PlayStation 4 Critic Reviews

Legend of Mana is a beautiful game full of wonder and whimsy. Every time I hopped into this gorgeous remaster, I found myself grinning from ear to ear. Though I do not have experience with the original Legend of Mana, I feel fans will be quite happy with the work put into this remaster.

Legend of Mana remains as a peculiarity that can feel disconcerting and confusing, especially at the very beginning due its open structure. Definitely, one of a kind game based on activating and solving quests that as a whole feel somewhat dull. Still, each one is a small story, an arc that teaches you a little more about who each character is, what they are looking for and their place in the world. The latter gives Legend of Mana a unique meaning. Everything, added to the beautiful art, the excellent work of M2 and the atmosphere that the Yoko Shimomura soundtrack brings to the game, makes Legend of Mana a unique experience that is worth trying and that, for better or worse, will become memorable for all players.

Legend of Mana is a beautiful game that, despite its flaws, creates a sense of adventure that few other RPGs can match.

All these years later it's a treat to revisit the world of Legend of Mana in any form, much less through an HD modern lense. It's still unlike just about anything else out there.

Legend of Mana is all about the memories you make from the moment you start playing to the credits. Every new area created is a new adventure waiting, and every character met provides a unique perspective on storytelling. Its non-linearity allows it to stand out in the series, but it comes at the expense of a few confusing quest lines. The remastered backgrounds improved loading and attack animations, and additional options make it such a charming RPG to play over and over.

For the most part, the changes that the new HD remaster brings are welcome ones. Not only because these changes add and improve upon what makes Legend of Mana a good game, but because they also make the game accessible to both new and returning players. Not only that, the game also gives you the choice to play it however you'd like, be it the orthodox way using no autosaves, or by utilizing the new QoL changes. These changes are more important than any other combat system revamping, or inclusion of a new skill system because, at the end of the day, Legend of Mana's strength isn't in its combat or game systems. It's in the characters, the locations, and the stories that it's been telling, and will tell for years to come.

While it feels like Legend of Mana’s issues could've been easily ironed out with a low budget remake rather than a remaster, the game was still a delight to play through and is still the hidden gem of the Mana series.

I’m excited for a whole new generation to give the world of Fa’Diel a look. I appreciate that in recent years, Square Enix is giving their other franchises like Mana and SaGa time back in the spotlight. My best advice to take advantage of all that Legend of Mana has to offer is to use guides while playing, especially if you plan to tackle New Game+ and the post-game content! Now, hopefully, we will hear about a brand new Mana game before too long.

Legend of Mana Remastered is a production worthy of respect, a must especially for those who love the series and have loved the re-editions seen in recent years.

It might be a bit obtuse, but Any fan of 2D JRPGs must experience Legend of Mana. It was released when they were at their zenith, a time when it seemed like every month Square Enix was dropping a new banger. Hopefully, if these continue to do well, we’ll see games like Threads of Fate and (dare I say it) Chrono Chross get another chance to shine. These remasters are a way to go back to one of the golden ages of gaming, and they can keep them coming.