I was excited to explore new depths of action role-playing games with Visions of Mana, the fifth title in the Mana series. This game was released in August of this year, with the PS5 version I chose to play. Square Enix and Ouka Studios took strides to expand on Mana with fantastical worldbuilding, incredible graphics, and a gritty story with the fierce protagonist, Val.
My first impression was awe of the bright, spectacular world I found myself in. The prologue was especially engaging. I was captured by the mystical music as the narrator swooped in with helpful exposition. As a first time player of Mana games, I thought the story sounded super intriguing. Even for someone who has never embarked on a journey in the world of Qi’Diel before, I stepped in easily and I was happy to find Visions of Mana is a stand alone story. I am definitely interested in the previous games now, though. The fantasy world’s focal point was the Mana Tree, and the magical creatures that are sustained by it. The environments were very pretty too, both in fights and in animated scenes. I’ve never seen a game with such a smooth transition to cutscenes.
The character designs also caught my eye. I loved the look of the different species, the villagers and the Faeries and the opening team of Eoren and Lysa. They fit right into the sparkling atmosphere, with creative armors and otherworldly features. Later I came to love the actual protagonists, Hinna and Val. I especially love the magical girl designs of the Alms, Lysa and Hinna. I definitely found the main heroes to have the best and most creative designs, with some memorable friends and playable characters we meet along the way. The look of the enemies and Elemental Monsters were pretty cool too, albeit basic in comparison to the heroes.
The gameplay was extremely smooth, with credit to the PS5 controls specifically as well the game’s interface. I chose the normal difficulty to get the average experience. I found the movements to be super satisfying, the battles tough and the semi-open worlds exciting. I especially liked the ability to hit two foes at once. There were a lot of chances to find treasure, which got a bit tedious. The game offers the ability to co-op with friends, but I had an overall fun time just on my own. I appreciated the star compass to my next points, the map always being available to me, and the guidance through dialogue. The enemy encounters became more intense as the game went on, with the character abilities becoming stronger too. The special attacks were the best part, and I loved the implementation of animals into our exploring and battles. There was also a system of unlocking abilities through Element Points.
Overall, while I definitely had fun exploring these powers, I must say I found myself a bit overwhelmed by the power system and character choices in the game. It may have been less overwhelming with more players. As is, I would’ve preferred a more linear system of expanding their abilities. However, that is my personal preference, and I can see the expansiveness of the levels and equips and classes to be super fun for other players, especially as a group. There is also a whole lot to explore, extensive amounts of loot and lore and powering up alike. I think a dedicated player would appreciate the vastness of the game.
I appreciated the storyline. I think the themes of sacrifice, power, and humanity were especially potent. The idea of a cycle of violence, and the responsibility of this generation to break the cycle. Val is a very admirable protagonist. His loyalty to his friend and dedication to make Qi’Diel a better place makes him a great character to play as. While the game is more play-focused than story-focused, there is still so much lore and depth to be appreciated. I was a bit more invested in the introduction than the middle points, where I felt it got a bit bland. There were moments that were extremely crushing, the petrifying fate of the Alms and the emotional voice acting got to me at many moments. This game was bold in the fates of its characters.
Overall Visions of Mana was a super worthwhile gaming experience. I think there is a lot to love within the adventure, and overall a really fun gameplay with amazing graphics. Any parts I may have found bland or overwhelming is definitely a result of player preference. I would encourage Mana fans to enjoy this extension of the world, and new players to give this a try as a standalone story with engaging gameplay and a lot of heart.
Score: 7 out of 10
Reviewed on PlayStation 5