Secret of Mana

 PlayStation 4
User Score
6.2

Mixed or average reviews- based on 129 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 61 out of 129
  2. Mixed: 29 out of 129
  3. Negative: 39 out of 129
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  1. Vadim666
    Feb 15, 2018
    10
    Great game. Original game is one of my favorites games of all time. Remake is good, but old problems is still here.
  2. SenseiMiguel
    Sep 1, 2019
    9
    Me encanta esta saga. Me gusto el remake. Me hubiera gustado q las musicas hubieran estado mejor... que eso fue lo que mas me encantaba de la version de snes. No senti esa magia del snes, pero overall.... esta bien hecho. Ahora a esperar Trials of Mana en switch.
  3. Elroy
    Feb 19, 2018
    9
    The harsh criticism this game has received is somewhat unwarranted and unfair, it is being criticised for what I Believe it was never intended to be in the first place.

    It does seem the Secret of Mana remake was intended to be an almost carbon recreation of the original game. The game was created out of a fondness for the source material and was clearly an attempt to bring that same    The harsh criticism this game has received is somewhat unwarranted and unfair, it is being criticised for what I Believe it was never intended to be in the first place.

    It does seem the Secret of Mana remake was intended to be an almost carbon recreation of the original game. The game was created out of a fondness for the source material and was clearly an attempt to bring that same game to the modern era. I don’t believe the intent was there from the beginning to fix all the “quality of life” issues people are complaining about, it is a faithful re-make of a Super Nintendo classic, out-dated mechanics and all. Rating it as anything but is not fair.

    The most notable difference to the gameplay is the combat, it is more functional and feels a lot smoother. If you have played the original there is no need to really elaborate more on the mechanics of the game. For those unfamiliar with the original game expect many of the luxuries of modern RPG's to be absent.

    The visuals are an attempt to turn those 16bit era pixel art characters and maps into polygons without detracting too much from the original art direction. Sure, it’s not the same and perhaps may have worked better in a different style but combined with the classic isometric view it works well and is faithful to the original game. I personally have no issues with the visuals and find it all quite charming.

    The sound track is also a good effort in recreating the same classic music, it isn’t easy to recreate a piece of music, particularly compositions so entrenched in people’s memories. To rework them and bring them out of their old midi style while still maintaining the sound we all remember would have required quite a bit of thought and consideration. The BGM is a bit hit and miss but the compositions are all immediately recognisable and are just revamped enough for the remake. They have also added the option to use the original soundtrack if one desires.

    Secret of Mana was one of the first games I ever played back in 1996 when my parents, somewhat belatedly, bought me a super Nintendo. It is at the top of my favourite Snes titles along with 'Zelda' and 'Super Mario World'. I am personally glad they left Secret of Mana mostly unchanged and I didn’t hope for anything else. From the incredible piece of art that is the opening screen to the classic mechanics it all adds up to make a very nostalgic, emotional and still very enjoyable experience.

    This remake allows me to play through this beloved classic again with just the right amount of enhancement to make it fresh. For those undecided expect the same classic Secret of Mana you remember with updated visuals, music, voice acting and improved combat.    … Expand
  4. Blackbox19
    Feb 15, 2018
    8
    Positiv
    - Full free 3D Movement making the Battles faster and more fun.
    - You can change direction when you run and running doesnt waste your stamina anymore. - Yo can set Shortcuts for Items and Magic so you dont need to open the Ring menu anymore for every Magicspell use. - They fixed THE F.K.ing HIt DETECTION of the Orginal. - Enemies doesnt spam Attacks/Magic anymore. - Much    Positiv
    - Full free 3D Movement making the Battles faster and more fun.
    - You can change direction when you run and running doesnt waste your stamina anymore.
    - Yo can set Shortcuts for Items and Magic so you dont need to open the Ring menu anymore for every Magicspell use.
    - They fixed THE F.K.ing HIt DETECTION of the Orginal.
    - Enemies doesnt spam Attacks/Magic anymore.
    - Much shorter stun time for your Party as well for the Enemies, compared to the Orignial.
    - In the begining of the Original, Enemys spam attaks that make you fall unconscious on the Ground.
    And then they are attaking you lying their. That doesnt happen Anymore.
    - Now you can See your Partys silhouette if your behind Buildings and Trees.
    - Voice over in English and japanese and if you dont like it you can can Disable Voices.
    - A New really good Soundtrack and the Option to Change it back to the Original Soundtrac.
    - Every NPCs in the Game has Voice Over.
    - A lot if new cutscenes that help flashing out the Characters and their relationship.

