Discover how this incredible classic is getting even better

Greetings, Allied Earth Federation recruits! As you may have heard, Sigma Star Saga, the 2005 Game Boy Advance classic that combines RPG elements with top-view exploration and side-scrolling shoot-'em-up action, is making a comeback this year! But it's not simply the same Sigma Star Saga that was released 20 years ago — this is Sigma Star Saga DX, the refined, definitive version of the game. Sure, Sigma Star Saga was well received back in the day, but we figured we could make it even better, so the DX version features a load of quality-of-life updates and various fixes based on player feedback, lovingly updated by the original dev team. Basically, it's the patch we would have released 20 years ago based on popular fan response (if patches existed back then)! It's what we consider the best way to experience the game, and soon — on March 7, 2025, to be exact — it'll be available to preorder as a Game Boy Advance compatible cartridge from Limited Run Games in both standard and collector's editions. (It'll also be coming to modern platforms, but that'll happen a bit later.)

So what exactly are the changes to Sigma Star Saga DX, and why do they make the game worth experiencing all over again? Let's take a look.

•Reduced frequency of random battles
If there's one criticism about the original Sigma Star Saga we took to heart, it was that the random side-scrolling shooter battles were just a little too frequent. For DX, the encounter rate has been toned down to about half of what it was previously.

•Experience points increased to improve overall pacing
Since the encounter rate is going down, the EXP you earn has gone up to compensate, thus maintaining the difficulty balance while providing a faster pace. No need for grinding (though you can if you want to, of course)!

•Player movement speed increased during top-down adventure sequences
Ian Recker, the game's protagonist, is now lighter on his feet, improving the overall pacing and game feel.

•Auto-fire rebalanced for all "shmup" weapons
Now you can save your thumb from destruction! Auto-fire for all weapons has been increased, while preserving the ability to manually fire even faster.

•Improved map with goal markers
Better hints have been added to keep players moving in the right direction, and maps for each planet now show you where to go.

•Additional save points
Extra save points reduce the need to replay lost progress after getting a Game Over.

•Text and dialogue improvements
Better hints and item descriptions, and storytelling fixes to minor plot inconsistencies and overall pacing.

•Hit boxes modified for all player ships, bullets, and enemies
Enemy shots can now graze the player’s ship, and player bullets will more accurately hit their targets in side-scrolling shooter segments.

•Improved player detection for moving platforms
You’re now less likely to accidentally fall when you encounter moving platforms in top-view sections.

•Fixed legacy bugs seen in the 2005 release
Due to the random variations players could encounter in Sigma Star Saga, a few things slipped through the cracks in the original release — and there was no such thing as patches for GBA games! These issues — such as being in a ship too large for the battlefield, or being caught in an endless battle sequence — have now been corrected.

•General quality-of-life improvements and bug fixes

And there you have it! What was originally intended to be a simple revival of a frequently requested fan-favorite game evolved into an upgraded version that's even better and more polished than the original, and one that we expect will live up to returning players' fond memories while also being accessible to a new generation. The countdown to launch begins on March 7, 2025, when the GBA cart of Sigma Star Saga DX goes up as an open preorder exclusively at limitedrungames.com. We hope you're ready to strap in and check it out, because the fate of Earth will once again be in your hands.