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Visions of Mana

The triumphant return of the Mana series! A wonderful RPG that mostly keeps things light and enjoyable while having fun combat and lots to see and do in the world.
Visions of Mana Game Cover
75%Game Brain Score
story, gameplay
optimization, stability
85% User Score Based on 1,530 reviews
Critic Score 53%Based on 7 reviews

Platforms

Xbox Series X|SPCXbox Game PassPlaystation 5CloudPlaystation 4Xbox Cloud GamingWindowsPlayStation
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Visions of Mana Game Cover

About

Visions of Mana is a single player role playing game with a fantasy theme. It was developed by Square Enix and was released on August 29, 2024. It received neutral reviews from critics and positive reviews from players.

"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.

Genres & Tags
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Visions of Mana screenshot
Visions of Mana screenshot
Visions of Mana screenshot
Visions of Mana screenshot
Visions of Mana screenshot
Visions of Mana screenshot
Visions of Mana screenshot
Visions of Mana screenshot
Visions of Mana screenshot
Visions of Mana screenshot
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85%
Audience ScoreBased on 1,530 reviews
story284 positive mentions
optimization39 negative mentions
  • Visions of Mana captures the essence of classic RPGs while introducing modern gameplay elements that keep it fresh and engaging.
  • The game excels in its beautifully crafted world, rich with vibrant landscapes and intricate details that draw you in from the moment you start.
  • Combat in Visions of Mana is fluid and satisfying, balancing fast-paced action with strategic elements.
  • The story is predictable and lacks depth, with many plot points feeling contrived or rushed.
  • The AI companions are often unhelpful in combat, failing to dodge attacks or use items effectively.
  • There are numerous technical issues, including bugs and performance problems, particularly with cutscenes being locked at 30 FPS.
  • story
    1,242 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The story of "Visions of Mana" has received mixed reviews, with many players finding it predictable and formulaic, often likening it to classic JRPG tropes such as "saving the world" and "fighting evil." While some appreciate its charming characters and emotional moments, others criticize the writing as shallow and the pacing as uneven, particularly in the second half. Overall, the narrative is seen as a blend of lightheartedness and darker themes, but it struggles to fully engage players, often overshadowed by gameplay and technical issues.

    • “The story is really good and is keeping me hooked.”
    • “The story is compelling and will play at your heart strings.”
    • “The story shines in its simplicity because trying to tackle something heavy is a recipe for disaster.”
    • “The story is beyond bad and badly expressed through the cutscenes.”
    • “The story feels lackluster and contrived, with an 'idiot plot' where the villains are actually in the right, and the character growth is superficial at best.”
    • “The story is a huge downgrade from all the previous mana games, the protagonist is probably the most insufferable character I have ever seen.”
  • gameplay
    350 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The gameplay of "Visions of Mana" is generally praised for its engaging mechanics, smooth combat, and beautiful visuals, offering a mix of classic RPG elements with modern twists. Players appreciate the depth of character customization and the dynamic nature of combat, although some note issues like repetitive side quests, AI shortcomings, and occasional technical glitches. Overall, while the gameplay is fun and fast-paced, it can feel unchallenging at times, and the story often detracts from the experience.

    • “The gameplay is fun, the story is okay, but the characters massively let it down, really frustrating main character.”
    • “There isn't much else to say, it's an amazing return for the series with innovative mechanics, extremely rewarding combat, and adorable characters that make it a strong contender for fans and newcomers alike.”
    • “The ability to switch between characters seamlessly keeps the gameplay dynamic and engaging.”
    • “I tried to enjoy what I could of the game, but I also have so many issues with the actual game mechanics.”
    • “The gameplay: here's where the game falls apart fast, the combat feels like the remake, but slower.”
    • “Your companions will refuse to dodge any mechanics from any enemies and will absolutely get blasted instantly; leaving you to fend by yourself and making the fights much longer.”
  • graphics
    334 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The graphics of "Visions of Mana" have received a mixed but generally positive reception, with many praising the vibrant art style and beautiful visuals that evoke nostalgia for the classic Mana series. While some players noted occasional visual bugs and performance issues, particularly on higher settings, the overall aesthetic and character designs were appreciated for their charm and detail. However, there were calls for more graphical options and customization to enhance the experience further.

