Trials of Mana

At this point, the first three original Mana titles have all received remakes. Trials of Mana not only wipes the floor with the other two, but stands so far above them it’s hard to believe the vast difference. It’s a fantastic remake that captures the original story and characters with an amazing new way to enjoy it.

Unlike the remake of Final Fantasy VII, Trails of Mana doesn't take the opportunity to rework the story, nor does it aim to add to the existing world that anyone who played the original will experience. It's more akin to Nintendo's own Link's Awakening remake in that it's a traditionally-minded remake that simply seeks to give fans a beloved experience through a modern lens. And yet, it still goes well above and beyond what was strictly necessary for a remake. This is a game that feels decidedly modern and could (and should) appeal to a much broader audience than "existing Trails of Mana" fans. If the lengths that Square Enix has gone to with this remake prove to resonate, then dare I hope for the same treatment to Chrono Trigger or Final Fantasy VI?

This remake of Trials of Mana is wonderful, with its expanded storytelling, exciting combat, and loving recreation of all the game's artistic elements. The bits of added content are worthwhile diversions, offering more of a good thing. It harkens back to the halcyon days of spring break sleepovers playing at all hours of the night with your friends. Though it's not without flaws, you'll find plenty of joy in swapping stories about your party and how you crafted it. It's been a long time since I've had so much fun with a game, one that filled me with such warmth and joy consistently. It truly feels like the Mana series is back and ready to capture our hearts and imaginations once more.

Trials of Mana is a fantastic remake of an Action RPG that tragically never came to the West until recently. It is evident that great care has been taken to create an experience as close to the original as possible, although liberties to improve upon the story should have been taken on. Even the legendary soundtrack was beautifully remade with full orchestration, and Trials allows for either the remake or classic 16bit soundtrack to play via the options. Although the combat may get repetitive and boss battles are rarely challenging, Trials has a ton of charm and fun that is easily accessible for new players and old fans alike. For the amount of gameplay offered – especially in terms of replay-ability if you want to see everything – there are few JRPGs that are as enjoyable to play as Trials of Mana was.

Trials of Mana reworks the classic tale of the Mana Sword into something that feels completely fresh. Even if you already know the story beats by heart, this is a remake worth considering.

If you are from that select group that enjoyed Seiken Densetsu 3 at the time, I can assure you that you will be amazed with the result of this reissue. It's one of those remakes that we didn't know we needed.

Trials of Mana is a good example of how to make a current remake for a title that in the 16-bit era was considered a masterpiece. It's classic when you need it and reinvents only where it's needed. It has errors, but also successes that make it one of the most direct, colorful and friendly JRPGs of this generation. It offers the virtues of the original and also many others inherited from games like Dragon Quest XI.

It feels occasionally outdated, but overall this is a surprisingly entertaining 3D remake of the SNES rpg classic Seiken Densetsu 3.

If only Square Enix dropped subpar English dubbing and instead focused their efforts on more polished visuals and multiplayer modes, the game could have been a perfect remake.

One of the most beautiful JRPGs of the 16-bit era finally got an excellent remaster. [Issue#304]

Trials of Mana is a great example of how to rebuild old games from the ground up.

Trials of Mana is a faithful remake of a game many won't have played. The care and attention it's been given belies its simple visuals, resulting in a lovely RPG experience.

Trials of Mana is a beautifully simple remake that might not be something that can attract modern-day gamers, but will definitely be a great title for the fans of the previous versions.

Trials of Mana is colorful, quirky, familiar, and a lot of fun. It is a blueprint for how an older RPG can be remade in a way that keeps the charm and working parts of the original but upgrades it so that it is graphically appealing to a modern audience. The game is unapologetically retro in its story and progression. This works as its best quality and greatest detriment. The handholding for the first eight-or-so hours makes for a less interesting experience, especially considering that makes for roughly a third of the entire game. However, even with that early dip in excitement, Trials of Mana is a thoroughly worthwhile game.

If you want a game that offers some simple yet addictive combat mechanics and a relaxed atmosphere with just enough challenge, then Trials Of Mana is a great choice for a game to play after you come down from the high of escaping Midgar.

Trials of Mana is a gorgeous and delightful action RPG that's full of imagination and heart. In fact, it's so captivating that it made me fall in love with Seiken Densetsu all over again.

Despite its faults, Trials of Mana is well worth the wait for fans of the series or of action RPGs in general. Trials of Mana’s story may fade from the mind the second it ends, but the combat and wide array of upgrades are more than enough to make the game an easy recommendation and even warrant a second playthrough. With a three-person party and six characters to choose from, the second time around also offers a whole new set of classes to play with and, for what it’s worth, another perspective on the story.

Despite some presentation issues and some lack of difficulty, Trials of Mana is fantastic fun. It knows what it is and delivers on its promises as a remake with confidence. The world of Trials of Mana is one I won’t soon forget.

