Adventures of Mana Reviews
Square Enix's 3D remastering of an old favorite hits the PS Vita, and Adventures of Mana shows that remaining faithful to the original is sometimes the best approach.
The fact that Adventures of Mana was originally a phone game does not automatically mean it is bad.
None of these faults make Adventures of Mana a particularly bad game. It's just a primitive action RPG that, in many ways, seems outmoded in this day and age. While it may hold some appeal for nostalgic Game Boy fans, I wish Square Enix had gone to the trouble of remaking the game in a less perfunctory way. As it stands, this one's difficult to recommend to all but the most ardent RPG enthusiasts.
Adventures of Mana has a great, olden feel to it, capturing what made the beginning years of the medium so special. While rough around the edges, this inspired RPG has a perfect home on Sony’s handheld powerhouse.
While the gameplay remains fun and simple, the AI is more reminiscent of a game from its original time rather than one found in a 2016 remake.
The role-playing genre has come a long way since 1991, but that doesn't mean Adventures of Mana should be cast aside. The simplicity of its gameplay makes it a nice portable snack, and as a faithful remake of a Game Boy title, it's hard to fault – just don't expect to get too excited over this dusty old quest.
Adventures of Mana is nostalgic in the best way possible, offering you a solid adventure, clever puzzles, and a breathtaking soundtrack.
The world map is fairly sizeable for a game of its size, with plenty of different regions each with their own unique flavour to explore
The new skin it is given in this modern recreation is sure to enhance the experience, though, so if you're looking to relive this classic adventure, this is maybe the best version of it out today. Just be warned that it has aged mechanics that might affect the experience negatively if unprepared.
Complaints aside, Adventures of Mana manages to retain what made the classic Game Boy game special while offering a fresh coat of paint that makes it feel right at home in the modern age.
Adventures of Mana kind of feels like watching a colorized version of It's a Wonderful Life — an entertaining work either way, but not actually improved by its "improvements."