Visions of Mana
- August 29, 2024
- Square Enix Creative Business Unit IV
- 23h median play time
"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.
Reviews
- Gorgeous environments and vibrant graphics that capture the essence of the Mana series.
- Engaging combat system with a variety of classes and abilities that allow for customization.
- Charming characters and a lighthearted story that evokes nostalgia for fans of the series.
- The story feels predictable and lacks depth, with some characters being one-dimensional.
- Technical issues such as frame rate drops during cutscenes and unresponsive controls can detract from the experience.
- Side quests often feel tedious and repetitive, leading to a sense of unnecessary backtracking.
- story585 mentions
- 23 % positive mentions
- 70 % neutral mentions
- 7 % negative mentions
The story of "Visions of Mana" has received mixed reviews, with many players finding it predictable and filled with typical JRPG tropes, such as a quest to save the world and one-dimensional characters. While some appreciate its charming simplicity and emotional moments, others criticize it for being poorly executed, with pacing issues and a lack of depth in character development. Overall, the narrative is seen as a blend of engaging elements and frustrating clichés, making it enjoyable for casual players but disappointing for those seeking a more profound story experience.
“The story is surprisingly good.”
“The story is lighthearted and yet takes itself seriously - this is good.”
“The narrative is rich with unexpected plot twists that keep you constantly on your toes, making you eager to see what comes next.”
“The story is underdeveloped and genuinely bad at some points.”
“Unfortunately, the story and characters fell flat for me, and the combat got repetitive after about 1/3 through the game.”
“The story is simple, dull, and completely unoriginal.”
- gameplay165 mentions
- 42 % positive mentions
- 52 % neutral mentions
- 5 % negative mentions
The gameplay in "Visions of Mana" is generally praised for its fun and engaging mechanics, with a focus on exploration and character customization that appeals to both newcomers and series veterans. While many enjoy the fast-paced combat and the rewarding nature of side quests, some players find the gameplay can become repetitive and less challenging over time, particularly after completing numerous side quests. Overall, the game successfully blends classic RPG elements with modern mechanics, though it suffers from some issues like AI behavior and a lack of depth in certain areas.
“The gameplay loops are fun and map exploration is rewarded with useful items.”
“I love that they have added some new elements to the old gameplay formula, but I am also happy to see that the old Secret of Mana feel is present throughout!”
“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: here's where the game falls apart fast, the combat feels like the Tom remake, but slower.”
“If you do any exploring of the needlessly big maps at all, you'll quickly outlevel all enemies so massively that even at maximum difficulty you'll stomp bosses without ever noticing their mechanics.”
“But as a gameplay space, it’s extremely boring and lifeless.”
- graphics158 mentions
- 53 % positive mentions
- 46 % neutral mentions
- 2 % negative mentions
The graphics of the game have received widespread acclaim for their vibrant art style and high-quality visuals, with many reviewers praising the stunning animation and attention to detail. While some noted occasional texture issues and a lack of graphical options, the overall aesthetic is described as beautiful and immersive, successfully capturing the charm of the Mana series. Despite some criticisms regarding performance and expression in character models, the game's visuals are considered a standout feature that enhances the overall experience.
“The graphics of the game are very high quality.”
“The watercolor-style graphics are breathtaking, evoking the feeling of stepping into a painting.”
“The visuals are amazing, bright and colorful, the characters are likeable, the music is superb!”
“The game started off kinda strong but everything in the game feels undercooked and there's not a single ounce of imagination save for the visuals.”
“My only criticism of the graphics is that the characters are mostly expressionless except for their eyebrows.”
“I wish the developers would have spent more time making the game fun to play and flow well rather than spend so much effort on overwrought character designs and graphics.”
- music118 mentions
- 50 % positive mentions
- 47 % neutral mentions
- 3 % negative mentions
The music in the game receives mixed reviews, with some praising it as nostalgic and beautifully composed, reminiscent of classic 90s RPGs, while others find it forgettable and lacking in memorability. Many players appreciate the atmospheric quality of the soundtrack, noting that it enhances the overall experience, though some feel it doesn't quite reach the heights of previous titles in the series. Overall, the music is generally described as pleasant and fitting, contributing positively to the game's charm, but not all tracks leave a lasting impression.
“The music is gorgeous too and I can't wait for the OST to be fully released.”
“A wonderful take on the Mana series with gorgeous environments, a brilliant soundtrack, and lots of old school charm.”
“The soundtrack is simply solid, a symphony of melodies that uplift every moment.”
“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.”
“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.”
- optimization59 mentions
- 27 % positive mentions
- 41 % neutral mentions
- 32 % negative mentions
Overall, the game's optimization has received mixed reviews, with some players experiencing smooth performance and minimal stuttering, particularly on high-end systems, while others report significant frame drops and stuttering issues, especially in graphically intensive areas. Many users noted that the PC version could benefit from better optimization, with some resorting to mods to improve performance and load times. While some players enjoyed a stable experience, the presence of bugs and performance hiccups has led to frustration among others, indicating that optimization remains a concern for a portion of the player base.
