Visions of Mana preview: A legendary franchise returns with a must-play entry

Visions of Mana releases later this month, and I was incredibly excited to finally get hands-on with this title. As a long-time fan of the Mana/Seiken Densetsu franchise, I recognize that it’s been a very long time since we’ve had a mainline entry, and while we won’t be spoiling any story plot points, I can tell you with 100% certainty that this is a game that will not disappoint. The way it blends this art style with the story has brought an unforgettable experience.

With a release date scheduled for August 29, Visions of Mana also has a demo available if you want to get hands-on with the Action RPG ahead of launch. Although we haven’t played the demo yet, we have played the main game for around 20-25 hours at this point. I can confirm that if you are a fan of the Mana series, you owe it to yourself to dip your toes into the demo.

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The Mana series is back in full force with Visions of Mana

Even these cute Rabites need to be dealt with (Image via Square Enix)

Visions of Mana brings back a lot of traditional plot points and storytelling devices of the Mana series and utilizes them in a fresh way. In this latest entry, you primarily control Val, the Soul Guard. His job is to guide the “Alms” - people chosen by the Fairy to represent a variety of elemental spirits - on their journey to the Mana Tree.

It’s up to Val to see them there safely so that peace can continue to reign on the planet. However, as you pick up more of these party members, you can swap between them as you please, creating a nice assortment of party combinations. Moreover, apart from embracing the powers of the Elementals, there are also multiple jobs to swap to!

Each elemental job can only be held by one person at a time in Visions of Mana. So, you have to carefully consider what each one does for each character, and then pick the right job for the situation. This is a world full of powerful elemental magic, making elemental strengths and weaknesses incredibly important. If you aren’t taking advantage of this, fights will get much harder than you might be ready for.

I’m a huge fan of every party member, from the Beastkin Morley to the incredibly sassy Careena. I’m not entirely certain why she has a rich Southern accent in the English dub, but I’m still very much a fan of it. The storytelling is superb, and the character growth and development feel strong to me.

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The world is full of surprises and danger, in Visions of Mana

Take the time to explore the world - it's worth it (Image via Square Enix)

Perhaps one of my favorite things about Visions of Mana is the movement while exploring the world. While it’s very stripped down in town, everywhere else allows you to double jump, dash, air dash, and much more.

You can, for example, jump, dash a few times, jump again, and resume air dashing to get to out-of-the-way locations. Yes, you’ve got lots of secrets hiding around the map - but at least the points of interest are marked for you. If you see a blue circle, it’s worth taking a look - but do note that some areas might be dangerous.

Even lower-level maps have powerful, level 50+ enemy packs hiding in out-of-the-way locations. You’re going to want to constantly return to previous areas, as you unlock more Elementals to aid you on your trek. This will give you other trials, elemental fonts to draw from, and other interesting rewards.

There are so many great things you can find in the world if you take the time to go everywhere (Image via Square Enix)

It’s worth it to take the time to explore every map and come back to them again later, and I appreciate that. It feels good to explore the world, and each map is visually stunning. I adore this bright, colorful palette they’ve painted the world with. Moreover, in addition to treasures and trials, there are also Nemeses to fight.

Nemeses are named, more powerful versions of various monsters in the game. They start easy enough, but their difficulty can ramp up if you aren’t leveling up enough throughout Visions of Mana.

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Visions of Mana’s combat is fast and furious

You can't stand still, hack and slash, and expect to win (Image via Square Enix)

An Action RPG isn’t any good if the combat is subpar, and that isn’t the case here. You have a regular attack, a heavy attack, and a variety of skills/spells you can use on each character. All characters have unique combat styles - whether you like the Greatsword Val uses, or the Katana Morley has on hand.

You might even want to switch your weapon depending on the job, so it is important to keep up with those at the shops. In general, combat’s very fun in Visions of Mana. You still have all your movement tech, and bigger foes - like bosses - have weak points to break, in addition to elemental strengths and weaknesses.

The only complaint I have about the combat is that I find target locking to be a little frustrating. The camera doesn’t feel like it turns with me when those locked-on enemies are off-screen. It’s not the worst thing, but it is something I’ve found to be vexing in certain fights.

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Final Thoughts - will Visions of Mana live up to the hype?

It's time to visit the Mana Tree once more (Image via Square Enix)

If you’re a fan of the Mana series, Visions of Mana is exactly what you’ve been waiting for. An incredible story, beautiful graphics, and a compelling musical score back up what will be a real return to form for this franchise. It’s been a long time since I’ve been so gripped by an RPG like this one.

I don’t want to talk about the story in any detail here, so you don’t get spoiled, but I’m such a big fan of the way it’s shaped up so far. This is going to be a must-play RPG here in 2024, although it’s just a shame it won’t have multiplayer at launch. I will say that the AI is pretty smart though, so that’s certainly a positive. This is a game I’d love to enjoy while sitting on the couch with a few friends, just like in the old days.