For example, when changing the class for Riesz, you can either choose to have her next step focus on buffing your party, or on debuffing the enemy. For example, each character can change their class for the first time after hitting level 18, but you’re given the option to pick either the ‘light’ or ‘dark’ version of that next step. The best part about this system is that it allows you to specialize each character to the role you want them to play in your party, and the options for further narrowing down their role become more abundant as you move forward. This means that each character more or less has a unique list of abilities they can equip to themselves, with the only exception being “chain abilities” that can be used by any party member once they’re unlocked. Though the general focus of each tree remains the same across your party, the specifics of what gets unlocked is unique to each member. Trials of Mana’s age shows through here somewhat in the relative simplicity of the environment designs, with puzzles and complex routes only popping up once in a blue moon, but it’s still enjoyable to see what each new area has to offer.Īlong with the expected bumps to your stats that come with each level up, your characters also gain skill points that can then be invested into five different skill trees for each member. The leash is loosened enough that you can spend a fair amount of time freely scouring every corner for well-hidden collection points and treasure chests, but never enough to the point that you aren’t meandering your way towards the next plot point in some fashion. Again, Trials of Mana demonstrates remarkable control over pacing in this manner, as the environments are large enough that they don’t feel cramped but small enough that they don’t feel overabundant. These routes are generally linear in their layouts but feature a fairly wide array of side paths and alternative routes to check out in search of better gear and items. The bulk of your adventure will be spent on the roads and dungeons between towns, which are packed to the brim with monsters, treasure chests, and other collectables to keep you busy.
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Just about around the time that you’re beginning to feel fatigued at a particular plot point, Trials of Mana wraps it up and asks you to move on to somewhere else, ensuring that you get a comprehensive tour of the world it builds. Though none of these plotlines prove to have all that much emotional depth and they all have pretty predictable ends, they nonetheless help the story move at a brisk pace and keep things feeling varied. One subplot may see you searching for a lost dwarf deep inside a mine, while another may see you shrinking yourself down to the size of a mouse to interact with a Kokiri-like race of small, elvish creatures. You decide your party when you start a new save and you can only pick three of them for that run, which means you'll need to undertake several playthroughs if you want to see everything that the plot has to offer.Īs your group goes from town to town in search of whatever McGuffin the plot requires, there are usually small subplots that play out in that town to give it a bit of a ‘chapter’ feel. Contained within this premise, then, are six characters you can choose to play as, each of which has their own sub-plots and stories.
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The main premise is that the fabled Mana Tree, which houses the spirit of the Mana Goddess, is withering away, and the chosen hero must retrieve the Sword of Mana from the tree’s roots to save the world. The multi-threaded narrative of Trials of Mana has its roots in the original Super Famicom release – an approach that was quite ambitious for its time – yet the setup still holds its lustre today, offering up a diverse story that requires a couple of playthroughs to adequately see in its entirety. Somehow, it all comes together remarkably well, making for an enjoyable, beautiful, and content-rich RPG that adequately represents its legacy while innovating in some key ways. Certain elements – such as the simplistic storylines and environments – give away that this project is based on a game from decades ago, while other elements – like the brand-new combat and progression systems – are clearly drawn from more modern game design. Trials of Mana is a fascinating project, then, purely in how it feels simultaneously new and old.