Welcome to our review of Secret of Mana, the 3D remake of one of the most classic RPG titles.
Secret of Mana, originally released in Japan as Seiken Densetsu 2, is a 1993 action role-playing game developed and published by Square (Square Enix) for the SNES. It’s the sequel to the 1991 game Seiken Densetsu and it was the first Seiken Densetsu title to be branded as part of the Mana series rather than the Final Fantasy series. The original game received considerable acclaim for its extensive graphics at the time, its amazing plot and the menu system, which was ring-shaped and easy to use.
The original version was re-released on the Wii’s virtual console in Japan back in September 2008 and later Wii U in June 2013. After other re-releases, such as the iOS version in 2010, the game is now seeing a full remake in 3D style on the Playstation 4, the Vita and Microsoft Windows this month (february 2018).
We were lucky enough to receive a review copy of the Playstation 4 version, which has its ups and downs, allow me to explain what I mean. Throughout your gameplay, you are hit with the bright colors and really nice 3D models of the chibi style characters. Some might find the art style disturbing for an RPG, but I absolutely loved most of it. I did not enjoy the static faces during the bland conversations on-screen. I mean seriously, when you hear them reading their scripts during the cut scenes, but they barely move any at all. It felt awkward to say the least. Was it disturbing enough to care? I do think so. I love it when movements and speech sync up. It just kept feeling awkward even after a while.
What I did like, the game does not use the traditional turn-based battle system but rather a power bar mechanic. Let the power bar fill up and unleash a better attack. You can always just opt to attack your enemies with a continuous flurry of simple attacks and treat the game almost as a button masher, it is all up to you and I love the game for it. Obviously, the power bar is there for a reason, but I am sure you figured that out already.
Throughout the action, you can always bring up the aforementioned ring command menu and just temporarily pause the game, allowing you to make any decision while in the middle of a battle.
But enough about the gameplay, let us talk storyline a little. This game is a very old style game.
Long ago…the world prospered and humanity thrived thanks to a power known as Mana. However, humans soon sought to use Mana to create the ultimate weapon—a floating battleship called the Mana Fortress. This greedy arrogance angered the gods, who in turn unleashed vicious beasts into the world. A violent war between the Mana beasts and the fortress engulfed the world in poison and fire until Mana had all but disappeared.
In humanity’s bleakest hour, a hero wielding the Mana Sword appeared and destroyed the fortress. The world was left in shambles, and yet humanity persevered and there was peace throughout the land.
But as time passes…so history repeats…
You are the young boy called Randi and you set off on a grand journey! Joined by Popoi and Primm, it is now your task to save the world. You initially fall off some sort of waterfall, after which you need to find your way back to the village. Along the way, you are drawn towards a sword in the stone. A man appears out of nowhere to tell you to take the sword and soon after, you are exiled from the village you grew up in. Everybody is afraid of the monsters and you are now the sacrifice, you must leave in order to protect the village. And so your story begins!
In conclusion, this game is a classic gem. It deserved a remake and on a personal note, I would love to see this on Nintendo Switch, I really would! I love almost everything about this game, its vibrant colors and great gameplay and story passed the test of time.
My rating for this game is 85%.
