Adventures of Mana
A 3D remake of the first Mana series game.
http://eu.square-enix.com/en/blog/adventures-mana-released-iosandroid · via Wikipedia: Adventures of Mana · Fair use
Adventures of Mana is an action role-playing game from 2016, co-developed by MCF and Square Enix and published by Square Enix. It serves as a 3D remake of *Final Fantasy Adventure*, the 1991 Game Boy title that kicked off the Mana series. The game launched worldwide on Android and iOS on February 4, 2016; a PlayStation Vita version arrived the same day in Japan, with releases in North America, South America, and Europe following in June 2016.
Players control a young hero who, alongside a heroine, must prevent the Dark Lord of Glaive from destroying the Tree of Mana. The gameplay is presented from a top-down perspective and centers on combat against monsters and other foes. The world is split into multiple areas, including dungeons the player must navigate. A gauge on screen fills over time and resets when the hero is hit or attacks; waiting for it to fill allows a stronger attack. Various non-player characters accompany the hero, each offering unique skills that aid in battle.
The project was sparked by producer Masaru Oyamada, who wanted all Mana games available on modern systems for the series’ 25th anniversary in 2016. Early debates at Square Enix considered a 2D or 3D remake; 3D was chosen because it was deemed easier to control on smartphones and could serve as a foundation for future Mana remakes. The game received positive reviews, with critics particularly praising its visuals and music.
Quick Facts
- Developer
- Square Enix / MCF
- Publisher
- Square Enix
- Series
- Mana
- Platforms
- Android · iOS · PlayStation Vita
- Released
- Android, iOSWW · February 4, 2016PlayStation VitaJP · February 4, 2016 · NA/EU · June 28, 2016
- Genre
- Action role-playing
- Modes
- Single-player
- Producer
- Masaru Oyamada
- Composer
- Kenji Ito
Facts from the source article.
Lore & Background
The idea for the game came from producer Masaru Oyamada, who wanted all Mana games to be playable on modern platforms for the series' 25th anniversary in 2016. Initially there was argument at Square Enix about whether the remake should be done in 2D or 3D; they chose 3D, as it was thought to be easier to control on smartphones and because it could be used as a base for potential future Mana remakes. The game was developed by MCF.
Reader's Guide
Adventures of Mana is significant as a faithful 3D remake of Final Fantasy Adventure, preserving the original story and gameplay while updating graphics and controls for modern platforms. The game received positive reviews, with critics praising its visuals and music. It was part of Square Enix's effort to make the Mana series accessible on contemporary devices, and its reception influenced consideration of further remakes of other Mana titles. The game's development focused on not upsetting what made the original good while adding conveniences like easier equipment switching and shortcut commands. The composer Kenji Ito returned to create updated arrangements for the remake.
Did You Know?
- The game was released worldwide for Android and iOS on February 4, 2016.
- The PlayStation Vita version was released in Japan on the same date as the smartphone versions, and in June 2016 in North America, South America, and Europe.
- The game's battle system, user interface, and sword attack are based on the Game Boy Advance remake Sword of Mana rather than the original Game Boy version.
- The game was considered for PlayStation 4 and personal computer versions, but none were ever released.
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