Visions of Mana

85%
Game Brain Score Based on 1,028 reviews
  • story
  • gameplay
  • graphics
Visions of Mana Game Cover
Visions of Mana features an impactful story, well-written characters, fun combat, and a gorgeous world to get lost in with very few problems.
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"Visions of Mana" is an action RPG that lets players explore a vast world and experience the rich lore of the Mana series. Pre-ordering the game grants a special weapon for Val, while early purchases include a unique outfit and starter pack. The Digital Deluxe Edition offers 24-hour early access, as well as costumes from various Mana series games. However, no release date information is available.

  • PC
  • Play​station 4
  • Play​station 5
  • Windows
  • Xbox Series X|S
  • Cloud
  • Play​Station
  • Xbox
  • x_box_cloud_gaming
Genres & TagsPlay Modes

Reviews

85%
Audience ScoreBased on 1,028 reviews
story215 positive mentions
optimization27 negative mentions
  • Visually stunning with vibrant graphics and beautiful environments.
  • Engaging combat system with a variety of classes and abilities to customize characters.
  • Charming characters and a lighthearted story that evokes nostalgia for the Mana series.
  • The story is predictable and lacks depth, with some characters feeling one-dimensional.
  • Repetitive side quests that often involve tedious fetch tasks.
  • Technical issues such as frame rate drops and bugs that detract from the overall experience.
  • story870 mentions

    The story of "Visions of Mana" has received mixed reviews, with some players praising its engaging characters and emotional depth, while others criticize it for being predictable and lacking originality. Many reviewers noted that while the main narrative can be charming and nostalgic, it often falls into typical JRPG tropes, with a heavy reliance on side quests that feel repetitive and uninspired. Overall, the game offers a blend of lighthearted moments and darker themes, but its storytelling is seen as a weaker aspect compared to its gameplay and visuals.

    • “Vision of Mana is an absolute gem that blends immersive storytelling, dynamic gameplay, and unparalleled customization.”
    • “The characters are highly relatable, each with their own strengths and flaws, coupled with a tear-jerking story of loyalty, heroism, loss, and sacrifice, set behind mature and provoking themes.”
    • “The story is surprisingly good, with unexpected narrative twists that can drastically change the tone and direction of the story midway through the game.”
    • “Just finished the game and had to leave a review because the story of this game is jaw-droppingly bad.”
    • “The story is mediocre, the plot feels rushed, and the writing is poor.”
    • “The story feels a bit disjointed; I couldn't get into it at all.”
  • gameplay241 mentions

    The gameplay in "Visions of Mana" is generally praised for its fluid mechanics, engaging combat, and extensive character customization, offering a nostalgic yet modern experience for fans of the series. While many players appreciate the dynamic battle system and exploration elements, some criticize the repetitiveness and simplicity of combat, as well as the pacing of unlocking new mechanics. Overall, the game provides a fun and visually appealing experience, though it may feel grindy and lacks depth in certain areas.

    • “Visions of Mana brilliantly combines complex mechanics with a story that resonates, making it a must-play for fans of fantasy RPGs.”
    • “The gameplay is super fun and engaging!”
    • “The mechanics are smooth, the controls intuitive, and the overall experience is just as rewarding for newcomers to the series as it is for longtime fans.”
    • “The gameplay is simple, repetitive, and ultimately more than a bit grindy (even at normal difficulty); and feels more like an online RPG from the early 2010s rather than a single-player experience.”
    • “The gameplay: here's where the game falls apart fast, the combat feels like the remake, but slower.”
    • “But as a gameplay space, it’s extremely boring and lifeless.”
  • graphics230 mentions

    The graphics of "Visions of Mana" have received widespread acclaim for their stunning visuals, vibrant colors, and charming art style that pays homage to the classic Mana series. Many players appreciate the high-quality design and detail, describing the environments as breathtaking and immersive, although some have noted performance issues and occasional graphical bugs. Overall, the game is praised for its beautiful aesthetics, which enhance the nostalgic experience for fans while appealing to new players as well.

    • “The graphics are stunning and the soundtrack is captivating, while the combat starts a bit simple but offers depth as you unlock new classes.”
    • “Visions of Mana presents you with stunning visuals, combined with a soundtrack that will be somewhat familiar to veterans of the series.”
    • “The graphics and general aesthetic are incredible, the music is lovely, and the combat is very satisfying.”
    • “I have tried this game with 2 different graphics cards and still would get black screens then crashing.”
    • “The world is quite plain, graphics are basically very Switch-like, I would say.”
    • “I thought Square learned some of their lessons on this, but the graphics options are just not enough for a modern-day full price PC release.”
  • music176 mentions

    The music in the game has received a mixed reception, with many praising its beautiful and nostalgic soundtrack that enhances the overall experience, reminiscent of classic titles like Secret of Mana. While some tracks are highlighted as outstanding and immersive, others are criticized for being forgettable or overshadowed by character dialogue. Overall, the soundtrack is often considered one of the game's strongest aspects, contributing significantly to its charm and atmosphere.

