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. Takhilin
    Feb 15, 2018
    7
    It's perfectly fine. It's not perfect, but it is Secret of Mana. People are just finding what they can to complain about because they don't care for the art style. That's legit, the only reason I can think of that people think it's unplayable. It's great, I've already put several hours into it.
  2. 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.
  3. DeadsFortune
    Jan 29, 2019
    7
    Not a terrible game like some will say. The combat is fun; the music, though some of the tracks do sound butchered compared to the original, is not terrible.

    The dungeons and over world are fun to explore, and I love they added a model viewing bestiary. There are some difficulty spikes, but they are aren't too time consuming to overcome. I would rate the game higher if so many game    Not a terrible game like some will say. The combat is fun; the music, though some of the tracks do sound butchered compared to the original, is not terrible.

    The dungeons and over world are fun to explore, and I love they added a model viewing bestiary. There are some difficulty spikes, but they are aren't too time consuming to overcome.

    I would rate the game higher if so many game crashes didn't occur and a glitch didn't make some enemies immortal.

    Overall not terrible, it is rough around some edges, and really enjoyable around others.    … Expand
  4. Naedeslus
    Mar 2, 2019
    7
    When I heard that Secret of Mana, one of the first real action RPG's on the SNES was getting remade, I was very excited. I played it when I was a child and I loved it. Though, I never beat it I remember renting it off and on and really enjoying what I played. As I grew up, I never got around to playing it even though I wanted to, so the idea of a SNES classic being remade really excitedWhen I heard that Secret of Mana, one of the first real action RPG's on the SNES was getting remade, I was very excited. I played it when I was a child and I loved it. Though, I never beat it I remember renting it off and on and really enjoying what I played. As I grew up, I never got around to playing it even though I wanted to, so the idea of a SNES classic being remade really excited me.

    Then I played it.

    So, first of all, it's not a horrible remake, after all, I'm giving it a 7/10 so it's not broken or anything like that, the issue is that the game feels very low budget. It's obvious Square Enix must've outsourced most of the work for the remake. The visuals are pretty bad by PS4's standards. While it's most likely just a port from the PS Vita, the problem is the PS Vita itself can do better. The character designs are very low quality. They barely animated and while they probably didn't want to change the original's art style too much, it looks to be very jarring.

    The environments are okay. There are some low-quality textures but I found the environments were done well enough. They could've been better, especially some of the grass textures but the one thing the remake does right, visually is the enemy design. It's funny how the characters can look pretty low quality but the enemies somehow look pretty good! I'm not sure why there is a bit of inconsistency with this but it's there. The overall visual design of the locations is nice but had it spent another 3-6 month making the graphics even better it would’ve overall improved the quality of the game. Of course, graphics are not everything but when the original game has better character design you know that the game made a serious error.

    One touch I love is how there is a mini-map and the mini-map has the original’s graphics. It’s a neat touch and helps to navigate the environments. You, of course, can turn this off if you don’t like it.

    The music is… pretty bad. Thankfully you can play with the original OST, which is a great OST. I highly recommend that. The voice acting is almost Resident Evil 1 ps1 bad. It’s good for a few laughs but I turned it off and thankfully there was that option.

    What saves the remake from being a 5 instead of a 7 is the changes they did to the core gameplay. It plays the same, has that meter that you have to get to 100% to do an effective attack but they made some smart changes that really improve the feel of it. There is an autosave feature which is a lifesaver considering that most of the dungeons didn’t have the option to save in them, including a rather long final dungeon and you can map skills to L1 or R1 which helps out a lot in boss fights since magic is the best way to do damage mid-late game.

    It still has the quirks where enemies have super high evasion and about 30-40% of your attacks will miss post-mid-game. It’s annoying but once you get in the grove you get used to it. I would’ve loved for an option to decrease this to close to zero because all it does is make combat more annoying than it has to be. It’s something they didn’t change but it is what it is. It would’ve made it better, or at least an item you can equip that would help out with that.

    I’ve noticed a lot of reviewers claimed it gets too hard about halfway through. The difficulty does jump up about then, but I didn’t have any trouble. I feel that good advice is to fight most battles and buy the best equipment, spend an hour here or there grinding and you’ll be good to go. At the end of the game I was overpowered, and I just ran from battles in the final dungeon because I knew I’d take on anyone and I was right. It was a cake walk. Of course, if you forget to buy new equipment, it will make it much harder. The plus about this is if you want a challenge, there’s an idea to get one. It felt a bit easy, especially with powering up magic, which is very easy to do.

