Conventional wisdom would say the new
Secret of Mana isn’t a great remake. It doubles down on the stuff that already works while leaving the original game’s most glaring flaws largely untouched. That said, I still enjoyed this new package. Secret of Mana was always about charm and personality over polish. Yes, the game remains a bit of a mess, but that special spark at its core burns brighter than ever. If you loved the original game, or are just in the mood for something light and quirky, this remake strikes true.
Pros
- Story is as affably zany as ever
- New interludes add depth to your party
- Nicely varied locales and quests
- Lacks the fluff endemic to newer RPGs
- Still a great local co-op option
Cons
- Visual and audio upgrades are so-so
- Combat is too retro for its own good
- Lots of weird glitches
