I’m an RPG gamer by heart and some of my fondest gaming memories revolved around RPG’s that I am hoping to get remasters from – Xenogears, Chrono Trigger and Cross, Lost Odyssey, Skies of Arcadia, Breath of Fire, Lufia, and so on and so forth. These games transported me to a world like no other and it was through these games that my love for RPG’s will keep burning for the rest of my life.
With that said, you could imagine the joy in my face when the remake for ONE OF THE BEST old school RPG’s was announced nearly a month ago. Secret of Mana holds a very special place in my heart, mostly due to the countless hours of killing those wolves in Ice Country so that I could level all my elementals to 8.99. The soundtrack was a masterpiece that is relevant up to this day and the fun of actually experiencing a local multiplayer RPG is something that cannot be replaced.
Cue Tokyo Game Show 2017 and our good friends over at Sony Interactive Entertainment treated us to a special presentation, and as you could imagine, we jumped on the opportunity almost immediately. Masaru Oyamada, the producer for the game, detailed some bits and pieces of the game that surely tickled our fancy.
First of all, that classic intro music howl is something that I could listen to over and over again and the genius that is Hiroki Kikuta is reborn in this remake, as everyone can enjoy the wonderful music of the game, newly arranged and in high quality! The soundtrack of the game is a timeless classic, and listening to it remastered by the original composer really just takes the cake.
The first scene with our 3 heroes staring in awe at the Tree of Mana is another nostalgic moment that just brings back memories of old. We finally have names to them – Randi, Primm, and Popoi – and they can talk now too! Full voice overs have been made for the release and this adds a whole new dimension of immersion to the game.
Immediately you notice the revamped graphics in full 3D and high definition glory. It may be a hit or miss for some people but I personally loved how it still felt like the game of old but with a fresh new twist.
Slashing your way through the first few Rabites feels like home. You can play the game alone and give commands to each character to maximize their effectiveness but if you don’t want to do it alone, then feel free to invite some friends over for some old school local coop! I LOVE that they brought this feature over because it just completes the whole experience. The PS4 version will have offline multiplayer while the PS Vita version will only have adhoc multiplayer supported.
All in all, as if you haven’t noticed it yet, my declaration of love for Secret of Mana is one that is deeply rooted in my childhood. This is something every self respecting gamer has to play at least once and in this time of ultra realistic graphics and VR technology, sometimes a good old classic is a very welcome sight. The game is set to release for the Playstation 4 via a physical and a digital copy and on the Playstation Vita via a digital download and a Physical PS4 copy. Trust me, 40$ is a cheap price to pay to play one of the best RPG’s ever, plus you get a number of cool avatars and costumes as bonuses for pre-ordering the digital version!
Oh but wait, there’s more! In addition to the game, a PS4 collectors edition will also be available to fans of the game and it looks absolutely bonkers. It contains the physical copy of the game, a CD soundtrack, a pop up story book, and figures of the 3 heroes, all encased in a magnificent collectors box. Release details are scarce for now but expect a worldwide release soon so get in touch with your import connects if you want to snag one for sure!