As a seasoned JRPG enthusiast who’s spent countless hours traversing fantastical lands and saving worlds from impending doom, I can confidently say that Visions of Mana has easily earned a spot among my favorites. This game is a beautiful revival of a classic franchise, blending heartfelt storytelling with strategic combat in a way that’s both captivating and challenging.
In a return after more than 15 years, the Mana franchise has launched its initial mainline game anew, and it’s a commendable resurgence of the series. The game, titled Visions of Mana, encompasses all the classic JRPG elements while harmoniously blending a heartfelt narrative centered around characters with a demanding battle system that requires tactical thinking.
The soul guard
In the game Visions of Mana, the protagonist, Val, takes on an unexpected role – he becomes Hinna’s protector instead of the typical Chosen One. As Hinna is chosen to be the village’s alm, the one who must travel to the Tree of Mana and sacrifice their soul, Val is tasked with safeguarding her during this journey. The deep bond and affection between Val and Hinna are evident from the beginning, and the twist of Hinna being selected as alm adds a refreshing twist to the usual narrative formula.
The relationship between our protagonists provides built-in narrative stakes, as the thought of Hinna “offering her soul” and what that might entail gave me a good deal of concern throughout the story. This connection only deepened as additional characters joined us on the journey. Each party member has their own backstory and motivations that bring them together and toward the Tree of Mana. These backstories flesh out the world and provide lore for its various settings and NPCs. My personal favorite was Morley, a swordsman who hails from a cursed land.
The journey towards the Tree of Mana leads the group through a variety of landscapes and surroundings, giving a clear view of the stunning world created by Square Enix and Ouka Studios. The art design stays consistent with the franchise’s distinct style, yet provides the best graphics the series has ever seen so far. It’s breathtakingly beautiful, and I often paused to capture moments when standing on high cliffs or admiring expansive open fields.
In Visions of Mana, the attention to detail in design also applies to the music. A great soundtrack is crucial for a JRPG, and this one delivers. Not only does the opening theme elegantly echo the series’ iconic melody, but the entire soundtrack is packed with tracks that intensify feelings and drama at key points. I was particularly impressed by how the music seamlessly shifted during combat sequences and their conclusion.
On my mid-range computer, Visions of Mana performed smoothly without any significant performance problems to mention. Yet, the game restricts its cinematics to 30 frames per second, creating abrupt transitions as my 120 FPS gameplay suddenly dropped to a quarter during these scenes. Over time, you get accustomed to it, but it’s puzzling why such a limitation was imposed on a game that doesn’t require heavy graphics in the first place.
Trial by sword
Despite my personal preference for classic turn-based combat in RPG games, Visions of Mana impressively offers an action-oriented system that maintains a high level of strategic depth. In this game, when you encounter an enemy on the field, there’s a smooth transition into battle as a circular arena spontaneously appears around the involved parties. If you choose to flee from the fight, you can simply stroll outside the boundaries of the battlefield.
During conflicts, characters can utilize a variety of magical spells, physical attacks, and unique talents to harm adversaries while aiding teammates. I found immense satisfaction in hurling opponents skyward, pummeling them with a series of strikes before slamming them back onto the ground below. You are allowed to switch between active party members at your leisure during combat, and can issue commands to the CPU when you’re not directly controlling them. The boss fights present a distinct challenge through their aggressive attack patterns, which require strategic learning and adaptation. Certain bosses have vulnerable spots that, if destroyed, will leave them at a disadvantage and cause critical damage.
Every character possesses unique skills, yet you’re given the flexibility to adapt them. You can swap between various weapons, equipment, and items that affect their attributes and skill sets. Crafting each character is a delicate task, involving decisions about which skills and items to assign for quick access, and finding the gameplay style that suits you. Each character vocalizes lines during combat as they attack and employ their abilities. This feature extends not only to your controlled character but also to your entire team, enhancing immersion and making battles more captivating.
In these expanses lying between towns and significant landmarks, you’re given ample room to roam freely, encountering random enemies and gathering valuable finds. Along the way, you’ll notice various collectibles and glimmering spots where interplay yields loot. The locations of chests are marked on your map, which can transform certain exploration into a list-like task rather than an immersive, open-ended journey. In essence, the frequent distribution of items scattered across the open areas seemed more like chores than incentives to explore, and I occasionally opted to skip some loot during the game’s latter stages. Instead, I yearned for more intricate puzzles and spontaneous instances that sparked my curiosity.
An unforgettable pilgrimage
In essence, Visions of Mana delivers top-notch role-playing game experience in all aspects. It boasts intriguing characters, a gripping narrative, and a tough yet satisfying battle system. Its minor flaws are negligible and don’t significantly hinder the overall fun and excitement this captivating journey offers.
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2024-08-27 15:28