Trials of Mana Reviews
Only the most die-hard fans of the Mana series should consider picking up Trials of Mana. While the remake may be faithful to the original, it doesn't make for a good game or a good time.
Trials of Mana is pretty much everything you could want from a remake of the original game.
This is a game that feels decidedly modern and could (and should) appeal to a much broader audience than "existing Trials of Mana" fans.
I found the quick and eye-catching combat to be both satisfying and exciting; you can even earn bonuses depending on how fast you defeat enemies and whether or not you take damage in the process. The character endings I saw felt a little lackluster, but I'm compelled enough by the presentation and the simplicity of the gameplay to run through the adventure again. It might not be the drastic departure that some remakes are, but the Trials of Mana remake is a wonderful RPG palette cleanser for Mana newcomers and veterans alike.
There are probably other features of the game that I have not covered yet but I will leave that to you to explore. All I can say is, this game is worth the play as it is interesting enough to get into. It may be slow in the beginning but the game picks up considerably once you get through the first two chapters. If you like an action-packed RPG with a good amount of story, then Trials of Mana is something worth picking up.
Trials of Mana is a gorgeous and delightful action RPG that's full of imagination and heart. In fact, it's so captivating that it made me fall in love with Seiken Densetsu all over again.
Trials of Mana brings the old SNES version of the game to the modern age, but fails to take full advantage of modern possibilities. Graphics have improved but still have odd choices like stiff garments. the balance between very easy random enemies and very tough (mini)bosses is off, requiring more grinding than we want in a modern game. All in all Trials of Mana fails to fully deliver where its big competitor (FF7) does.
Review in Dutch | Read full review
The Mana series makes a spectacular splash on the Switch, but does this remake take on some new problematic elements?
If you've never played Trials of Mana, you might consider checking out the Collection of Mana released last year for the Nintendo Switch. The collection allows you to play the entire Seiken Densetsu trilogy in their original 2D glory. This remake does recreate the world of Trials with a wondrous, effervescent glow, but that doesn't make up for the clumsy presentation. If you've played the game before and are fond of it, or don't mind the remake's storytelling style, this may be an interesting means of seeing the game in a new light. The combat is fun even if the progression system hamstrings it early on, but the update does more to hold the game back than to breathe new life into it.
While we have all been drooling over FF7’s shiny new remake, you should give a moment to appreciate Trials as well. A title that just last year was still only available in Japan has now, not only finally gotten localized but a full-blown Remake as well.
Trials of Mana is a satisfyingly impressive remake, honoring the original SNES classic while also possessing its own brilliance. The addition of cutscenes adds depth to the narrative, the updates to gameplay only help the already noteworthy experience, and the rearranged soundtrack is respectfully magnificent. The voice acting and visuals have their missteps, while having their strengths as well, and the flaws of the original’s narrative remain present, yet Trials of Mana, as a whole, is most definitely a fun and satisfying experience. And so, whether you’re a newcomer or a veteran of the Mana series, Trials of Mana will assuredly captivate and please.
The remake of Trials of Mana has remained true to its origins. The story, good versus evil, is classic and twists and turns are not to be expected. Through the six protagonists, six different perspectives can be seen in the interwoven story. This allows the title to be played through six times. With a playing time of 20 hours per character, you get a lot from a game. Unfortunately not much can be experienced apart from the story. With almost no side quests, you are "only" busy with the main story. Also there is no local co-op anymore, which could disturb one or the other. If you played the original 25 years ago, it's definitely worth playing it again. New fans have to be satisfied with a roleplay without a lot of gimmicks. But if you get involved, you get a wonderfully animated game pearl.
Review in German | Read full review
The Trials Of Mana remake might not accomplish any revolutionary or genre-changing feats, but it ultimately doesn’t need to. For all of its flaws, it’s still a great game gives tribute to the simpler JRPGs of yesteryear by improving on important aspects like visuals and gameplay.
Trials of Mana is a new version of the classic Super Famicom with a revitalization of the game system that is not bad, being very fun and accessible to everyone, so it could be said that both have only the story in common and the characters, who have been highly respected. Trials of Mana Remake review for Nintendo Switch The unselected heroes will also make their brief appearance in the main story.
Review in Spanish | Read full review
Trials of Mana is one of the finest 16-bit ports that a publisher has ever put together. With a joyfull soundtrack, a well thought-out RPGsystem, a dreamy visual look and replay value that is rarely seen even in contemporary competition, this mid-tier release is much closer to top-tier players like Dragon Quest XII and is worth an uncomromising recommendation.
Review in German | Read full review
The Trials of Mana remake is by no means a bad game. It is beautiful, with a strong combat system that keeps players engaged until the very end.
Review in Greek | Read full review
Trials of Mana is a great example of how to do a remake, bringing a classic to modern day while sticking closely to its roots. Improved battle mechanics, visuals, and soundtrack are great additions, but at times poor AI and jarring transitions are a bit of a letdown. Overall though, combat and the upgrade system kept me engaged and coming back for more.
Staying faithful to the original while modernizing key aspects, Trials of Mana 2020 keeps what made the 1995 classic special.
This is the first game attached to Square-Enix that’s genuinely impressed me in over 8 years; the amount of detail put into translating the art into something totally different but nevertheless nostalgic is mind-boggling, and it’s possibly more impressive that the team behind this knew which things could be changed/replaced without undermining the entire project. Trials of Mana is how remakes should be done.
Trials of Mana is an authentic remake and an RPG that originates clearly from another era. That is also its focus when it comes to which type of gamer it refers to. This one's for the old school class.
Review in Greek | Read full review