Nostalgia can be a powerful thing, and Visions of Mana Could be a prime example of how well this can work for a series. The last entry in the long run Mana Series retains most of its signature trademarks and feels like a classic Mana Title in almost every sense of the term. This is both a blessing Visions of Mana And a drawback – but it mostly works.
Screen Rant is given advance access to Visions of Mana Before its release, allow plenty of time to explore the world, learn about its characters, and experiment heavily with its action-RPG combat. The story, which will not be spoiled here, should be enjoyable for a long time Mana fans, but it also works well for newcomers to the series. And this is all by design – in many ways, Visions of Mana is an attempt to return to the roots of the series and make a comeback For an IP that has had a few device releases and missteps in recent memory.
- A simple cast with a story that is fun to follow
- Traditional mana elements that still hold up as core components, even if they could be improved
- A reminder of what makes the Mana series so important
- Unfortunately outdated mechanics that can frustrate or distort the experience
Visions of Mana Characters and Gameplay Overview
A likable cast with classic mana elements
For a series that started as Final Fantasy Adventure here in the states, The Mana The series has found its own footing in the decades since, carving its own niche in the RPG landscape And set itself apart from genre titans like Final FantasyY and Dragon Quest. Like the series, every main line Mana Entry works well as a standalone adventure, but regulars can easily find familiar terms and traps – and, of course, find familiar enemies like the adorable rabbit, who serves as the mascot of the franchise.
Visions of Manas story structure probably won’t be a surprise to most people who have played a Mana Play before. Protagonist Val seems like pretty standard fare for an RPG hero, and each story portion is fairly segmented. Most of the characters are likeable in their own way, although Careena’s personality and pseudo-Southern drawl can start to wear thin. It’s a cast worth rooting for, even if none of them is greater than the sum of their parts.
There is a lot to do in Visions of Mana – Treasures to find, items to collect, side quests to complete – and along the way, more heroes join Val and add strategy and customizability to gameplay and combat. There’s also a job-like system that enhances characters with elemental powers, allowing them to unlock new moves and try new things on the battlefield. It is one of the highlights of the game.
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It’s not an open world game, but some areas feel open and leave a lot of room to explore. Most areas have elemental crystals to interact with and collect from, treasures to hunt, and many other things like candy to encourage players to stray off the beaten path. Fast travel spots also make it easier to move around the world.
There are also tougher monsters, called Nemeses, to take down and some areas will be way out of a party league when they first arrive and require backtracking much later in the game. There’s also grizzly syrup to collect and exchange for rewards with a dudebear, another staple creature from the series that sees a well-welcomed return in Visions of Mana.
Visions of Mana’s combat has several disadvantages
Action-RPG fighting that is fun but sometimes clunky
The combat in Visions of Mana is adequate, which makes it a little disappointing – because it could have been great. It’s nice to see a main line Mana Game with its action-RPG roots after some previous titles experimented with other genres, however The combat feels a bit clunky at times. Fighting, no matter the difficulty setting, feels like it’s from the past – and not necessarily in a good way.
The combat is symptomatic of a larger issue within Visions of Mana. For better or worse, this feels like an RPG from 20 years ago. Yes, nostalgia is strong, and the classic feel definitely works in the game’s favor, but it’s also a hindrance. Movement doesn’t feel as fluid as it should, the typical cartoonish art design doesn’t feel as sharp as it could be, and there are cutscenes where NPCs are talking but no one’s mouth is moving. It all adds up to a game that could have been a masterpiece on the PS2 but feels a little half-baked in 2024.
How Visions of Mana compares to past Mana games
Mana’s comeback wasn’t perfect
Visions of Mana May be bogged down by some outdated practices, but it still feels like the comeback the series needed. It can’t be as earth-shattering as that Stories from the rise Or Dragon Quest Shi has for their respective series, and Only time will tell if Visions of Mana has managed to reinvigorate his fans and helped launch a new era of Mana Titles. However, when compared to the previous one Mana games, Visions of Mana Is still somewhere towards the top, even if it is not at the top.
Visions of Mana Reminds people that they fell in love with the series to begin with.
No matter what someone’s favorite Mana game is Visions of Mana Will probably be in second or third behind it. It’s probably never going to stack against Secret of ManaBut it’s still pretty good. And it’s better than almost anything new Mana Game that was released this side of 2000.
Final Thoughts & Review Score
3.5/5
After years of feeling like the series was on the decline, it’s just really nice to see Visions of Mana Remind people why they fell in love with the series to begin with. It’s a good game that never reaches greatness. It’s not a perfect RPG by any means – and it still feels outdated in many ways. However, this is a game that leaves me feeling hopeful about the future of the series. It feels like, finally, the Mana Series is back on track.
- Franchise
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Mana series
- platforms
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PC, PS4, PS5, Xbox Series X, Xbox Series S
- Released
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August 29, 2024
- developer(s)
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Ouka Studios, Square Enix
- Publisher(s)
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Square Enix
- motor
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Unreal Engine 4
- ESRB
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T for Teens Due to Fantasy Violence, Mild Suggestive Themes