    • “Great visuals, fluid combat, and a large world to explore with various items and collectibles to find.”
    • “The graphics are beautiful and the exploring and action are fun.”
    • “The visuals are amazing, bright and colorful, the characters are likeable, the music is superb!”
    • “Ugly graphics (sometimes the characters look pale like a zombie).”
    • “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.”
    • “We’re years into the PS5 era, and yet here we are, stuck with 30fps cutscenes, minimal graphic customization, and PC features that are basically nonexistent.”
  • music
    246 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The music in the game has received widespread praise for its beautiful and nostalgic soundtrack, which evokes memories of classic RPGs like Secret of Mana. Many players find the music enhances the overall experience, complementing the stunning visuals and engaging gameplay, although some feel it lacks memorability compared to earlier titles in the series. Overall, the soundtrack is considered a highlight, with a mix of calming and dynamic tracks that fit well within the game's various environments.

    • “The music is really enjoyable, I've stopped to take in the music and scenery countless times now.”
    • “The soundtrack of the game is just incredible; in my opinion, it's some of the best, especially during battles against massive enemies, giving the feel of an epic battle followed by calming music in small villages. I enjoyed it from start to finish.”
    • “The music alone is worth the journey, a true highlight of the game.”
    • “I was really excited knowing that Hiroki Kikuta was coming back, but unfortunately it seems they took 'background music' literally as none of the tracks are memorable.”
    • “Music is unremarkable.”
    • “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.”
  • optimization
    122 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The game's optimization has received mixed reviews, with many players reporting significant stuttering and performance issues, particularly during cutscenes and intense combat scenarios. While some users experienced smooth performance on high-end systems, others faced severe frame drops and bugs, leading to frustration and even refunds. Overall, the game appears to require further optimization and patches to address these widespread performance concerns.

    • “It's nice to finally buy a AAA game that was ready for release on day one and not suffer performance bugs.”
    • “The maps are huge, the combat seems a lot better and more optimized than the demo, and the world is beautiful; I started enjoying the game.”
    • “Lot of progression systems, game seems pretty well optimized, can do borderless window at 4K 120fps max settings.”
    • “No optimization, limited FPS cutscenes in the first 10 minutes.”
    • “Shame on this unoptimized mess.”
    • “Wanting sixty dollars for a game this badly optimized and forcing modders to take care of the mess is downright cocky.”
  • emotional
    48 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The emotional aspect of "Visions of Mana" is highlighted by its deep and heartfelt narrative, which evokes strong feelings ranging from joy to heartbreak. Players appreciate the game's ability to create emotional moments through its music and character interactions, although some express disappointment with character depth and gameplay issues that detract from the overall emotional experience. Despite mixed reviews on the story's execution, many find it engaging and capable of eliciting genuine emotional responses.

    • “The music perfectly fits the atmosphere and impressively underscores the emotional moments of the game.”
    • “I've only been playing for an hour but I'm already in love with Visions of Mana; it made me cry in the first 5 minutes, and I would straight up die if anything happens to any of the characters.”
    • “The story may seem simple, but it has deep emotional moments that will make you want to cry, scream, or just say 'what the heck'.”
  • character development
    42 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    Character development in the game receives mixed reviews, with some players appreciating the depth and moral lessons of the characters, while others find them flat and lacking in complexity. The character designs, particularly for certain characters like Val, are often criticized as distracting or unappealing, which detracts from the overall experience. Despite these criticisms, many players still enjoy the story and mechanics, indicating that character development can vary significantly in impact depending on individual preferences.

    • “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.”
    • “The difference here is that the characters are deeper than all the other Mana games, and there is more character development and morals learned.”
    • “Somewhat traditional JRPG story, which I liked, and all party members have decent character developments.”
    • “I wanted a character development from that plot but got nothing.”
    • “Visions of Mana is a game that truly allows the entry-level gamer who wants to play an RPG but doesn't want to burden themselves with all the nuanced details like character motivations, complex story arcs, and over-the-top character development and stat chasing.”
    • “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.”
  • stability
    39 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    Overall, the game's stability is a mixed bag; while many players report smooth performance with no crashes or significant frame drops, there are notable glitches and bugs that can disrupt gameplay, such as issues with autosaving and quest markers. Some users experienced visual glitches and input problems, particularly during boss fights, but many still find the game runs well on various systems, including the Steam Deck. Despite the technical hiccups, the majority of players appreciate the overall performance and graphics quality.

