Trials of Mana Reviews
Trials of Mana is a beautifully simple remake that might not be something that can attract modern-day gamers, but will definitely be a great title for the fans of the previous versions.
Review in Persian | Read full review
The core guts may be very similar, but the new coat of paint won’t endure the test of time. The lack of co-op is unfortunate since this was a major selling point for the Mana games, that even the lack luster remake of Secret of Mana was able to retain.
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.
A better remake than Secret Of Mana, even if it does remove one of the original's best features, but the one-note gameplay and weak storytelling limit its appeal considerably.
Trials of Mana is colorful, quirky, familiar, and a lot of fun. It is a blueprint for how an older RPG can be remade in a way that keeps the charm and working parts of the original but upgrades it so that it is graphically appealing to a modern audience.
Trials of Mana is a stellar remake that manages to bring one of the most elusive Square Enix RPGs to the West in an impressive and colorful way.
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
...Iffy character designs and bizarre world lore aside, Trials of Mana is a competent remade journey I’m glad I experienced.
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.
If you’re a fan of JRPGs you’ll find a lot to like here. It looks great, it’s easy to play, and it’s not the longest slog in the world – you’ll see the credits roll in about 20 hours. Sure, there are a few frustrations, but it remains true to the Mana series and overall provides an enjoyable – if a little uninspiring – adventure for fans of the genre.
Its accessibility is consistent, and makes for a smooth and flawless experience. It’s fun and engaging to play, and would be a great entry point for those looking to experience a JPRG, on a smaller scale. Trials of Mana remains legenadary through its 2020 remake.
Trials of Mana is an entertaining game with grating, simple characters and a subpar story, but the fast action and colorful exploration make up for those issues.
Trials of Mana gives modern features to a lesser-known classic. Combat tends to be overly simple, and the story is really basic, but it's still a fun, colorful adventure for JRPG fans to experience.
Trials of Mana doesn’t really do anything new or very innovative but it tells a classic story with some very nice visuals and fun gameplay mechanics.
Review in Persian | Read full review
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 an exciting remake and Square Enix should be praised for making a new experience as close to the original as possible.
Whether you’ve played the original or not, Trials of Mana should be on your ARPG radar.
An exciting remake that recalls a sense of fun by injecting the right amount of "new" into what made the original a classic.
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.
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.