    • “The music is wonderful, similar to Trials of Mana; the game produces some great soundtracks and the sound effects complement the game quite nicely.”
    • “A wonderful take on the Mana series with gorgeous environments, a brilliant soundtrack, and lots of old school charm.”
    • “The soundtrack is outstanding, absolutely the best part of the game.”
    • “I thought the music was lackluster compared to the previous two games before it, Secret of Mana (2018) and Trials of Mana.”
    • “The soundtrack, usually one of the highlights of this series, is incredibly forgettable this time.”
    • “The music is a bit on the sleepy side and you only really get 'combat music' enjoyment when you go into the elemental lesser shrine arenas.”
  • optimization80 mentions

    Overall, the game's optimization has received mixed reviews, with many players reporting significant stuttering and performance issues, particularly on lower-end systems and during graphically intensive scenes. While some users have managed to achieve stable frame rates with high-end hardware, others have noted the necessity of mods to improve performance and reduce glitches. The consensus suggests that the game requires further optimization to enhance the overall experience, especially for PC users.

    • “Performance is mostly good, but with a lot of foliage or water, you can get insane frame drops.”
    • “The maps are huge, the combat seems a lot better and more optimized than the demo, and the world is beautiful, which made me start enjoying the game.”
    • “Lot of progression systems, game seems pretty well optimized, can do borderless window at 4k 120fps max settings.”
    • “My first concern was the actual performance of the game; I had already seen that people had to install mods for this game to run with less stutters and glitches, which is never a good sign for a new release.”
    • “One is that its performance seems a bit unoptimized; it's playable on a Steam Deck but it's pretty choppy, and you won't get consistent 60 fps on even the lowest graphical options.”
    • “This game is poorly optimized, and they couldn't even get the screen settings right (windowed and windowed full screen modes don't work).”
  • emotional39 mentions

    The emotional aspect of "Visions of Mana" is characterized by a mix of heartfelt moments and a simplistic overarching plot, leading to both impactful scenes and rushed character arcs that diminish emotional depth. While some players find the game evokes nostalgia and genuine feelings, others criticize the characters as lacking depth and emotional attachment. Overall, the game successfully delivers emotional twists and resonant moments, though inconsistencies in character development can affect the overall emotional experience.

    • “That said, the game's charm and emotional resonance shine through, particularly in key narrative moments and character interactions.”
    • “The story in combination with the music is full of twists, heartfelt moments, and some surprises.”
    • “I've only been playing for an hour but I'm already in love with Visions of Mana; it already made me cry in the first 5 minutes, and I would straight up die if anything happens to any of the characters.”
  • grinding33 mentions

    Overall, players find the grinding in the game to be tedious and repetitive, often describing side quests as lazy and filled with busywork. While some appreciate the lack of mandatory grinding for progression, many feel that the gameplay suffers from poor pacing and an overwhelming number of shallow tasks that detract from the overall experience. Despite its potential, the grindy nature and lack of engaging content lead to a sense of fatigue among players.

    • “You'll need a second life for grinding.”
    • “Also, there's no farming random map items like in Xenoblade.”
    • “The gameplay is simple, repetitive, and ultimately more than a bit grindy (even at normal difficulty); and feels more like an online RPG from the early 2010s rather than a single-player experience.”
    • “While the gameplay is enjoyable at times, the quasi-open world feels empty and lifeless, filled with tedious busywork and repetitive side quests that amount to little more than 'kill that' or fetch quests.”
    • “There are 100+ side quests and they are tedious, shallow, worthless, and a pain to complete.”
  • character development32 mentions

    Character development in the game receives mixed reviews, with some players finding it lacking and flat, while others appreciate the depth and unique classes of the characters. Many critiques highlight a desire for more engaging personal arcs and moral lessons, suggesting that character growth feels rushed or underdeveloped. Overall, while the character designs are often praised for their creativity and visual appeal, the narrative and emotional investment in the characters vary significantly among players.

    • “The difference here is that the characters are deeper than all the other mana games and there is more character development and morals learned.”
    • “Trials of mana did just fine with its standard fantasy plot thanks to good character development that made me care enough about what was going on and affecting people.”
    • “This is one of the best games I've played in the past 2 years, and I've played other SE games like FF16, FF7 Rebirth, FF14 Dawntrail, etc. The story is great, the character development is awesome, and the class system is fun.”
    • “I wanted character development from that plot but got nothing.”
    • “Yet, some may feel that the character development is rushed, particularly when it comes to resolving personal struggles.”
    • “All those little things that are missing are what make the journey a memorable experience and without them the pacing and character development can feel wrong when certain events happen.”
  • stability22 mentions

    The game's stability has received mixed reviews, with many players reporting significant bugs and glitches that detract from the experience, such as freezing during boss fights and quest marker issues. While some users noted that the game runs smoothly on certain platforms like the Steam Deck, others experienced crashes and autosave problems that led to lost progress. Overall, the game appears to require additional patches or mods to improve its stability and reduce the frequency of technical issues.

