Trials of Mana

About

"Trials of Mana" is a single-player Role Playing Game with an intriguing story and good music. The game revolves around the world's battle against evil forces trying to free the Benevodons, monsters of destruction. Players can choose their journey by selecting three out of six main characters, each with their own intertwining storylines. This game promises hours of fun for both new and returning fans of the Mana series.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

Single-Player Play through the game's story or campaign solo

95%

Audience ScoreBased on 177 reviews

story22 positive mentions

replayability3 negative mentions

The game is a faithful and colorful remake of the original, with vibrant visuals and excellent sound design.
Gameplay is fun and engaging, with a solid combat system and ample replayability due to multiple characters and endings.
The Switch port runs smoothly with minimal compromises, making it a great option for fans of the Mana series.

The English voice acting is subpar, detracting from the overall experience, though the Japanese option is available.
The story and character interactions can feel lackluster and predictable, lacking depth and emotional engagement.
Some players may find the game repetitive and the pacing slow, especially in the latter half.

story
48 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
46%
48%
6%
The story in the game is generally viewed as average, with many reviewers noting its lack of depth and emotional engagement compared to classic JRPGs. While some players appreciate the colorful world and the ability to choose different character storylines, others criticize the dialogue and overall cohesiveness of the narrative. Despite these shortcomings, the engaging gameplay and combat mechanics often overshadow the story, making it a fun experience for many players.
- “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.”
- “It is exactly the same in terms of the story, so don't expect anything new.”
gameplay
20 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
55%
30%
15%
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 note that it can feel somewhat outdated compared to modern standards, with limited side quests and tedious old-school 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 the quest was a ton of fun, along with going through 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.”
graphics
19 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
53%
32%
16%
The graphics of the game have received mixed reviews, with many praising the vibrant visuals and 3D overhaul that pays homage to the original. However, some players noted graphical hiccups and described the quality as inconsistent, with a few even labeling it as low quality or clunky. Overall, while the art style and character designs are appreciated, the execution varies, leaving some players disappointed.
- “Graphics & gameplay are outstanding.”
- “It's pretty faithful to the original game other than the fact the graphics have been given a 3D overhaul.”
- “The combat is a lot more cleaner and the graphics are amazing.”
- “Low quality graphics.”
- “Clunky, boring, ok graphics.”
- “If you are a fan (which I am) then maybe give it a shot, but be warned that the voice acting is horrible, the graphics are at least a couple console generations back.”
music
16 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
75%
25%
The music in the game is widely praised for its catchy and immersive compositions, reminiscent of its predecessor, Secret of Mana. Reviewers appreciate the option to switch to the original soundtrack, noting that the orchestrated tracks are memorable and enhance the overall experience. Overall, the sound design and music contribute significantly to the game's appeal, with many players finding themselves humming along to the tunes.
- “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).”
replayability
8 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
25%
38%
38%
The game offers significant replayability, as players must complete it multiple times with different characters to experience all content. The ability to choose various main characters and team combinations enhances this aspect, making it enjoyable to revisit. Overall, the remake maintains or even surpasses the original's replay value, despite some amusingly poor voice acting.
- “Well done remake just as much if not more replayability as the original; the dubbed voice acting is actually so bad it's amusing, but it doesn't take away from the gameplay.”
- “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 than the original. The dubbed voice acting is actually so bad it's amusing, but it doesn't take away from the gameplay.”
- “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).”
grinding
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
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.”
optimization
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
300%
The game's optimization is hindered by a lack of engaging content and character investment, leading to player hesitance in continuing. While some voice performances are commendable, the overall experience feels diluted by generic elements and uninteresting stakes.
- “The optimization in this game is severely lacking, making it difficult to enjoy the experience fully.”
- “I encountered numerous performance issues that detracted from my overall enjoyment of the game.”
- “The game feels unpolished and rushed, with many aspects that could have benefited from better optimization.”
atmosphere
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Reviewers note that the atmosphere of the game lacks the emotional depth and immersive qualities found in its predecessor, Secret of Mana, and other classic JRPGs like Chrono Trigger and Final Fantasy III/VI, resulting in a dry and uninspired experience.
- “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.”