“Great performance / no stuttering - 4K @ 120 Hz with a RTX 3080.”
“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, that I started enjoying the game.”
“Oh also, I played the whole thing on Steam Deck and it has some noticeable hitches. The only way to get a smooth experience is if you turn on the FSR to 'performance', but even then it'll still hitch and it looks awful.”
“This game is not optimized, and this could be for several possible reasons, but it looks terrible at low resolution and makes my computer fans roar at high resolution.”
“Refunded due to the very poor optimization for PC.”
- emotional22 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The emotional aspect of the game is marked by a blend of colorful visuals and mature themes, leading to impactful moments that resonate deeply with players. While some characters and story arcs evoke genuine feelings of joy and heartbreak, others fall flat due to gameplay issues and a convoluted narrative. Overall, the game offers a mix of heartfelt storytelling and emotional twists, though it struggles with character depth and consistency in its emotional delivery.
“The colorful world clashes with the mature themes of the story, and more than once it got to me emotionally.”
“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'.”
“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.”
- character development20 mentions
- 20 % positive mentions
- 65 % neutral mentions
- 15 % negative mentions
Character development in the game is noted to be deeper than previous entries in the series, with party members experiencing meaningful growth and moral lessons throughout the story. While some players find the character designs unappealing or distracting, the overall narrative and character arcs are praised for their traditional JRPG charm and engaging storytelling. However, there are mixed feelings about the balance between character design and gameplay enjoyment, with some wishing for a stronger focus on gameplay mechanics over aesthetics.
“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.”
“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.”
“Story is like a Power Rangers series with some character development.”
“I wish the developers would have spent more time making the game fun to play and flow well rather than spend so much effort on overwrought character designs and graphics.”
“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.”
- grinding18 mentions
- 11 % positive mentions
- 6 % neutral mentions
- 83 % negative mentions
Reviews indicate that grinding in the game can be tedious and often feels unnecessary, with many side quests described as shallow and repetitive, primarily involving fetch tasks or combat. While some players found grinding to be manageable, others felt it detracted from the overall experience, leading to a sense of emptiness in the quasi-open world. New Game Plus offers minimal enhancements, leaving players to navigate the same grindy elements without significant rewards.
“You'll need a second life for grinding.”
“Also, there's no farming random map items like in Xenoblade.”
“If you're here for achievement farming, I'd recommend setting that aside until NG+ or accept that you will want a walkthrough from the start.”
“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.”
- stability17 mentions
- 24 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 76 % negative mentions
Overall, the game's stability is mixed; while many players report smooth performance with no crashes or major issues, others have encountered significant glitches, particularly during boss battles and with quest markers. Some users noted problems with autosave frequency and display detection, but overall, the game runs well on various platforms, especially the Steam Deck. Despite the technical hiccups, many players appreciate the game's performance and graphics.
“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.”
“I'm at the end, I can beat the first stage of the boss battle but the second stage... the boss freezes and so do my characters.”
“The game itself is a big terrarium for bugs and glitches.”
“There are a few technical glitches where quest markers show up on the map where they shouldn't be.”
- humor9 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The game features a mix of genuinely funny moments and lively character interactions that enhance its overall charm, with players highlighting the humor in character dynamics and dialogue. While the humor often contrasts with darker story elements, it successfully adds a lighthearted touch to the experience. However, some players noted that technical issues, like frame drops during busy scenes, can detract from the enjoyment.
“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. The way they all bounce off each other can be hilarious.”
“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.”
- replayability8 mentions
- 38 % positive mentions
- 25 % neutral mentions
- 38 % negative mentions
Overall, the game's replayability is mixed; while some players find it lacking due to limited variations in playthroughs, others appreciate the diverse playstyles, class customization, and engaging story that encourage multiple runs. The inclusion of a post-game chapter and New Game+ mode adds further incentive for replay, though opinions vary on the depth of 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.”
“The class system gives it nice replayable value too.”
“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.”
“The new class system may not be as structured, but it’s a welcome change that adds a lot of replayability.”
- atmosphere8 mentions
- 63 % positive mentions
- 38 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The atmosphere in "Vision of Mana" is widely praised for its stunning visuals, immersive world-building, and captivating music, creating a sense of peace and adventure. Players appreciate the game's ability to evoke strong emotions during boss battles and exploration, making it a memorable RPG experience. Overall, the atmosphere is described as remarkable, deeply immersive, and integral to the enjoyment of the game.
“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.”
- monetization2 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
The monetization of the game is criticized as a $60 cash grab, with players feeling misled by advertising that promised a lengthy RPG experience, as many report not reaching the expected content within the advertised playtime.
“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 still haven't unlocked the last party member.”