AM I CRAZY FOR NOT LIKING SECRET OF MANA? D:

[moh]

I picked this one up a while back, cost me about $40. Kinda pricey for a snes cart. But all that aside, i had heard amazing things about this game, so i had to try it out. It started off kinda slow, but i gave it time. in fact, i gave it A LOT of time. probably put about 20 hours into it before finally selling it off.

The music is great, the graphics are beautiful, the story is engaging, but the fatal flaw for me was the gameplay mechanics. You can find yourself just being gang-raped by a bunch of enemies all at once, and once you fall to the ground, consider yourself dead! They'll just keep going, and going constantly hitting you back to the ground, AHHHHH!!!

I could go on, but before people come to my house and kill me, i'd like to know what you guys think! am i crazy? D:

[Blackbird]

I'm not crazy about it, but then again, I'm not crazy about most JRPGs, either. I'd rather play Planescape Torment or Baldur's Gate.

[Skykid]

It is slightly flawed in combat and weapon management/upgrade areas, but not enough to ruin a thoroughly beautiful game.

I have a lot of time for Mana, there aren't many SNES RPG's that captured its sense of globe trotting adventure.

[moh]

Skykid gets my respect for having my favourite sig pic on the forums :3

[Moniker]

Yea u crazy, son.

It's been awhile since I've played it, but I remember enjoying it immensely, just because of the gameplay. This was back in the infancy of emulation, when I was catching up on everything I missed by being a Genesis kid. I don't remember it being that hard, especially if you choose your main (controlled) character wisely for any given part of the game. Having a 2nd player might help you through some rough patches.

I wouldn't call it a "must like" game, though. It's no SMB3 or Link to the Past or what have you. I can see why some wouldn't take to it.

[Strider77]

I'm not crazy for it either. I don't think it sucks but I can see why someone wouldn't like it and easily see how someone would not bounce off the walls because of it.

[moh]

I wouldn't call it a "must like" game, though. It's no SMB3 or Link to the Past or what have you. I can see why some wouldn't take to it.

what i dont like is how people worship it. ive heard it called "the best RPG ever" even one of the best games ever made! i think its really far from it. D:

[Drum]

Not crazy at all. I think it's pretty lame myself.

[Nifty]

The combat hasn't aged very well, the second part of the game is rushed and overall it's rather glitchy, but I blame this on Square getting screwed over by Nintendo during development Personally I like the idea behind the weapon system where you have to time your hits rather than mash the attack button.

[moh]

Personally I like the idea behind the weapon system where you have to time your hits rather than mash the attack button.

yeah, i agree. its a nice blend between turn based combat and regular mash-fests!

[DragonInstall]

The sequel Seiken Densetsu 3, is a much better game. Sad that it never got a english release, but you can get the translated roms online.

[Drum]

but I blame this on Square getting screwed over by Nintendo during development

Haven't heard this one before ... story?

[brendz]

I used to say SOM was my favorite RPG. I played most Square RPGs during the SNES/PS1 era. I played thru it about a month ago thru emu on my arcade for nastalgia. Took less than 20hours to beat. It was great, ring menus are where its at and I love the art, fighting and magic. It just seemed a little too easy. That said I still hold it high but I think Secret of Evermore was better (toasterdog, FTW) and Chronotrigger is now my No1 RPG as its just amazing with story, characters and the whole time shifting deal. So now SOM is no longer my fav but still good for an SNES RPG

[moh]

but I blame this on Square getting screwed over by Nintendo during development

Haven't heard this one before ... story?

yeah, im interested too...

[Jockel]

The sequel Seiken Densetsu 3, is a much better game. Sad that it never got a english release, but you can get the translated roms online.

Having played both, I disagree. I never got into SD3 the same way I did with SoM. Could've been rose-tinted nostalgia glasses though. Language barrier might've been a factor, too :/
But I disliked the combat system of SD3, it felt more mindless to me since it did away with charge bars and the slowly moving characters made it very tough to dodge enemy attacks.

