Visions of Mana
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Nostalgia can be a powerful thing , andVisions of Manamay be a prime example of how well that can work for a series ' party favor . The latest introduction in the long - runningManaseries maintains most of its signature trademark and palpate like a classicManatitle in nearly every sense of the term . This is both a boon toVisions of Manaand a drawback - but it mostly works .
Screen Rantwas given advance entree toVisions of Manaahead of its discharge , exit plenty of time to explore the world , learn about its theatrical role , and experiment heavily with its action - RPG combat . The account , which wo n’t be spoiled here , should be pleasurable for longtimeManafans , but it also works just fine for newcomers to the series . And this is all by design -in many way , Visions of Manais an attempt to get back to the series ' roots and make a comebackfor an IP that ’s had quite a few fair release and stumble in recent memory .
Visions Of Mana Characters & Gameplay Overview
A Likable Cast With Classic Mana Elements
For a serial that started out asFinal Fantasy Adventurehere in the States , theManaseries has found its own footing in the decades since , carving out its own corner in the RPG landscapeand setting itself asunder from writing style titans likeFinal Fantasy andDragon Quest . Like those serial publication , each mainlineManaentry works finely as a standalone escapade , but regulars will easily be able to spot intimate terms and tropes - and , of course , find conversant enemy like the adorable rabite , which serves as the enfranchisement ’s mascot .
Visions of Mana ’s story structure probably wo n’t be a surprisal to most citizenry who ’ve played aManagame before . Protagonist Val seems like reasonably standard transportation for an RPG hero , and each story share is fair segmented . Most of the characters are endear 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 are bully than the nub of their parts .
There ’s a lot to do inVisions of Mana- treasure to find , items to gather , side quests to do - and along the way , more Cuban sandwich join up with Val and add scheme and customizability to gameplay and combat . There ’s also a Job - like system which riddle characters with elemental powers , allow them to unlock new motion and judge out new matter on the field . It ’s one of the highlight of the game .
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This is n’t an opened - world game by any way , but several area finger undetermined and lead plenty of way to explore . Most areas have elmental crystals to interact with and collect from , treasures to hunt down , and plenty of other items like Candy to advance actor to stray from the beaten path . Fast travel spots also make it easier to move around the world .
There are also tougher monsters , prognosticate Nemeses , to take down and some areas will be right smart out of a company ’s league when they first arrive and ask backtracking much later in the game . There ’s also Grizzly Syrup to collect and commute for advantage with a Dudbear , another series staple creature that run across a well - welcome tax return inVisions of Mana .
Custom Image by Katarina Cimbaljevic.
Visions Of Mana’s Combat Has Some Drawbacks
Action-RPG Fighting That’s Fun But Sometimes Clunky
The combat inVisions of Manais adequate , which make it slightly unsatisfying - because it could ’ve been great . It ’s squeamish to see a mainlineManagame with its activity - RPG roots after some previous title experimented with other genres , butthe combat feels a flake clumsy at prison term . Fighting , no matter the difficulty lay , feels like its from an era past tense - and not needs in a good style .
The combat is diagnostic of a bigger issue inVisions of Mana . For better or bad , this feel like an RPG from 20 years ago . Yes , nostalgia is brawny , and this classic find definitely works in the game ’s favour , but it ’s also a impediment . Movement does n’t feel as fluid as it should , the typically cartoonish art design does n’t find as tart as it could be , and there are cutscenes where NPCs are talking but no one ’s mouth are move . This all adds up to a game that might ’ve been a chef-d’oeuvre on the PS2 but feels a little half - adust in 2024 .
How Visions Of Mana Compares To Past Mana Games
Mana’s Comeback Isn’t Perfect
visual modality of Manamay be bogged down by some outdated practices , but it still feels like the comeback the series necessitate . It may not be as ground - shattering as whatTales of AriseorDragon Quest XIdid for their several series , andonly time will say ifVisions of Manahas managed to reinvigorate its fanbaseand helped establish a new earned run average ofManatitles . However , when equate to previousManagames , vision of Manais still somewhere toward the top , even if it ’s not at the peak .
imagination of Manareminds people why they fall in love with the serial to begin with .
No matter what someone ’s favoriteManagame is , Visions of Manawill plausibly be in second or third behind it . It ’s belike never hold up to stack up againstSecret of Mana , but it ’s still pretty darn right . And it ’s skilful than pretty much every newManagame that ’s released this side of 2000 .
Final Thoughts & Review Score
3.5/5
After years of feeling like the series was on the decay , it ’s just really skillful to seeVisions of Manareminding hoi polloi why they fell in love with the series to begin with . It ’s a good game that never quite pass on greatness . It ’s not a perfect RPG by any means - and it still feel outdated in a lot of way of life . However , it ’s a game that leaves me feeling hopeful about the series ' time to come . It feels like , at long last , theManaseries is back on caterpillar tread .
A written matter of Visions of Mana on PS5 was sent to Screen Rant for the aim of this follow-up .