    Negative
    - In some Areas low resolution Textures.
    - No lip sync.
    - The Water Temple has Some weird floating pillars.
    - Some missing Animations, like the Explosion from defeated Bosses.
    - You can still not compare Gear states in Shops without going in menu.

    Fazit
    It´s strange that they didnt fix Some mechanics that were already broken in the Orignal like the
    Shopping. And the Graphics looks in some areas like a Mobile Game and in others really awesome.
    In the End, it is The orginal Secret of Mana in 3D with a fixed Battlesystem and this alone makes it
    the best available Version of the Game.But you can´t deny the fact, that they could have done much more with it.
    It seems like Square Enix doesnt have much faith in the franchise anymore.    … Expand
  5. wolfflow
    Feb 16, 2018
    9
    While the graphics could be a bit better, this is a huge love letter to the original. It fixed getting stuck from AI, getting trapped on the ground, added voice acting for every npc and additional character development, among other improvements. Been playing it non stop with a huge smile on my face and other true fans should be in for the same nostalgia trip.
  6. techtronics
    Feb 17, 2018
    10
    Secret of Mana is an amazing take on the old school rpg genre that molded the games we play today, but what makes it stand out in that fashion is that it also, for the most part, play as those games did as well. The updated graphics and amazing soundtrack was just what was needed to revive the dying format. This game also provides an entry to the intense rpg genre that frightens mostSecret of Mana is an amazing take on the old school rpg genre that molded the games we play today, but what makes it stand out in that fashion is that it also, for the most part, play as those games did as well. The updated graphics and amazing soundtrack was just what was needed to revive the dying format. This game also provides an entry to the intense rpg genre that frightens most players away from the long playtime required to finish it. Still at being roughly 40 hours long, this game provides a plethora of story. While this game doesn't serve much in the form of cut scenes, the narrative will keep you going for the hours that are up ahead, so keep in mind that a love for reading makes a love for this style of game.… Expand
  7. GrumpyReviewer
    Feb 16, 2018
    8
    It might not be 100% as we expected it to be, but still, it is a beautiful remake that immediately brought me back to 1993. I absolutely love this remake and, for me, it is an almost perfect adaptation of a classic to modern consoles. The story, soundtrack, characters, combat, everything about Secret of Mana is there, just the way we remember.

    Of course it could be better! Of course    It might not be 100% as we expected it to be, but still, it is a beautiful remake that immediately brought me back to 1993. I absolutely love this remake and, for me, it is an almost perfect adaptation of a classic to modern consoles. The story, soundtrack, characters, combat, everything about Secret of Mana is there, just the way we remember.

    Of course it could be better! Of course they could have added a few quality of life improvements; I am also disapointed that the characters' mouths do not move when they speak during cutscenes. But, the way I see it, we need to be thankful for this game and support it. This could be a first step towards new remakes such as Chrono Trigger and Final Fantasy III.

    The moment I saw that opening, with that score, the kids, the trees, I was 13 years old again. It's been more than 30 years since Secret of Mana became my favorite game in the SNES - and, to this date - one of my all time favorite games. I was - and I am - happy to be home.

