Embarking on our journey to PAX East 2024, we were thrilled to partake in an exclusive hands-on session featuring the highly anticipated Square Enix title, Visions of Mana. For those not yet acquainted, Visions of Mana marks the first original installment in the Mana series in over 15 years, offering a fun and engaging action RPG experience. Unlike its 2020 remake counterpart, this game is a fresh creation, promising exciting new adventures in the Mana series. It was a privilege to delve into the world Square Enix has crafted for this upcoming title.
Adding to the excitement, we had the pleasure of meeting Masaru Oyamada, the esteemed developer behind Visions of Mana, who shared insights into the game’s development. Oyamada’s deep involvement with the Mana series, spanning titles like Secret of Mana and Trials of Mana, including childhood favorites, lent an extra layer of significance to our experience. His gratitude for our participation in the demo was palpable, underscoring his enthusiasm for the project.
A Small Slice of Heaven
Our adventure began on the PlayStation 5, where we explored two distinct locales: the picturesque Mt. Gala and the rugged Fallow Steppe. Riding atop the adorable Pikul through swarms of adversaries brought a genuine smile to my face, showcasing the game’s charm and sense of wonder. This took me back to my days of playing Secret of Mana and its follow-up.
After that, the hands-on session moved me over to Fallow Steppe, the second area of the demo. This location was quite different, and while I followed a set path this time, it eventually led me to a boss battle that was just above the level of my characters but also very trivial. Here, we were able to utilize everything we’d learned early on to take on the boss. It was pretty easy for the most part, and since we had more than enough time, we dove back in to see if we could take down the boss even faster, which we did.
Getting To Know My Team
As we delved deeper into the game, we took control of a trio of compelling characters: Val, the wielder of a mighty sword; Careena, a dragon-inspired spellcaster with healing abilities; and Morley, a nimble combatant hailing from a feline lineage. Each character brought their unique strengths to the table, complemented by elemental affinities, enriching our tactical options in combat.
Each character also had control over a specific element, which, in the PAX East 2024 exclusive demo, and specific armors that I can’t go into for this preview—sorry. At any time, I could switch between characters by pressing up or down on the Dualsense controller, which was useful for dishing out attacks, switching to other characters to activate spell attacks, or taking advantage of each character’s specific elemental skills. However, if we’re being nitpicky, there was a concern that we’ll address later in this preview.
Visions of Mana is Looking Good
Despite the unspecified development stage of the demo, the Trials of Mana demo showcased breathtaking visuals and smooth performance on the PlayStation 5, setting high expectations for its release later this year. The gameplay experience is reminiscent of one of our favorite action RPG titles, Granblue Fantasy: Relink. It seamlessly blends hack-and-slash mechanics with spellcasting and aerial maneuvers, offering a dynamic and accessible combat system.
One standout aspect was the enchanting musical score, crafted by renowned composers Hiroki Kikuta, Ryo Yamazaki, and Tsuyoshi Sekito, promising an auditory feast for players. With these three as the musical composers for the game, there’s no doubt that the musical score will be legendary and will provide a musical orgy for your ears.
I’ll need that soundtrack as soon as it’s humanly possible.
A Couple of Concerns
While the entire hands-on preview was great, a few things were noticed, and we did want to address those concerns. It has been four years since the Trials of Mana remake and the action RPG genre has undergone many changes with games such as Granblue Fantasy Relink and the Ys Series. Due to this, it does feel that Visions of Mana combat plays too close to home with very few mechanical differences. It’s like eating a sandwich with mild Cheddar cheese and then eating the same sandwich with sharp cheddar cheese. The differences are there, but not enough to stand out. With the action RPG wars heating up, it would be a shame if Visions of Mana isn’t on the same level as the other titles we’ve pointed out.
Furthermore, issues with character swapping during combat and occasional clipping glitches hinted at areas needing refinement. Nevertheless, our feedback was well-received by the Square Enix team, reaffirming their commitment to delivering a polished and immersive gaming experience.
Short of those concerns, we’re thankful for the opportunity to preview the game before its release. After just under two hours of gameplay and getting a taste of what’s to come, we’re looking forward to playing the game more than ever.
Visions of Mana is scheduled for a Summer 2024 release date for the PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X and S, and PC.
