Visions of Mana | |
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Developer(s) | Ouka Studios |
Publisher(s) | Square Enix |
Director(s) |
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Producer(s) | Masaru Oyamada |
Designer(s) |
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Artist(s) | Haccan Airi Yoshioka Koichi Ishii |
Writer(s) |
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Composer(s) | Hiroki Kikuta Tsuyoshi Sekito Ryo Yamazaki |
Series | Mana |
Engine | Unreal Engine |
Platform(s) | |
Release | August 29, 2024 |
Genre(s) | Action role-playing |
Mode(s) | Single-player |
Visions of Mana [lower-alpha 1] is a 2024 action role-playing game developed by Ouka Studios and published by Square Enix for PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Windows, and Xbox Series X/S. It is the fifth main title in the Mana series. Following the journey of a group of magical "alms" and their guardian Val on a pilgrimage to rejuvenate the Mana Tree, the gameplay features exploration of open areas and action-based battles, with elemental powers being used in both combat and exploration.
Development of Visions of Mana began in 2020, being the first mainline entry since Dawn of Mana (2006). The staff included multiple series veterans including producer Masaru Oyamada, artist Haccan, composers Hiroki Kikuta, Tsuyoshi Sekito, and Ryo Yamazaki, and series creator Koichi Ishii overseeing monster redesigns. The gameplay and world design was intended to evoke elements from earlier Mana games.
Visions of Mana is an action role-playing game in which players take on the role of Val, a Soul Guard escorting a group to the Mana Tree; Val and two other party members are playable while navigating different areas of the world. During travel across semi-open maps the player can freely explore between town locations. Players may assume control of any member of a three-person party, each with their own unique skills and weapons. Each character has various combat classes which may be unlocked by acquiring items called Spirit Vessels and may be switched freely, granting them access to new abilities and powerful attacks call Class Strikes. [1] [2]
Visions of Mana takes place in a fantasy world sustained by the Mana Tree, a magical tree whose energies sustain the world. Every four years, a being dubbed the Faerie travels to villages tied to the elements and chooses one resident as an "alm" who will go on a pilgrimage to restore the flow of the Mana Tree under the guardianship of a Soul Guard soldier. [3]
The main protagonists are Val, a warrior from the Fire Village of Tianeea who becomes Soul Guard to Hiina, a childhood friend chosen to undergo the pilgrimage to the Mana Tree. Their other companions are Morley, a cat-man who seeks to overcome a traumatic event from his past; Careena, a half-human, half-dragon dubbed "The One-Winged Oracle" who travels with Ramcoh, child of the Sacred Beast Flammie; Palamena, queen of Illystana, Capital of the Deep; and the sproutling Julei. [3] [4]
The concept for a new mainline entry in Square Enix's Mana series was pushed for by producer Masaru Oyamada, who became the series producer in 2014 with Rise of Mana . [5] Oyamada knew there was fan demand for a new entry, through division over whether to model it on Secret of Mana (1993) or Trials of Mana (1995). To gauge player interest and feedback, Oyamada led production on a number of remakes and remasters of older titles. [6] Oyamada was hesitant about developing Visions of Mana due to the amount of time since the release of the last mainline title Dawn of Mana (2006), but gained confidence following the positive reception to the Trials of Mana remake. [7] Production of Visions of Mana began in 2020. Production was handled by Ouka Studios, a Japanese-Chinese subdivision of NetEase headed by Tetsuya Akatsuka. Oyamada, who knew Akatsuka, contacted Ouka Studios to develop Visions of Mana. [5] Ouka Studios' Ryosuke Yoshida and Kenji Ozawa were co-directors; Yoshida worked on the gameplay elements, while Ozawa supervised world design and story. [8]
The gameplay was intended to combine the series' established action role-playing elements, and the use of multiple field mechanics present in Dawn of Mana. [5] They wanted to give players a lot of freedom with exploration, something that had been lacking in the Trials of Mana remake. During early testing, where the "vertical" possibilities of combat became clear, the team leaned into the use of elemental spirit powers. [9] The spirit powers used in the final game were chosen based on how much fun they would be for players to use. [10] A multiplayer feature was considered for the game and wished for by Oyamada, but the concept was dropped due to its potential impact on player progression through the world and story. [11]
