Trials of Mana Reviews
Whether you’ve played the original or not, Trials of Mana should be on your ARPG radar.
Trials of Mana is a lacklustre remake of a masterpiece from another era. It's nothing special, but old-fashioned JRPG fans might appreciate it if you turn a blind eye.
Review in Italian | Read full review
Trials of Mana reworks the classic tale of the Mana Sword into something that feels completely fresh. Even if you already know the story beats by heart, this is a remake worth considering.
All in all, Trials of Mana is a delightful throwback.
Beyond the bewildering decision to exclude multiplayer (and some truly awful characters), Trials of Mana is a very basic action RPG that might be good for kids or newcomers to the genre. Playing the game isn't unpleasant, though it puts up very little fight for experienced players. Know what you are getting into, turn your brain off (and the character voices down), and you may enjoy cruising through its very surface-level gameplay for a weekend.
Trials of Mana may represent a pleasant leap forward compared to the remake of its predecessor, but the end result still remains far from the current quality standards of PlayStation 4.
Review in Italian | Read full review
Its characters already lacked personality, and the 3D makeover is mostly successful at bringing that deficiency into sharper relief.
Trials of Mana is an escape from reality many of us can use these days. The plot is easy to follow, generally lighthearted, and as mentioned combat is about as easy as it comes. The beginning eight hours or so are very slow-paced, but once the first chapter is cleared, things really pick up. The graphical overhaul leaves a bit to be desired, but the audio work makes up for this, even with the occasionally cheesy dialogue or overdone acting. While RPGs have come a long way since the '90s, Trials of Mana stays true to its roots as a game most everyone can enjoy.
Trials of Mana is the second big remake from Square Enix this year, and it holds its own as a fun and gorgeous gaming experience, even if the story is a little weak where it counts.
Even with a dull story and flat characters, Trials of Mana's fun, varied combat makes it easy to recommend to fans of action RPGs new and old.
Fans of the series will still be able to glean some enjoyment from seeing a classic title brought into the modern age, but everyone else won’t have much reason to dive into this flawed remake.
Trials of Mana is a great remake. Albeit the original game never came to the west until last year and most JRPG fans didn't get the chance to play it, this new version of the japanese classic achieves in offering both a classic and fresh gameplay experience, not to mention a nice and colorful visual update.
Review in Spanish | Read full review
Trials of Mana is a wonderful remake of a classic JRPG that most Westerners never experienced. More than that, it's proof that Square Enix is willing to put in the work and learn from its past mistakes when updating old favorites.
Monotonous and listless remake of a Super Nintendo classic with a flat combat system, loveless game world and bland story.
Review in German | Read full review
Despite a few hiccups along the way, Trials of Mana is a worthy remake of the original and also serves as a great entry point for new fans.
Twenty five years after its original japanese release, Trials of Mana stays true to its 16 bit roots, and this 3D remake offers a classic adventure with a strong pace, but filled with rough fights and round-trips all along. With the lack of a local or online co-op mode, you will have to go through the multiple crossed scenarios and quite a few bonuses all alone. The magical spirit of the series is clearly there, but the game still should have deserved a stronger emphasis on its technical side.
Review in French | Read full review
Trials of Mana proves itself to be a successful revival of a lost classic, smartly infusing new design and content where necessary while still maintaining the spirit of the original.
...Iffy character designs and bizarre world lore aside, Trials of Mana is a competent remade journey I’m glad I experienced.
An exciting remake that recalls a sense of fun by injecting the right amount of "new" into what made the original a classic.