Legend of Mana
A spin-off with a unique Land Make system and non-linear quests.
https://gamefaqs.gamespot.com/ps/256525-legend-of-mana/images/150597 · via Wikipedia: Legend of Mana · Fair use
Legend of Mana is a 1999 action role-playing game developed and published by Square for the PlayStation. It is a spin-off of the Mana series, set in a high fantasy universe where an unnamed hero restores the land of Fa'Diel by creating the world around them and completing interrelated quests to restore the Tree of Mana. The game is notable for its non-linear Land Make system, which allows players to shape the world's structure rather than following a strong main plotline.
Quick Facts
- Developer
- Square
- Publisher
- JP · Square · NA · Square Electronic Arts · WW · Square Enix / (remaster)
- Director
- Koichi Ishii
- Producer
- Akitoshi Kawazu
- Designer
- Akihiko Matsui
- Programmer
- Tomoki Anazawa
- Artist
- Shinichi Kameoka · Kouji Tsuda · Nao Ikeda
- Writer
- Nobuyuki Inoue
- Composer
- Yoko Shimomura
- Series
- Mana
- Platforms
- PlayStation · Nintendo Switch · PlayStation 4 · Windows · Android · iOS · Xbox Series X/S
- Released
- PlayStationJP · July 15, 1999 · NA · June 6, 2000Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4, WindowsWW · June 24, 2021Android, iOSWW · December 7, 2021Xbox Series X/SWW · September 26, 2024
Facts from the source article.
Lore & Background
The story of Legend of Mana is composed of multiple quest arcs rather than a single plot. Three main arcs include the Jumi arc (focusing on Elazul and Pearl), the Larc and Sierra arc (involving dragoons on opposite sides of a war), and the Matilda and Irwin arc (a love story escalating into a war between humans and faeries). Players can complete any arc before the final arc, and choices in the third arc can lead to the death of either Daena or Escad. The game also offers optional activities such as forging weapons, growing fruit, raising pets, and building golems.
Reader's Guide
Legend of Mana is significant as a distinctive entry in the Mana series, praised for its vibrant hand-drawn graphics and soundtrack by Yoko Shimomura, but criticized for its lack of a clear main storyline, which some felt made the game disjointed. Despite mixed reviews compared to prior Mana titles, it sold 700,000 copies by the end of 1999 and was re-released as part of PlayStation and Square best-sellers lines. Its legacy includes a remastered version published by Square Enix in 2021 for multiple platforms, and an anime adaptation titled Legend of Mana: The Teardrop Crystal that aired in 2022. The game's Land Make system and non-linear quest structure remain a notable departure from traditional role-playing game design.
Did You Know?
- The game sold 400,000 copies in its first week of release.
- It was re-released as a PSOne Classic in Japan and North America.
- A remastered version was released for Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4, and Windows on June 24, 2021.
- An anime adaptation titled Legend of Mana: The Teardrop Crystal aired from October to December 2022.
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