Visions of Mana

is the latest entry in the beloved Mana series, known for its action RPG gameplay, beautiful worlds, and memorable characters. Developed by Square Enix, the game carries forward the franchise’s classic elements while introducing modern features that aim to appeal to both longtime fans and newcomers. Released across multiple platforms (PS5, Xbox Series X|S, Nintendo Switch, and PC), Visions of Mana seeks to bring the magic of the Mana universe to a new generation of players with enhanced visuals, refined combat, and a captivating storyline.

Let’s take a deep dive into the game’s core aspects to assess how well it delivers on the series’ legacy.

Story and Setting

Visions of Mana immerses players in a vibrant fantasy world that blends magic, ancient powers, and mystical creatures. Set in a distant land where the Mana Tree is at the center of life, the game follows a group of young heroes as they embark on a quest to prevent the imminent collapse of the world’s natural balance. The story explores themes of destiny, friendship, and the clash between light and darkness.

As with previous entries, the game features richly detailed environments that transport players to magical forests, ancient ruins, floating islands, and other fantastical locations. The world-building is impressive, with every region brimming with charm, secrets, and lore waiting to be uncovered.

The narrative pacing is well-balanced, blending light-hearted moments with emotional arcs and darker undertones. The cast of characters is diverse, each with their own motivations and backstories, which makes for an engaging, character-driven story. Fans of previous Mana games will recognize some callbacks and familiar concepts, but the game also introduces fresh elements that give it its own identity within the franchise.

Gameplay and Combat

The gameplay in Visions of Mana stays true to the action RPG roots of the series but refines many of its mechanics for modern platforms. At its core, the combat is fast-paced and action-oriented, with players controlling a party of characters that each have unique abilities, weapon styles, and magic.

1. Combat System Combat in Visions of Mana is fluid and satisfying, mixing hack-and-slash mechanics with strategy. Players can switch between characters in real-time, each offering different playstyles, such as close-range sword attacks, long-range magic, or powerful area-of-effect abilities. The combat is easy to pick up but offers depth, especially when incorporating various skills, elemental attacks, and timed dodges into the mix. One of the standout features is the Mana Spirit System, which allows players to summon powerful elemental beings to aid in battle. These spirits add an extra layer of strategy, as their abilities can turn the tide of difficult encounters. For example, summoning the water spirit Undine can heal your party, while the fire spirit Salamander unleashes devastating fire-based attacks. Additionally, the game introduces a combo system where chaining attacks together unlocks more powerful moves, encouraging players to experiment with different character synergies.
2. Exploration and Quests Exploration is a major part of the game, with vast open areas to discover, each filled with secrets, puzzles, and collectibles. The game encourages exploration with a variety of side quests, hidden dungeons, and rare items scattered across the world. The level design strikes a good balance between linear progression and open-world freedom, allowing players to wander off the beaten path without feeling overwhelmed by a vast world map. The game also features several puzzle-based mechanics, particularly in its dungeons. These puzzles often involve interacting with the environment, using specific characters’ abilities, or calling upon Mana Spirits to solve intricate challenges. These moments offer a refreshing break from combat and add variety to the gameplay.
3. Character Progression and Customization As players progress, they can upgrade their characters through an in-depth leveling system. Visions of Mana features a skill tree for each character, allowing for customization based on the player’s preferred playstyle. Whether you want to enhance a character’s physical attacks, boost magical prowess, or unlock new spirit-based abilities, there are plenty of options to tailor your party to your liking. The game also introduces a crafting system, where players can forge new weapons and armor using materials found throughout the world. This system rewards exploration and experimentation, as crafting high-tier equipment can give your characters a significant edge in battle.

Visuals and Sound

Visions of Mana is visually stunning, bringing the colorful and whimsical world of Mana to life with modern graphics. The art direction stays faithful to the series’ roots, featuring vibrant environments, beautifully designed characters, and magical effects that look especially impressive on higher-end platforms like the PS5 and Xbox Series X|S. On the Nintendo Switch, the game runs smoothly, though with slightly scaled-down textures and effects to accommodate the hardware’s limitations.

