{"id":46982,"date":"2025-04-11T19:45:04","date_gmt":"2025-04-11T10:45:04","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/automaton-media.com\/en\/?p=46982"},"modified":"2025-04-11T19:58:03","modified_gmt":"2025-04-11T10:58:03","slug":"saga-series-creator-says-giving-players-gameplay-driven-highs-matters-more-than-a-well-written-story","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/automaton-media.com\/en\/news\/saga-series-creator-says-giving-players-gameplay-driven-highs-matters-more-than-a-well-written-story\/","title":{"rendered":"SaGa series creator says giving players gameplay-driven \u201chighs\u201d matters more than a well-written story\u00a0"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

In a recent interview with Denfaminicogamer<\/a>, Square Enix\u2019s Akitoshi Kawazu talked about how SaGa games make sure the player\u2019s excitement peaks during combat (as opposed to narrative sections) and on a personal level rather than a shared level. He highlights the series\u2019 unique Glimmering system as a way of giving players a \u201chigh\u201d through gameplay. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

In favor of traditional, linear character leveling, many SaGa games use Glimmering (also called tech sparking), a mechanic whereby the character learns new skills based on your actions during battle. Based on parameters such as the enemy\u2019s difficulty, your weapon\/magic level and luck, characters can experience a random burst of inspiration, allowing them to learn and unleash a new skill in the heat of battle. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Romancing<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Commenting on the way SaGa games strive to achieve their peak during battle, rather than through story, Kawazu says, \u201cThat\u2019s because the most thrilling moment for the player is when they win a battle. The feeling of despair when you lose moments before the enemy\u2019s HP depletes to zero, and the emotional high when you finally manage to defeat them \u2013 that\u2019s where the peak is. And the more drama you layer into the experience, the better.\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n

This is where, according to Kawazu, tech sparking plays a big role \u2013 \u201cThat\u2019s why I think everyone loves Glimmering \u2013 because the experience of winning thanks to a Glimmer stays with them. It feels good because it gets associated with victory. I think that building in those kinds of elements is the correct way to express things through games.\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Romancing<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Although Glimmering involves luck, Kawazu says that the key to not letting the mechanic feel frustrating is encouraging players to devise ways to improve their odds, like changing equipment, buffing in advance and experimenting. \u201cThe trial-and-error itself needs to be fun. Then, when you\u2019ve tried something and seen that you\u2019re \u2018not quite on the mark but getting there,\u2019 this encourages you to keep going.\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n

On a related note, Kawazu mentions not caring so much for receiving praise about his game\u2019s stories. \u201cEven if someone says it’s a well-written story, the story is the same no matter who reads it, so it might as well be a novel or film. Giving players an experience that\u2019s truly unique only to them is what makes games so great as a medium.\u201d  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

As an example, Kawazu recounts playing Romancing SaGa 3 and striking a miraculous win in the final boss battle thanks to Paul sparking Golden Dragon. \u201cI remember thinking to myself This game is so good! <\/em>in that moment.<\/em>\u201d It\u2019s these kinds of experiences \u2013 which only happen to players on an individual level \u2013 that are worth pursuing in games, according to Kawazu. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Related Article: SaGa series creator would rather players give up on his games for being too hard than risk being boring<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Akitoshi Kawazu, creator of Square Enix’s SaGa series, wants each player to go through a completely unique experience driven by gameplay, rather than a shared one driven by story.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":55,"featured_media":46986,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_gspb_post_css":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[64,3],"tags":[17],"class_list":["post-46982","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-game-development","category-news","tag-japan-related-news"],"blocksy_meta":[],"yoast_head":"\nSaGa series creator says giving players gameplay-driven \u201chighs\u201d matters more than a well-written story\u00a0 - AUTOMATON WEST<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Akitoshi Kawazu, creator of Square Enix's SaGa series, wants each player to go through a completely unique experience driven by gameplay.\" \/>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/automaton-media.com\/en\/news\/saga-series-creator-says-giving-players-gameplay-driven-highs-matters-more-than-a-well-written-story\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"SaGa series creator says giving players gameplay-driven \u201chighs\u201d matters more than a well-written story\u00a0 - 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