SaGa Scarlet Grace (サガ スカーレット グレイス SaGa Sukāretto Gureisu?), is the tenth installment in the SaGa series, released in December 15, 2016 for the PlayStation Vita in Japan. Set in a nameless world where powers be them divine, earthly or spiritual are always at clash. It follows the story of four protagonists with their own objectives and struggles for surviving in an ever-conflicting world where humanity will have to carve a new path in order to put an end to it.
Gameplay[]
Battle System[]
Unlike in most previous entries, the gameplay in this title focuses on manipulating the turn order of all characters in a battle to set up a United Attack. Successfully executing this attack reduces the player's BP (Battle Points), a key component of the battle system. In contrast to earlier games, all characters now share a single technique gauge, which shifts the emphasis of battles towards strategic planning. This change encourages a more thoughtful approach to each encounter, as players must manage their resources and coordinate attacks more carefully than before.
Progression[]
The progression in this game closely resembles that of the "Romancing" series, as players are encouraged to interact with their surroundings to discover quests and advance the main story. Unlike traditional games with distinct dungeons, this title features a world that functions as a vast, interconnected dungeon, requiring exploration to make progress. Notably, the game places a strong emphasis on worldbuilding and character development, drawing comparisons to SaGa Frontier 2 with its scenario-driven structure.
Scenario Selection[]
Urpina's Scenario[]
The first chapter of Urpina's scenario follows a traditional RPG structure, with a clear goal to accomplish. After completing the first chapter, players gain more freedom to explore and engage with various events. Urpina's scenario is recommended for beginners due to its straightforward progression.
Leonard's Scenario[]
Leonard's scenario offers the most freedom and variety of events among the four available scenarios. Similar to Lute’s scenario in SaGa Frontier, Leonard can reach the final boss relatively quickly after starting his journey. The openness of his scenario is likely designed to allow players to experience the world from Leonard’s perspective, as he has never ventured beyond his homeland.
Taria's Scenario[]
Taria's scenario begins much like Urpina's, with the first chapter focused on a specific goal. Subsequent chapters, however, allow for more exploration and flexibility. Her progression is similar to Urpina’s, but the initial parts of her journey are slightly more open.
Balmaint's Scenario[]
Balmaint's scenario offers the least amount of freedom overall. Depending on player choices, the scenario may become even more constrained. His progression is largely linear, with more freedom only unlocking at certain points in the story.
Formations[]
Roles[]
Techs[]
Items[]
Blacksmithing[]
Weapons[]
Glimmer Charts[]
Recruitable Characters[]
Mercenary Missions[]
Product Development[]
Story[]
Synopsis[]
- "The Firebringer, a fallen god and bane of humanity, has wrought havoc on the world since his exile. Mankind constructed an Empire with a singular purpose: engage the Firebringer and his fiends in battle to defend humanity. After a millennia of fighting, the Firebringer has finally been defeated, and the Empire is left without purpose, spurring rebellion.
With the fate of the world uncertain, follow the journey of four unique heroes as they call on their might and set out to carve a new future." - —Official English Website
Setting[]
The game is set in a sort of flat world floating on a deep abyss. The world is divided in twenty regions distributed across four major military houses: Julanius, Gwynese, Erakleos and Yanyouji.