The characters were designed by Haccan, who had redesigned characters for recent Mana remakes. The monsters were designed by Airi Yoshioka, who had worked on multiple Mana titles including Dawn of Mana. [12] Series creator Koichi Ishii, whose last work on the series was Heroes of Mana (2007), returned to oversee classic monster redesigns. [13] Ishii also created the dog mount Pikul. [6] Describing their approach to the visuals, Oyamada felt they had created an artistic style which captured the multiple identifies found within the Mana series, which had consciously varied its art and gameplay throughout its life. [14] The design of open areas was intended to evoke the artwork created for earlier entries by Hiroo Isono. [6] Multiple visual and stylistic elements were incorporated from other Mana titles, such as species from Legend of Mana being featured in Visions. [9]
The music of Visions of Mana was co-composed by Hiroki Kikuta, Tsuyoshi Sekito, and Ryo Yamazaki, all of whom had composed or arranged music for previous Mana titles. [12] Kikuta was mostly in charge of cutscene tracks, Sekito handled combat themes, and Yamazaki wrote environmental and exploration music. Yamazaki drew inspiration for his work from the concept art given to the composers early in production, and the overarching theme of a journey across the world. Kikuta described his role as creating music symbolising the Mana Tree, a significant presence in the game's world. Musicians included Sekito on electric guitar, Taku Sawamura performed acoustic guitar and bouzouki, Masashi Kuno on lute, and Yoichi Hayashi performing electric bass parts for the battle themes. The music was orchestrated by Sachiko Miyano of Shangri-La Inc., with whom Kikuta had worked on earlier projects. [15] A five-disc album, Seiken Densetsu: Visions of Mana Original Soundtrack, will be released by Square Enix on September 11, 2024. [16]
The development of a new mainline Mana title was confirmed during a 30th anniversary livestream for the series. [17] It was officially unveiled at The Game Awards in December 2023. [18] The game's title, suggested by the localization team, was intended to both incorporate the different Japanese and Western name conventions, and reference the different character viewpoints in the story. It also coincidentally made reference to the number five. [6] [5] An expanded look was featured in the January 2024 Xbox Developer Direct. [14] It is scheduled for release on August 29, 2024 for PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Windows, and Xbox Series X/S. The game will come in both standard editions, and special editions with bonuses including in-game costumes and music from earlier Mana games. [4] A game demo covering a section of the game was released on July 30, with players receiving bonus weapons in the final release if they had save data from the demo. [19]
Final Fantasy Adventure, known in Japan as Seiken Densetsu: Final Fantasy Gaiden or simply Seiken Densetsu, and later released in Europe as Mystic Quest, is a 1991 action role-playing game developed and published by Square for the Game Boy. It is a spin-off of the Final Fantasy series and the first game in the Mana series.
The Mana series, known in Japan as Seiken Densetsu, is a high fantasy action role-playing game series created by Koichi Ishii, with development formerly from Square, and is currently owned by Square Enix. The series began in 1991 as Final Fantasy Adventure, a Game Boy handheld side story to Square's flagship franchise Final Fantasy. The Final Fantasy elements were subsequently dropped starting with the second installment, Secret of Mana, in order to become its own series. It has grown to include games of various genres within the fictional world of Mana, with recurring stories involving a world tree, its associated holy sword, and the fight against forces that would steal their power. Several character designs, creatures, and musical themes reappear frequently.
Secret of Mana, originally released in Japan as Seiken Densetsu 2, is a 1993 action role-playing game developed and published by Square for the Super Nintendo Entertainment System. It is the sequel to the 1991 game Seiken Densetsu, released in North America as Final Fantasy Adventure and in Europe as Mystic Quest, and it was the first Seiken Densetsu title to be marketed as part of the Mana series rather than the Final Fantasy series. Set in a high fantasy universe, the game follows three heroes as they attempt to prevent an empire from conquering the world with the power of an ancient flying fortress.
