Visions of Mana

Some refinements are needed in only a few select areas, otherwise Visions Of Mana is a wonderful return for the IP.

The best game in the series in over two decades. Its downsides are minor, making it a wholeheartedly recommendable, classic JRPG experience. [Issue#45, p.80]

Visions of Mana is not only a great experience and a wonderful game, it is quite possibly the best game in the Mana series.

Visions of Mana on PlayStation 5 is a remarkable and heartfelt revival of the Seiken Densetsuseries. It might not have the appeal of some of Square Enix’s mainline franchises, but it’s filled with tons of heart and love from an old school JRPG perspective. Ouka Studios has created a magical and memorable adventure that breathes new life into a beloved franchise that shouldn’t be forgotten.

Visions of Mana is a strong entry that effectively revitalizes the lore of the series and keeps it more alive than ever. With dancing merchants, the ring system, and cute creatures such as Sproutlings, the game includes many staples of the series at their best, with Elemental Vessels being a magnificent addition. The patience of long-time fans is paid in full, while the game will also captivate newcomers with its superb presentation and emotive story.

Visions of Mana is now a semi-open world, which improves on previous versions. The plot is basic but delightful. The battle system and customization are the most valuable features. It may have minor issues, but nothing that would spoil the adventure.

It's clear that Visions of Mana is the best game in the series. The title is able to look back at its past and bring back the series' signature elements in a way that everyone can appreciate. While it's not without its issues, it's still a must-play experience for fans, and I hope this installment marks the return of Mana.

A wonderful return to form for the Mana series. Visions of Mana will have longtime fans grinning from ear-to-ear.

I hope Visions of Mana signals a new, brighter direction for the series. This is more than a classic series receiving a jaw-dropping glow-up. This is a game that gives you a classic JRPG experience while being a modern blockbuster through and through. It’s one of the best-looking games this generation and gives you dozens of unlockable options to customise your party your way. The story is deep and dark (for a PG title) and explores familiar themes in a new and engaging way. Visions of Mana confidently asserts its own spot among other long-running modern JRPGs, and I can’t help but agree. It’s proof that despite its age, this series still has a lot of potential left.

Visions of Mana is a bold new step for the series and manages to almost totally stick the landing in the process. The DNA of the series is still here for legacy fans to enjoy, and yet it stands as a remarkably approachable and digestible RPG that can be enjoyed by those looking to dip their toes into this genre. A visually stunning, heartfelt and lovingly crafted world awaits those who jump into this new entry and I'm surprised by just how much it resonated with me in the long-term, despite some pacing issues and some small cut corners.

The lore-heavy narrative also becomes increasingly compelling thanks to a multi-faceted and charming cast. When throwing in a new game plus and even a brand-new difficulty into the mix, Visions of Mana is a refreshing modern classic that can hook you for a gripping 60-70 hours without relenting.

Visions of Mana is an excellent JRPG and the purest definition of a comfortable game. It has a functional and quite fun gameplay, and a simple but thought-provoking story that is very well executed. All of this makes it quite easily one of the best games in the series so far.

A fun and beautiful experience with a certain feel-good factor. Lovingly designed and colourful world. The combat system evolves throughout the game and becomes increasingly more complex and interesting.

Visions of Mana is a whimsical adventure that's filled with character and beautiful sights. I took great pleasure in traversing its colourful world and even though it doesn't do anything particularly revolutionary, it's sure to melt your heart as you play.

From the stunning, emotion-filled prologue to when the credits roll, Visions of Mana is a spectacular journey that is more than just a visual delight. Understanding the magic system and switching mana elements once obtained is not hard for newcomers to the series to understand. The captivating story is elevated with the memorable soundtrack, and all the characters were likeable. It has its flaws, especially post-game, but overall it is a great introduction to the legendary series and without doubt will lead newer fans to explore older titles, and hope for a new one in the future.

Visions of Mana is a welcome return to the legendary JRPG series, featuring a well-written story, beautiful visuals, and cleverly designed dungeons. While it may start off slowly in the introductory chapters and the battle system could benefit from some refinements, overall, fans of the series will be pleased with this new chapter.

Visions of Mana is a traditional JRPG with a dramatic story and well-developed characters that gets a little more boring outside of the main storyline.

Visions of Mana is not a perfect role-playing game, especially if you expect a deep story and complex combat system. However, the JRPG shows its charm with a lot of heart and a unique fairytale world that you won't want to leave.

Quotation forthcoming.

