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The year is 2020, and gamers are experiencing a new golden age. Remakes are the order of the day, and titles that made us vibrate as children, like Final Fantasy VII They have a second chance to demonstrate their full potential on today’s consoles.
Polygons and 8-bit music are behind us, now we have realistic 3D models with soundtracks in all their glory.
It is the perfect time for new generations to approach classic titles and reinterpret them as their own.
This is the case of Seiken Densetsu 3, located as Trials of Mana, whose original release was in 1995 developed by Squaresoft for the Super famicom, and belongs to the mana series as the third installment.
However, the Trials of Mana The original did not see the light in the West (officially) until last year, with the release of Collection of Mana.
And now, in 2020 comes a remake of Trials of Mana, which has a lot to offer, whether you’re returning to the title as a veteran of the series, or if you’re new to it.
The Trials of Mana Story
The plot follows the protagonist you choose, from among six characters, on his journey to obtain the sword of Mana and face the evil that is erected in the world, accompanied by two assistants.
The world is in imminent danger, which only you can stop; since the goddess Mana is very weak and therefore all the mana is disappearing around you, giving way to dark powers re-emerge.
Something interesting is that, depending on the protagonist you choose, the story will change slightly, since the motives of each hero are different.
There are three main antagonists, so pairs of characters share the same enemy; however, the reasons for his journey to obtain Mana’s sword are different.
Furthermore, even if you don’t choose the other three available heroes, they will also make brief appearances in certain parts of your adventure.
A narrative worthy of the genre
Let’s make it clear: Narratively, the replayability of Trials of Mana is quite extensive.
In this respect, the nature of JRPG (Japanese role-playing game) sometimes it causes a certain rejection to western players who consider that this genre has ‘too many dialogues‘Or‘too much history‘, When in reality it is a complete plot that better connects the user with his character.
Another element to consider within this section are the dialogues since, as someone who always tries to talk to ALL the NPCs of a place (you know, in case something good falls, as a reward), it is always pleasant to recognize when, even in these small details, the effort of the team behind is noticed.
And we recommend that you eventually chat with an NPC or two along the way, as they could give you certain useful skills at any given time.
Why are you so obsessed with dialogues?
Certainly this section may not be of great importance, but Trials of Mana It is a game that is enhanced by polishing the smallest details.
Let’s make a brief comparison, in Octopath Traveler (other RPG of Square) the characters did not present dialogues between their teammates, which does happen in Trials of Mana.
This adds dynamism and fluidity to the title, something that is appreciated.
Finally, it should be noted that we only have the voices in Japanese and English; Although, in truth, the Spanish subtitles also deserve an honorable mention, as they give the game a lot of personality.
Good remakes exist, and Trials of Mana is one of them.
An element that is always complicated when making a remake is adaptation, What to leave What to innovate in? How to keep the balance between the wishes of the veterans and the newbies?
Obviously 25 years later, this game would have many changes to adapt to the current scene.
For example, at a graphic level we go from 2D to a fully 3D title; as well as having the option to jump, which added certain simple but effective platform scenarios; in addition to aerial combos in battle.
The deceptive art of simplicity in the environment
The scenarios in Trials of Mana they are deceptively simple, as the first impression could be of a title with simple textures and even ‘low budget‘.
However, in reality the design of the buildings, the walls of the caves, and the lighting game, among other things, are part of the intentional, and proper, aesthetics of the game.
Not that I bet on a realism to what Final Fantasy VII and it has not succeeded, it is that it preserved the artistic style of 25 years ago, with hints of modernity.
Cities feel alive, and the sunset / dusk transitions are amazing colors. The proper use of color palettes is something that can definitely go unnoticed (you see? they are all ‘invisible’ details), but it’s something you should pay attention to from time to time.
The above is something that will join other sections and that will result in a highly modernized remake, but with the same essence as the original.
As a bonus, pay close attention to the spell particles and the environment, it is one of the best clues to realize how good certain textures look.
Although some of the complaints are the drop of frames per second, during our playing time we did not experience major complications.
Even in confrontations against enemies from the last stage of the game, in which there are MANY things happening on your screen, there was no drop in frames (This in Nintendo Switch).
Another positive point of this title is that, to be a RPG, and the amount of options that this means, Trials of Mana It has an incredibly friendly interface.
It is concise, efficient, and hassle-free when acquiring new skills or equipment.
The class system: A feature that adds flavor to the game
We have mentioned many times that it is a RPG, but we have not clarified that it mixes action and combat techniques in real time.
Both objects and skills will be at hand through a wheel menu, which we can access at any time. Again, the interface works like clockwork, even in the hottest fights.
A moment ago we were talking about skills:
Each character has their own attacks called class techniques, and that may change as we advance in history and level up; Whether your character chooses to specialize in light or darkness.
