combat type style game but this one I can tolerate fairly well (as I could with the original Nectaris, Advance Wars 1, and little else.) While not a true JRPG in the style of your normal FF/DQ/etc stuff that game really does need to be highlighted as I don't find the sequels did it as well as the original.

While not a favorite I don't hate it by far either, but I do have to agree Earthbound is something you do have to experience for better or worse as it has so much stand out elements to it you just have to try it and see.

[Ack]

Yeah, I feel that Drakkhen was a much greater challenge than 7th Saga ever was. And with the likes of Wizardry V in the collection, 7th Saga doesn't seem so bad.

[Exhuminator]

Yeah, The 7th Saga is likely one of the hardest among 16-bit JRPGs..... Which means it's harder than Final Fantasy IV, Chrono Trigger, Breath of Fire, Phantasy Star IV, and so on.

Considering I found all of those JRPGs you mentioned to be relatively easy, maybe Enix America wasn't crazy making The 7th Saga more challenging after all.

And with the likes of Wizardry V in the collection, 7th Saga doesn't seem so bad.

Looking forward to when you play through this:

[Xeogred]

I despise Secret of the Stars because growing up and stumbling upon it at rom sites and the like, I figured oh man, is that a Secret of Mana/Evermore game too?...

Yikes.

[marurun]

And good point on the controller there bone--why does no one bring this up. Probably the best non-3D game pad design ever made, and even then Sony made it a 3D stick with the dual shock setup later in the PS1 lifespan...take one SNES controller, double the top buttons, throw 2 sticks with a click, and you're set.

I'm late to respond to this because of cat health issues, but... Not everyone agrees with you and bonesnapdeez on this. I think the SNES controller is horrible. The dpad is problematic for fighting games, which always frustrated me, given how many the SNES got. I also hate the triggers. The shape is OK, but the dpad and triggers just kill it. I think the Genesis 3 and 6 button pads are much better for the time. Even the rather ugly-looking NEC Avenue 6 pad is actually more comfortable to use than the SNES controller.

[Ack]

And I gotta disagree with you, marurun. I loathe the Genesis controller. It feels awkward to hold, and its dpad always felt loose and imprecise to me.

Of course though it's not as bad as the Saturn model 1 controller. That thing is just...beefy.