A solid 3D remake of a Super Nintendo classic.
Original Score Before Backloggd Rounding: 7.5/10 (Good)
Trials of Mana is a game I have consistently come back to for three, going on four years now. I still remember the excitement in the E3 2019 Nintendo Direct when not only was the original, released 25 years prior, finally localised in the Collection of Mana in an official release hardcore fans had begged to see, but when that long sought after, ever absent third game was getting a full 3D remake. And it looked positively gorgeous. After the disappointment of the Secret of Mana remake for PlayStation 4, it seemed Square Enix had listened to feedback, and Mana fans were finally about to be rewarded for their patience.
Horrible English voice acting aside (play in Japanese if it bothers you that much, ‘ya nerds!), Trials of Mana is a game that doesn’t really do anything wrong, while doing a whole bunch right. It’s cute, it’s charming, the characters are fun, it has great monster designs, the action combat is decent, the music is absolutely fantastic, and the story that’s told no matter who you choose as your protagonist is a pretty pleasant journey. Some will point to the recycled NPC models as the game being cheap, and low budget, but I think if anything it adds to the feeling that the game we see today built off of a Super Famicom great. And either way, it is still much higher production value than the previously mentioned lacklustre Secret of Mana remake. If I had one significant complaint about the game and how it plays out, it might be that the AI party members are incredibly stupid and will often get themselves hurt or killed, especially in easily avoidable scenarios. If this had been addressed, I likely would have given the game a flush 4 star rating. That being said, Trials of Mana is an increasingly rare and triumphant Square Enix win despite these problems.
The main feature unique to this game that sets it apart from its contemporaries, other than simply having that trademark Mana charm, is its narrative and party structure. At the beginning of the game, you’re tasked to create a three character party combination out of six possible characters, and whoever you choose as the main character will determine the path of the game’s story, where it leads, and where it ends. Whoever you bring along for the ride will then have their own occasional unique interactions with your chosen protagonist, making for a fun and dynamic storyline system with a degree of replay value perhaps not seen in other RPGs of this style.
I would recommend this game to anyone with a desire for cute RPGs, or the classics in general, as the most excellent rendition of Mana to come out of the series for a very long time. It is a truly grand adventure, packed with vitality and love. Perhaps it doesn’t quite reach the same heights as the original 1995 release, but you can play that in Collection of Mana on Nintendo Switch if you so desire. Either way, this hidden gem's legacy is now preserved for all to experience, whichever form that might take, and that is a fact that makes me very happy.
Original Score Before Backloggd Rounding: 7.5/10 (Good)
Trials of Mana is a game I have consistently come back to for three, going on four years now. I still remember the excitement in the E3 2019 Nintendo Direct when not only was the original, released 25 years prior, finally localised in the Collection of Mana in an official release hardcore fans had begged to see, but when that long sought after, ever absent third game was getting a full 3D remake. And it looked positively gorgeous. After the disappointment of the Secret of Mana remake for PlayStation 4, it seemed Square Enix had listened to feedback, and Mana fans were finally about to be rewarded for their patience.
Horrible English voice acting aside (play in Japanese if it bothers you that much, ‘ya nerds!), Trials of Mana is a game that doesn’t really do anything wrong, while doing a whole bunch right. It’s cute, it’s charming, the characters are fun, it has great monster designs, the action combat is decent, the music is absolutely fantastic, and the story that’s told no matter who you choose as your protagonist is a pretty pleasant journey. Some will point to the recycled NPC models as the game being cheap, and low budget, but I think if anything it adds to the feeling that the game we see today built off of a Super Famicom great. And either way, it is still much higher production value than the previously mentioned lacklustre Secret of Mana remake. If I had one significant complaint about the game and how it plays out, it might be that the AI party members are incredibly stupid and will often get themselves hurt or killed, especially in easily avoidable scenarios. If this had been addressed, I likely would have given the game a flush 4 star rating. That being said, Trials of Mana is an increasingly rare and triumphant Square Enix win despite these problems.
The main feature unique to this game that sets it apart from its contemporaries, other than simply having that trademark Mana charm, is its narrative and party structure. At the beginning of the game, you’re tasked to create a three character party combination out of six possible characters, and whoever you choose as the main character will determine the path of the game’s story, where it leads, and where it ends. Whoever you bring along for the ride will then have their own occasional unique interactions with your chosen protagonist, making for a fun and dynamic storyline system with a degree of replay value perhaps not seen in other RPGs of this style.
I would recommend this game to anyone with a desire for cute RPGs, or the classics in general, as the most excellent rendition of Mana to come out of the series for a very long time. It is a truly grand adventure, packed with vitality and love. Perhaps it doesn’t quite reach the same heights as the original 1995 release, but you can play that in Collection of Mana on Nintendo Switch if you so desire. Either way, this hidden gem's legacy is now preserved for all to experience, whichever form that might take, and that is a fact that makes me very happy.