Secret of Mana HD Reviews
If you can get your hands on a Super NES Classic, you may be better off playing the original instead.
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.
Secret of Mana's retelling is full of highs and lows. The colorful world and boss battles still hold their allure, but the overall execution feels average (at best)
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
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
Looking to remake a classic like Secret of Mana was certainly a tall task, with Square Enix succeeding in some ways and disappointing in others. While overhauling too much might have seemed blasphemous, the lack of any real non-superficial changes gives you less reason to play this remake of Secret of Mana versus just pulling out the original and playing it instead, even if this is a solid remake overall.
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
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.
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.
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.
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
You may as well just play the SNES version, even if it's the first time you're ever picking up a Mana game: the original spritework is able to pick up the slack of a few of its inherent shortcomings, which are only exasperated by the swap to 3D.
This Secret of Mana remake is a solid new way to relive the classic although the original is clearly the better of the two options.
While largely entrenched in the past with few mechanical changes, the Secret of Mana remake contains new audiovisual elements that are inconsistent yet enjoyable. With its added dialogue, new voices, and arranged music, the remake is a serviceable if somewhat dated take on a classic title.
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
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 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
It is till an enjoyable classic RPG, with fun coop local multiplayer. But somehow we prefer the classic style better than the new generic 3D models.
Review in Spanish | Read full review