Get you a partner that looks at you like Val looks at Hinna .
Visions of Mana is a long - expect young ingress in the beloved Mana series , drawing players into a vivacious world fill up with elemental spirits , iconic characters , and a plot that challenges both the heart and psyche . As with other game in this series , Visions of Manabalances the joy of world geographic expedition with the weight of destiny , offer an experience that resonate with both newcomers and veteran fans likewise .
Story
The game follows Val , a genial - hearted fencer , and his childhood friend Hinna , the fresh appointed Alm of Fire , as they set out on a journeying to the sanctified Mana Tree . They are later join by Alms from other places : Careena of the Vale of Wind , Morley of the Moonlit Parish , Queen Palamena of the Capital of the Deep , and Julei of Verdeus Borough .
The fib has all the classic element you ’d carry from the series , but there ’s a deeper , more emotional layer that pulls you in . As you uncover the verity about the Alms and their heavy responsibleness , you ca n’t help but feel for these characters , who are shouldering the destiny of the world at such a young age .
The biz does a rattling job of keep you invest in the story . The deeper you go , the more you realize just how in high spirits the stake are , and some of the plot of ground twists are unfeignedly unexpected . One story beat in especial left me reeling and question everything I thought I knew about the characters . It ’s moments like these that make visual sense of Mana stand up out , change state what could have been a straightforward adventure into something much more gripping and memorable .
grudge : 5/5
Visual Design
Visually , Visions of Mana is absolutely gorgeous . The vivacious world is alive with colouration and detail , catch that signature Mana dash that fan will instantly recognise . Each area you explore is beautifully craft , give your risky venture as visually engaging as it is story - rich .
The character pattern are just as telling , burst with personality and fitting perfectly into the lively environments . I especially enjoyed the costume variety that pass off when you switched a character ’s class . No matter whichElemental Vesselyou equipped or which character you take to outfit it to , the new outfits still felt like they match that character ’s personality .
But , not everything is perfect . The combat animations , while reasonably , can finger a bit slow , which takes away from the otherwise dynamical feel of the game . The ultimate move cutscenes also depend cool the first few time , but they get repetitive fast ; thankfully , you’re able to skip them .
Screenshot by Pro Game Guides
Score : 4/5
Controls and Accessibility
When it comes to controls , Visions of Mana is square , but not without its quirks . The game ’s fighting organization , while strategic and full of potential drop , feel a bit slow and ungainly at times . I found myself wish for a more fluid experience , like automatically cannonball along towards the next enemy after finishing one off to keep the gait up . The game is still fun to play , but these little hiccups can be a scrap frustrative , especially during retentive seance .
The UI could apply some piece of work too — important information , like the index for your ultimate move , is easy to miss amid everything else on the screen and I honestly preserve forgetting it was a thing I could use . I also continuously ran out of mana because I was n’t used to having my wellness and mana indicators down in the corner and the extra mana - based skills are really helpful to have - as such , I overused them a lot early on .
The approachability side of thing , regrettably , leaves something to be desired . The diminutive font and difficult - to - read subtitles make it hard to follow the story unless you ’re glued to the screen . It ’s a shame , because the narrative is one of the plot ’s strongest point , and everyone should be capable to enjoy it without strive their eyes .
Screenshot by Pro Game Guides
Score : 3/5
Gameplay
Gameplay in Visions of Mana is where the biz really shines , peculiarly if you love tweak your fictional character builds . The exemption to unify and match skills , weapon system , and elemental powers let you tailor-make the gameplay to your style . You ’ve got five characters to work around with , and while Hinna is n’t customizable ( for reasons that become clearly afterward ) , the others offer plenty of flexibility . discover the right combination of abilities and classes can be incredibly cheering , especially as you confront baffling challenge .
That aver , the plot ’s complexness can be a bivalent - edge brand . There ’s so much to carry off that it can feel a bit consuming , particularly when you ’re trying to visualise out which skills and Vessels forge best together . The learning curve is steep , but once you get the knack of it , the customization depth tot a caboodle to the game ’s replayability .
On the narrative side , the story is passing immersive , with skippable scene for those who desire to rush through . Personally , I ’d recommend exact your time with the cutscenes , as they ’re packed with important details and excited profoundness . The prologue , in particular , is a nice touch that helps set the stage for the main account , give you a skillful understanding of the theatrical role and their motivations right from the start .
Screenshot by Pro Game Guides
I know that combat games are n’t inherently " cozy , " but I ’d absolutely go as far as to let in visual modality of Mana in a lean of thebest cozy games number to microcomputer in 2024 .
Verdict
visual modality of Mana is a heartfelt return to a classic serial , combining nostalgia with fresh ideas to create an experience that feels conversant and Modern . The story is its strongest plus , pulling you into a world full of magic , forfeit , and unexpected twists . While the game is n’t without its flaws — especially in full term of handiness and fight pacing — there ’s enough here to keep Modern and old fans entertained .
If you ’re unforced to look across some slow combat and a bit of UI clutter , you ’ll find a mess to love in vision of Mana . It ’s a game that invites you to explore , experiment , and engulf yourself in its vivacious humanity . Whether you ’re here for the story , the customization , or just the joy of returning to the Mana series , imagination of Mana delivers a memorable escapade .
Overall mark : 4/5
Screenshot by Pro Game Guides
vision of Mana can be retrieve onSteam , and will be available on PC , PlayStation 4 & 5 , andXboxSeries X|S from August 29 , 2024 .
Want to learn more secret plan reviews at Pro Game Guides ? I ’d suggest checking out ourSand Land Reviewor ourEiyuden Chronicle Hundred Heroes Reviewfor game that have a similar feeling .
Screenshot by Pro Game Guides
