After over 15 years, a new main installment in the popular JRPG series finally arrives with Visions of Mana. MeinMMO author Fabienne Kissel had the opportunity to play the game in advance and was immediately thrilled.
The Mana series from Square Enix began in 1991 with Final Fantasy Adventure, which is known in Germany as Mystic Quest. The series’ biggest success, Secret of Mana, was released in 1993 for the SNES.
Now, with Visions of Mana, there is a completely new installment for stationary consoles for the first time since Dawn of Mana in 2006. In the years in between, there were only remakes, such as Trials of Mana, as well as mobile versions for smartphones and Nintendo handhelds.
- Visions of Mana is released today, on August 29, 2024, for PC (Steam), PS4/PS5, and Xbox Series X|S
You can see what awaits you in Visions of Mana in this trailer:
Warning Spoilers: The following article reveals details about the story and gameplay from the first hours of Visions of Mana.
Do I need to know the previous installments? In Visions of Mana, you dive into a completely new world with fresh characters and a new story. So, you don’t need any prior knowledge from the earlier parts.
I think the game is particularly beginner-friendly as it comprehensively explains what you need to know. With a manual, an encyclopedia, and a diary, you can always look up what has happened so far and familiarize yourself with the game mechanics and the world.
You can also choose from various levels of difficulty, including one for beginners or for those who want to focus more on the story than on fighting. Or you can play the hardest mode if you find the battles too easy. You can adjust the difficulty at any time in the game.
A pilgrimage to the Mana Tree
What is Visions of Mana about? In Visions of Mana, we play as the young warrior Val, who accompanies his childhood friend, Hina. Hina has been appointed the Priestess of the Fire Village by the Messenger of the Mana Goddess (a fairy) and the elemental spirit of fire – an honor considered the highest among mortals.
The Mana is the source of all life in the world. The Priestesses are destined to sacrifice their souls to the Mana tree to maintain the delicate balance of Mana and protect their home from impending doom.
Val, who has been chosen as the Soul Guardian, is obliged to accompany and protect Hina and all the other Priestesses on their dangerous journey. The Priestesses are chosen every four years in all regions of the world by their elemental spirits and the fairy to embark on the journey to the Mana Tree together with the Soul Guardian.
This pilgrimage takes us through lively, expansive, and semi-open areas populated by enemies that are so cute you almost don’t want to kill them. During their journey, Val and Hina encounter various characters who join their group.
And I immediately fell in love with one of them as an FFXIV player.
I can also play a dancer here, how cool is that!
Why do I think she is so great? Carina is the first companion we meet. She is a dragon girl with an incredibly cheeky and spirited nature. Moreover, a beast companion fights by her side!
The whole system provides variety and strategic thinking. You have so many possibilities – just try and see what suits you best.
First conclusion on Visions of Mana – 10 hours played
What excites me about Visions of Mana is the wonderful mix of charm and attention to detail. The fairytale graphic style reminds me of Dragon Quest XI. The individual areas are separated by loading times, but the detailed environment makes up for it.
The world is full of lovingly designed details, like the cute animals that buzz around everywhere – especially many cats!
There are small Jumping Puzzles
and other interactive opportunities that lead to loot.
And the urge to explore definitely does not fall short.
I explored so extensively once that I found an item that was meant for a character I didn’t even have in my party yet – oops!
Great characters and an emotional story
The small dialogues between the characters in the game and the music contribute to the atmosphere and give a special depth. The characters also don’t take each other too seriously, which leads to funny moments – while their relationship deepens.
Overall, the story has moved me quite a bit so far.
Even the NPCs that do not offer quests provide interesting insights into the hopes, worries, and stories of the villages and their inhabitants. Sometimes there are also personal dramas or just funny anecdotes. A conversation with them is definitely worth it.
So far, I’ve noticed only 2 minor negative points: The faces of the characters show hardly any different expressions, which is probably part of the game’s style. Also, I have not been able to enter any of the houses in the world so far.
However, these are minor details and really criticism on a high level. As a player of Baldur’s Gate 3 and a FFXIV raider, I find this cozier
RPG a refreshing change.
