Role-Playing Games of the 2020s, Part 3 Codexery

SaGa: Emerald Beyond

Six protagonists journey through interconnected worlds via the Beyond.

Last updated

The game uses a turn-based combat system with a timeline and no traditional experience points, instead using a Glimmer system to learn abilities.[1][2][3]

Making and release

The team aimed to expand and refine the structure of Scarlet Grace, completely redesigning the combat system while carrying over its basic framework.[4][5] The game was officially announced in September 2023 and released on April 25, 2024.[6][7] After SaGa: Scarlet Grace was finished, the initial planning for Emerald Beyond started in 2016, and the game entered full production in 2018.[8] Akitoshi Kawazu, the creator of the SaGa series, acted as the game's director and lead writer, while Masanori Ichikawa was the producer.[8]

Kawazu aimed to craft a narrative that would offer a unique experience for each player on every playthrough.[9] Satoshi Kuramochi was responsible for the key visuals and the design of most of the main characters.[10] The SaGa series achieved its first global, simultaneous release with this title.[7][5]

What the cited sources add

Parsons states that the core of combat is manipulating the timeline, not just choosing the most damaging attacks.[11] The Touch Arcade interview with Kawazu, Ito, and Shibata confirms that the battle system specifications and formulas were completely redesigned from Scarlet Grace.[5] The same interview notes that the team incorporated combos from SaGa Frontier and the United Attack system from Scarlet Grace into overdrives and showstoppers.[5] Torres also states that the game preserves a narrative that changes depending on player actions and choices.[3]

References

  1. Wikipedia, "SaGa: Emerald Beyond" (CC BY-SA 4.0), which cites: Parsons, "SaGa Emerald Beyond Review", RPGFan, 2024-04-24; PlayStation Blog, 2024-04-25; 4Gamer.net, 2024-04-01 (we also read that source) en.wikipedia.org
  2. Wikipedia, "SaGa: Emerald Beyond" (CC BY-SA 4.0), which cites: Torres, "Square Enix reveals SaGa Emerald Beyond for PlayStation 5, PlayStation 4, Nintendo Switch, PC, and Mobile", RPG Site, 2023-09-15; Parsons, "SaGa Emerald Beyond Review", RPGFan, 2024-04-24 (we also read that source) en.wikipedia.org
  3. Torres, "Square Enix reveals SaGa Emerald Beyond for PlayStation 5, PlayStation 4, Nintendo Switch, PC, and Mobile", RPG Site, 2023-09-15. facts only, no text reused. rpgsite.net
  4. Wikipedia, "SaGa: Emerald Beyond" (CC BY-SA 4.0), which cites: Madnani, Mikhail, "'SaGa Emerald Beyond' Interview: Akitoshi Kawazu, Kenji Ito, and Tomokazu Shibata Discuss Global Success, Combat, the Worldwide Launch, Music, and Coffee", Touch Arcade, 2024-04-24; (we also read that source) en.wikipedia.org
  5. Madnani, Mikhail, "'SaGa Emerald Beyond' Interview: Akitoshi Kawazu, Kenji Ito, and Tomokazu Shibata Discuss Global Success, Combat, the Worldwide Launch, Music, and Coffee", Touch Arcade, 2024-04-24. facts only, no text reused. toucharcade.com
  6. Wikipedia, "SaGa: Emerald Beyond" (CC BY-SA 4.0), which cites: Romano, "New SaGa series package title in development: 'We hope to announce it in 2022'", Gematsu, 2021-12-15; Romano, "Square Enix trademarks Emberstoria, SaGa Emerald Beyond in Japan [Update: Europe, Australia]", Gematsu, 2022-10-20; Romano, "SaGa Emerald Beyond announced for PS5, PS4, Switch, PC, iOS, and Android", Gematsu, 2023-09-15; Torres, "Square Enix reveals SaGa Emerald Beyond for PlayStation 5, PlayStation 4, Nintendo Switch, PC, and Mobile", RPG Site, 2023-09-15 (we also read that source) en.wikipedia.org
  7. Wikipedia, "SaGa: Emerald Beyond" (CC BY-SA 4.0), which cites: Romano, "SaGa Emerald Beyond launches April 25, 2024", Gematsu, December 15, 2023 (original not read by us) en.wikipedia.org
  8. Wikipedia, "SaGa: Emerald Beyond" (CC BY-SA 4.0), which cites: ; Torres, "Square Enix reveals SaGa Emerald Beyond for PlayStation 5, PlayStation 4, Nintendo Switch, PC, and Mobile", RPG Site, 2023-09-15; ; "Opus Studio", Opus Studio; Cattle Call; ; DenFamiNicoGamer.jp, 2024-05-27 (we also read that source) en.wikipedia.org
  9. Wikipedia, "SaGa: Emerald Beyond" (CC BY-SA 4.0), which cites: 4Gamer.net, 2023-09-23 (original not read by us) en.wikipedia.org
  10. Wikipedia, "SaGa: Emerald Beyond" (CC BY-SA 4.0), which cites: ; "SaGa Emerald Beyond Original Soundtrack Collector's Edition", Square Enix, May 1, 2024 (original not read by us) en.wikipedia.org
  11. Parsons, "SaGa Emerald Beyond Review", RPGFan, 2024-04-24. facts only, no text reused. rpgfan.com

Each numbered sentence above was checked against the source it cites before publication. Sentences citing Wikipedia adapt text from the English Wikipedia article SaGa: Emerald Beyond (contributors), used under CC BY-SA 4.0; this entry is available under the same licence. Other sources were used for facts only; no text or images are copied from them.

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1. Which company published "SaGa: Emerald Beyond"?

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Not quite. The answer is Square Enix.

2. Who directed "SaGa: Emerald Beyond"?

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Not quite. The answer is Akitoshi Kawazu.

3. Which company developed "SaGa: Emerald Beyond"?

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Not quite. The answer is Square Enix.

Answers checked against the source article

Sources

Compiled from Wikipedia and the sources listed below. Text from Wikipedia is available under CC BY-SA 4.0; this entry is adapted from it.

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