The 15-year wait for the saga has been good for this brand new installment, as it has a depth of gameplay worthy of the best RPGs of the moment. Its great customization of each character's play style is very addictive and its artistic style and setting are beautiful, but it is also weighed down by a story with good ideas but improvable execution and an exploration that does not stand out.

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.

Visions of Mana is extremely close to greatness. The core combat system is a lot of fun, and I'd adore seeing it come back in a more polished form in a future game. The graphics tend to look amazing, and it captures the tone and feel of a Mana title well. A lackluster main plot and a seriously rushed second half tend to drag down the experience, and some of the technical hitches are disruptive. Despite this, I'd argue that Visions of Mana is probably one of the best titles in the franchise and should be a fun time for Mana fans.

Visions of Mana is a successful return to the Seiken Densetsu form with a vibrant world to explore, an engaging tale and some neat gameplay antics. Every aspect of the game is somewhat constrained by its limited budget but we are overall happy the beloved series might have found its new footing.

A commendable comeback for the series, capable of offering a beautiful, bittersweet story and captivating gameplay in its liveliness.

Visions of Mana doesn’t reinvent the wheel, but it knows damn well what makes a wheel work. It plays like a game we all remember from childhood, but with all the modern frills. The game delivers a beautifully crafted, nostalgic JRPG experience that’s worth checking out.

To say that the wait for a new mainline entry in the Mana series was worth it is an understatement. Visions of Mana takes the best of the series and translates it to modern-day without losing any of its charm or fun. The gameplay is simple yet enjoyable, with anyone being able to pick up and play and utilize the great Elemental Vessel/Class system for new opportunities. The classic elements of the Mana series, from its exploratory areas, lively music and breathtaking scenery live on in Visions of Mana. A few shortcomings with the narrative and graphics do hamper the experience, but it doesn’t dilute the title’s shine. In a way, Visions of Mana is a fine wine: it’s sweet, vibrant, lively and gets better over time. In a year full of amazing RPGs, Visions of Mana is up there with Final Fantasy VII Rebirth and Persona 3 Reload as one of the best and brightest action RPGs on the market right now.

Visions Of Mana is ultimately further proof, as if any more were needed, that when it comes to making quality RPGs, Square Enix remains best in class. This is an epic, heartfelt adventure with a memorable cast of characters set in a stunning world with consistently engaging combat and lots of fun ideas. Yet another must-play 2024 release.

Visions of Mana finally brings the long-dormant classic RPG series into the modern age, looking great and playing even better thanks to multi-layered class and skill systems that interact in clever ways. There are definitely some pacing issues and a few questionable design choices later on, and the occasional framerate drop or awkward lipsyncing can distract. But the flashy and exciting combat, deeply rewarding class system, and cast of likable characters make Visions of Mana a winning comeback for the classic series all the same – and a great game even if you haven’t spent decades waiting for it.

Visions of Mana is an enjoyable adventure that doesn't push the boundaries but serves as a solid series entry for fans and newcomers alike.

Visions of Mana scores above all with its charming look and loveable characters. The new elemental powers are also quite impressive. Although various facets prevent the action RPG from unleashing its full potential, the return of the legendary game series is a success overall.

Visions of Mana is an operation that exudes love for the reference brand, but which above all aims to be an extremely light experience for fans, or better yet an excellent example of entertainment aimed at the younger and neophyte audience of RPGs. Despite a gaming experience that is all in all simple, the Square Enix production still manages to stand on its own two feet thanks to the charm of its colorful and fairy-tale universe of characters and the charisma of its cast of protagonists, all of which can be ascribed to the canons of the series.

Visions of Mana renews the soul of the franchise with interesting characters and simple but visually appealing combat. Exploration, interaction with the map and interpersonal relationships are the strong points of this RPG, which is a must for those who enjoy linear heroic adventures. It is, however, a game that stays in the comfort zone of its genre in all respects and optimization for consoles could be improved.

Visions of Mana does a good enough job at telling a deep, interesting story with a couple of memorable characters, but it also finds too many ways to detract from what’s actually important. Additionally, the ideas around the combat systems are conceptually cool, however, in practice they’re not as interesting or fun as they could have been. Finally, the strength of the bosses could really use fine tuning, as certain bosses that were supposed to be terrifying endgame challenges were a complete push over while there were that mini-bosses almost wiped my party. Unfortunately, these inconsistencies all around prevented Visions of Mana from being a truly great game.

Visions of Mana is a fun JRPG for the first thirty hours but the continuous backtracking and overall padding left me feeling like my time wasn't being respected by the time Val's journey came to a close