Can't decide whether to get this or Minstrel Song.

[Arthur Morrigan]

Which is a better remake? Minstrel Song is cheaper and has a better art style, but it's a PS2 SaGa game so I'm not really sure to what extent its game design is deranged.

I played a little bit of the RS2 Remaster years ago but lost interest for one reason or another, although I remember enjoying what I played. The art style for this remake is unfortunately hideous and reminds me of modern Falcom games.

[trans diaochan truther]

Minstrel Song has some pretty deranged game design moments, but most of it lies in hidden mechanics you don't notice until you know they're there. I think if you're familiar with the ER system and don't mind missing content on your first few playthroughs you're already past most of the pitfalls beginners to MS have and the game design oddness most people who hate it detest.

RS2 is more 'polished', seems to tutorialize a bit better, and gives the player a lot more information to work with giving you a better sense of control and understanding of WTH you are doing.

Basically, get MS if you're okay with the game being more of a mechanical puzzle box disguised as a normal JRPG, get RS2 if that sort of thing turns you off but still want to play a SaGa game.

[Elegnaim]

Originally posted by Christmas Creature:

reminds me of modern Falcom games.

I see where you're coming from and I do greatly prefer MS' art direction myself, but I feel like RS2 remake does look considerably better in-game and much more coherent than like, whatever Modern Falcom is doing. Especially the area design, nicer lighting while also not doing the "overly detailed and noisy textures" thing.

Falcom's writing style also has a lot of quirks that I think *really* clash stylistically with the anime figuring character models. RS2 doesn't really do that and it's much less dialogue heavy in general.

Anyway though, MS has some elaborate mechanics but it does have tutorial and you can like look up how much damage attacks do (though I don't remember if it shows you this in battle or if you have to check the skill menu outside of battle. The more recent remaster might make this more visible). It's not going full in on data hiding the way Unlimited Saga was and I can't think of any super counterintuitive gotcha moments in the battle system. The really odd mechanics you can engage with seem more like they're for unlocking cool beneficial things and less like something that's secretly going to screw you over I guess?