Secret of Mana

WCCFtechNathan Birch

8/10

Secret of Mana is the ideal candidate for a remake. The original Super Nintendo game was groundbreaking and, rightfully, beloved to this day, but it hasn’t aged as well as some of its 16-bit contemporaries like Chrono Trigger, Phantasy Star IV, or Final Fantasy VI. Some quirks players gamely put up with back in 1993 are hard to overlook in 2018. Fans have been begging Square Enix to revisit Secret of Mana for years, and finally, their wishes have come true.

Worth PlayingFran Soto

7.8/10

Embark on an action-packed, worldwide adventure in the 3D remastered version of Secret of Mana, now with revamped high-definition 3D graphics and voice-overs.

Video ChumsA.J. Maciejewski

7.1/10

After its predecessor received a full 3D remake, we can finally enjoy a modern interpretation of Square's classic action RPG Seiken Densetsu 2. Invite a couple friends over and let's go on a magic-filled adventure!

TechRaptorGeorgina Young

7/10

There is a lot wrong with this remake and a lot of missed opportunities in terms of updating a game for the modern age, but at its core, it is still Secret of Mana and that is a game that everyone should play at least once.

WellPlayedKieron Verbrugge

6/10

A bewildering assortment of bad updates and very few good ones makes this an unnecessary and disappointing remake of a beloved SNES classic.

So this won’t be remembered as a particularly good remake, and it’s tragic, because by itself, outside of the shadow of the game it’s a remaster of, Secret of Mana has its charms. What it is good to see is that Square Enix continues to invest in these small scale JRPG projects. Last month brought us Lost Sphear, and now we have this one. I dearly hope that the middling response that the games have got from some quarters doesn’t discourage these kinds of projects, because JRPGs don’t have to be HD blockbusters to be worthwhile, and even despite its flaws in context to its heritage, th…

Gamer EscapeJosh McGrath

5/10

Those attempting to play for the first time are going to be dealing with the archaic systems on top of a presentation that feels more like a mobile port than a full-fledged console release. On the other hand, returning players will probably find themselves disappointed with the remixed soundtrack and lack of any work done to polish the rough edges. Nostalgic gamers should just stick to the SNES original, newcomers really don’t even need to bother.

PC GamerChris Schilling

48/100

A disappointing RPG remake for PC.

MonsterVineSpencer Legacy

Secret of Mana really shines in the soundtrack department, as the remake lets players switch between the original soundtrack and the remastered one on the fly. I’ve always thought that Secret of Mana has a stunning soundtrack, and hearing it once again, both the original and the remasters, has proven this belief to be true. There’s so much emotion in the soundtrack, from somber, reflective tracks to the high-energy, unrelenting boss fight song. Even if you aren’t fond of the game, you have to admit that the soundtrack is nothing short of exceptional.

ShackNewsKevin Tucker

4/10

The original Secret of Mana was a charming, imaginative adventure that made a considerable impact on a lot of gamers' lives. Any attempt to reinvent that experience implies two things: that the original game had room for improvement, and that modern technology and design can bring about such improvements. Sadly, while the original Secret of Mana was by no means a flawless experience, the remake's attempt to improve upon the formula has resulted in a game that's markedly inferior by comparison.

KotakuChris Kohler

Unscored

Secret of Mana is a broken game that I will always love. Playing through the recent remake forced me to reckon with why that is.

Checkpoint GamingNat Patterson

Unscored

Nostalgia is a funny thing. At a glance, it is that longing for the days-gone-by; a desire to relive those moments that our subconscious deems joyous and special. Going deeper, nostalgia is a feeling of loss, of distance, and, in some ways, of grief. You may get the feeling of nostalgia when thinking about a lost grandparent or pet. You experience nostalgia when hearing songs you associate with a prominent event in your life, such as a wedding (or break-up). You get the feeling when rememberi...