I love the game.
I am already looking forward to exploring the world even deeper, meeting new characters, and learning more about the story. I am also curious about what classes, bosses, and things are still in store for me. Perhaps there are even more classes that remind you of Final Fantasy. Can’t wait? Then you can currently play the free demo of Visions of Mana and get a taste of the RPG.
But why I think she is so cool has another reason.
The picture shows her not in her original model. Thanks to a class system, you can unlock various classes, including the dancer for Carina. Ahhhh!
When I saw Carina transform into this dancer, who resembles in appearance and movements my main character, the dancer from Final Fantasy XIV, I was immediately thrilled. From that moment on, I was completely smitten.
Since then, I have been battling nonstop with her as my main character in my group – sorry, Val, you unfortunately have to take a back seat now.
The combat system: Varied and fun
What is this class system like? First, some basics about the action combat system of Visions of Mana: It includes basic and special attacks, a dodge feature, and attacks can be executed while jumping. Some enemy projectiles can be countered.
Overall, the battles feel fast, action-packed, and fluid.
The ring menu allows you to use skills and items during combat. You can also assign them as shortcuts. With a button press, you switch between your characters in the group.
Additionally, you basically have a limit break as a group. The bar (KA gauge) fills when you or allies take or deal damage in combat. There is only one bar that all party members share, which can be used for a powerful class attack. Each class attack belongs to an element.
Through so-called ability seeds, you can assign abilities (techniques) to your characters that consume Mana (MP). They provide various effects, either passive or active. There are a lot of techniques you can apply. Each character can only equip a maximum of two ability seeds.
So far, so good.
During your adventure, you will also find so-called spirit relics, equipped with various elements like wind, for example. With these relics, you can unlock and switch classes for your characters. They also help you outside of combat.
New gameplay possibilities
Each class brings its own unlockable abilities, a new outfit, and altered gameplay in combat.
Moreover, each class has a unique powerful class attack, essentially the limit break I described above. Carina’s as a dancer somewhat reminds me of Avatar Kyoshi from Avatar – The Last Airbender. Be sure to try it out!
If you give the relic to someone else, that character transforms into a completely different class with its own abilities and combos. Each relic can only be used by one character at a time. Each character can only use one at the same time.
Every time I received a new relic, I immediately equipped each character with it one after the other. It was always exciting to see in the cutscenes which new classes I had unlocked through this.
The whole system provides variety and strategic thinking. You have so many possibilities – just try and see what suits you best.
First conclusion on Visions of Mana – 10 hours played
What excites me about Visions of Mana is the wonderful mix of charm and attention to detail. The fairytale graphic style reminds me of Dragon Quest XI. The individual areas are separated by loading times, but the detailed environment makes up for it.
The world is full of lovingly designed details, like the cute animals that buzz around everywhere – especially many cats!
There are small Jumping Puzzles
and other interactive opportunities that lead to loot.
And the urge to explore definitely does not fall short.
I explored so extensively once that I found an item that was meant for a character I didn’t even have in my party yet – oops!
Great characters and an emotional story
The small dialogues between the characters in the game and the music contribute to the atmosphere and give a special depth. The characters also don’t take each other too seriously, which leads to funny moments – while their relationship deepens.
Overall, the story has moved me quite a bit so far.
Even the NPCs that do not offer quests provide interesting insights into the hopes, worries, and stories of the villages and their inhabitants. Sometimes there are also personal dramas or just funny anecdotes. A conversation with them is definitely worth it.
So far, I’ve noticed only 2 minor negative points: The faces of the characters show hardly any different expressions, which is probably part of the game’s style. Also, I have not been able to enter any of the houses in the world so far.
However, these are minor details and really criticism on a high level. As a player of Baldur’s Gate 3 and a FFXIV raider, I find this cozier
RPG a refreshing change.
I love the game.
I am already looking forward to exploring the world even deeper, meeting new characters, and learning more about the story. I am also curious about what classes, bosses, and things are still in store for me. Perhaps there are even more classes that remind you of Final Fantasy. Can’t wait? Then you can currently play the free demo of Visions of Mana and get a taste of the RPG.
