Videogame Review: Trials of Mana
Here is a textbook example of how to do a remake right (unlike Final Fantasy 7). Trials of Mana is literally everything Seiken Densetsu 3 was but just done better and with added content. The main selling point is really just that Seiken Densetsu 3 itself holds up really well. It is hella cool that there are six different protagonists and you can create various combinations in a three man team. It gives each playthrough a unique flavor, as there are three different main villains and numerous story scenarios and routes that vary based on who is in the party. The story itself isn’t exactly Shakespeare. It’s your typical JRPG schlock — brave swordsmen and sexy princesses seeking the legendary macguffin and ultimately saving the world by killing a god with the power of friendship. The English dub is painful at times. If Japanese anime tropes bug you, maybe skip some of the dialogue scenes.
Still, the gameplay is a blast. Combat is great. The multitude of character classes, skills, spells, summons, and special attacks make the game endlessly replayable. There’s even a sweet new postgame dungeon and extra final boss as well as new game plus and hard mode. Definitely cop this if you enjoyed Secret of Mana but missed out on Seiken Densetsu 3. If you appreciate 90’s JRPGs, tropes and all, you’ll dig this.
Grade: A-
