Summary
During The Game Awards 2023, Square Enix revealed a teaser for a new entry in the long-runningManaseries,Visions of Mana. While the trailer shown atThe Game Awardsleaves some questions unanswered, the teaser is full of cinematics, combat, and some familiar sights.
While it has had periods of dormancy, Square Enix’s Manafranchise has been running since the release ofSeiken Densetsu, also known asFinal Fantasy Adventure, in 1991. WhileFinal Fantasy Adventurelikely flew under the radar for many gamers at the time,Secret of Mana, the title’s SNES follow-up, quickly became a classic. The titles have followed the story of the Mana Tree and Mana Sword, though exactly how they play into the game depends on the individual entry.
Now, Square Enix has revealedVisions of Mana, a new action-RPG in the series. The trailer reveals protagonist Val, from the Fire Village of Tianeea, who is on a mission to deliver the Alm of Fire to the Mana Tree. Not much is known about these new protagonists or their mission, but the theme of reviving or protecting theMana Treehas been present since the start of the series. The brief trailer shows the lead character exploring the world and its various environments, and some familiar enemies make an appearance, like the iconic Rabites, Mushbooms, and what appears to be the Mantis Ant. All three of these made an appearance in the originalSecret of Mana, suggesting a return to the series' roots.
According toSquare Enix, the game will feature a semi-open world, with real-time combat featuring a party of characters. The company states on thedevelopment websitethat players will reportedly need to make decisions on the fly while considering their environment, as well.
In keeping with the series' return to form, series veterans are returning to develop the title, including thecomposer of the originalSecret of Mana, Hiroki Kikuta. Other team members who have worked on subsequent or remake titles include Producer Masaru Oyamada, Character Designer HACCAN, Monster Designer Airi Yoshioka, and additional Sound from Tsuyoshi Sekito and Ryo Yamazaki. As this is the first major entry to the series in the last 15 years, it looks like Square Enix wants to celebrate and return to what made the series so well-known in the first place.
Visions of Manais slated to release in 2024, and is coming to most major platforms, including PC, PS4, PS5, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X/S.
