Yesterday, Visions of Mana, the long-awaited new main part of the popular series, made its debut on PlayStation, Xbox and PC. After more than 15 years of waiting, Square Enix has finally provided fans of the series with a brand new action RPG. The adventure game puts players in the role of Val, a newly appointed Soul Warden, who embarks on an epic journey to the Mana Tree with his childhood friend Hina, the Consecrated of Fire, to revive the Mana River.
The release ofVisions of Manawas accompanied by great anticipation, especially since the Mana series has built up a loyal fan base since its debut withMystic Quest Legendin 1993. Producer Masaru Oyamada and his team have worked hard to preserve the spirit of the original games while appealing to new players. “We wantedVisions of Manato feel like a return home for existing fans, but at the same time welcome newcomers,” Oyamada explained at the launch.
Mixed reactions on Metacritic
The initial reactions toVisions of Manahowever, are mixed.On Metacriticthe game currently has an average rating of 75, based on reviews from the trade press. While some reviews praise the colorful world, the detailed environments and the nostalgic atmosphere reminiscent of the series’ classics, others are less enthusiastic about certain aspects of the game. For example, the animations, dialog and pacing are not convincing for some
Positive reviews particularly emphasize the successful continuation of the Mana tradition. The graphics and design of the world are described as inviting and lovingly designed, which should appeal to fans of the series in particular. The story about Val and Hina is also praised as emotional and gripping, and the new game mechanics, such as the customization options for Val’s class, add additional depth to the game.
On the other hand, some reviews on Metacritic criticize the gameplay of Visions of Mana as not quite up to date. There are complaints about somewhat outdated controls and some repetitive elements in the gameplay that cannot keep up with modern standards. The performance on the PlayStation 4 and Xbox Series X/S has also been described as mixed in some reviews, with occasional frame rate drops and longer loading times.
Visions of Mana is now available for PlayStation 5, PlayStation 4, Xbox Series X/S and PC. It remains to be seen whether the game can build on the success of its predecessors. Interested parties were able to take a look in advance at Gamescom