World Regions[]
- Northeast Boundary (北東界外)
- Marchiam Normi (ノルミ辺境州)
- Provincia Thracini (トラキニ州)
- Provincia Termina (テルミナ州)
- Provincia Cindrea (サンドリア州)
- Marchiam Ria (リーア辺境州)
- Mare Ilfee (イルフィー海)
- Provincia Cerenaif (セレナイフ州)
- Provincia Rhonicum (ロニクム州)
- Provincia Gradion (グラディオン州)
- Urbs Azhuacan (帝都アスワカン)
- Provincia Hibernia (ハイバーニア州)
- Provincia Jusitania (ユシタニア州)
- Marchiam Bicyniro (ビキニロ辺境州)
- Southeast Boundary (南東界外)
- Provincia Kei (ケイ州)
- Provincia Maurehua (モウレワ州)
- Marchiam Megdasse (メグダッセ辺境州)
- Marchiam Yaxart (ヤクサルト辺境州)
- Marchiam Numadica (ヌマディカ辺境州)
Plot[]
Prologue[]
The Firebringer, an evil god, has been harassing humanity ever since his exile by the divine Celestials some millennia ago. To deal with this matter the Celestials had to establish a mighty empire situated at the center of the world, all of it lead by a singular figure, the Emperor, who would lead men to battle the Firebringer and his army of Infernals in order to bring peace to the ravaged Earth. Some times the Emperor emerged victorious, and yet sometimes the Emperor has failed and been felled in combat, leaving the task all up to his loyal subjects. After a long-lasting battle through the ages, the Firebringer has found eternal slumber after his seventh defeat and has had his star be shattered into several fragments that have fallen to all lands known by man. Without purpose to serve, the mighty empire of old begins to collapse and spurs rebellion all across Earth. To make matters worse the Earth begins to experiment anomalous changes, creatures run rampant and the revival of a forgotten figure draws ever near. Will another figure worthy to live to the Emperor's legacy rise? Or is all hope lost as the world begins to crumble into uncontrolled despair?. A new story is about to begin and a new path for humanity is about to be created...
Main Story[]
Below is a brief summary of the initial part of each character's starting story. A complete summary of each character's possible scenarios and their endings can be found in their respective article.
Urpina's Story[]
Urpina Julanius is the youngest daughter of Maximius Julanius, head of House Julanius, one of the four great military houses of the world. One day, her father sets off for Urbs Azhuacan, the ancient capital, with the ambition of restoring the fallen empire. This empire had collapsed after the seventh defeat of the Firebringer, sparking a rebellion as it lost its purpose. Urpina begs her father to take her along, but he insists she remain behind in their home, Provincia Rhonicum, to protect it alongside her brother. Soon after Maximius departs, strange events begin unfolding in Rhonicum: a massive serpentine creature emerges from the earth, and mysterious figures clad in black attack everything in their path. The province quickly falls into ruin, forcing Urpina to flee with her retinue and her loyal retainer, Mondo. Although Urpina desperately wants to rescue her brother Antonius, Mondo reassures her that his skill with a sword will ensure his safety. Urpina eventually reaches Provincia Jusitania and resolves to return to Azhuacan, determined to bring her father back to help liberate Rhonicum.
Leonard's Story[]
In Annuncia Farm, Provincia Yaxart, a golden sunset stretches across the expansive prairies. Leonard, a young farmer, has just completed his harvest and is confident he will be named the top farmer in the region. His plans are interrupted when he encounters a mysterious woman dressed in unusual clothes. She cryptically tells him to "drown the Scarlet Shards in Ei-Hanum" before collapsing. The woman is taken to a nearby clinic, where the doctor informs Leonard that she will take some time to recover. Believing the woman has chosen him for the task, Leonard decides to undertake her mission and search for the mythical land of Ei-Hanum. The doctor advises Leonard to visit the Imperial Library in Azhuacan for further guidance and wishes him luck on his journey. Unfamiliar with life beyond his homeland, Leonard is joined by his lifelong friend Elisabeth, who insists on accompanying him, along with her retinue. Together, they set out on a journey to discover the lost land of Ei-Hanum and uncover its secrets.
Taria's Story[]
Taria, a potter from Provincia Termina, is frustrated when she notices an unusual warping occurring in her pottery. Determined to find the cause, she embarks on a journey of discovery. One day, she witnesses the legendary Sublime Spiritual of Ignis, the Phoenix, flying from Provincia Thracini and landing in the woods of Termina. She suspects that the Phoenix’s appearance may be linked to the strange warping in her work. Before she can approach the bird, Taria meets Kahn, a wandering adventurer who recently served as an imperial guard in the Eastern Imperium of Thracini. Kahn, who also witnessed the Phoenix, is eager to capture one of its feathers for profit. Taria warns him that the feathers must be handled with care, or they will vanish like ashes. Kahn suggests they work together, and Taria agrees. They set out with Kahn’s mercenary band, the Killers, to capture a Phoenix feather. Upon encountering the Phoenix, they find it has lost its fiery glow and is easily defeated. Kahn is puzzled by the bird’s weakness, considering its status as a Sublime Spiritual. Taria speculates that the Phoenix may be nearing the end of its life cycle and suggests that it might have laid an egg before its death. Intrigued by the potential value of the egg, Kahn agrees to help Taria find it, believing it may also explain the mysterious warping of her pottery. Together, they leave Termina, following the memories stored in the Phoenix’s feather to locate the egg.