    • “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 stuff 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.”
    • “The gameplay is proving to be fantastic, except for that unacceptable input problem causing class actions to never work, but other than never being able to unless my CS gauge, everything works aside from some glitches that occur.”
    • “There are some glitches, but most of them are visual, causing unnecessary hogging of GPU and causing graphics to be at lower settings than they should be.”
    • “Then there's the glitches and UI issues... dear lord the glitches.”
  • grinding
    38 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The grinding aspect of the game has received mixed reviews, with many players finding the side quests tedious and repetitive, often amounting to busywork rather than meaningful content. While some appreciate the lack of extensive grinding typical in JRPGs, others feel that the game suffers from a lack of engaging activities, leading to a sense of emptiness in the quasi-open world. Overall, the grinding experience is seen as a significant drawback, detracting from the enjoyment of the main quest and gameplay.

    • “You'll need a second life for grinding.”
    • “There's no farming random map items like in Xenoblade.”
    • “Grinding can be quite time-consuming, but it adds depth to the gameplay.”
    • “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.”
    • “I'm at the point where I just feel it's very tedious now as someone usually wants me to fight some enemies or find some item, except now it's [spoiler] travel to 500 different places to find those items.”
  • humor
    20 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The humor in the game is well-received, with characters displaying lively personalities that create amusing interactions, particularly highlighted by exchanges like those between Morley and Ashe. Despite the game's darker themes, the humor shines through, offering a mix of funny moments and nostalgic charm reminiscent of classic SNES games. Overall, players appreciate the lightheartedness and comedic elements that balance the narrative.

    • “I was worried at first that the characters would fall flat, but as new characters join your party and interact with story NPCs, their personalities shine through and allow for some humor despite the dark undertones of the story.”
    • “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.”
    • “A great game that isn't too serious, has some pretty funny bits, and overall, just fun.”
  • atmosphere
    18 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The atmosphere in "Vision of Mana" is widely praised for its immersive and deeply engaging qualities, featuring breathtaking environments, dynamic weather, and a soothing musical score. Players appreciate the game's ability to evoke a sense of peace while also providing thrilling boss battles that enhance the overall experience. This RPG is recommended for those who enjoy exploring rich worlds and experimenting with character builds in a captivating setting.

    • “The atmosphere within the game is truly remarkable.”
    • “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.”
    • “'Visions of Mana' is an outstanding RPG that masterfully crafts a deeply immersive and atmospheric game world.”
  • replayability
    16 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The game's replayability is enhanced by a flexible class system and character customization, encouraging players to explore different playstyles. While some players find the replay value lacking compared to other titles, features like a post-game chapter and New Game+ offer additional incentives to revisit the game. Overall, opinions on replayability are mixed, with some praising it and others expressing disappointment.

    • “The new class system may not be as structured, but it’s a welcome change that adds a lot of replayability.”
    • “The story is lighthearted and engaging enough to the end, and with an additional post-game chapter and new game+ allows for replayability.”
    • “A lot of customization to your characters with classes which 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.”
    • “Not sure about replayability so far though.”
  • monetization
    4 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The monetization aspect of the game has been criticized as a cash grab, with players feeling that the $60 price tag does not reflect the game's content or advertised playtime, leading to disappointment in its value.

    • “It's sad though that this game is literally just a good $60 cash grab.”
    • “It's sad though that this game is literally just a good $60 cash grab.”
    • “Also, all the advertising kept talking about how it's a 30-hour RPG, yet I'm 22 hours in and have yet to get the last party member.”
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53%Critics’ scoreBased on 7 critic reviews
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23h Median play time
24h Average play time
8-45h Spent by most gamers
*Based on 10 analyzed playthroughs
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Frequently Asked Questions

Visions of Mana is a role playing game with fantasy theme.

Visions of Mana is available on Xbox Series X|S, PC, PlayStation 5, PlayStation 4 and others.

On average players spend around 24 hours playing Visions of Mana.

Visions of Mana was released on August 29, 2024.

Visions of Mana was developed by Square Enix.

Visions of Mana has received neutral reviews from players and neutral reviews from critics. Most players liked this game for its story but disliked it for its optimization.

Visions of Mana is a single player game.

Similar games include Dragon Quest XI: Echoes of an Elusive Age, Valkyrie Elysium, Edge of Eternity, Tales of Arise, Ni no Kuni II: Revenant Kingdom and others.