Editing SaGa Frontier (section)

==Gameplay==
[[File:Saga frontier 1 gameplay.jpg|thumb|left|Playable characters fighting enemies while the player chooses one of battle skills (on the left)]]

The basic concept of ''SaGa Frontier'' is based on its Free Scenario System, in which one can play as any of seven different protagonists, all of whom exist in the same setting, a [[planetary system|solar system]] known as The Regions: a group of planets, each with its own culture, game-level of technology, and form of [[Magic (gaming)|magic]]. The game is considered non-linear, in that from the beginning many of the characters are free to go almost anywhere and interact with almost anyone. Travel through most of the Regions is easy due to inter-regional ships traveling regularly between them. The player controls the protagonist on the field screen, a set of interconnecting [[Pre-rendering|pre-rendered]] backgrounds, and is able to speak with a slew of other characters in order to gather information, recruit party members, and initiate quests. Each character has a storyline and a main quest to fulfill, but there are also several optional quests that any of the characters can participate in. Some of the main characters encounter each other during their quests.<ref name="Interview">{{cite web | author=IGN staff | date=February 18, 1997 | title=Square, The Final Frontier | url=http://psx.ign.com/articles/062/062293p1.html | website=[[IGN]] | access-date=2008-12-13|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120218120946/http://psx.ign.com/articles/062/062293p1.html|archive-date=2012-02-18}}</ref> The storyline of each character also changes depending on who is chosen, what is said in conversation, what events have already occurred, and who is in the adventuring party, a concept first introduced in ''[[Romancing SaGa 2]]''.<ref name="Interview"/>

Players encounter groups of enemies on the field screen, upon which they switch to the battle screen. The battle screen depicts [[2D computer graphics|2D]]-animated sprites amidst a [[3D computer graphics|3D]]-rotating background. Battles are [[turn-based]]; the player chooses the characters' actions and must allow them, along with those of the enemies, to play out. A variety of weapons, special skills, and magic spells are at the player's disposal. Most skills are learned mid-battle, while many spells are purchased in the game's shops. If certain conditions are met within the battle, party members on either side can create [[Combo (gaming)|combination attacks]] for added damage. Winning battles increases player character [[Statistic (role-playing games)|statistics]] such as hit points (HP), life points (LP), strength, and quickness. Outside of combat, players can equip and unequip (or "seal") weapons, armor, skills, spells, and items. First introduced in the Game Boy incarnations of the ''SaGa'' series, the game contains different races that exist within the Regions: the [[Human]]s, the Mystics, the Half-Mystics (half Human and half Mystic), Monsters, and the Mecs (robots).<ref name="HG101">{{cite web | title=Hardcore Gaming 101: SaGa | url=http://www.hardcoregaming101.net/saga/saga3.htm | work=Hardcore Gaming 101 | access-date=2010-02-04 | archive-date=2011-05-10 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110510064745/http://www.hardcoregaming101.net/saga/saga3.htm | url-status=dead }}</ref>

The player is encouraged to complete each of the seven scenarios one after the other. For added incentive, beating a character's game and saving its completion to the system data adds some bonuses. After beating one character's game, essentially every character in the following game starts off stronger and with better gear than before, and may depend on how many battles players fought in their previous quest that they saved on the system data.<ref name="tips">{{cite book |author=Studio Bentstuff |script-title=ja:サガフロンティア 裏解体真書|year=1997 |publisher=[[ASCII (company)|ASCII]] |language=ja |isbn=4-89366-895-1 |page=65 }}</ref><ref name="inistats">{{cite book |author=Studio Bentstuff |script-title=ja:サガフロンティア 裏解体真書 |year=1997 |publisher=[[ASCII (company)|ASCII]] |language=ja |isbn=4-89366-895-1 |pages=106–117 }}</ref> Fulfilling all seven main quests allows the player access to the "2nd Division" room, in which the player can fight all final bosses and talk to the game's programmers.<ref>{{cite book |author=Studio Bentstuff |script-title=ja:サガフロンティア 裏解体真書|year=1997 |publisher=[[ASCII (company)|ASCII]] |language=ja |isbn=4-89366-895-1 |page=206 }}</ref>