Trials of Mana Reviews
Its characters already lacked personality, and the 3D makeover is mostly successful at bringing that deficiency into sharper relief.
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.
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.
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.
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 doesn't deliver an epic, groundbreaking narrative in 2020, but folks looking for a fun, vibrant action-RPG will enjoy their time here.
Trials of Mana is not a remake, as it has remained in the past despite its new look, and in most cases has made little effort to modernize. The shortcomings of the gameplay section, from the lack of fast track and backtracking to the lack of variety, along with the game's story weaknesses in terms of expanding the details of its characters, have made us not have much joy in this remake. Only go for this game if you are looking for a new Japanese role-playing game or are curious to know what Trials of Mana are all about. Otherwise, it is better to wait until a significant discount.
Review in Persian | Read full review
Trials of Mana is a game I struggle to recommend to the vast majority of people reading this. Though hidden behind a great soundtrack and colourful visuals, it stands as a dated game, complete with a frustrating storyline and a largely unenjoyable combat experience.
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.
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
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 adds modern hooks to an obscure classic JRPG, but fluid combat is held back by some frustrating choices.
Trials of Mana is the pure definition of an AA game and that is not necessarily a criticism, not every game has to be a AAA blockbuster. Indeed, despite my grievances with a lot of the game’s issues, I never once disliked my time with the game and hopefully this is the start of a revival for the Mana series.
Trials of Mana is a faithful remake with a deep and engaging combat system. However, compared to the modern era, it fails to resurrect the Mana series as one of the past kings of RPG
Review in Persian | Read full review
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.
Overall, Trials of Mana seems like a more focused product for fans of the saga. If you are a well-versed player in JRPGs, it will most likely not pose any challenge beyond the need to have to stop to level up to face enemies.
Review in Spanish | Read full review
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 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 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.
It won’t soon dethrone the likes of Final Fantasy or Dragon Quest, but it's nonetheless a faithful remake that’s sure to satisfy Mana fans.