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

[Shuurin]

I can understand how someone could feel the flaws in the gameplay, outweigh the overall experience Secret of Mana has to offer. It is one of my fondest childhood games growing up, so SoM has a certain nostalgia bias for me to overlook certain issues with it. Seiken Densetsu 3 is a slight bit more balanced action wise, give that a shot on an emulator.

[scrilla4rella]

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.

I agree, I much prefer Seiken Densetsu 2 (SoM) over Seiken Densetsu 3. With no charge bar SD3 reminds me too much of Legend of Mana and Sword of Mana which all seemed shallow compared to SD2/SoM. Still a good game tho.

This all reminds me of when I got flamed on Youtube for saying that Sword of Mana was a "shit game". There are so many better SD games. I can't see why anyone would get attached to Sword of Mana and this is coming from someone who cleared it.

[Deca]

Final Fantasy Adventure is always going to be one of my all time favorite games, but I still have yet to actually sit down with and play through SoM. I've been playing a lot of Ys lately so I'm sort of in the action rpg mood, I've actually been keeping an eye out for a copy at the local shop.

[StarCreator]

For me personally, a lot of the game's enjoyment came from playing 3 player multiplayer with my cousins - when we were kids my cousin was the one that owned the cart and we'd play whenever we were gathered for holidays or birthdays or whatever. The game CAN be played solo (which I eventually did when I acquired my cousin's copy of the game - the other two gathered more often and had already beaten the game without me... bastards =p) and while it's still a great game there's just no comparison to having played it as a group.

[moh]

For me personally, a lot of the game's enjoyment came from playing 3 player multiplayer with my cousins - when we were kids my cousin was the one that owned the cart and we'd play whenever we were gathered for holidays or birthdays or whatever. The game CAN be played solo (which I eventually did when I acquired my cousin's copy of the game - the other two gathered more often and had already beaten the game without me... bastards =p) and while it's still a great game there's just no comparison to having played it as a group.

yeah, I seem to get that a lot. keep in mind that my complaints are coming from solo play. I have no friends to play with D:

[shmuppyLove]

I'll echo the "nostalgia" vibe going on -- at the time, I was very heavy into the game. Used to play it late into the night with my headphones on. But, much like Chrono Trigger, I have absolutely no desire to play it again. Though I think Chrono Trigger has aged a bit better.

[Phellan Wolf]

Secret of Maná was the first Squaresoft game I played, and I loved it. I played it solo and while the allies was dull and made the game harder than it was suposed to be I really enjoyed the experience. After that I bought FF3 (best in the series so far) and I was blown away even if it was turn based. Squaresoft turned out to be my favourite developper and rpgs my favourite genre.
IMO one of the worst Squaresoft title was Secret of Evermore. Damn it I thought that I'd enjoy it but I couldn't bear the game. I know most people enjoyed it but the character design and the plot were fucking awful

[ryu]

Secret of Maná was the first Squaresoft game I played, and I loved it. I played it solo and while the allies was dull and made the game harder than it was suposed to be I really enjoyed the experience. After that I bought FF3 (best in the series so far) and I was blown away even if it was turn based. Squaresoft turned out to be my favourite developper and rpgs my favourite genre.
IMO one of the worst Squaresoft title was Secret of Evermore. Damn it I thought that I'd enjoy it but I couldn't bear the game. I know most people enjoyed it but the character design and the plot were fucking awful

soe was'nt developed by squaresoft though

[Phellan Wolf]

Secret of Maná was the first Squaresoft game I played, and I loved it. I played it solo and while the allies was dull and made the game harder than it was suposed to be I really enjoyed the experience. After that I bought FF3 (best in the series so far) and I was blown away even if it was turn based. Squaresoft turned out to be my favourite developper and rpgs my favourite genre.
IMO one of the worst Squaresoft title was Secret of Evermore. Damn it I thought that I'd enjoy it but I couldn't bear the game. I know most people enjoyed it but the character design and the plot were fucking awful

soe was'nt developed by squaresoft though

By the time it was launched, Square was its publisher. I never digged in to know who was the developper, all the magazines in my country said it was Sqare who made it. It was such a let down for me..... Never mind i hate that game and it is strange cause now is a cult game....

[Nifty]

I'm pretty sure it was (and is still the only game) developed by Square of America, hence the many western-isms

[maxlords]

I never really loved Secret of Mana. I played through it...never really liked it. Thought the story was weak compared to other Square releases at the time. I always wondered if it was better if you played it 3 player or something.

SNES Square release ratings list (best to worst):

Final Fantasy III
Breath of Fire
Chrono Trigger
Final Fantasy II
Illusion of Gaia
Secret of Evermore
Secret of Mana
Mario RPG (I haven't really played it tho)
Final Fantasy Mystic Quest

[BulletMagnet]

Breath of Fire

If you want to get technical, this one was published by Square, but developed by Capcom...

Illusion of Gaia

...while this one was by Enix (back when they were a separate company, obviously), and published by Nintendo, IIRC.