Balmaint's Story[]
Sigfrei, the despised governor of Provincia Kei, awaits execution for his countless crimes. Enter Balmaint, the famed executioner from Castle Kohan, who has taken the lives of over 700 individuals. Just before his execution, Sigfrei declares that he will return to the world seven times to bring true justice. Despite his ominous words, the axe falls, and Provincia Kei is freed from his tyranny. However, some time later, Balmaint is visited by his old friend, Arthur Darlton, a law clerk, who informs him that Sigfrei has allegedly reappeared in the nearby Provincia Maurehua. Initially dismissing this as a mere rumor, Balmaint's curiosity is piqued. He decides to leave Kei and investigate the man who dares claim to be the reborn Sigfrei.
Characters[]
Official render of the cast. From left to right: Taria, Urpina Leonard, Balmant.
- Main article: List of SaGa Scarlet Grace characters
The game features 4 playable main characters:
- Urpina Julanius: The youngest member of House Julanius, the famed House of Swords and one of the four great millitary houses. Naive and cheerful, Urpina wishes only the best for House Julanius which makes her want to carry them to glory all by herself.
- Leonard: A young man living in Provincia Yaxart who's known for being a troublemaker alongside his friend Elisabeth. He prefers acting instead of resorting to words.
- Taria: A witch residing in Provincia Termina who had lived a troubled life until recently. She now spends her days working on her pottery alongside her apprentice.
- Balmaint: An executioner working in Castle Kohan at Provincia Kei. His life takes a major turn once the man he executed suddenly revives out of nowhere. He sets out on a journey to uncover the truth alongside his lifelong friend Arthur.
Development[]
- "Firebringer—an evil god, banished by the star gods for his betrayal. He is turned into a comet and sent away. Other dark demons that have been suppressed begin to become violent and the world falls into chaos.
The star gods grant power to one man. He leads the people in a war against Firebringer and establishes an empire.
The dark demons are pushed underground, and the evil god’s star leaves. After that, the evil god’s star returns every 150 years. For ages and ages, they meet Firebringer and his demons in battle.
Over time there are emperors who prepare diligently and defeat the evil god easily, but there are also emperors who are careless and drive the world into ruin.
Finally, after a seventh invasion, the evil god’s star was decimated. The war that lasted 1,000 years is brought to an abrupt stop. The people rejoiced to usher in peace.
Fragments of Firebringer rain down onto the earth, like fireworks celebrating the victory of the humans and star gods. If Firebringer is extinguished, even the empire would become unnecessary.
The empire continues to rule, and many places react with rebellion. This ties into a civil war by the emperor’s son and company. Amidst the chaos, a hero brings down Firebringer, the emperor is assassinated, and the empire collapses.
70 years later.
Hardly anyone who remembers the era of the empire is around anymore. The world remains in chaos. No one notices a new danger approaching. However, a new hero arises for the new era." - —Early Synopsis, Gematsu preview 2016
The game was announced during a stream about the 25th anniversary of the SaGa Series in December 14 of 2015. It apparently was to be called "SaGa Asterism", as before the announcement a trademark regarding said name was filed alongside another one for an unknown piece of media called "The Blue Maiden of Arcadia" (likely not related at all to the SaGa series)[1]. Another game was also announced, that one being the PC browser game Imperial Saga. It wouldn't be sometime later that a tentative release date of 2016 would be given alongside the final title of the game "SaGa Scarlet Grace". Later in December 15 of the same year the game would finally be released for the PS Vita. Two years later the game would receive an improved port under the subtitle of "Hiiro no Yabou" or "Scarlet Ambitions" for most modern platforms such as the Playstation 4 or mobile devices, while receiving a localization for western territories under the subtitle of "Ambitions".
Releases[]
PlayStation Vita[]
SaGa Scarlet Grace special pack released alongside the game.
SaGa: Scarlet Grace was released on December 15, 2016 exclusively for the PlayStation Vita.
