Swift’s 3 Most Hated Games #1: Unlimited Saga

If you are a fan of gaming reviews, you may have heard of Swift, a passionate and outspoken reviewer who loves to share his opinions on various games. Swift has a series of videos where he talks about his most hated games, those games that he considers to be so bad that they make him angry just thinking about them. In this article, we will take a look at his number one most hated game: Unlimited Saga.

Unlimited Saga is a role-playing game developed by Square Enix for the PlayStation 2 in 2002. It is part of the SaGa series, which is known for its unconventional and experimental gameplay. However, Unlimited Saga takes this to a whole new level, by introducing a plethora of confusing and frustrating mechanics that make the game almost unplayable. From its board game-like exploration, to its roulette-based combat, to its obscure character progression, Unlimited Saga is a game that defies logic and common sense.

In this article, we will examine why Unlimited Saga is such a bad game, by looking at its gameplay, presentation, story, and reception. We will also try to find some redeeming qualities in this mess of a game, if there are any. Let’s begin with the gameplay.

The gameplay of Unlimited Saga is one of its biggest flaws. The game tries to emulate a tabletop RPG experience, by using dice rolls, cards, maps, and other elements that are supposed to add variety and challenge to the game. However, these elements only serve to make the game more complicated and frustrating than it needs to be.

For example, when you explore a dungeon or a town, you don’t actually see your character moving around in a 3D environment. Instead, you see a map with icons that represent different locations or events. You move your cursor over these icons and select them to trigger an event, such as a battle, a treasure chest, or a dialogue scene. However, you never know what will happen when you select an icon, as some of them are hidden or random. You also have to deal with traps, obstacles, fatigue, durability, and other factors that can hinder your progress or harm your party.

The combat system is even worse. When you enter a battle, you see your party members and enemies on a static screen with no animation or movement. You have to select actions for each character from a menu that includes attacks, skills, items, or escape. However, instead of simply executing your actions in turn order, the game uses a roulette wheel that determines the outcome of each action. The roulette wheel has different colors and symbols that represent different effects, such as damage, accuracy, critical hits, misses, counters, etc. You have to press a button to stop the wheel at the right time to get the desired effect. However, this is mostly based on luck rather than skill or strategy.

The character progression system is also very obscure and confusing. Each character has different attributes, such as strength, magic, skill, spirit, etc., that affect their performance in battle and exploration. However, these attributes are not fixed, but change depending on the actions you take and the items you use. For example, if you use a sword, your strength and skill will increase, but if you use magic, your magic and spirit will increase. However, there is no clear indication of how much or how fast these attributes change, or what the optimal balance is for each character. You also have to deal with the concept of “reels”, which are special skills that each character can learn and use in battle. However, these reels are also random and unpredictable, as they depend on the roulette wheel and the cards you draw.

As you can see, the gameplay of Unlimited Saga is a nightmare of randomness, complexity, and frustration. It is nothing like a traditional RPG, or even a SaGa game. It is a game that tries to be innovative and original, but ends up being unplayable and unenjoyable.

The presentation of Unlimited Saga is another aspect that disappoints. The game has a very bland and static graphics and art style, that does not take advantage of the PlayStation 2’s capabilities. The game uses pre-rendered backgrounds and sprites for its environments and characters, which look dull and outdated. The game also lacks animation and voice acting, which makes the game feel lifeless and boring.

The game does have one feature that is supposed to make it stand out: the sketch motion technology. This is a technique that uses hand-drawn sketches to create 3D models for the characters and enemies. The idea is to give the game a unique and artistic look, that resembles a comic book or a painting. However, this technology fails to impress, as the sketches look rough and unfinished, and the 3D models look awkward and unnatural. The sketch motion technology does not enhance the game’s presentation, but rather detracts from it.