    So thank you, SquareSoft - yes, SQUARESOFT - for this little, sweet, trip through time.    … Expand
  8. kraenk
    Feb 17, 2018
    10
    At first I was a bit put off by the cartoony art style but it’s grown on me. It’s a beautiful game and a huge step up from the original game. People really need to take off their nostalgia goggles. Really well done remake imho and the right thing to try to remake it in such a way, kids from today will still love this great game.
  9. JuanTheSwan
    Feb 15, 2018
    9
    This is a very good game overall. You can tell this game was on a tight budget but it you can also tell that the team behind this game did their best job to make this game like the original. There are a few things though that it kept me from giving it a higher rating. Here are some pros and cons:
    Pros:
    -Upgraded graphics and higher frame rate make this game amazing! -Same old fun combat    This is a very good game overall. You can tell this game was on a tight budget but it you can also tell that the team behind this game did their best job to make this game like the original. There are a few things though that it kept me from giving it a higher rating. Here are some pros and cons:
    Pros:
    -Upgraded graphics and higher frame rate make this game amazing!
    -Same old fun combat that is the same as the classic originally released.
    -Soundtrack is better than ever.
    -New cutscenes help enhance the story.
    -No glitches (so far. haven't quite completed the story yet).
    -VERY FUN GAMEPLAY
    -Takes around 5GB on your ps4.

    Cons:
    -Terrible voice acting (can be turned off or switched to japanese)
    -No lip syncing
    -Some of the cutscenes are a little outdated. (MINOR SPOILER: an example of this is the one where Elliott beats up Randi in the beginning after he pulls the mana sword in the beginning. both characters walk in completely strait lines like the original game).    … Expand
  10. Hobobo
    Feb 15, 2018
    9
    Welp, saw this coming a mile a way. It's no "Secret" that a lot of people had it out for this game even before it was released... now that it's here, I'm not surprised that all these people followed up with an automatic negative review on here. The bandwagon is strong with this one. Sadly, this even reflects on the critics side of things too. What were people expecting? Just what standardsWelp, saw this coming a mile a way. It's no "Secret" that a lot of people had it out for this game even before it was released... now that it's here, I'm not surprised that all these people followed up with an automatic negative review on here. The bandwagon is strong with this one. Sadly, this even reflects on the critics side of things too. What were people expecting? Just what standards were people holding this game up to? The Shadow of The Colossus remake? Lets be real. It would be cool if this was an in depth remake like that, but this is a niche title. Always has been. This remake is perfect in that it simply retains the magic of the original and enhances things like the audio and graphics. Shoot, there's even voice acting now. This isn't a AAA high budget game, although I wish it was. Secret of Mana Remake is a faithful remake at its core simple as that. If you're a fan of this series, I recommend this remake. Or if you're new, this is a great chance to snag this little classic. Don't expect it to compete with todays high budget JRPG's, but just know that it's still a fun game that was revolutionary for its time.… Expand
  11. Winters79
    Feb 15, 2018
    8
    Let me start by saying I'm a bit biased on this one. Being an old bugger now means I had the pleasure of playing magnificent games like this through the 16-bit era.....and boy was there some absolute classic RPG's around back then.

    I was an RPG and Squaresoft (before Enix got on the scene) nut, couldn't get enough of them and Secret of Mana was simply my favourite RPG of all time,    Let me start by saying I'm a bit biased on this one. Being an old bugger now means I had the pleasure of playing magnificent games like this through the 16-bit era.....and boy was there some absolute classic RPG's around back then.

    I was an RPG and Squaresoft (before Enix got on the scene) nut, couldn't get enough of them and Secret of Mana was simply my favourite RPG of all time, closely followed by the just as epic Chrono Trigger.

    I KNOW what you're thinking....here's another biased score of 10 appearing....well....I would love to have given this a 10 but I just can't bring myself to do so.

    The remake is Secret of Mana....in all its glory with improved visuals, some bug and balancing fixes and an amazing modernized soundtrack. They've even kept the 3 player co-op.

    But Square Enix....this could have been so much more! The game is brilliant (other than the shocking voice acting) for all us oldies who have rose tinted 90's goggles on. Nostalgia is at its max here and I'm absolutely loving my play through.

    However, for all those gamers who have never experienced the 16 bit and classic RPG era, I cannot see them giving this game the credit it so desperately deserves.

    Look at the recent remake of Shadow of the Collosus, another epic game, this Square Enix is how you remake a classic game in the modern day. Bluepoint have completely upgraded pretty much every element of the game to an incredibly high and polished standard.

    Secret of Mana 2018 is in no way bad.....but it could and should have been so much more.

