Legend of Mana

July 15, 1999(27 years ago)·Full Release

Square Product Development Division 2

Publisher: Squaresoft, Square Enix, Sony Computer Entertainment

★

8.0

45 user ratings

★

8.0

45 critic ratings

★★★★★★★★★★

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VOTES

Genres: Role-playing (RPG), Hack and slash/Beat 'em up, Adventure

Platforms: PS1, PS3, PSP

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Screenshots

ActionFantasySandboxOpen worldSingle playerMultiplayerCo-operativeBird view / IsometricSide view

Summary

Building upon the action role-playing elements of the three games that came before it, *Legend of Mana* introduces a unique gameplay style of its own. A key feature is the player's ability to reshape the world of Fa'Diel according to their preferences, achieved through the use of "artifacts" obtained as the game progresses. These artifacts allow the player to construct various locations such as towns and dungeons, known as "Lands," which can be explored in a non-linear fashion. The game's progression is driven by what are typically considered side-quests in other titles, offering a more open-ended experience. *Legend of Mana* includes three separate storylines that can unfold simultaneously, none of which are required to complete the game. The game was a commercial hit in Japan. Though it received widespread acclaim for its visuals and presentation, some critics and players were put off by the absence of a central narrative.

Storyline

Legend of Mana takes place in the fictional realm of Fa'Diel. Nine hundred years before the game's events, the Mana Tree, the source of mana and life in the world, was set ablaze. This led to a conflict among faeries, humans, and other beings who fought over the dwindling mana reserves. After the war ended, the exhausted Mana Tree fell into a deep slumber, and the various regions of the world were sealed within ancient relics. The player assumes the role of a hero tasked with reviving the world and restoring its mana. The Lands of Fa'Diel are home to a wide array of creatures, including humans, faeries, demons, the jewel-hearted Jumi, plant-like Sproutlings and Flowerlings, mining bears known as Dudbears, and shadowy Underworld entities called Shadoles. The world also features a variety of anthropomorphic animals and objects, as well as monsters from other Mana series entries like Rabites, Chobin Hoods, and Goblins.