Trials of Mana
- September 26, 2024
- Square Enix
Get on Xbox Games Store
Get on Apple Store"Trials of Mana" is a popular console game where players can select three out of six main characters to embark on an adventure in a world on the brink of disaster. The Goddess of Mana has fallen into a deep sleep after sealing eight monsters of destruction inside Mana Stones, and the world is now weakened by a terrible war as forces of evil seek to release the Benevodons. The story changes based on character selection, as players work to prevent the disappearance of Mana and restore peace to the kingdoms.
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Reviews
- The remake is visually stunning and faithful to the original, with vibrant graphics and a colorful world.
- Gameplay is engaging and fun, with a solid combat system and ample replayability through different character choices.
- The game offers a complete experience without any DLC, providing a satisfying 40-hour adventure with optional content.
- The English voice acting is poorly executed, detracting from the overall experience, though the Japanese option is available.
- The story and character interactions are often lackluster and predictable, lacking depth and emotional engagement.
- The game runs hot on the Switch in docked mode, which may raise concerns about hardware performance.
- story30 mentions
- 47 % positive mentions
- 43 % neutral mentions
- 10 % negative mentions
The story aspect of the game receives mixed reviews, with some players appreciating its colorful world and engaging gameplay, while others find it average and lacking depth compared to classic JRPGs. Many note that the narrative feels dry and could benefit from more emotional resonance and character development, though some enjoy the replayability and variations based on character choices. Overall, while the story may not be the standout feature, the combat and gameplay elements are often highlighted as enjoyable.
“I really appreciate the tone of the story and the colorful world presented here as well.”
“It's a fun RPG to get lost in the story and characters, and the fun comes from traveling around in gorgeous places, battling and leveling up your party, and switching classes.”
“I also love how elements of the story change depending on which characters you choose at the start.”
“The problem is that this is a case where the story and dialog could've done with some embellishing.”
“The story is dry, without any of the emotion, atmosphere, or character of the game's predecessor, Secret of Mana, or other JRPGs of the era like Chrono Trigger or FF3/6.”
“The story is also not very cohesive.”
- graphics13 mentions
- 46 % positive mentions
- 31 % neutral mentions
- 23 % negative mentions
The graphics of the game receive mixed reviews, with many praising the vibrant art style and 3D overhaul that enhances the original visuals. However, some users note graphical hiccups and describe the quality as inconsistent, with a few even labeling them as low quality or outdated. Overall, while the graphics are generally appreciated for their aesthetic appeal, they are marred by technical issues and a lack of polish in certain areas.
“Graphics and gameplay are outstanding.”
“It's pretty faithful to the original game other than the fact the graphics have been given a 3D overhaul.”
“Pros: great graphics, the battle system was always good, and the soundtracks are epic takes on the originals.”
“Low quality graphics.”
“Clunky, boring, ok graphics.”
“the graphics are at least a couple console generations back.”
- gameplay13 mentions
- 54 % positive mentions
- 23 % neutral mentions
- 23 % negative mentions
The gameplay is generally praised for being enjoyable and engaging, with many players appreciating the fun of quests, dungeon exploration, and combat mechanics. However, some critiques highlight that the gameplay can feel outdated compared to modern standards, and there are limitations in side quests and clarity of game mechanics. Overall, while the story and characters may not stand out, the core gameplay experience is considered solid and charming.
“I really like the gameplay; going on quests was a ton of fun, along with exploring dungeons and fighting enemies.”
“The gameplay and controls are very good.”
“Gameplay will speak for itself; it is a very charming JRPG.”
“Being a remake of Seiken Densetsu 3, which came out in 1995, the gameplay can feel a bit antiquated by modern standards.”
“Tedious old school mechanics.”
“I've never played this title before, but even on the beginning option, there's not enough clear info on how the game mechanics work.”
- music9 mentions
- 78 % positive mentions
- 22 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The music in the game is widely praised for its catchy tunes and immersive composition, reminiscent of its predecessor, Secret of Mana. Reviewers highlight the orchestral arrangements that enhance the gameplay experience, with many finding themselves humming along to the tracks. Additionally, the option to switch to the original soundtrack adds a nostalgic touch, further elevating the overall auditory experience.
“The orchestrated music gets stuck in my head too!”
“Good music with some catchy tunes; I find myself bobbing, humming, or whistling along with more than a few tunes.”
“The music is also phenomenal (like most soundtracks from the SNES).”
- replayability4 mentions
- 75 % positive mentions
- -25 % neutral mentions
- 50 % negative mentions
The game offers significant replayability, as players must complete it multiple times with different characters to experience all content. The ability to choose various character combinations enhances this aspect, making it enjoyable to replay. Overall, the remake maintains or even surpasses the original's replay value, despite some amusingly poor voice acting.
“It has ample replayability, especially considering that you can't see all of the content without playing through at least twice (each time with a set of three completely different characters).”
“But the fact you can replay the game with another main character and pick your team combo really enhances the replayability.”
“This gives the game a good bit of replay value.”
“But the fact you can replay the game with another main character and pick your team combo, you can just feel the replayability.”
“Well done remake, just as much if not more replayability as the original; dubbed voice acting is actually so bad it's amusing, but it doesn't take away from the gameplay.”
- grinding2 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
Players find the grinding aspect of the game to be tedious, often likening it to outdated mechanics that can detract from the overall experience.
“Tedious.”
“Tedious old school mechanics.”
- optimization1 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- -200 % neutral mentions
- 300 % negative mentions
The game's optimization is hindered by a lack of engaging content and character investment, leading to player hesitance in continuing despite some decent voice performances. Overall, the experience feels underwhelming, particularly given the quirky premise involving cats and vampires.
“I was actually curious to find out what might happen if I chose Angela as my main character along with having a bland guy in the group, so I could theoretically see what else the game has to offer. But then I remembered that this is a game with cats that speak in cat puns, a generic vampire, and several terrible voice performances. I'm suddenly hesitant to even keep playing with how little I'm invested in the stakes (20 hours in).”
“The optimization in this game is severely lacking, making it frustrating to navigate through the menus and manage inventory.”
“I encountered numerous bugs and performance issues that made the gameplay experience feel unpolished and incomplete.”
- atmosphere1 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
The atmosphere of the game is criticized for being lackluster and emotionally flat, especially when compared to its predecessor, Secret of Mana, and other classic JRPGs like Chrono Trigger and Final Fantasy III/VI.
“The story is dry, lacking the emotion, atmosphere, and character found in the game's predecessor, Secret of Mana, or other JRPGs of the era like Chrono Trigger or FF3/6.”
