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By Osei Tyson on June 20th, 2003
Game InformationDeveloper: Brownie Brown
Publisher: Square-Enix
Release Date: November 3, 2003
Genre: Action/RPG
Also On: None
Website: Square-Enix.com If I were to pick a favorite game of the 16-bit age, I just won’t be able to name a single number one, but Secret of Mana would definitely be tied for the top spot, up there with games like Link to the Past, Metal Marines, Contra III, Super Double Dragon, and Gunstar Heroes. Not only was it a great action-RPG, with an endlessly varied system of weaponry and combat techniques, its multiplayer capabilities set it apart both then and now, and its story remains involving. Come on guys! I know you remember all the ads in every gaming mag & comic book. The guy with the blue hair looking like a true hero! It took a long time for Square to give us another taste of the Mana series. In June 2000 we saw the release of Legend of Mana and even though it didn’t capture players as much as the first it still was leaps & jumps ahead of other current RPG’s. Fast forward to 2003 a time when Square (now Square-Enix) is back in good faith with Nintendo we get a prequel to the great Action/RPG series Sword of Mana. I’m guessing Square-Enix wasn’t ready to go all 3D/next-gen with the series so it lands on the GBA. And I so happy! Sword of Mana, the prequel to the Mana series, borrowing from the storyline of Final Fantasy Adventure, tells the story of the source of all life, the power that flows from the goddess Mana and bears her name. Long ago, in a time of darkness, a mighty empire tapped its energy to dominate the world. In an effort to stop the use of such power for evil purposes, a woman from the Mana tribe transformed herself into the Mana Tree, locking the power away from anyone who would try to abuse it. The hero, the young leader of the Duchy of Grantz, has been raised and trained as a gladiator in the slave pits of Grants. The heroine in this story is a young woman from the Mana tribe who possesses deep ties to the goddess Mana. As the Shadow Knight is persecuting the Mana tribe, the heroine embarks on a journey to protect it. When the hero and heroine meet, the wheels of fate are again set into motion. Visually, it lives up to its predecessor, but the gameplay is different. In Sword of Mana, the time between attacks has been removed, making successive attacks easier. Some attacks do take longer than others to perform, but the battles are still less strategic because of the change. Also, the two player option is announced, and it is utilized through the link cable. The A.I. for party members has been improved, as well, so you needn’t worry about having some help along the way. All this making SoM one of the coolest sounding RPG’s on the GBA as well as home platforms. Key Features Choose a character and race to save the Mana Tree. The direction of the story changes and varies according to the character you choose.Master Ring Commands from Secret of Mana by swapping out magic and weapons quickly to find the best way to fight your enemies. The Ring Command system gives you the control you need to defeat your foes.Watch for other characters from the Mana series, including Niccolo the merchant and Li’l Cactus, whose diary entries provided Legend of Mana with both humor and warmth.Fight as a team with the link mode for two-player cooperative game play. Team up with a friend and raise your swords together against a common foe.
Perfect 2D..? I think so!
Outlook…
When you think RPG you think Squaresoft or Enix. Ok now they’ve merged into Square-Enix to become the undisputed RPG juggernaut. And it’s a well deserved title. And 2003 is gonna be a great year for the RPG fan. But with all the sequels and new titles. Besides Final Fantasy Crystal Chronicles for the GameCube the main RPG I need is Sword of Mana. And it’s going to be played on the big screen via GBA Player how it deserves to be played. But the November 3rd release date is horrible for me. I hope and pray it will get knocked up a month or so. But until then I guess I’ll dust off the Super Nintendo.
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