Unlimited Saga - Gameplay

Gameplay

Players must navigate their characters through a number of environments while completing story-based objectives in order to advance the plot. Players can assume the role of one of seven characters, each with their own strengths, weaknesses, and back stories, and become involved in the narrative by interacting with non-player characters and exploring dangerous areas. During the game, players will explore towns which can be used to gather information and purchase good to aid them on their journey before setting off for the wilds. Unlike previous SaGa series games, rather than freely roaming through dungeons, forests, and other environments, the game is structured like a board game, referred to as the "Map Movement System", where players must move space by space to reach the end. On some spaces, the player may encounter objects such traps or locked doors that can be overcome by using the "Reel System", a device resembling a roulette wheel that may result in a good or bad outcome. While navigating the game board, the player will also encounter enemy monsters that must be defeated in order to advance.

Combat in Unlimited Saga takes place using a turn-based system where the player must input commands for each character individually, which are then carried out in order in accordance with their "speed" statistic. Parties can consist of up to five characters who are recruited either automatically as part of the story, or once a player has completed certain objectives. After selecting a specific attack to use each round, the player must then utilize the Reel System to randomly decide whether the action will take place. Depending on what icon the Reel lands on, an attack may land as intended, deal increased damage, or fail completely. While characters will initially have only a normal attack, they will randomly learn new combat skills based on their equipped weapon by continually attacking enemies, thus adding them to the Reel for a chance to use them in future battles. Any character may equip up to two different kinds of weapons, which have their own set of skills to learn. Players have the option to use multiple Reels instead of just one for a combo attack each round, allowing more than one character to attack an enemy at the same time. By winning battles, characters gain increased statistics that allow them to battle progressively more difficult enemies.