The character models are detailed, and their animations in both combat and cutscenes are fluid and expressive. Environments feel alive, with dynamic weather effects, lush forests, and shimmering magical landscapes that are a feast for the eyes.

The soundtrack, composed by the series’ veteran composer Hiroki Kikuta, is another highlight of the game. The music perfectly captures the sense of adventure, with a mix of nostalgic melodies from previous Mana games and new compositions that elevate the atmosphere. Each region in the game is accompanied by fitting tracks that enhance the mood, whether it’s the tranquil theme of a forest or the intense battle music during boss fights.

Voice acting is solid, with the English and Japanese voice casts delivering strong performances. The dialogue is well-written, striking a balance between heartfelt moments and light humor, and the actors bring personality to each character.

Platform Performance

The game runs smoothly across all platforms, with notable differences in graphical fidelity and frame rate based on the hardware. Here’s a breakdown:

• PS5/Xbox Series X|S: Runs at 60 FPS with higher graphical settings, including more detailed textures, lighting effects, and faster load times.
• PC: Offers the most customization, allowing players to adjust settings for optimal performance depending on their hardware.
• Nintendo Switch: Runs at 30 FPS with some visual downgrades, but the experience remains enjoyable and well-optimized for portable play.

Replayability

Visions of Mana offers a significant amount of content for players to dive into, with the main story clocking in at around 30-40 hours. There are also plenty of side quests, hidden dungeons, and collectables to keep players engaged. The crafting and character progression systems encourage multiple playthroughs, allowing players to try out different builds and strategies.

Additionally, the game features New Game Plus, which lets players carry over their progress into subsequent playthroughs, adding to its replay value.

What Could Be Improved

1. Lack of Innovation in Combat
   While the combat system is solid, it doesn’t bring many new innovations to the action RPG genre. Players familiar with the Mana series or similar games might find the combat to be somewhat predictable over time.
2. Repetitive Side Quests
   Some side quests feel repetitive and don’t always add to the overall experience. More variety in the quest design could have helped in maintaining player engagement throughout.
3. Story Pacing
   While the narrative is compelling, there are moments where the pacing slows down, especially in the middle section of the game. A tighter narrative could have enhanced the overall flow of the story.

Conclusion

Visions of Mana is a beautiful and engaging action RPG that successfully captures the essence of the Mana series while modernizing its mechanics for today’s platforms. With its vibrant world, enjoyable combat, and strong character progression, it provides a satisfying experience for both longtime fans and newcomers to the franchise. The game’s visuals and music are standout elements, while the tactical depth of the combat system and exploration keeps the gameplay engaging.

Though it doesn’t reinvent the wheel in terms of gameplay innovation, Visions of Mana is a charming and polished entry that stands tall within the Mana series.

System Requirements

Minimum:
    Requires a 64-bit processor and operating system
    OS: Windows® 10 / 11 64-bit
    Processor: AMD Ryzen™ 3 1200 / Intel® Core™ i5-6400
    Memory: 16 GB RAM
    Graphics: AMD Radeon™ RX 580 / Intel® Arc™ A580 / NVIDIA® GeForce® GTX 1060 6GB VRAM
    DirectX: Version 12
    Storage: 45 GB available space
    Additional Notes: 1920x1080, Graphics Preset "Low", 30FPS

Recommended:
    Requires a 64-bit processor and operating system
    OS: Windows® 10 / 11 64-bit
    Processor: AMD Ryzen™ 5 3500 / Intel® Core™ i5-8500
    Memory: 16 GB RAM
    Graphics: AMD Radeon™ RX 5700 XT / Intel® Arc™ A580 / NVIDIA® GeForce® RTX 2070
    DirectX: Version 12
    Storage: 45 GB available space
    Additional Notes: 1920x1080, Graphics Preset "High", 60FPS