Heroes of Mana

 DS
Metascore
66

Mixed or average reviews - based on 32 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 9 out of 32
  2. Mixed: 19 out of 32
  3. Negative: 4 out of 32
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  1. Cheat Code Central
    74
    The game has an excellent storyline, spanning a lengthy quest set in the Mana realm, and up to 40 bonus maps can be unlocked.
  2. GameZone
    74
    Heroes of Mana shows that it is possible to have an RTS game work on the Nintendo DS and remain fun. The main problem with this game is the dumb AI and very slow-paced gameplay.
  3. GameTap
    70
    Heroes of Mana could conceivably have the best RTS controls yet on a non-PC RTS game.
  5. Official Nintendo Magazine UK
    69
    Too convoluted and generally annoying to be any real fun - it's a competent effort, but there are genuinely better attempts at the genre on the way if you can wait. [Nov 2007, p.89]
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  6. Gaming Nexus
    68
    There are a lot of good things to like here, for instance the story, and the overall design behind battle, but there are some nagging issues like the character pathing and balance that keep this from being a winning title.
  7. Nintendo Power
    65
    Shimomura, and a lengthy story campaign make Heroes seem like a home run, and it would be if not for one flaw: Shoddy AI. [Sep 2007, p.87]
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  8. GamerNode
    65
    If you’re a hardcore Mana fan, desperate for an SRPG on the DS, or want to try something new, Heroes of Mana is a fun game. If you aren’t one of those, you won’t like this.
  9. Electronic Gaming Monthly
    63
    Geez, how many disappointing "Mana" titles will we have to suffer though before Square Enix puts this once-proud franchise out of its misery? [Sept 2007, p.100]
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  10. GamePro
    60
    Overall, Heroes of Mana is a nice enough diversion, but it's hard to see what Square Enix was trying to do with this title. [Sep 2007, p.84]
  11. GamesRadar+
    60
    Another title that's pretty much what we expect from Mana these days - an average game (irrespective of the genre change) that's nothing compared to series' heyday.
  12. GameSpy
    60
    As is common with games from Square Enix, the story of Heroes of Mana (while maybe not terribly original) is surprisingly deep and emotionally engaging. While that doesn't completely make up for the tragic pacing of the game or the substandard AI, it at least provides something to motivate the long-suffering Mana fan.
  13. Edge Magazine
    60
    Watching your carefully directed army walk into each other and painfully slowly correct themselves by walking one square left, two squares up, one square right, while an army approaches is frustrating to say the least. [Oct 2007, p.97]
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  14. Pocket Gamer UK
    60
    Simultaneously brilliant yet deeply flawed, Heroes of Mana brings novelty to DS strategy gaming. If only the path-finding was up to the standard of the rest of the game, this would be essential.
  15. Jolt Online Gaming UK
    59
    Heroes of Mana does have its moments, but they are few are far between.
  16. GameSpot
    55
    Heroes of Mana is an ambitious and sloppy game that will both entertain and infuriate you.
  17. Game Informer
    50
    Even if you consider yourself a fan of the series, don’t waste your time here. There was a time when the Mana name meant something, but this is a disappointing entry that drags the franchise through the mud.
  18. Deeko
    50
    In the end, Heroes of Mana does a fair amount of things right, but the core elements that would make the game playable are simply sloppily issued and broken.
  19. GameDaily
    50
    A very average game. Square Enix should take the quality interface and build off that to produce a much more enjoyable experience.
  20. Eurogamer
    50
    Despite all of the positives, the game underneath, for all its features and ideas, remains a broken one, thus continuing the Mana series legacy of being a series that tries its hand at new things to get noticed but fails to match up to the brilliance of its forefather.

Awards & Rankings

85
#85 Best DS Game of 2007
97
#97 Most Discussed DS Game of 2007
64
#64 Most Shared DS Game of 2007

User Reviews

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User Score
7.6

Generally favorable reviews- based on 11 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 6 out of 11
  2. Mixed: 4 out of 11
  3. Negative: 1 out of 11
  1. Yojimbo2015
    Jun 4, 2023
    6
    Real time strategy game in the mould of Command and Conquer utilising the characters and lore of the Mana RPG universe. The pace is a littleReal time strategy game in the mould of Command and Conquer utilising the characters and lore of the Mana RPG universe. The pace is a little lethargic and the two elements don't entirely gel, but it's inoffensive enough. Not in the same league as the Advance Wars games though.… Full Review »
  2. 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.
  3. DrewF.
    Sep 4, 2007
    7
    Not sure why this game is getting so trashed. It's actually a pretty good attempt at an RTS on the DS. Yes there is a minor pathfinding Not sure why this game is getting so trashed. It's actually a pretty good attempt at an RTS on the DS. Yes there is a minor pathfinding issue (two units cannot occupy the same space at the same time, so sometimes this forces the odd unit to take a RIDICULOUS path to get from one point to the other, and more often then not results in that unit dying), but once you adjust to it it's not that troublesome. If you're an RTS fan, you may want to bump this rating up to an 8. I've been having alot of fun with the game, and it takes ALOT for me to stick with a game all the way thru to the end, lately.… Full Review »
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