Sword of Mana, originally released in Japan as Shin'yaku: Seiken Densetsu, is a 2003 action role-playing game developed by Square Enix and Brownie Brown and published by Square Enix and Nintendo for the Game Boy Advance. It is an enhanced remake of the first game in the Mana series, the Game Boy game Seiken Densetsu: Final Fantasy Gaiden, which was released as Final Fantasy Adventure in North America and as Mystic Quest in Europe. Sword of Mana was the fifth release in the series. Set in a high fantasy universe, the game follows an unnamed hero and heroine as they seek to defeat the Dark Lord and defend the Mana Tree from enemies who wish to misuse its power.
Legend of Mana is a 1999 action role-playing game developed and published by Square for the PlayStation. It was the fourth game released in the Mana series, following 1995's Trials of Mana. Set in a high fantasy universe, the game follows an unnamed hero as they restore the land of Fa'Diel by creating the world around them and completing a number of interrelated quests in order to restore the Tree of Mana.
Trials of Mana, also known by its Japanese title Seiken Densetsu 3, is a 1995 action role-playing game developed and published by Square for the Super Famicom. It is the sequel to the 1993 game Secret of Mana, and is the third installment in the Mana series. Set in a high fantasy world, the game follows three heroes as they attempt to claim the legendary Mana Sword and prevent the Benevodons from being unleashed and destroying the world. It features three main plotlines and six different possible main characters, each with their own storylines, and allows two players to play simultaneously. Trials of Mana builds on the gameplay of its predecessor with multiple enhancements, including the use of a time progression system with transitions from day to night and weekday to weekday in game time, and a wide range of character classes to choose from, which provides each character with an exclusive set of skills and status progression.
Dawn of Mana is a 2006 action-adventure game for the PlayStation 2. It was developed and published by Square Enix. It is the eighth game of the Mana series and the third entry in the World of Mana subseries, following the release of Children of Mana nine months prior and Friends of Mana two months prior. Set in a high fantasy universe, Dawn of Mana follows a young hero, Keldric, as he journeys to close a portal to a land of darkness that has been opened in the base of the Tree of Mana and is corrupting the world.
Akitoshi Kawazu is a Japanese game designer, director, producer and writer. After joining Square in 1985, he went on to become a central developer for the first two Final Fantasy titles, then acted as creator and lead developer for the SaGa series.
The Mana series, known in Japan as Seiken Densetsu, is a role-playing video game series from Square Enix, created by Koichi Ishii. The series began as a handheld side story to Square's flagship franchise Final Fantasy, although most Final Fantasy-inspired elements were subsequently dropped, starting with the second installment, Secret of Mana. It has since grown to include games of various genres within the fictional world of Mana. The music of the Mana series includes soundtracks and arranged albums of music from the series, which is currently composed of Final Fantasy Adventure and its remake Sword of Mana, Secret of Mana, Trials of Mana, Legend of Mana, Dawn of Mana, Children of Mana, Friends of Mana, Heroes of Mana, Circle of Mana, and Rise of Mana. Each game except for Friends and Circle has produced a soundtrack album, while Adventure has sparked an arranged album as well as a combined soundtrack and arranged album, Legend of Mana has an additional promotional EP, and music from Secret and Trials were combined into an arranged album. For the series' 20th anniversary, a 20-disc box set of previously-released albums was produced, as well as an album of arrangements by Kenji Ito, composer for several games in the series.
Rise of Mana is a Japanese action role-playing video game developed by Goshow for iOS, Android and PlayStation Vita. It was published by series creator Square Enix in 2014 for mobile devices and 2015 for the Vita. It is the eleventh game in the Mana series, featuring a new narrative unconnected to other games in the series. The gameplay uses a similar action-based battle system to earlier Mana titles while using a free-to-play model in common with mobile titles. The story focuses on two characters, an angel and a demon, who are cast down to the mortal world in the midst of a battle and are forced to share a body in order to survive.