Class selection depends entirely on your play style, and how you strategically use your characters when facing enemies.
To use these class techniques, you will have to fill certain bars of mana during the confrontations.
Not like others RPG Recent, in this case there are also a variety of attributes shared between characters, which adds benefits to the way we spend our training points.
These movements are results of our highest statistics, which are divided into: strength, constitution, intelligence, wisdom, and luck. Already have that freshly baked traditional JRPG scent?
An artificial intelligence that knows what it does
Another element that we really liked, and that surprises (perhaps because of the mistreatment we have received from other games) is how well artificial intelligence works from Trials of Mana.
But we are going by parts, within your group of three you can change your character at any time, which gives you the opportunity to make the most of his abilities, depending on the moment and the confrontation.
In addition, through the menu you can also configure how you want them to behave when they act as support: if they must be 100% aggressive, seek to protect others, focus on healing, attack different enemies, etc.
Yes, AI behavior is customizable. And it works great! In each battle they did what they should, whether it was a tank or dps.
However, there are also some details in Trials of Mana about the gameplay, which failed.
Problems that cannot be ignored
While the positives are by far the bulk of the game, there are two things where Trials of Mana does not give the width.
Firstly, controls sometimes did not respond quite well on the move, especially in very frantic fights.
And then again, the camera was probably the worst enemy in some battles. Because even though we tried to control it, it just stayed at a very strange angle.
Of those times you’re looking at the sole of your character’s shoe, but not the gigantic monster you’re hitting.
Although they are elements to consider, in fact they caused discomfort on few occasions.
The repetition of the confrontations: Something that could have gone wrong, but was very surprising
In this regard, the same thing happened with the companion AI, in fact, the experience was expected to be similar to others. RPG, where it is necessary to constantly remove monsters from the environment to level up, activity that eventually becomes incredibly routine.
What usually happens in those cases is that, no matter how far you have progressed, the process feels repetitive and tedious. However, our experience with the game was not that way at all.
The more level you have, the abilities of the enemies are changing slightly, and it may not feel like a very sudden change, but it helps to make the experience better and without generating that feeling of routine.
Although of course, the best battles are those against the final enemies of history, the benevodones.
Details are important, no matter how small
In the same way, there are other elements that you should consider when entering combat, even against the weakest. For example, each elemental spirit (protectors of the Mana Stones, important in history) have a day.
So on Salamander day, fire magic is stronger than the rest.
There are also changes in the environment and enemies depending on whether it is day or night; for example, Kevin (one of the characters) becomes a werewolf at dusk and is much stronger.
Among other things, you will also use the seeds you find in your path, and they can provide you with useful objects after you plant them in the pots of the inns in which you rest.
As well as the bonuses you get from the game on the sly with Cactilillo, which rewards players with the soul of an explorer by finding it in the least-thought places.
We also recommend that you do not stop checking every corner, as you will find rewards here and there, as chests or money.
If you look, it’s the subtle details, like the slight change in the enemies of the environment; the NPC dialogues, the attention to the sunsets, which make Trials of Mana It feels 100% enjoyable, although at first glance it seems like a very simple world.
This will also make at least 20 hours of game fly by.
And we are not going to tell you what it is, but there is unpublished extra content when you finish the game.
Trials of Mana is another way to tell a remake, and it works.
In short, this is a comfortable game, enjoyable, and whose beauty is in simplicity.
Perhaps the greatest metaphor for how well this remake works is the soundtrack, a gem in every way that will transport you to its world; Whether you decide to listen to the remastered versions or the original songs from 1995.
Both versions have their own charm, and we could not say that one is better than the other; just like in the remake.
Trials of Mana It fulfills in evolving and adapting to today, while preserving that essence of being an adventure worthy only for the noblest hearts.
Finally, there is no better experience than your own, so go ahead and play the free demo; And if you decide to buy the title, the best thing is that your progress will be maintained.
It is available for PS4, Nintendo Switch and Steam.
(Oh, and if you wonder about the difficulty of the game, YES, THERE IS A HARD MODE).
This review was made with a copy of Trials of Mana for Nintendo Switch.
We recommend you: Review: ‘Final Fantasy VII: Remake’ – The game you hoped would fail, went well.
Trials of Mana
$ 49.99 USD
Positive
- The immersion and experience with Trials is built from the details.
- The remastered soundtrack can be alternated with the original music, if desired.
- The essence of the original game, and the Mana series, is preserved in this remake.
- The game is suitable for those who have played installments of the saga, as well as for those who have just discovered it.
- Narrative replayability is broad.
Negative
- The camera could get stuck in some frenzied combat.
- The character’s movement controls may take a while to respond on rare occasions.
- If you are a fan of excessive difficulty, you may need to find another RPG.
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