    For now though, I'm going to sit back, chillax and enjoy my all time favourite RPG wearing my 90's rose tinted glasses. Thank you Square Enix.    … Expand
  12. B0nesaw54
    Feb 21, 2018
    10
    art style is a bit weird... same awesome game.. the voice acting adds a new perspective.... loved this game then... love it even more now
  13. YakusokuNoJi
    Jul 7, 2023
    10
    This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. The backlash for this game is ridiculous and just another example of people being heavily influenced by others to hop aboard some anti-hype hype-train.
    Yes, the game does have technical issues, that is correct so far. It has occasional crashes though only 2 ever happened to me and as an auto-save feature is added this should not be that much of a problem. Other technical issues would be a lot more troublesome. For example it still has no smart solution to your companions following you directly related to their own collision detection. But even as far as that goes they still are a step ahead of the SNES version which even made it impossible to move forward the screen when your other characters were stuck. The extra dialogue scenes in the Inns can lead to some time/location inconsistencies but that is really just a minor "issue".
    So what does this game have that a lot do not like?
    It has a brighter colour palette, that is true. That does not really make it worse and is really nothing that has anything other to do than with your visual preference.
    Does it have a remastered soundtrack? Indeed it has. A lot dislike it but there are very nice tracks in it, also the criticism about that gets kind of unnecessary because you can choose between original and remade soundtrack in the game.
    What else does this game have?
    A lot that is simply taken from the original. And what could that be? A lot that people nowadays hate in RPGs and always bring up in their reviews:
    Super linear gameplay. Colour swapped bosses, most bosses can be defeated by magic spamming, even quicker through shortcuts, et cetera.
    Now, I personally have no problem with that but it is interesting to see how that is criticised in other games but not in this one. Why could that be? Because old fans are used to it from the original? What would have happened if that were changed? Would people be angry about elements being removed that they hate so much in other RPGs?
    And this is why a lot of the reviews nowadays one should barely bother to read. I have checked the trophy list. Most people did barely finish 50% of the game. Why? Could they no longer bare the looks or sound of the game? If 50% are already done of a game that they already know so they should know it takes less than 20 hours through the main story, then why not just finish it? Were there so many technical issues occuring at this point that it was no longer an option for them to play the game?
    To me this all seems like the ordinary behaviour of being too influenced by others or they wanted a full-on 3-dimensional Remake. Secret of Mana's Remake has a few hiccups but it definitely compensates for it with what's an RPG really is about: Guiding the player through the narrative. The setting is as nice as it was before, the score is, the atmosphere is. And it greatly improves on a lot of things that were left to be desired in the original. The voice acting also is fine enough, I would say. 99% of the players that hate the remake so much or at least played the original do not even know the Densetsu series but that's another topic.

    I finished it tonight and can say - it even with its few smaller problems does enough to show what it is: Secret of Mana. From start to finish.

    So my recommendation: Play it, it is worth it, even with a few changes or technical issues.

    Oh, and nice try bandwagon jumpers when it comes to the automatic bad ratings. Those are useless however.    … Expand
  14. nathanh0
    Apr 5, 2018
    8
    I pre-ordered the game 4 or 5 months ago, and what I received was expected, except for the lip-sync not synchronizing to the text being said. This was kind of annoying and really ruined it for me. I was also hoping the weapon powerups would be faster in this version. They were fun when I was a kid, but as an adult I need things right now :) Other than that, love it.
  15. Ishmaul
    Jul 15, 2018
    8
    This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. Secret of Mana "remaster" takes me back to SNES days, grinding out weapon and magic levels with my sister because we just fell in love with this game back in the day, which was a weds by the way. This game has some serious nostalgia value and worth a look just to see what changes they made to make it worthy of next gen consoles. Does it hold the same WOW factor as the original, No, but lets face it; its a remaster for a reason. I picked this title up the day it released on both consoles because this is one of the first "hack and slash" RPGS I can remember.

    PROS
    The characters are just what I remember from the first time I picked up this game and they speak, act, and sound just as I always imagined they would. "Girl" for example is portrayed as the stuck up, hard to convince, "mean" girl I always picked her as, and the "Sprite" is as mischievous as ever. And was I ever surprise that not just the main characters but most of the support characters received cut scenes or voice actors as well. The inn scenes help to put the relationship of the characters into perspective.