Trials of Mana is pretty much everything you could want from a remake of the original game. It is incredibly faithful and loving, while improving the original's combat system in significant ways. At its heart, it's an upgraded SNES RPG that's been saddled with poor AI, a lackluster camera, and bad voice acting. The core game is better than it ever was, but there is a lot more room to improve as well. I'd recommend it over the Collection of Mana version for your first experience, but don't expect it to clear as high a bar as Final Fantasy VII Remake did.

A faithful remake that bring us back to the golden age of the JRPG. It might be even too faithful, as some aspects have become stall... But some others are as relevant today as the were in the original game, proving that Trials of Mana/Seiken Densetsu 3 is a true gem.

After the unimaginative Secret of Mana remake, the same team upped the ante considerably and gave Trials of Mana the treatment it deserved. This is remaking done right.

Trials of Mana amazed me with just how robust a story it has to offer. There isn't a lot in terms of side quests, but this is not a game that needs any. There is a lot of story to go through and a lot to explore well after the credits roll. And while I'm not a huge fan of the characters, they didn't sour me on the game to the point that I won't keep exploring. Lore-hungry RPG fans will have a lot to feast on with this game. It has its problems and its quirks, but I've greatly enjoyed Trials of Mana. I would easily call this the best RPG remake that Square's made in a long time.

Trials of Mana is a strong remake of the classic 2D Super Famciom RPG that Western fans pined after for so very, very long. Its story is a bit weak, Charlotte's English voice acting might make you retch, and there's some notable repetition in the game's environments, but fighting through enemy hordes feels great. It's a considerable step above the 2018 revamp of Secret of Mana, so no worries there.

Trials of Mana is absolutely charming and does an excellent job keeping what works from the original while upgrading its aesthetics to the modern era. The combat system works well in its new 3D trappings, with a tough but satisfying learning curve. The transition to modern tech has introduced some camera problems, though, and I wish Square Enix had taken this opportunity to flesh out the world with interesting sidequests and to trim out some of the more tedious dialogue. Even so, exploring, battling, and waging war with bosses all remain really fun, and its JRPG tropes come off as charming throwbacks rather than eye-rolling cliches.

While not perfect, this remake manages to make a 1995 classic fit for modern standards. Respecting its past, Trials of Mana is a fun and highly replayable action JRPG.

With a fun and strategic battle system, ample character class customization, impressive visuals, a fantastic soundtrack, and a post-game story episode with new classes for each playable character, Trials of Mana is an easy recommendation to both fans of the franchise as well as newcomers looking for an entry point into the series.

Trials of Mana is a delicious, fun, old-fashioned RPG reminiscent of better times. It's the delicious, familiar glass of lager you want to enjoy after you've experienced the layered complexity of a cabernet sauvignon like Final Fantasy VII Remake.

Trials of Mana is a colorful remake which is too faithful at times: Square Enix updated the combat system and dungeon design but the narrative was left in the early 90s.

It’s great to see a classic JRPG like this being remade in such a respectful manner. Even with some flaws, it’s a fantastic way to play this unforgettable classic in 2020.

It may look more modern, but Trials of Mana is a faithful remake outside of its combat tweaks – and that isn’t necessarily a good thing. But as a fan of the original, parts of this game are still charming. I adored the combat and boss fights (when my A.I. cooperated), and even with some of its repetitive nature and horrible voice acting, I didn’t want to put the game down. It’s a decent remake but not the fantastic one it could have been. This series has so much potential, I’d just love to see it fully realized.

Trials of Mana is a visually impressive game with fun combat and engaging characters. It’s a game I would definitely recommend to fans of the series or any JRPG fans out there as it’s a solid remake that offers players a better way to play the original game.

With its crisscrossing alternate storylines and the various possibilities of its branching class system, Trials of Mana is an interesting game to experiment with. There are some elements of this remake’s production that are worth griping about, but at the same time, it unquestionably improves on some of the more convoluted aspects of the original. What’s key is that whether you’re brawling with Kevin or casting spells with Angela, battles feel fun and active. Trials of Mana is not only worth giving a shot, but also worth coming back to for a second or third run as well.

Perhaps the biggest compliment I can pay Trials of Mana is how much it impresses me retrospectively. While I’ve had a great time blasting through it in 2020, I can only imagine how forward-thinking and impressive many of its systems and mechanics would have been in 1995. For fans of more modern entries in the genre like Kingdom Hearts or recent titles in the Ys or Tales series, Trials of Mana is a chance to discover a missing link which stays true to its 16-bit roots while improving the experience in numerous ways.

Trials of Mana is an escape from reality many of us can use these days. The plot is easy to follow, generally lighthearted, and as mentioned combat is about as easy as it comes. The beginning eight hours or so are very slow-paced, but once the first chapter is cleared, things really pick up. The graphical overhaul leaves a bit to be desired, but the audio work makes up for this, even with the occasionally cheesy dialogue or overdone acting. While RPGs have come a long way since the ‘90s, Trials of Mana stays true to its roots as a game most everyone can enjoy.

