Visions of Mana

Visions of Mana is not only one of the most beautiful action RPGs, it is also a very fun one, with a great combat system and a lot of content, although sometimes it seems that Square Enix wanted to play it safe without betting on new ideas and concepts. Anyway, the move has turned out well.

The triumphant return of the Mana series! A wonderful RPG that mostly keeps things light and enjoyable while having fun combat and lots to see and do in the world.

Visions of Mana is a charming old-school JRPG that will captivate you with its charm.

Visions of Mana design keeps in mind the long-time fans who have followed the series since its inception many years ago. It provides what they seek in a game of color, vibrant settings, and a story whose narrative revolves around a tree. It also delivers on gameplay mechanics but strives to be something other than groundbreaking. The class system is very entertaining. While not extraordinary, the narrative is straightforward and will give Mana fans what they're looking for.

With great combat and character development, it's hard to tear yourself away from this adventure. You only need to turn a blind eye to a few things and swallow the heavily candy-coloured style to discover a satisfying action RPG that has soul and was made to be fun.

Visions of Mana proves that developers can deliver adventures that are both interesting and fresh. The studio's dynamic, colourful experience marks a strong comeback for the series.

Visions of Mana has a great gift: it's a game that understood perfectly what it was meant to be: an adventure faithful to the franchise. So the developers went to the roots of Seiken Densetsu to understand exactly what it was that made it such a beloved series in the Super Famicom years. In doing so, they created an adventure that expresses feelings of nostalgia, but at the same time reminds us that the medium has come on leaps and bounds in the last 30 years.

Visions of Mana is an excellent role-playing game, full of sympathetic characters and captivating folklore. The unparalleled flora and fauna make it worth exploring the game world, without this being at the expense of the sharp pace of the twenty-hour story. The game is very explicitly based on a bildungsverhaal that we have already seen many times. With a little more daring, Visions of Mana would have been an RPG classic. Now it is mainly a very good game.

Visions of Mana scores with its strong presentation, quick start and charming setting. On top of that, it masters the balancing act between complexity and clarity of the game world, which invites you to explore but doesn't overwhelm you.

Visions of Mana is a real success that places it among the best episodes of the series, close to the top. Rare are the games that give us so much freedom in the formation of our team with varied jobs that multiply the possibilities. Very easy to take at the same time, it does not forget to be also magnificent to look at with an exceptional artistic direction. It may not have the aura of Secret of Mana in its time, but it sets the bar very high and automatically establishes itself as THE JRPG of the moment, without any possible doubt. As much for fans of the great era as for newcomers, Visions of Mana is a very good experience that we highly recommend.

When I think back on my experience in totality, what enraptured me so much about Visions is an innocent worldview in what it has to say and how it says it. There’s an underlying hope that humanity can live in harmony with the nature around them, to bask in the awe-inspiring world we exist in. In addition to that, it’s refreshing to play a game that is so excited to just be itself. Trials of Mana got me to give these games a chance, but Visions made me a fan. There’s so much more room for this series to grow, and I hope they continue to build from here.

Visions of Mana weaves accessible action and RPG elements together to create a gorgeously enthralling fairy tale.

Visions of Mana is a good game that follows in the footsteps of its predecessors with brio, featuring action-packed combat and an interesting storyline, even if the set-up leaves little room for surprise. Nevertheless, it succeeds in taking us on a journey through its richly colorful universe, thanks in particular to a fine soundtrack and its diverse environments. And if you're still in doubt after reading this review, don't hesitate to try out the demo, which is free and will enable you to form your own opinion.

While Visions of Mana did not end up being the title that will take the series to the next level due to its issues with clunky combat, pedestrian difficulty and lackluster story, it’s still a solid entry to this long running series and a step in the right direction for what I hope will be continued to be improved upon for the next entry.

Visions of Mana has higher highs but also lower lows than Trials of Mana, but it is a game I’m glad I got to experience by the end. If you enjoyed Trials of Mana and games like Tales of Arise specifically on the gameplay side, Visions of Mana is worth your time. I just wish the movement and PC port were better. In its current state, it is excellent to have a modern Mana game and Visions of Mana delivered on that front. Just don’t expect it to reach the highs of Secret of Mana. While it is rated Steam Deck Playable by Valve, I recommend playing it on PS5 rather than Steam Deck with how bare-bones the PC port is in its current state.

If Visions of Mana spent as much time and energy as it did in its battles into its narrative, we would have gotten a very different game. Instead, the game seems off-balance but definitely has the potential to be a fun experience if you solely focus on the battles and not on its plot. Don’t get me wrong—there are moments in the game where the story introduces some action elements that make you feel like you are getting somewhere, but these moments are overshadowed by the rest of the story’s rather bland narrative.

Visions of Mana is a charming action-RPG that celebrates the spirit of its 2D predecessors thanks to its liberating exploration and wonderful visuals, but it lacks some gameplay polish.

Visions of Mana brings the world and creatures of the Mana games to life in ways much better and more beautiful than ever before. The world is more accessible and freely explorable, there is more to discover, the five playable characters can be upgraded and customised through many advanced classes. A weak PC port and some storytelling and gameplay lengths make the game less enjoyable than it could be.

Visions of Mana isn't perfect, nor will it revolutionize the JRPG genre with its approach to combat or storytelling. But for the right player, these issues won't matter, because Visions of Mana has an undeniable charm and allure to it. Its breathtaking visuals, satisfying combat, and likable characters combine for a comforting, stock-standard JRPG, and if you're in the market for that, then Visions of Mana is an easy buy.

Visions of Mana is a rollercoaster of emotions. The team under Square Enix has made a beautiful game with a solid mechanical foundation. But the balance of the game has been somewhat out of whack. What’s here is not bad, just unpolished and a bit lacking. Visions of Mana is worth your time if the issues mentioned with combat and story won’t be an issue for you. Maybe try it on a harder setting. At the very least, I recommend trying the free demo on every platform as that will give you a feel for how the game controls and feels. Visions of Mana is solid but doesn’t quite reach the heights it aimed for.

Visions of Mana is an incredibly hand-holdy, laid-back adventure game where you can't go two minutes without watching a short film.