    The story is also improved. There is more dialog added and it works nicely. The original script was fine but I did like what they did to add more character development. It helps. There are these skits whenever you rest in an inn. The problem is that sometimes they’re not synced with what you do. I found myself seeing them talk about an event that happened way before I rested at this inn. A patch to keep them more with what is going on with the plot would work wonders. Not a huge deal but sometimes it’s a bit jarring.

    All and all, it’s not a bad remake. I’ve heard people say it ruins the game for them. I don’t see how. If you ask me, if you wanted to try out Secret of Mana, the remake is the best way to do it. Though, there is a problem here.

    With how much of a budget title this feels like, I can’t really justify telling someone to spend 40 USD on this. It’s a good game and a good way to play the SNES classic but it’s overpriced. I'd either rent it or wait for a sale. It took me 15 hours to finish it.    … Expand
  5. 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.
  6. 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
  7. 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
  8. 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.
  9. 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
  10. 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
  11. 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.
  12. 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
  13. 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
  14. j_obediah
    Feb 15, 2018
    7
    Veteran SoM player without the nostalgia.

    Story: 8 The writing is different, but no better or worse. It still conveys the original interesting stories. Some lines I found better some not as good. What IS cool is that they ADDED story when you sleep at inns, allowing for more character development of the three protagonists. This has made the story more enjoyable than the first version    Veteran SoM player without the nostalgia.

    Story: 8
    The writing is different, but no better or worse. It still conveys the original interesting stories. Some lines I found better some not as good. What IS cool is that they ADDED story when you sleep at inns, allowing for more character development of the three protagonists. This has made the story more enjoyable than the first version to me. It will be up to each person if they like these additions or not but they get kuddos for the idea and effort that went into adding these senes. Over all the story is still enjoyable.
    Gameplay: 8
    Undeniably the strongest point of Secret of Mana, this has almost completely preserved with some notable exceptions. The weapons have better hit detection and weapons like the spear actually have range. You can see the different styles with each upgrade which is great. The stamina bar is back to eliminate mindless hack 'n slash, forcing you to have to time your hits and approaches. One thing that is inferior is the way enemies react when you hit them. It's not as impactful as in the original. And when you deliver a killing blow, instead of a satisfying burst of smoke or glitter at impact, the enemy just falls back and then explodes in a less enjoyable matter. but over all the gameplay is still very enjoyable. The animations for charging your weapons is smooth and fun. Other aspects of animation are not so. Your character glitches and screen will sometimes jump during story scenes.

    Graphics: 6
    The graphics fit the spirit of the original in that they are colorful, cute and lively. However, the graphics are hit and miss. They fall short in the textures. Waterfalls aren't blended well with pools of water (which are very pretty). The grass looks like a paint-by the-numbers picture turned into nylon flooring you'd put in your kitchen. The rock designs are interesting and neat. Enemies look like they are from the ps1 era of game design just brushed up to HD. The character model for Randi looks horribly goofy and awkward and lacks the charisma of his SNES counter part. However, he is still very functional for the story and still somehow manages to pull off his role as a child thrust into an adult world. This along with voice acting and cutscene animations this is probably the worse short fall.

    Sound: 6
    Voice acting does not serve to enhance the story. I turned it off and found the game much more enjoyable. Hitting enemies sounds weaker and less impactful than in the original. Remixes of the original music are hit and miss. Just depends on your tastes. I just keep the original score on.

    Summary:
    Over all it's clear this game was intended for older fans who don't need graphics, they just need a good time. but that's still not going to satisfy some. It's a fun game, and it's definitely not a 0 or 1. It has it's strengths and weaknesses, but not having online coop in a game that helped move coop into the popularity seems like an extremely bizarre choice. You can't help but be disappointed as most of the people who buy this don't have time to gather together and plan a Secret of Mana party anymore. Major deductions for that oversight.

