The Mana series has been a total classic for RPG fans, but it kinda fell off over time. You can still feel the vibes from old hits like Secret of Mana and Trials of Mana in today’s RPGs. Now, with Visions of Mana bringing that magic back, it’s the perfect moment to buy Xbox games and rediscover what made this series so special. It’s like catching up with an old friend who’s still got all the charm you remember! Visions of Mana, the first mainline game since 2006, might be a little rough, but it’s still pretty dope and holds its own against the OGs. Revealed at The Game Awards 2023, Visions of Mana was hyped as the series’ big comeback after 17 years, so the pressure was on to not just match but totally outshine the old games. It’s supposed to be a throwback for longtime fans and an intro for newbies. Square Enix, fresh off Final Fantasy VII Rebirth and Final Fantasy XVI, let the new kids at Ouka Studios take the reins and bring Mana back to life. The world’s got this whole cycle where every few years, they do pilgrimages with these peeps called Soul Guards and Alms. The Mana Goddess sends out an envoy, aka Faerie, to pick the lucky ones who can take on these roles. Alms are like the world’s elemental reps from all over, and the Soul Guard is there to protect them on their quest to the Mana Tree. But here’s the kicker: when the pilgrimage ends, the Alms give up their souls to the Goddess, so they basically kick the bucket. The Soul Guard, on the other hand, sticks around to drop wisdom bombs on future gens before they bounce out too. This setup gives Visions of Mana this eerie vibe where people are chilling with the whole “sacrifice” thing. Everyone, including the Alms themselves, sees this as a big honor, with tons of peeps wanting to become an Alm. This whole setup makes the story pop, creating a noticeable gap between the in-game world and us players. The normalized loss of life makes it clear that these characters live in a way that’s pretty different from our own, both mentally and philosophically. The most mind-blowing part is with Val and Hinna. Val was supposed to be a Soul Guard before Hinna got picked as an Alm, and everyone was hyped about her selection. Even though their romantic spark is super obvious and they’re not shy about it, the fact that Val has to watch Hinna essentially walk into her demise isn’t treated as a big sad deal at first.
Basic Fantasy Story
Visions of Mana doesn’t feel super groundbreaking, but it’s like a classic JRPG done really well. This series started as a Final Fantasy spin-off before going solo, and you can totally catch that nostalgic Final Fantasy vibe here. If that’s your jam, it’s a great reminder to buy PS5 games —there are tons of titles out there that carry that same nostalgic energy while also bringing fresh ideas to the table. Square Enix nails that classic JRPG feel while adding all the cool stuff you’d expect from modern games. The story’s set in a world backed by the “Mana Tree,” with villages linked to different elements. Every four years, an “Alm” is picked to rep their village’s element, and they go on a pilgrimage to the Mana Tree with a Soul Guard for protection. The main peeps are Val and Hinna, who are the Soul Guard and chosen Alm of the fire village. As they meet other characters, you get to see the game’s humor and charm. The characters might not be super deep, but they’re a blast and vibe well together. I loved the party banter while roaming around; it had a cozy, simple feel. The story might be basic fantasy stuff, but the game’s world is straight-up gorgeous. The art design and colors create a stunning landscape, and while the character designs are cool, it’s the world that really steals the show. Stepping out of the main village and seeing that massive fiery mountain in the distance gave me major vibes, kinda like seeing Death Mountain in The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time for the first time.
Stunning Graphics Capture Classic Mana Aesthetic
Visions of Mana is visually a bit of a mixed bag. There are moments where it’s absolutely stunning, with breathtaking environmental design. It’s clear the developers put a lot of effort into crafting those scenes, but if you’re craving visuals that consistently blow you away, it might be time to buy PS5 games —the level of graphical fidelity and art direction in some modern titles is truly next-level. However, during cut scenes, especially when characters are talking, the facial expressions can be flat and the lip syncing is often way off. I also noticed some jerky movements and micro-loading issues, even in Performance mode. The game crashed a few times, including once during the final cut scene, which made me redo the whole final boss fight. The music is fantastic, but the voice acting is hit or miss. The main characters do a great job, but the side NPCs range from excellent to really poor, which can be distracting. Visions of Mana is on the brink of greatness. The core combat system is super fun, and I’d love to see it return in a more refined form in a future game. The graphics are impressive and capture the Mana series’ vibe well. However, a lackluster main plot and a rushed second half drag down the overall experience, and some technical issues are disruptive. Still, it’s one of the better entries in the franchise and should be a good time for Mana fans.