Secret of Mana (1993)

In better times, ancient times, where my skin was smooth and i couldnt even pronounce the words "student debt", this bright eyed young boy would get his first console and with it his first own video game ever, so i will not even try to hide the fact that this gem is pure, uncut, weaponized nostalgia to me. The soundtrack will make me roll into a ball and cry while smiling. I can conjure up every map and image, at this point i'm quite certain this game has made it into my DNA somehow and i can just start playing it by closing my eyes and humming along to the beautifully composed music. Something with japanese composers and the restrictivness of a 16-bit system made for the best RPG tracks ever. In short: This game makes me feel things

Gameplay wise i think you have to compare it to Chrono Trigger a lot, with its biggest difference beeing the real time fighting in SoM vs round based in Chrono Trigger, i think Chrono Trigger easily takes the cake with this one.

Especially from todays perspective the "real time" magic caster system from Secret of Mana is just flat out broken. I think about 30% of people trying this game will just give up when they first play against the Spiky Tiger, a Boss that can randomly chaincast you to death if the RNG decides to do so. And it will. Hes also the second boss you ever face. (Somewhere in the distance you hear the echos of the game developers laughing their asses off)

Later in the game you yourself will just meltbomb endbosses in one 5 minute stunlock because you dont want to deal with their bullshit. This is the intended gameplay, you level your spells, you nuke bosses with it. Its okay fun. Also fuck the vampire, just blast him straight to hell with 20 lavawaves. (or was it acid rain?)

This is a game you play for the atmosphere, pull the wool over your eyes, can you hear your mother in the kitchen downstairs? Wake up bro, you have to go to school tomorrow.

Early impressions:

1. I don’t like how the camera isn’t centered on my character. I can’t really dash forward because I’m afraid I’m gonna run into an enemy that I couldn’t see. It’s probably like this because the game can be played with 3 people, but I’m gonna be playing it solo so it’s a bit annoying.
2. Menus are unintuitive. Literally had to look up how to equip items online.
3. Poor conveyance. It’s really hard to figure what you need to do if you don’t remember everything the NPCs tell you.
4. No item descriptions. Can’t tell what items do when you see them in the shop or in your own inventory. Another thing I have to consult the inventory for. They could at least let you know what gear your characters can equip before you buy them.

As far as action RPGs on the SNES go, I’ve played better. I’m disappointed so far because I’ve heard about how great this game is, but it’s not really living up to my expectations.

I first played this at a friend's house during his birthday back in the 90s. I did not get to play much though the game did leave a lasting impression. Not enough to ask my parents to buy it but enough to make me think about it many years later. Don't think the rental stores had a copy. Sometime in the 2000s I started playing it on emulator; this was around the same time I did Dragon Quest 5 and Tales of Phantasia. I got as far as the snow land and did not feel like playing any more. Several years later I picked it back up to play on PSP (my old save was still in the rom). I went all the way and beat the game, though I think I had to check a walkthrough a few times.

It is a beautiful game but the mechanics are troublesome. The combat occupies some kind of demon realm between action rpg and active time battle. It annoyed me to no end to have to hold the attack button for several seconds before being able to do decent damage. When I have free control over movement I also expect to have free control to attack whenever I want, but no you have to wait for the charge or do pitiful damage. There is also the seeming invulnerability frames enemies get some times and their ability to chain multiple attacks or spells before you get the chance to even react. I also got stuck a few times with 1 follower stuck on scenery in such a way that there was no possible way to continue the game short of loading a save; ridiculous. Also hated the menu system. My notes say I gave it 7.3/10 but I am willing to go as high as 7.5. So a good game but nowhere near the best rpgs on the SNES.

Ended at level 67. The guy used spears and swords with spear skill maxed (8) and swords nearly there at 7.5.

Girl used whip (maxed) and a little bit of bow (2.8). Her magic skills were mostly water (7), wind (3.5) and luna (3.3). She mostly used healing and weapon damage buffs.

Sprite used bows (maxed) and shuriken (6). Magic was all about big nukes with fire (6.2), earth (3.2), and water (2.3).

I barely, if ever, used the other weapons and many of the spells. Just stuck to what seemed to work the best.