Those who were around and into RPGs in 2000 probably remember Legend of Mana as a game that baffled critics and gamers alike. He just didn't go out of his way to explain how it worked, or give repeated directions on where to go or what to do.
The obtuse character of Legend of Mana goes against the grain of previous installments in the series, which were very linear in comparison. This may be due to the involvement of Akitoshi Kawazu as producer, who is best known for his work on the confusing SaGa series.
It can be confusing to understand the game's systems the first time around, and deciphering how to complete a quest can sometimes be a bit of a headache. Ultimately, Legend of Mana is a game that has more style than substance, and that style is awesome. Like Chrono Cross, which was released just two months later, it's hard not to recommend this game, but it wasn't the gameplay that made Chrono Cross, like Legend of Mana, memorable.
Legend of Mana review — Quite a dream
As is customary in Mana, Legend of Mana is all about saving the mana tree. As is not the custom in Mana, the game mostly revolves around the lives of the quirky inhabitants of the world and progresses as you wish.
There are three general story paths you can follow in a single game, with the path you choose being determined by the choices you make in conversations and the places you go. However, the ending doesn't really change depending on which route you choose.
This kind of nonlinear storytelling and progression is typical of the SaGa series, but it's the only entry in the Mana series that approaches its story in this way.
The lack of direction can be annoying, but thankfully the game isn't terribly punishing. Ability, technique, and magic systems take some trial and error to learn, and story progression usually requires you to pay attention to dialogue so you know where to go. These pieces are not surprising.
The “Land Make” system is where you are most likely to trip. As you progress, you'll get artifacts that you can place on the world map to visit. Their placement is important for certain quests, and they affect mana in an area, as well as store inventories.
Between the Land Make system and the different paths to complete the game, there's a lot of flexibility to be found in Legend of Mana and potential for repeat play.
If you've played classic Mana games, you'll be very familiar with Legend of Mana's slow-paced combat. Despite being an action RPG, Legend of Mana's combat system is sluggish and unresponsive - typical of the series, but something worth noting for those unaware. .
You can take one of 11 different weapon types into battle, each with its own speed, range, and techniques to learn. You can also equip an instrument with one of your tech buttons and use the magic they grant.
In battle, you'll mix movement abilities and regular attacks along with magic and techniques to defeat monsters and baddies in general that stand in your way. You'll just do it slowly enough. Combat tends not to be the focus of your adventure. Of course, you will fight a lot; but you wouldn't be boring without the people of Fa'Diel.
An added bonus is the ability to disable encounters, which won't help you when you first venture into an area, but of course, because heck of a godsend when you start having to backtrack. What you will do a lot.
For its time, the dialogue in Legend of Mana was surprisingly well localized, and each of the NPCs you meet in passing or have an extended relationship with have their own unique personality to either love you or repel you. Fortunately, it's usually the first option.
In the visual and audio department, Legend of Mana is no slouch.
The game's music has always been excellent, and the new remastered tracks are decided improvements over the originals, and you can choose between either at any time via the pause menu.
All in-game backgrounds have been completely remastered and are perfectly converted from the original pixel backgrounds, while characters and enemy sprites are more detailed and dynamic than ever before.
Individually I have no complaints about these, but they are a bit jarring when smashed together due to the detailed nature of the sprites. An option for classic backgrounds would have been wonderful, but it's understandable why that wouldn't have been included.
Legend of Mana Review - The Result
Benefits
- Fa'Diel is almost like a painting you can play in
- The combat system is flexible and the party members memorable
- The visuals and audio are both a dreamlike treat
- The ability to disable encounters makes backtracking much less torturous
The inconvenients
- The combat is slow and sometimes callous…
- … it is also very simple
- Progressing can be a little too obtuse and unrewarding for many
Legend of Mana is a game I fell in love with when it first came out all those years ago and coming back to it today has been a treat, but I have to admit: a lot of my enjoyment may be nostalgia for the thing rather than the thing itself.
It's not something I felt playing the Trials of Mana port (not the remake) on Nintendo Switch, as the class and party system suits my tastes well enough that I played it. more times than I will admit. Although that too could just be nostalgia.
Legend of Mana is dynamic and flexible in every way for my preferences today, and I certainly like the game personally. The sheer slowness and obtuse nature of it may be too much for some players. There's a lot to see in Legend of Mana, but the experience never feels fleshed out. Fa'Diel is handsome and seductive and hard to forget, but not because of the gameplay that binds him.
[Note: Square Enix provided the copy of Legend of Mana used for this review.]