    Still a fun game because of the original concept. Square should have put more money into it, especially in the graphic design department, but I'm happy I got what I got.    … Expand
  15. wkjjb
    Feb 15, 2018
    6
    I wanted to love this game, as I was fully on board the nostalgia hype train, sadly, this game does not love me in return. A lot of the elements are still there that made this a great game, some really nice tweaks and polish, but for every good thing, there seems a distracting counter force pushing the other way. This is a perfectly fine way to replay that amazing adventure, and yourI wanted to love this game, as I was fully on board the nostalgia hype train, sadly, this game does not love me in return. A lot of the elements are still there that made this a great game, some really nice tweaks and polish, but for every good thing, there seems a distracting counter force pushing the other way. This is a perfectly fine way to replay that amazing adventure, and your nostalgia pangs will be intense, but it will also leave you laying awake at night wondering what it could have been.… Expand
  16. 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
  17. benzema
    Feb 18, 2018
    5
    Well Im not a nostalgie fan but i love RPG. Graphics are cute for a remake and it matches to this style of RPG.The Story is okay and both version of soundtracks are nicely to listen to. The mechanics are truly bad programmed so please include raging acts, like missing a lot of hits. Bugs like chrackters disappearing , not following, weapon menus compleatly making wrong actions. Maybe theWell Im not a nostalgie fan but i love RPG. Graphics are cute for a remake and it matches to this style of RPG.The Story is okay and both version of soundtracks are nicely to listen to. The mechanics are truly bad programmed so please include raging acts, like missing a lot of hits. Bugs like chrackters disappearing , not following, weapon menus compleatly making wrong actions. Maybe the SNES version is like that but howcould this be in a bad remake. i dont want to offend fans but how the hell can game like that let you in the middle of the game comepleatly alone with any kind of infos what to do next. i really dont get it. You have to find your way with any info thats sad. I like challanges but not like that. Even if I pretend to not see some points I´ve got very mixed and dissappointed feelings about the REMAKE.… Expand
  18. SplitMind
    Apr 5, 2020
    4
    With remakes there comes the opportunity to convert nostalgia into modern-day success without cheaply remaking a near-identical game to the original. Unfortunately, Secret of Mana on the PS4 appears to be latter.
    The graphics are the most noticeable remade feature. They are far from cutting-edge, but their anime style is charming and full of character. The downside is that they are still    With remakes there comes the opportunity to convert nostalgia into modern-day success without cheaply remaking a near-identical game to the original. Unfortunately, Secret of Mana on the PS4 appears to be latter.
    The graphics are the most noticeable remade feature. They are far from cutting-edge, but their anime style is charming and full of character. The downside is that they are still quite minimal; character’s mouths don’t move properly when they talk, and the proliferation of loading screens are a bother, in that going from one room to the next requires a black loading screen, as does entering and leaving every single building. They could have worked to make this more fluid like many modern games.

    The gameplay is where this gets very divisive for me. Each time you swing your weapon there is a little charge bar on your HUD and you’re encouraged to wait until it reaches 100% before swinging again. Failing to do so results in less damage dealt. This is nice in theory, but in practice it slows combat down greatly and builds frustration. Since this makes up a good 80% of the game, if you don’t like it then it’s going to be a massive problem, as it was for me.

    The magic system also has me bewildered, in that just casting two or three spells can often drain my MP, leaving a long stretch until I can get it recharged at the next stop, or a long retreat back to an Inn for a recharge. This seems unbalanced and very monotonous to have to backtrack a lot. The magic was a massive help in counterbalancing the dull combat mechanics, but it falls rather flat instead.

    The enemies are also very strange and unpredictable, in that some of them can wipe you out it just a couple of hits, whilst at other times they will wander around as if you don’t exist even though you’re slaughtering them slowly. Some enemies, particularly bosses, can be very unbalanced and spam a high-damage move randomly, making battles a test of luck as opposed to skill.

    The story and characters are what you’d expect from any JRPG – good, but in this case not outstanding either, which probably is a sign of how old the original game is. It’s a familiar old trop well-established in games like Zelda; visit all the temples and collect all the power needed to wipe out a final boss.

    Unfortunately, this all adds up to make Secret of Mana a rather bland game that sees you tangling with its combat mechanics rather than the game itself. I found myself constantly thinking “hurry up!” as I watched the charge bar reach 100% just so I could swing my sword. This is a common gimmick seen even in SoulsBorne games these days, but it’s not executed well here.