Adventures of Mana is an action role-playing video game developed by MCF and Square Enix, and published by Square Enix. It is a 3D remake of the 1991 Game Boy game Final Fantasy Adventure, the first game in the Mana series. It was released worldwide for Android and iOS on February 4, 2016; a PlayStation Vita version was also released on the same date in Japan, and in June 2016 in North America, South America and Europe. In addition to these releases, Square Enix has said that they are considering developing versions for PlayStation 4 and personal computers.
Trials of Mana is a 2020 action role-playing game developed by Xeen and published by Square Enix for Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4 and Windows. A mobile port released the following year. It is a 3D remake of the 1995 Super Famicom title of the same name, the third game in the Mana series. The story follows six possible protagonists in their respective quests, which lead them to obtain the Mana Sword and fight a world-ending threat. In gameplay, the player controls three out of six characters, navigating field environments, fighting enemies in real-time combat, and making use of character classes. New to the gameplay and storyline is a post-game chapter with an unlockable class.
Legend of Mana: The Teardrop Crystal, known in Japan as Legend of the Sacred Sword: Legend of Mana -The Teardrop Crystal-, is an anime television series produced by Yokohama Animation Laboratory and Graphinica, based on the video game Legend of Mana by Square Enix. The series aired from October to December 2022.
From Old Country Bumpkin to Master Swordsman: My Hotshot Discples Are All Grown Up Now and They Won't Leave Me Alone is a Japanese light novel series written by Shigeru Sagazaki and illustrated by Tetsuhiro Nabeshima. It initially began serialization on the user-generated novel publishing website Shōsetsuka ni Narō in November 2020. It was later acquired by Square Enix who began publishing it under their SQEX Novel imprint in April 2021. A manga adaptation illustrated by Kazuki Satō began serialization in Akita Shoten's seinen manga web magazine Dokodemo Young Champion in August 2021. An anime television series adaptation produced by Passione and Hayabusa Film is set to premiere in April 2025.
Riesz is a character in the 1995 video game Trials of Mana. She is one of its six protagonists, able to be selected as either the main character or a supporting character to one of the others. She is the princess of the kingdom of Laurent who seeks to rescue her brother Elliot and the kingdom from those who invaded it. She is connected to the character Hawkeye, who was intended by the design team to have more romantic elements featured, but were excluded due to a lack of room in the game. Her design was created by Nobuteru Yūki and Koichi Ishii, featuring long blonde hair and a green dress, with her different designs inspired by Norse mythology. She is voiced by Mikako Komatsu in the remake.
Charlotte is a character in the 1995 video game Trials of Mana. She is one of its six protagonists, able to be selected as either the main character or a supporting character to one of the others. She is connected to the character Kevin, who was intended by the design team to have more romantic scenes featured, but were excluded due to a lack of room in the game. Her design was created by Nobuteru Yūki and Koichi Ishii, and in the Trials of Mana remake, she was designed by HACCAN and voiced by Sumire Morohoshi in Japanese.
Kevin is a character in the 1995 video game Trials of Mana. He is one of its six protagonists, able to be selected as either the main character or a supporting character to one of the others. He is the prince of the kingdom of Ferolia, leaving after learning the truth of his father's nature. He is connected to the character Charlotte, who was intended by the design team to have romantic elements featured with him, which were excluded due to a lack of room in the game. Her design was created by Nobuteru Yūki and Koichi Ishii, his design inspired by Goku from Dragon Ball.
Angela is a character in the 1995 video game Trials of Mana. She is one of its six protagonists, able to be selected as either the main character or a supporting character to one of the others. She is the princess of the kingdom of Altena, which is in perpetual springtime due to her mother's magic. When she discovers that her mother intends to sacrifice her to maintain this springtime, she flees, traveling to get guidance from the Priest of Light. She is connected to the character Duran, who was intended by the design team to have more romantic elements featured, which were excluded due to a lack of room in the game. Her design was created by Nobuteru Yūki and Koichi Ishii, featuring long purple hair and a red bunny suit. She is voiced in Japanese by Rumi Okubo in the remake.