Secret of Mana HD Reviews
This remake of Secret of Mana allows us to enjoy one of the classic RPGs from the SNES once again. But at the end, it feels like a missed opportunity of what could have been the definitive version of the game.
Review in Spanish | Read full review
Secret of Mana is an entirely skippable remake of a game that was the progenitor for a number of JRPG conventions. That's a shame. The greater failing, however, is what happens when fans will inevitably pick this title up in the hopes of recapturing some of the feelings of grandeur the original game contained so much of. They, like me, might end up realizing that a game they had placed on a pedestal for decades is actually rather ordinary by today's standards, and any magic that made it a lasting impression on those who played it has long since been left behind by the cruel, inexorable march of time.
By chosing to apply a 3D mask taken from any random mobile game on the 1993 original, Secret of Mana delivers a remake that will satisfy no one. None of the bugs has been fixed, even though this translation finally gives us a closer glimpse of the scenario. But with such a price, its lazy artistic direction and wrong remixes will crush your childhood memories for good.
Review in French | Read full review
It honestly pains me to say this as someone who continues to be a big fan of the original. The problem with Secret of Mana HD doesn’t lie in what the developers changed as some might believe. It’s what they did not change. I almost hate myself for saying this but one of the key parts of Secret of Mana — its combat — just don’t hold up as well today. I’m still a big fan of the game. But my view of it is now a more tempered one as opposed to the blind devotion I had for it before I replayed the original game and played its new HD version as well. It’s still a solid game but also feels a bit more flawed.
The developers kept the physics, systems, and gameplay almost identical to the original Secret of Mana and I'm overjoyed that they did. With Secret of Mana being grouped up by so many gamers as their favorite game of all time, it was important for Square Enix to deliver as close to that same experience for a new generation, and they did that just that. Some features might not have aged well or should have been added in for good measure, but this release of Secret of Mana is the same adventure that I remember, and I couldn't have asked for more.
I hate to be a downer on a classic RPG, especially when Secret of Mana can be so charming and it's still clear why it was such a well-loved game. Yet this remaster doesn't work.
Although the technique is functional and some elements have been made worse, the remake of the remake still looks like the original.
Review in German | Read full review
Secret of Mana's remake is fun because Secret of Mana was fun. However, Square could have done a lot better, especially with a beloved classic such as this.
Secret of Mana fails with its slew of technical issues and unimpressive graphic design.
Secret of Mana was an amazing game in 1993 and is a "must play" for all JRPG fans. It features diverse world, memorable bosses, dynamic combat system, great atmosphere and a simple, but interesting plot. And it's really sad that remake turned out not so good. Strange innovations, cheap three-dimensional graphics and bugs spoil the final impression. You can still buy it, but at half price or so.
Review in Russian | Read full review
Why on Earth would you keep the gameplay totally intact when it's so terribly flawed?
A remake only makes sense when it truly enhances the original game. Guess what? This is not the case. For lack of a better option, it's best played on a Super Nintendo Classic Mini. The best way to describe this remake is "unnecessary", and it could be worth your time only if you don't have any other way to play the original.
Review in Italian | Read full review
Conventional wisdom would say the new Secret of Mana isn't a great remake. It doubles down on the stuff that already works while leaving the original game's most glaring flaws mostly untouched. That said, I still enjoyed this new package. Secret of Mana was always about charm and personality over polish. Yes, the game remains a bit of a mess, but that special spark at its core burns brighter than ever. If you loved the original game, or are just in the mood for something light and quirky, this remake strikes true.
This Secret of Mana remake feels like a missed opportunity. It could have been a chance to tweak a few systems, strip away any outdated elements, and add in a few basic improvements. Overall the game is good but only because the original Secret of Mana was good; this remaster doesn't add as much as it could and, if anything, removes some of the magic of the original.
The Secret of Mana Remaster was highly anticipated by a lot of fans and overall manages to capture the experience of playing the original within an all new outer shell of upscale graphics and new sound. It fails to make any revolutionary changes to the gameplay, forgoing an opportunity to improve on one of the all-time classic games, and the changes it does make (particularly the music) are hard to swallow at times. Secret of Mana for the PlayStation 4 is not quite a disappointment, but it does leave a less than satisfying feeling.
Caught right between a needed update and trying to strictly adhere to the original template, Secret of Mana doesn't commit itself enough in either direction to justify owning it above any of the other versions.
Secret of Mana's remake doesn't add as much as it could and, if anything, removes some of the magic of the original.
Review in Italian | Read full review
Secret of Mana is a welcomed remake, but doesn't do what's necessary to bring this game to a modern audience, with only slight changes to the original formula.
Review in Spanish | Read full review
The original Secret of Mana was a charming, imaginative adventure that made a considerable impact on a lot of gamers' lives. Any attempt to reinvent that experience implies two things: that the original game had room for improvement, and that modern technology and design can bring about such improvements. Sadly, while the original Secret of Mana was by no means a flawless experience, the remake's attempt to improve upon the formula has resulted in a game that's markedly inferior by comparison.
Unwanted and unasked for, Secret of Mana does the bare minimum you'd expect from a remake, and when you consider the original's beloved status, the fact that it's been given such a lacklustre treatment is stupefying.