Visions of Mana
A new mainline Mana adventure reviving the series after 18 years.
Visions of Mana is an action role-playing game from 2024, developed by Ouka Studios and published by Square Enix. It released on PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Windows, and Xbox Series X/S. As the fifth mainline entry in the Mana series, it centers on a young swordsman named Val who, alongside a group of companions, sets out to restore the world's flow of Mana. The gameplay blends real-time combat with exploration of open areas, and elemental abilities factor into both fighting and navigating the environment.
Quick Facts
- Developer
- Ouka Studios
- Publisher
- Square Enix
- Director
- Ryosuke Yoshida
- Kenji Ozawa
- Naoto Miyadera
- Producer
- Tetsuya Akatsuka; Masaru Oyamada
- Designer
- Takahide Koizumi, Keita Takagi
- Artist
- Haccan
- Airi Yoshioka
- Koichi Ishii
- Writer
- Chihiro Ochiai
- Tomoko Taniguchi
- Kyoko Kitahara
- Composer
- Hiroki Kikuta
- Tsuyoshi Sekito
- Ryo Yamazaki
Facts from the source article.
Lore & Background
Visions of Mana is set in the fantasy world Qi'Diel, where multiple species are sustained by the Mana Tree, an incarnation of the Goddess of Mana. Every four years, a Faerie chooses one villager from each of eight villages as an 'Alm' to undertake a pilgrimage to restore the flow of Mana through their sacrifice, guarded by a Soul Guard soldier. The story follows Val, a Soul Guard from the Fire Village of Tianeea, who escorts his childhood friend Hinna, the Alm of Fire, on her pilgrimage. They are joined by companions including Morley, Careena, Queen Palamena, and the sproutling Julei, each becoming Alms of different elements. The antagonists are the Benevodons, eight elemental monsters from the distant past. The plot involves a former champion named Daelophos seeking revenge on humanity, and Val ultimately uses the Mana Sword to wish for a world where Alms are no longer needed.
Reader's Guide
Visions of Mana marks the first mainline Mana game since Dawn of Mana in 2006, ending an 18-year gap for the series. Development began in 2020, with series veterans including creator Koichi Ishii supervising monster designs, producer Masaru Oyamada, artist Haccan, and composers Hiroki Kikuta, Tsuyoshi Sekito, and Ryo Yamazaki. The gameplay and world design were intended to evoke elements from earlier Mana games. The game features action-based combat with a three-person party, elemental character classes unlocked through the Elemental Plot, and semi-open areas with platforming puzzles tied to eight Elementals. Upon release, game journalists praised the characters, combat system, and world design, while the story was seen as unoriginal. The game's significance lies in reviving a long-dormant mainline series, incorporating fan feedback from remakes and remasters, and attempting to balance the styles of classic entries like Secret of Mana and Trials of Mana.
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