    • “It runs great on the Steam Deck OLED; it has no stutters, pauses, or even crashes. It just works like a dream so far.”
    • “After setting this up, pretty much all the issues with the port are resolved, and everything looks and runs great.”
    • “Fantastic graphics, and it runs great. It has a shader compilation step to avoid common UE4 issues.”
    • “My first concern was the actual performance of the game; I had already seen that people had to install mods for this game to run with fewer stutters and glitches. That is never a good sign for a new release.”
    • “I'm at the end; I can beat the first stage of the boss battle, but in the second stage, the boss freezes and so do my characters.”
    • “It's horrifically buggy.”
  • atmosphere16 mentions

    The atmosphere in the game is widely praised for its immersive qualities, enhanced by dynamic weather, day-night cycles, and stunning visuals. Players appreciate the nostalgic charm combined with modern elements, creating a vibrant and whimsical environment that complements the engaging gameplay. The atmospheric music and breathtaking worlds contribute to a deeply immersive RPG experience that resonates with fans of the genre.

    • “If you love exploring vast, breathtaking worlds, experimenting with character builds, and immersing yourself in a game with a powerful atmosphere, 'Visions of Mana' is an experience you won’t want to miss.”
    • “The music, the visuals, and the atmosphere all perfectly capture the nostalgic charm of those classic games while still feeling fresh and modern.”
    • “The atmosphere of this game and the fighting system is awesome.”
    • “If you love exploring vast, breathtaking worlds, experimenting with character builds, and immersing yourself in a game with a powerful atmosphere, Visions of Mana is an experience you won’t want to miss.”
    • “The dynamic weather and day-night cycles also enhance the immersion, adding atmosphere to each environment and influencing gameplay in subtle ways.”
  • humor14 mentions

    The humor in the game is a mixed bag, with some players finding it genuinely funny and enjoyable, particularly through character interactions and quirky accents. While some moments are described as hilarious, others note that the overall comedic impact may not be strong enough to elevate the game significantly. Despite its flaws, the humor adds a lighthearted touch to the experience, making it more engaging.

    • “A great game that isn't too serious has some pretty funny bits and overall, just fun.”
    • “Still the characters are great in this game; they all feel lively and full of personality, and the way they all bounce off each other can be hilarious.”
    • “I enjoy the funny voices and personalities they pick for the characters a lot.”
  • replayability13 mentions

    Overall, the game's replayability is highlighted by its deep battle system, character class customization, and engaging story, which encourage multiple playthroughs. While some players feel that replay value is limited compared to other titles, features like new game+ and varied playstyles provide enough incentive for returning players. However, opinions vary, with some expressing a desire for more substantial replay options.

    • “Vom has a deep and sophisticated battle system boasting smooth mechanics, seamless transitions, and a one-of-a-kind character class customization system that greatly increases replay value.”
    • “The story is lighthearted and engaging enough to the end, and with an additional post-game chapter and New Game+, it allows for replayability.”
    • “A lot of customization to your characters with classes gives replay value, great world-building with semi-open world maps that have enough content in them.”
    • “Replayability is non-existent.”
    • “There isn't as much replayability as trials due to having access to all party members, but there's enough different playstyles that you may consider coming back for a second venture.”
    • “Trials of Mana limited the player to picking three playable characters from a cast of six and I think that worked to its benefit because each character had unique struggles, interacted with each other in fun ways, and affected what story content the player would see (which gave the game some replay value).”
  • monetization3 mentions

    The game's monetization model is straightforward, with a one-time purchase price of $60 and no microtransactions or additional in-game purchases, which some players appreciate as a refreshing change. However, there are concerns about the game's length and content delivery, as players feel misled by advertising regarding the expected gameplay duration.

    • “No microtransactions, no annoying online services, no built-in shops with skins, characters, missions, etc. – sounds like a gamer’s heaven, huh?”
    • “The game offers a fair pricing model that respects players' time and investment.”
    • “I appreciate that the monetization is transparent and doesn't interfere with the gameplay experience.”
    • “It's sad that this game is literally just a $60 cash grab.”
    • “The advertising kept claiming it's a 30-hour RPG, yet I'm 22 hours in and have yet to get the last party member.”
Positive mentions (%)Positive
Neutral mentions (%)Neutral
Negative mentions (%)Negative

Critic Reviews

79% average critic score

Buy Visions of Mana

Play time

23hMedian play time
24hAverage play time
8-45hSpent by most gamers
*Based on 5 analyzed playthroughs

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