Children of Mana

 DS
Children of Mana Image
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65

Mixed or average reviews - based on 34 Critic Reviews What's this?

User Score
6.4

Mixed or average reviews- based on 29 Ratings

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  • Summary: In ages past, an island called Illusia floated at the center of the world. At the heart of the island towered an ancient, enormous tree that stretched up to the very heavens. For ages past, chaos and sorrow had engulfed the world until at last its salvation appeared in the form of a boy, aIn ages past, an island called Illusia floated at the center of the world. At the heart of the island towered an ancient, enormous tree that stretched up to the very heavens. For ages past, chaos and sorrow had engulfed the world until at last its salvation appeared in the form of a boy, a girl, and a holy sword. Time flowed on and peace returned. The sword and the tree remained, and they soon came to be known as the Sword of Mana and the Mana Tree. Followers of the Mana Tree returned to Illusia as the world started slowly but surely down the path to recovery. The eight elemental spirits are a staple of the Mana series. These powerful allies aid you with healing and special status effects. They can also unleash fearsome magic upon your foes. The greatest innovation of this installment of the Mana series is allowing four players to advance the story and solve quests together while maintaining the feel of an action RPG. Players' actions affect each other in a gameplay experience completely unlike previous action RPGS. [Square Enix]… Expand
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Seiken Densetsu: Children of Mana Gameplay Movie 2

Critic Reviews

Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 13 out of 34
  2. Mixed: 18 out of 34
  3. Negative: 3 out of 34
  1. Gamer 2.0
    81
    Since the game is actually a dungeon crawler, Children of Mana may disappoint those looking for their traditional RPG fix. But if it really counts toward opinion, the game just might be the best and most beautiful dungeon crawler ever created.
  2. Pocket Gamer UK
    80
    Children of Mana brings intelligence and charm into the realm of dungeon-based button bashing.
  3. IGN
    80
    As far as hack-n-slash RPGs go, Children of Mana is one of the best we’ve seen on a handheld, and for dungeon crawler addicts Square Enix has definitely hit the spot.
  4. Pelit (Finland)
    65
    Children of Mana does not live up to the previous Seiken Densetsu releases. Character development is limited, the action is repetitive and the plot is boring, but graphics and playability are great. Too bad there is not more substance. [Feb 2007]
    All this publication's reviews
  5. Deeko
    60
    I play games to avoid being bored, but Children of Mana is one of the few games that crosses the line between being a game and being another boring chore.
  6. VideoGamer
    60
    Ultimately, die-hard fans of the series or devotees of traditional RPGs will find a lot to love in Children of Mana, while the rest of us will yearn for something that doesn't rely quite so heavily on hackneyed game mechanics and endless button-bashing.
  7. Game Revolution
    25
    Children of Mana is repetitive, tedious, dull, monotonous, and boring. The only good thing about this game is that it will actually make you want to do something productive, just to stop playing it.

See all 34 Critic Reviews

User Reviews

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Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 3 out of 9
  2. Mixed: 3 out of 9
  3. Negative: 3 out of 9
  1. LastResource
    Jan 14, 2023
    10
    worth it and glad to play this game again. so much memories and nostalgia within this spin off game in the series.
  2. [Anonymous]
    Feb 8, 2007
    8
    This game is actually pretty damn fun to play, even if it does get a bit repetitious after a while. I like the gem frame and think it helps This game is actually pretty damn fun to play, even if it does get a bit repetitious after a while. I like the gem frame and think it helps the overall game with more depth.… Expand
  4. Helena1313
    Aug 20, 2010
    8
    great game only had it for a day so far but really getting in to it although could get a bit repetitive its still better than other games ofgreat game only had it for a day so far but really getting in to it although could get a bit repetitive its still better than other games of this genre i have played… Expand
  5. ARTTHAO
    Jan 2, 2007
    7
    This game did offer something new like the gem fusion combination which I think is pretty cool but not very much else beside that. I'm This game did offer something new like the gem fusion combination which I think is pretty cool but not very much else beside that. I'm older and am a fan of old school style RPGs. So this is not a game for everyone. Short story, no real world to roam around, repetitive gameplay, and too easy I think. The graphics are beautiful just like in Legend of Mana but the character are sprites! If you're a fan of the Mana series, then check it out!… Expand
  6. NateB.
    Dec 6, 2006
    6
    Not the best game, but still fun. I would've liked to see more variety with the quests. As is, they are all the same. You pick up a Not the best game, but still fun. I would've liked to see more variety with the quests. As is, they are all the same. You pick up a quest, go to the corresponding location, fight through a bunch of enemies and then you're done. It would've been nice to throw in some exploration, more bosses, puzzles, things like that. Instead of physically walking to a castle and finding the item, you just fight through stages (only a few different types of stages exist) and at the end your guy just says he's got the item and you're back at the village. Despite this, though, its still fun to sit down and fight it out and level up, especially with someone else. Just keep in mind this game is highly repetitive and seems very rushed.… Expand
  7. funkydoodycool
    Mar 18, 2016
    2
    Dull dull dull.

    Borrowing cues from fan favourite Secret of Mana, this game promises much but delivers nothing. A repetitive Diablo-a-like    Dull dull dull.

    Borrowing cues from fan favourite Secret of Mana, this game promises much but delivers nothing. A repetitive Diablo-a-like that just isn't fun. Each level feels like a trudge. The bosses look impressive, then die in a few hits without any challenge.

    There's nothing to recommend here.    … Expand
  8. Secre
    Apr 17, 2016
    1
    Even ten years later I can remember the disappointment that this game originally inspired in me. From the magic of Sword of Mana whichEven ten years later I can remember the disappointment that this game originally inspired in me. From the magic of Sword of Mana which admittedly had some flaws but was a stunning rendition of an RPG to this. A dungeon crawling beast of mediocrity with a cliche story, recycled dungeons, repetitive gameplay and button mashing fighting. This was poor at the time and it is still poor now. It's one of the few series where I can honestly say that the poor experience of one game put me off a series I had loved for life; I have never bought another Mana game since.… Expand

See all 9 User Reviews

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Awards & Rankings

50
#50 Best DS Game of 2006
33
#33 Most Discussed DS Game of 2006
2
#2 Most Shared DS Game of 2006