The initial release was accompanied by a special pack which included seven console variants, a SaGa: Scarlet Grace original theme, SaGa: Scarlet Grace original design packaging, a USB cable, an AC adapter, a power cord, and a user manual.[2]
SaGa Scarlet Grace: Ambitions[]
SaGa Scarlet Grace: Ambitions (サガ スカーレット グレイス 緋色の野望 SaGa Sukāretto Gureisu: Hīro no Yabō?) is an enhanced edition of the game serving as a port to other modern systems and as an overseas localization of the game which featured a various enhancements to fix minor gameplay issues as well as additional story content. It was released for the Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4, PC, Android and IOS systems on August 2, 2018 in Japan while a global release was announced during 2019's E3 for December 3 of the same year.
Differences[]
- Significant reduction in loading times.
- Improved UI.
- Rebalancing of techs and incantations.
- Rebalancing of some characters' attributes.
Additional Content[]
- Additional Quests: New quests related to the partners of the protagonists that allows to recruit them. These quests are activated after completing a protagonist's story
- New Game+: A function that allows players to carry over certain elements after finishing a playthrough such as Techs, Roles, Formations, etc. Initially it won't allow to carry three specific elements: Armaments, Materials and Smithy Rank. However upon finishing every main character's story said option will get unlocked.
- New characters:
- Tsubaki "Camelia": A fanatical witch hunter and member of La Chasse, an organization dedicated to persecuting the remaining witches.
- Sabit Erakleos: A wandering young man obsessed with acquiring weapons. Likes to lecture about weapons.
- Constantine Erakleos: The brother of the wandering weapon fanatic. Wanders the world in hopes of finding his sweetheart.
- Minstrel: The wandering man spreader of folk tales and songs. Are any of his tales true? None alive can say!
- Traveling Troupe: A pair of actors, one blessed by Uzume and the other by the Firebringer, travelling through the world performing theatrical plays that showcase stories of the time before the founding of the Empire.
- Addition of voice acting to all characters
- Additional weapons:
- Mortuus: The bow of death from Romancing SaGa 3.
- Joyeuse: The ultimate shortsword. Allows the glimmering of Eulogy, Upgrades to the Solar Joyeuse.
- Flameblade: The ultimate longsword and totally-not the Firebrand. Allows the glimmering of Rosario Impale. Upgrades to the Valeria Heart.
- Bovine Slayer: The ultimate greatsword and ultimate slayer of cows and thieves of cattle. Allows the glimmering of Headwind Rush. Upgrades to the Kirin Slayer
- Hawkblade: The ultimate axe. Allows the glimmering of Unbridled Frenzy. Upgrades to the Hawkwind.
- Supra Harpoon: The ultimate spear. Allows the glimmering of Divine Lancer. Upgrades to the Lucis Harpoon.
- Crescent Bow: The ultimate bow. Allows the glimmering of Plasma Shot. Upgrades to the Custom Crescent Bow.
- Eternity Staff: Not really the ultimate staff but allows the glimmering of Cruncher. Can't be upgraded.
- Many additional enemies. Some include:
- Scarlet Fiends: High-difficulty enemies that appear upon meeting specific conditions. Upon defeat they may revive even stronger but only after meeting a certain criteria.
- Firebringer Prime: The strongest version of the final boss that can only be fought upon vanquishing all Scarlet Fiends.
- Lord Parm: The Marquis of Parm that can be optionally fought earlier on Urpina's story.
- Killers: The wandering band of mercenaries of Kahn. Part of the sidequest for recruiting him.
- Hellwall: A team of armored knights that can be fought in Azhuacan's Arena. A reference to Front Mission.
- Arthur's Bodyguards
- Aurum Knight
- Ifrit
- Additional formations tied to the partners of the protagonists.
- Addition of items that can be used to lower or raise the strength of the enemies.
- Additional incantations.
Gallery[]
Steam Trading Cards[]
Badges[]
Emoticons[]
Backgrounds[]
Packaging artwork[]
The Firebringer is prominently featured in the cover artwork for the game's releases.
Gallery[]
Videos[]
External Links[]
- Official website (JP)
- Official mobile website (JP)
- Official website (EN)
- Playstation store (JP)
- Google Play store (JP)
- Google Play store (EN)
- iTunes store (JP)
- iTunes store (EN)
- Twelve Star Gods Art
References[]
[]
 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||