Secret of Mana HD Reviews
A couple of additions are nice, but the original game is easy to play via digital sources today and delivers mostly the same experience.
The Secret of Mana Remake is an overpriced and carelessly implemented remaster of a timeless classic with a terrible art style and soundtrack selection. If you wanna enjoy the best version of this classic, get a SNES Classic Mini.
Review in German | Read full review
As a fan of Mana series, this remake is a huge opportunity to try the old title in a new fashion. But as a fan of RPG genre, few players can survive this lengthy, shallow experience.
Review in Persian | Read full review
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.
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.
A bewildering assortment of bad updates and very few good ones makes this an unnecessary and disappointing remake of a beloved SNES classic
All in all, this Secret of Mana HD remake is a mixed offering.
This transition from 2D to 3D feels clunky and uninspired, but it still has a few bright spots.
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.
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?
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 It could have been a chance to tweak a few systems, strip away any outdated elements, and add in a few basic improvements.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.
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.
The Secret of Mana remake is mostly the same game you know and love, for better and for worse.
The magic of Secret of Mana seems to have faded during its transition to HD assets. Beyond a graphical upgrade that will certainly not please everyone, it is especially the old rhythm of the combat and lack of difficulty that make the adventure much more bland than the original. If you played the original, I would advise not to tarnish your memories with this so-called upgrade.
Remake of 25 years old game is not very convincing. It is just for biggest fans of the Mana series.
Review in Slovak | Read full review
Essentially just a new coat of paint, a rookie soundtrack remastering, and a few voice actors.
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 is a monumental JRPG that deserves your respect—just not your time.