Secret of Mana HD Reviews
This won't be remembered as a particularly good remake, and it's tragic, because by itself, outside of the shadow of the game it's a remaster of, Secret of Mana has its charms.
Secret of Mana HD has retained its charm after all these years however some of its dated gameplay needs to be overhauled in order to make it one of the better remakes released by Square Enix.
Secret of Mana's biggest drawback is the changes where it didn't have to, and what needed an update, was preserved. The remake could be more refined and longtime fans probably share the same feeling. It is a Japanese RPG that rescues classic aspects of the genre, but should only contemplate new players without any reference to the original product.
Review in Portuguese | Read full review
Even if it doesn't look as good as the original, the Secret of Mana remake is a fun and exciting game. By taking the best of its source material and making some adjustments, Square Enix brings us the most accessible version of the beloved Action RPG.
Review in Spanish | Read full review
While it retains some of the annoying quirks of the SNES original (and brings a few new ones to the table), the Secret of Mana remake is still a rollicking good time for old-school RPG fans.
Essentially just a new coat of paint, a rookie soundtrack remastering, and a few voice actors.
Nostalgia purists wanting to play Secret of Mana in 2018 are recommended to pick up a SNES Mini and enjoy the original in glorious HD. There’s not enough in the way of improvements in this remake to warrant the attention of the old guard.
Curiously lean on the magic that made Secret of Mana a seminal classic, this remake is serviceable in a pinch, but revisiting the original is probably a better use of time.
There is a lot wrong with this remake and a lot of missed opportunities in terms of updating a game for the modern age, but at its core, it is still Secret of Mana and that is a game that everyone should play at least once.
A bewildering assortment of bad updates and very few good ones makes this an unnecessary and disappointing remake of a beloved SNES classic
This new version of Secret of Mana doesn't add anything important to this timeless classic, presenting the same strenghts and weaknesses of 25 years ago. It can still be fun with a couple fo friends on the same couch, but we won't recommend it over the Snes Classic Mini version of the original.
Review in Italian | Read full review
Secret of Mana's remake doesn't fix everything wrong with the original game, but it's still a charming adventure that's worth your time.
Secret of Mana is a strange title. On one hand it has so many missteps in its redesign that it's easy to quickly dismiss it, but it remains a rewarding gaming experience upon playing.
Secret of Mana is a monumental JRPG that deserves your respect—just not your time.
If you can get your hands on a Super NES Classic, you may be better off playing the original instead.
All in all, this Secret of Mana HD remake is a mixed offering.
This time Square failed in making a remake - we've got castrated mechanics, many serious bugs, ugly graphics and terrible remixes. If the original NES version wasn't so hard to get, I'd recommend ignoring Secret of Mana on PS4 altogether.
Review in Polish | Read full review
This transition from 2D to 3D feels clunky and uninspired, but it still has a few bright spots.
While there's plenty to love about the original Secret of Mana, this remake manages to kill off most the game's charm while failing to modernize the parts of the game that actually need updating. Awkward animations, impenetrable menus, slow combat, and repeated random crashes add up to a game that, with 25 years of technological improvements under its belt, may actually be worse than the original.
Unfortunately, everything is wrong with this remake of the classic SNES game. From shoddy voice work and pedestrian graphics to janky combat, the experience is nearly ruined, and a classic game's reputation is forever soiled.