    I got this game because I was eager to play Trials of Mana later this year, however that was a bad choice. Unless you have a very good reason to play Secret of Mana, hold off for Trials of Mana. I’ve played the demo and it seems a lot better. They could have done so much to improve this game but took a lazy and cheap option instead.    … Expand
  19. havanowoncheese
    Feb 15, 2018
    7
    This is a great game and a truly great remaster. The new soundtrack is fantastic. They have fixed the old hit box issues of the original making this one play better. I do have to knock some points off because as off now the game has crashed every couple of hours. If that gets fixed I will have no complaints with this game.
  20. Kcrik
    Feb 16, 2018
    0
    First of all, I am a massive fan of the SNES game.
    Unfortunately Square proves us they can still easily destroy one of their old IP. The re=orchestrated musics are complete s****, you will end up switching to the original one within a few minutes.
    The english voice acting is real bad. The graphics look like a 5 years old mobile game. The 3d Models are really bad too. As someone else    First of all, I am a massive fan of the SNES game.
    Unfortunately Square proves us they can still easily destroy one of their old IP. The re=orchestrated musics are complete s****, you will end up switching to the original one within a few minutes.

    The english voice acting is real bad. The graphics look like a 5 years old mobile game. The 3d Models are really bad too.

    As someone else said, you can see the budget was really tight, and as much as I do believe did their best probably given this tight budget and most likely 6 months max of dev time overall, the game is still an insult to its original version.

    I won't be buying it because I don't want Square to think they can destroy other SNES games like Chrono Trigger.

    They should have given the game a bigger budget and a proper remake, not this sub-game. This remake will be forgotten quickly.
    I honestly don't understand how any body would give anything above 5/10. I believe many positive critics were bought or made by people who haven't played the original.

    The story is secret of mana, and to be honest, the intro in full 2d is beautiful, but that's the best you will get out of this game.

    Do yourself a favor, get the SNES mini and play the original, or get a normal SNES and buy the game, or get the Switch Japanese compilation of the 3 first games...you'll thank me for that.    … Expand
  21. darclide
    Feb 23, 2018
    0
    Completely ruining what was meant to be a fan service with horrible translations (why not just keep the original texts? There was no reason to update them) and bad voice acting.

    If you loved the original, better buy yourself a SNES mini (or create something with a Raspberry) and enjoy the original instead of buying this, it will ruin your childhood memories.
  22. 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
  23. adrock_12
    Mar 11, 2018
    0
    I love the graphics, though they definitely could have done waaaaaaaaaaaay better, especially with the textures. But the problem with this game is they fixed none of the original games bugs and even added a whole ton of new ones, like your party members stuck on attacking invisible enemies, the game crashing every 30mins (thank god for auto save). One of my favourite RPG's of all timeI love the graphics, though they definitely could have done waaaaaaaaaaaay better, especially with the textures. But the problem with this game is they fixed none of the original games bugs and even added a whole ton of new ones, like your party members stuck on attacking invisible enemies, the game crashing every 30mins (thank god for auto save). One of my favourite RPG's of all time and they absolutely sh*t the bed with this remake. I don't even know why they bothered upgrading the graphics, maybe to cover up all the bugs they added. Thanks a lot Square Soft, Secret of Mana is now my least favourite game of all time. With FFXV and now this crap ...please just stop making games squaresoft… Expand
  24. Altun
    Feb 19, 2018
    4
    Crashes every hour and a half, most likely due to a memory leak. You will notice that the game starts to have slower response to your hits. Combat is great and just like it was in the older game, but the sound track and voice acting are pretty bad. You can definitely tell that they rushed this out as quickly as possible. Not really much quality of life improvements to the game. Also theCrashes every hour and a half, most likely due to a memory leak. You will notice that the game starts to have slower response to your hits. Combat is great and just like it was in the older game, but the sound track and voice acting are pretty bad. You can definitely tell that they rushed this out as quickly as possible. Not really much quality of life improvements to the game. Also the new inn cutscene system is a bit baffling. With the autosave feature, there's a chance that some players will not see any of them. They might've been better off moving a way to see them into the field.

    Also check out Poipois grandpa if you want to see an... interesting voice acting choice.    … Expand
  25. Renzokuken
    Feb 17, 2018
    4
    I didn't play the original SNES game, so I have no nostalgia glasses with which to view this remake though. Although I did go back and have a look at some gameplay just to have something to compare this to. I went into this game expecting an old school action RPG with a bit of polish to bring it up to 2018 standards without sacrificing the core gameplay and mechanics of the original.I didn't play the original SNES game, so I have no nostalgia glasses with which to view this remake though. Although I did go back and have a look at some gameplay just to have something to compare this to. I went into this game expecting an old school action RPG with a bit of polish to bring it up to 2018 standards without sacrificing the core gameplay and mechanics of the original. Unfortunately that polish is not only non-existent but this remake arguably makes the game worse.