[evil_ash_xero]

I've actually never been really smitten with Secret Of Mana, but I do like it a lot. I just don't have the same feelings for it, as I do something like Chrono Trigger or FF VI.

Seiken Densetsu 3 is better, in my eyes, also. But it has a horrible menu system.

[BryanM]

I've never really been crazy about SoM/CT. They've always felt a bit.. "hollow" to me.

[BulletMagnet]

It's been ages since I've played it, but I did enjoy Mana quite a bit way back when...the magic system was something of a downer though (stockpile fairy walnuts --> cast "weak against" spell over and over again --> win without being hit unless enemy gets spell of own off), especially since there wasn't much of a workable alternative when it came to beating most of the bosses, double-especially if you didn't grind weapon levels.

[ZacharyB]

This used to be my favorite game some 15 years ago. I drew a few comics starring the rabites/silktails and the elemental avatars.

I loved the vast diversity and categorization of weapons and magic, and the hidden level 9 magic attacks.

It helps to have been within its target demographic when it was released.

[Nifty]

but I blame this on Square getting screwed over by Nintendo during development

Haven't heard this one before ... story?

yeah, im interested too...

It was originally being developed for the SNES CD, so when that fell through Square had to do a cut'n'paste job in order to fit it onto a normal SNES cartridge

[Drum]

Interesting, but I expected something more from 'screwed over'.

[moh]

was the snes CD actually far enough into development that they had games programmed? :O

[Nifty]

Interesting, but I expected something more from 'screwed over'.

The reason it fell through was because Nintendo decided to dump Sony behind their backs when the SNES CD was nearly complete, if you aren't familiar with the story

was the snes CD actually far enough into development that they had games programmed? :O

Apparently! I can only assume intended launch titles start development well before a console's actual release date.

[Drum]

Interesting, but I expected something more from 'screwed over'.

The reason it fell through was because Nintendo decided to dump Sony behind their backs when the SNES CD was nearly complete, if you aren't familiar with the story.

Well, the reasons why they dumped Sony and cancelled the add-on were actually somewhat justified - but I don't think I will ever understand why they did it the way they did it. They must have taken the royalties thing hilariously personally.

[Strider77]

What were the reasons?

[Skykid]

What were the reasons?

As Sony were manufacturing the hardware they wanted to make games for the format free of Nintendo's usual licence fee. They also wanted to make a stand-alone Sony version with a slot for Super Nintendo cartridges.

Nintendo were afraid the deal offered Sony too much control so they threw it out - without telling them.

[moh]

What were the reasons?

As Sony were manufacturing the hardware they wanted to make games for the format free of Nintendo's usual licence fee. They also wanted to make a stand-alone Sony version with a slot for Super Nintendo cartridges.

Nintendo were afraid the deal offered Sony too much control so they threw it out - without telling them.

where do you guys learn about this stuffff? D:

[Skykid]

What were the reasons?

As Sony were manufacturing the hardware they wanted to make games for the format free of Nintendo's usual licence fee. They also wanted to make a stand-alone Sony version with a slot for Super Nintendo cartridges.

Nintendo were afraid the deal offered Sony too much control so they threw it out - without telling them.

where do you guys learn about this stuffff? D:

Years of training in the dojo of videogames.

[blackoak]

SoM is definitely one of my favorites; I adore it. The soundtrack especially is so unique and sophisticated in its layering and textures. The game is sadly really uneven in challenge as mentioned, but I compensate by not buying armor for the first half of the game (saving up for that gold city armor...). I'd love to see a proper sequel to SoM which doesn't abandon its core mechanics, but refines and properly balances it.

Oh, and it really shines when played with two friends. Getting high and/or slightly drunk is recommended. To me, seiken densetsu 3 was a huge step back in the combat system, though the music was again quite good.

[ELabit]

I don't know exactly what it is, but SoM has a certain unique charm. There is nothing outstanding about it but it's just really simple and good. It's one of the only RPGs I've ever played through and I've played through it about 3 times.