    Graphics are indeed updated, but not to much to take away from the original beauty of this title. The colors are more vibrant and the cut scenes while cartoony just add to the game without inhibiting the flow of the original.

    Combat is the same as I remember. Simple easy to use controls and mechanics. While may be deterred by some of the newer games helps keep the charm from the original. Each enemy "type" is simplistic and builds as you move through the game.

    Leveling is smooth and simple; use magic skills and progress to improve them, use weapons and collect orbs to strengthen them, and kill enemies to become stronger. The grind is straight forward and isn't necessary to complete the game even if encouraged to make it smoother.

    Cons
    This version of the game does have bugs due to the changes but it is to be expected considering the changes and format used. I myself haven't run into much besides screen delay on some big attacks which includes no crashes or stalls in the 20+hours I have played so far.

    The replay value of this game is minimal to nothing due to lack of DLC or customization and lack of open world since it is pretty linear up until you get your dragon.

    Secret of Mana while not being a blockbuster hit this generation really takes me back to the long hours with couch coop with friends and siblings just beating Rabbits, Hobgobs, and Slimes to death for hours. This game is worth the buy to anyone that played this game on SNES; even if just to see the changes. And to anyone that loves the RPG genre.    … Expand
  16. JesterTRT
    Dec 28, 2019
    9
    This game is a major blast from the past!
    It's done so accurately to the old SNES game. They boosted he graphics, added little extra cut scenes and interacting dialog, which was a good touch. Otherwise, it's basically the exact core SNES game from my childhood.
    The only thing I wish was they changed minor things. Such as allowing online multiplayer. It's hard to play couch co-op now a    This game is a major blast from the past!
    It's done so accurately to the old SNES game. They boosted he graphics, added little extra cut scenes and interacting dialog, which was a good touch. Otherwise, it's basically the exact core SNES game from my childhood.
    The only thing I wish was they changed minor things. Such as allowing online multiplayer. It's hard to play couch co-op now a days. And to add in the buttons R2 and L2 for quick buttons for skills.
    Otherwise, this game is a beauty.    … Expand
  17. eecho
    Apr 22, 2022
    8
    Some glitches and bugs knock down a few points for Secret of Mana, but overall a satisfying game you should give it a try
  18. TheTactician
    Sep 6, 2023
    10
    For me Its the best Role-Playing, Action RPG of all time.I was playing this game as a kid on Super nintendo.It was soo fun and it will always have a special place in my memory.I love the orginal game better than the remake.The remake is very easy and the bosses is not difficulty as it was in the orginal game for snes.The story is soo good.
  19. 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.

Awards & Rankings

64
#64 Most Discussed PS4 Game of 2018
78
#78 Most Shared PS4 Game of 2018

Critic Reviews

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Metascore
63

Mixed or average reviews - based on 59 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 8 out of 59
  2. Mixed: 45 out of 59
  3. Negative: 6 out of 59
  1. Worth Playing
    Oct 1, 2018
    78
    Despite Secret of Mana's technical blunders, this new version is a faithful re-creation with a lot of reverence for its source material. For those who may have missed out on Secret of Mana the first time around, it also serves as a solid introduction to a classic from the Golden Age. At a time when local co-op is difficult to find on most current-gen consoles, it gives a fresh option for those wanting to play with others. Secret of Mana's remaster offers a magical, vivid tale for the current-gen library.
    Read full review
  2. Eurogamer Italy
    Apr 11, 2018
    60
    Secret of Mana was an outstanding jRPG back in 1993 and this remake is a true love letter to fans. Unfortunately, besides upgraded graphics, a couple of cut-scenes and a brand new local co-op multiplayer, this new release does not add anything really worth to the core experience, and all the weakness of the original title are still there and sometimes they feel even worse.
    Read full review
  3. Playstation Official Magazine UK
    Apr 3, 2018
    80
    The biggest change is the new edition's complete graphical overhaul. [Apr 2018, p.80]
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