Mana here and there, with a whole world filled to the brim. Welcome to Visions of Mana, Developed and published by SQUARE ENIX. Now sit back, relax, and let the Mana fill you up.

Enter the enchanting world of Mana, where a fresh chapter in the series unfolds. This time, the story revolves around the sacred sword and the life-giving Mana. The chosen one, the Alm of Fire, is entrusted with a noble task-sacrificing oneself to the Mana Tree to ensure the world’s prosperity and nourishment. As Val, your mission is not just grand but a deeply personal one to protect your childhood friend Hinna from evil clutches. This personal touch adds a unique depth to the epic adventure, making it more than a quest to save the world.

You first start with a small cutscene telling you a tale about the Mana Tree and its purpose for bringing life to the world. Once you are in the game, you are shown how to move with a small guide on the left of the screen. It is easy to miss at first and disappears as soon as you start moving. However, once you stop moving, they reappear, even in combat with enemies right in front, with no time to examine the controls before you are attacked. Once the initial opening has finished, you are moved to a new settlement where a fairy blesses Hinna to become the next Alm of Fire. With this great honour, you set off on your grand journey to the Mana Tree.

You meet many friends and foes, with the danger growing more dangerous by the minute. Visions of Mana uses a classic sword style for attacking but with a twist, as there is also magic, and better yet, you can combine them to deal tons of damage. As you progress, you will unlock new abilities and traps to use to your advantage. With many side quests on your path, you will indeed find many goodies on your quest.

The game has an exciting levelling system with attacking creatures slowly levelling you up but be careful not to stray into the wrong area as you might not make it out alive. There is also a combo system for attacks, with each attack adding something new to the attack until the final attack, blowing the enemy away. It even allows you to build up a power meter that, when complete, sets off a fantastic ultimate attack with an entire cutscene, creating a striking visual effect.

Now, let’s delve into the controls. Visions of Mana features a plethora of buttons, leading to sub-menus on the left and right bumpers that open a whole new set of options. Despite this complexity, the primary control layout is standard, akin to most console games. The controls are remarkably smooth, ensuring a seamless and enjoyable gaming experience.

The level of animation and detail in the graphics is truly breathtaking, with an eye for detail and authenticity that is second to none. Bright and vibrant colours fill your screen, making Visions of Mana a standout game in the gaming world. It pushes the boundaries of a third-person open-world adventure story-driven title, with a world that feels alive and vibrant, even in the smallest details.

The sound fills the air with peaceful music, setting the mood for a wild adventure with high and low tones with the sound of flutes and guitar strums, making it feel like you are in the countryside living your best life. Fighting also felt fluid, with slashing at enemies almost feeling each hit taken. Once they die, they almost explode into confetti, giving a great sound effect and boosting the feel of the entire gaming experience overall.

Overall, Visions of Mana has pushed many boundaries with an open-world adventure story-driven game that shows that anything is possible. The attention to detail blew me away in many ways, and it wouldn’t surprise me to see this title do so well for all those avid adventure seekers. The amount of work that has gone into Visions of Mana is mind-blowing, and I can’t wait to dive back in and find every secret. I’ll see you there!

Written by: TypicalCambieAU