The story of Unlimited Saga is another weak point of the game. The game has seven different storylines and characters to choose from, each with their own goals and motivations. However, none of these stories are coherent or engaging, as they lack direction and development. The stories are mostly composed of random events and quests that have little to do with the main plot or the character’s personality. The stories also have multiple endings, but most of them are unsatisfying and anticlimactic.

For example, one of the stories follows Laura, a knight who is searching for her missing father. However, most of her quests involve helping other people with their problems, such as finding a lost child or fighting a bandit leader. Her story has little to do with her father or her knightly duties, and her ending is vague and inconclusive. Another story follows Ventus, a carrier who delivers packages across the world. However, most of his quests involve getting involved in political intrigues or ancient mysteries that have nothing to do with his job or his personality. His story has little to do with his career or his ambitions, and his ending is abrupt and disappointing.

The stories of Unlimited Saga are not compelling or memorable, as they lack focus and depth. They are not stories that make you care about the characters or their fates, but rather stories that make you wonder what the point is.

The reception of Unlimited Saga was mixed at best, and negative at worst. The game sold poorly in both Japan and the West, as it failed to appeal to both fans of the SaGa series and RPG fans in general. The game received low scores from critics and gamers alike, who criticized its gameplay, presentation, story, and difficulty. The game has a Metacritic score of 45 out of 100, which indicates “generally unfavorable reviews”.

However, the game did have some fans who appreciated its originality and innovation. The game was more popular in Japan than in the West, as it received some awards from Japanese magazines such as Famitsu and Dengeki PlayStation. Some gamers also praised the game’s music, composed by Masashi Hamauzu, who later worked on Final Fantasy XIII and XIII-2. The game’s music is considered to be one of its few redeeming qualities, as it features a variety of styles and genres that suit the game’s different settings and moods.

The reception of Unlimited Saga was mostly negative, as it failed to meet the expectations of RPG fans and SaGa fans alike. It is a game that tried to be different and innovative, but ended up being a disaster and a disappointment. It is a game that Swift hates with a passion, and he is not alone in his opinion.

In conclusion, Unlimited Saga is a game that deserves to be Swift’s number one most hated game. It is a game that has many flaws and few merits, a game that frustrates and confuses rather than entertains and challenges. It is a game that has a terrible gameplay, a bland presentation, a weak story, and a negative reception. It is a game that should be avoided by anyone who values their sanity and their time.

However, we should also acknowledge that Unlimited Saga is not a game without any positive aspects. It is a game that has a great music, composed by a talented musician. It is also a game that has some originality and innovation, as it tries to do something different and unique. It is a game that has some potential and ambition, but fails to realize them.

Therefore, we can give Unlimited Saga some credit for its efforts, but we cannot ignore its failures. We can rate Unlimited Saga as 2 out of 10, which means “very bad”. We can agree with Swift that Unlimited Saga is a game that deserves to be hated, but we can also respect it for what it tried to be.

Here are some frequently asked questions about Unlimited Saga:

• Q: Is Unlimited Saga the worst game ever made?
• A: No, there are probably worse games out there, but Unlimited Saga is definitely one of the worst RPGs ever made.
• Q: Is Unlimited Saga worth playing for its music?
• A: No, unless you are a fan of Masashi Hamauzu’s work. You can listen to the soundtrack online or buy the CD instead.
• Q: Is Unlimited Saga related to the other SaGa games?
• A: Yes, it is part of the SaGa series, which includes games such as Romancing SaGa, SaGa Frontier, and The Final Fantasy Legend. However, each game has its own setting and gameplay, so you don’t need to play the others to understand Unlimited Saga.
• Q: Is Unlimited Saga hard or easy?
• A: Unlimited Saga is very hard, but not in a good way. It is hard because it is unfair and unpredictable, not because it requires skill or strategy.
• Q: Is Unlimited Saga fun or boring?
• A: Unlimited Saga is very boring, but not in a relaxing way. It is boring because it is repetitive and tedious, not because it is simple or peaceful.