Ultimately, remaking old games can be tough, but at a base level, the goal is pretty simple: To bring the best bits of an old game to life in a way that a new audience can appreciate. Trials of Mana accomplishes this goal handily. In a sense, it's an ideal remake, holding tight to the core of what made the original game (and the Mana series as a whole) so compelling to so many people at the time, while bringing a novelty and freshness to attract neophytes like yours truly.

Squaresoft's hidden gem returns to current consoles and PCs with a visual facelift and keeping everything from the original game. Approved scraped in the graphic and sound but just as magical as ever.

Trials of Mana retains the atmosphere of the original, but its gameplay feels a bit dated at times. But if you can overlook this, as well as the many loading times, you’ll be in for a lengthy adventure that’s definitely worth your while.

Trials of Mana may represent a pleasant leap forward compared to the remake of its predecessor, but the end result still remains far from the current quality standards of PlayStation 4.

Trials of Mana shows the age of its 1995 original, and awful cutscenes distract from its story. However, replay value, competent gameplay, and raw charm still keep it memorable.

Every Mana game after Secret of Mana has felt diminished, by comparison. Time has revealed even that gem’s numerous flaws, but there’s still a bar that’s been set. Trials of Mana reaches for that bar, perhaps even grasping it. The graphics are lovely, the music is compelling, and the combat is engaging. It’s a weird, beautiful action RPG with enough hooks to keep me on the wire to the very end. The story may be wafer thin, the characters might be flat, and their dialogue might be clumsy, but the core remains intact. Whether you’ve played the original or not, Trials of Mana should be on your ARPG radar.

Back in 1995, Trials was unparalleled in its adaptability, even when it came to its story– you choose a party of three out of six possible characters to take on a journey to restore the sacred Mana tree and hopefully stop wars breaking out between different factions. Some parts of your characters’ backstories will overlap, leading to shared experiences. However, despite new additional lines, interactions between characters can feel random, and the dialogue doesn’t hold up for a modern game. The English voiceover, too, strongly varies in quality. A win for fans, Trials Of Mana nonetheless proves not every game ages well. [Issue#176, p.74]

Trials of Mana seems to be a solid case in terms of its control system and the availability of characters, each one with its own beginning and ending point, but some anachronistic choices in design and presentation manage to overshadow its benefits. It remains an old classic, but is presented in a much better way.

As awful as the acting is though, it’s not enough to completely ruin Trials of Mana. If you’re a fan of JRPGs you’ll find a lot to like here. It looks great, it’s easy to play, and it’s not the longest slog in the world – you’ll see the credits roll in about 20 hours. Sure, there are a few frustrations, but it remains true to the Mana series and overall provides an enjoyable – if a little uninspiring – adventure for fans of the genre.

Trials of Mana was a very, very good JRPG... 25 years ago. This remake retains some enjoyable features of the original but fails to jump on the new century wagon.

Quotation forthcoming.

It may be a full 3D remake of a classic action RPG, but Trials of Mana sticks rigidly to the structure of the original game. As a result, its storytelling and characters are one-note and largely forgettable -- hampered further by awkward cutscenes and dodgy English voice acting -- but its nicely paced gameplay feels surprisingly fresh in a time when modern RPGs have a tendency to drag on for hundreds of hours. What's more, its simple but smooth and effective combat system makes for some moreish action. All in all, Trials of Mana is a delightful throwback.

Trials of Mana is a lacklustre remake of a masterpiece from another era. It's nothing special, but old-fashioned JRPG fans might appreciate it if you turn a blind eye.

Beyond the bewildering decision to exclude multiplayer (and some truly awful characters), Trials of Mana is a very basic action RPG that might be good for kids or newcomers to the genre. Playing the game isn’t unpleasant, though it puts up very little fight for experienced players. Know what you are getting into, turn your brain off (and the character voices down), and you may enjoy cruising through its very surface-level gameplay for a weekend.

Fans of the series will still be able to glean some enjoyment from seeing a classic title brought into the modern age, but everyone else won’t have much reason to dive into this flawed remake.

Monotonous and listless remake of a Super Nintendo classic with a flat combat system, loveless game world and bland story.

This remake does recreate the world of Trials with a wondrous, effervescent glow, but that doesn't make up for the clumsy presentation. If you've played the game before and are fond of it, or don't mind the remake's storytelling style, this may be an interesting means of seeing the game in a new light. The combat is fun even if the progression system hamstrings it early on, but the update does more to hold the game back than to breathe new life into it.

Only the most die-hard fans of the Mana series should consider picking up Trials of Mana. While the remake may be faithful to the original, it doesn’t make for a good game or a good time.