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How Metascores Are Calculated
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Animal Crossing Calculator
Stars indicate the most critically-acclaimed games. |
In ages past, an island called Illusia floated at the center of the world. At the heart of the island towered an ancient, enormous tree that stretched up to the very heavens. For ages past, chaos and sorrow had engulfed the world until at last its salvation appeared in the form of a boy, a girl, and a holy sword. Time flowed on and peace returned. The sword and the tree remained, and they soon came to be known as the Sword of Mana and the Mana Tree. Followers of the Mana Tree returned to Illusia as the world started slowly but surely down the path to recovery. The eight elemental spirits are a staple of the Mana series. These powerful allies aid you with healing and special status effects. They can also unleash fearsome magic upon your foes. The greatest innovation of this installment of the Mana series is allowing four players to advance the story and solve quests together while maintaining the feel of an action RPG. Players' actions affect each other in a gameplay experience completely unlike previous action RPGS. [Square Enix]
All critic scores are converted to a 100-point scale. If a critic does not indicate a score, we assign a score based on the general impression given by the text of the review. Learn more... 81
Gamer 2.0
Since the game is actually a dungeon crawler, Children of Mana may disappoint those looking for their traditional RPG fix. But if it really counts toward opinion, the game just might be the best and most beautiful dungeon crawler ever created.
 80
Da Gameboyz
With great graphics, great sound and pretty good gameplay, including the addition of multiplayer, Square Enix has once again shown why they are on top when it comes to developing and publishing RPG titles.
80
NintendoWorldReport
Is this the game Mana fans have been waiting for? Probably not. However, Children of Mana is an excellent game in its own right, bringing dungeon crawling to a new level on Nintendo DS.
80
GamePro
Wonderfully rendered, but when compared to Secret of Mana's engaging narrative, Children of Mana's sparse and slow story falls short.
80
GameBrink
Despite some iffy controls, as a dungeon-crawler CoM provides a fairly enjoyable way to kill numerous hours on the go. The nice graphics and really nice music help to smooth out a game that otherwise is a little bit stale. [JPN Import]
80
Thunderbolt
For those of you looking for that one great RPG for your DS collection, this game might be your answer. While the game slows down at certain points and has a fair amount of difficulty, it’s still a force to be reckoned with.
80
IGN
As far as hack-n-slash RPGs go, Children of Mana is one of the best we’ve seen on a handheld, and for dungeon crawler addicts Square Enix has definitely hit the spot.
80
PGNx Media
A good dungeon crawler. The game does have some annoyances and you can argue that the gameplay isn’t deep but fans of the genre will be satisfied. The stylish presentation and multiplayer mode really help round out the package.
80
Pocket Gamer UK
Children of Mana brings intelligence and charm into the realm of dungeon-based button bashing.
80
AceGamez
The gameplay is a bit watered down by comparison to titles past, but for a dungeon crawler this is actually really engaging and enjoyable.
79
Official Nintendo Magazine UK
Sadly, Children of Mana's extremely repetitive gameplay means that if you're playing for an extended period of time the game's appeal wanes. It all depends on what kind of player you are. [Feb 2007, p.76]
78
Game Informer
Children of Mana is not the longest game in the world, but it sure is a fun ride while it lasts, especially if you have friends that are into it as well. [Nov. 2006, p.140]
75
RPG Fan
Another nail in the coffin of the Seiken Densetsu series.
70
Armchair Empire
For as simplistic as the gameplay seems, there's a simple old school pleasure in dungeon hacking that makes Children of Mana so appealing, even if there are some occasional annoyances.
70
eToychest
As a role-playing game, Children of Mana comes up aces, with an intriguing story and characters that you'll recall long after the game is shelved. Sadly however, this game counts itself among the popular action segment of the role-playing genre, and it is in that addendum that it falls short.
65
Nintendo Power
Ever since the "Mana" series made its North American debut on the SNES in 1993, players have been waiting for a sequel that recaptures the same magic. Children of mana doesn't fit that bill, but if you're looking for an action-oriented RPG--and you've got buddies looking for the same--it's worth checking out. [Dec. 2006, p.114]
65
NGamer UK
An action RPG with the plot stripped out and replaced by pure, constant fighting and levelling-up. Sound good to you? Perhaps, but perhaps not if you're a Mana stalwart. [Mar 2007, p.78]
65
Pelit (Finland)
Children of Mana does not live up to the previous Seiken Densetsu releases. Character development is limited, the action is repetitive and the plot is boring, but graphics and playability are great. Too bad there is not more substance. [Feb 2007]
65
Games Master UK
Polished, sometimes excellent, often dreary. Not bad, but will disappoint Mana fans. [Mar 2007, p.78]
64
My Gamer
Compared to the SNES version, this DS game just doesn’t cut the mustard.
60
Modojo
Children of Mana tops out Lunar: Dragon Song, Deep Labyrinth, and Pokemon Mystery Dungeon, but it doesn't take too much effort to be the champion of "Just OK."
60
Games Radar
It's a shame that combat in Children of Mana is so mindless. The ingredients are there to make this a really excellent action RPG.
60
Deeko
I play games to avoid being bored, but Children of Mana is one of the few games that crosses the line between being a game and being another boring chore.
60
1UP
The graphics are almost painfully cute, and the pseudo-physics system that causes enemies, objects, and heroes to ping-pong around the screen with abandon can make combat entertainingly chaotic. It's good, clean, dumb fun. There's just not much to it, or of it.
60
EuroGamer
The combat system is nicely balanced, it's just that you'll probably be tired of it by the time you're a few hours in. Multiplayer definitely adds value, while the presentation, as noted, is absolutely beautiful.
60
VideoGamer
Ultimately, die-hard fans of the series or devotees of traditional RPGs will find a lot to love in Children of Mana, while the rest of us will yearn for something that doesn't rely quite so heavily on hackneyed game mechanics and endless button-bashing.
58
GameSpot
The shallow, repetitive gameplay of Children of Mana negates any nostalgic charm that the game might have attempted to capture.
55
Play Magazine
This game is more fun with a bunch of friends, but so is going to the DMV or getting a root canal. [May 2006, p.78]
50
GameSpy
With its weak story, dull combat, and host of annoyances, Children of Mana just isn't very much fun to play. Multiplayer can be enjoyable, but most of the time players will be going solo, and will be quite bored doing so. The game as a whole just feels pointless.
50
GameDaily
A boring action RPG that desperately wishes it was released in 1995.
50
Gamestyle
The final nail in the proverbial Mana Tree wood coffin is the Gem Frame. Meant to provide a higher level of customisation to your character beyond rudimentary equipment, this little fit-stones-into-shape puzzle only manages to overpower you - Making every enemy, including the bosses, easy to beat and the entire ordeal rather similar and ultimately boring in the process.
40
Sydney Morning Herald
Children of Mana is beautifully presented but it's too childlike to satisfy serious gamers.
40
NTSC-uk
Children of Mana is ideal as a pick-up-and-play game, if you fancy a quick whizz through a monster-inhabited tower or two, maybe on the bus or train. But playing it at length feels like the most tedious, level grinding and repetitive waste of time, particularly when you consider that the DS has so much more to offer in terms of RPG actioners.
25
Game Revolution
Children of Mana is repetitive, tedious, dull, monotonous, and boring. The only good thing about this game is that it will actually make you want to do something productive, just to stop playing it.
Jan gave it a2: [Anonymous] gave it an8: ART THAO gave it a7: Nate B. gave it a6: |
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