    The remake gives a graphical overhaul to the original but is plagued by significant quality of life issues that should have been dealt with in a modern remake. For a PS4 title the graphics look jarringly low quality, even for a budget title. The music is a huge step back fortunately the ability to switch to the original SNES music is present. Normally I wouldn't complain about every single line in game being voice acted, but the voice acting is incredibly low budget and there's no lipsync. The menu's feel clunky and horrible to use, item descriptions that were present in the manual for the original aren't in the game meaning new players have no idea what anything does until they use it. Equipment shops don't show if an item is an upgrade until after you've bought it. Numerous bugs present in the original game such as sound effect issues at the gaia cliffs are back in this remake (for some reason).    … Expand
  26. HandsomeJack30
    Feb 15, 2018
    0
    Great game, terrible remake.

    Sadly, the remake does almost nothing to improve on the aging game play; and the game was made around 1995. There are things like load screens and characters getting stuck on environments that exist just like the original. I was shocked to see I still had to wait to have your team line up before dialog can start and that I still can not see if equipment i    Great game, terrible remake.

    Sadly, the remake does almost nothing to improve on the aging game play; and the game was made around 1995. There are things like load screens and characters getting stuck on environments that exist just like the original. I was shocked to see I still had to wait to have your team line up before dialog can start and that I still can not see if equipment i might want to purchase is any different than what I already have. Even the small glitches (like not being able to see bosses clearly or listening to attack animations from enemies off screen) plague the experience. Each of these game play issues should have been addressed in a remake. I actually like the new music and graphics, but those areas of the original that needed the least amount of effort. I just want to see the remake give this beloved game the TLC it deserves.

    I adore the game, this was just a terrible remake.    … Expand
  27. Ploppy0
    Feb 19, 2018
    3
    It's a shame to make money on people Nostalgia, specially when it ruin our best game memories...
    The game is ugly, the color are washed out, the remix music is beyond amateurish, the 3D engine is barely at the level of 5 years old mobile games !
    I feel betrayed, i feel like Square-Enix just spit to my face while charging me for max money, i loved the 1994 game and as a Fan(and not a    It's a shame to make money on people Nostalgia, specially when it ruin our best game memories...
    The game is ugly, the color are washed out, the remix music is beyond amateurish, the 3D engine is barely at the level of 5 years old mobile games !

    I feel betrayed, i feel like Square-Enix just spit to my face while charging me for max money, i loved the 1994 game and as a Fan(and not a blinded consumer) i will never buy another Square-Enix product.
    You done **** it up!    … Expand
  28. Tounsim
    Feb 19, 2018
    0
    - Are the graphics worthy of a 2018 game? No
    - Is the graphics worthy of a **** 2018 game ? No! (A shame, everything is plated and badly done)
    - Are the graphics worthy of a 1998 game (Dreamcast)? No; 1994 (Playstation)? No; 1991 (Super Nes)? No - Have the musics been reorchestrated correctly? No - Are the animations good? No; Correct? No; Crappy? Oh yeah... - Has the magic of the    - Are the graphics worthy of a 2018 game? No
    - Is the graphics worthy of a **** 2018 game ? No! (A shame, everything is plated and badly done)
    - Are the graphics worthy of a 1998 game (Dreamcast)? No; 1994 (Playstation)? No; 1991 (Super Nes)? No
    - Have the musics been reorchestrated correctly? No
    - Are the animations good? No; Correct? No; Crappy? Oh yeah...
    - Has the magic of the game been kept ? No (it's become ****ty)
    - Given all the previous points, is the scenario well transcribed and allows to (1) understand the importance of it and (2) make the adventure wonderfull? No
    - Did the game deserve a quality remaster to be like an "Uncharted 4" game ? Yes; or at least "Zelda BOW"? Yes

    So, is this a **** remaster? Yes.
    Poor Square Enix...    … Expand
  29. Steignov
    Aug 23, 2020
    0
    Of all my 300-400 games, this game is the biggest pile of crap. Studio should be shut down, all employess blacklisted in the industry. WTF?!
  30. 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
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Awards & Rankings

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

Critic Reviews

All reviews »
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.
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  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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