Something that I never tire of repeating is that 2024 is and will be a simply unforgettable year for any RPG fan. We have been going on sale for three months in which great, essential games have not stopped going on sale, including some masterpieces, but in the coming months the pace does not look like it will slow down thanks to releases like Visions of Mana .
The popular saga of action role-playing video games originally developed by Squaresoft and later by Square Enix began its journey more than 30 years ago. However, they have had to go through More than 15 years until a completely new chapter has been announcedgiven that the latest ones that have arrived were nothing more than compilations, remasterings and remakes.
That's why I was eager to try it and discover first-hand what this new title in the series will be like. Of course, the time I have spent at the controls has been very brief, but enough to make some first impressions and be clear that the franchise is doing everything possible to return through the front door.
Intense combats that perfectly respect the essence of the saga
The trial version that I was able to play was divided into two parts and in neither of them was a single detail of the plot revealed, so I will focus only on the playable part, about which I couldn't help but remember the remake of Trials of Mana because of their enormous resemblance in many aspects. Mainly, because it is a magnificent action RPG in which you fight all the enemies when they cross your path.
These encounters maintain the frenetic pace to which the saga has accustomed us, so sword blows and spells do not stop parading everywhere, resulting in very spectacular battles full of effects. Without knowing how to play, it didn't take me long to understand how to function smoothly in any encounter, being able to unleash a wide variety of attacks and combos depending on the buttons that are pressed.
Likewise, the characters have offensive and defensive magic thanks to the abilities of the elementals. In this sense, any follower of the series will not find any surprise as they are the same as they have always been and that are unlocked little by little by progressing in the story, although what caught my attention the most about all this The point is that the title will bring back all the classic creatures that we have already faced in the past.
The mythical Rabite will once again fight alongside the Pebbler, the Buzz Bee and other beasts that have appeared in many other installments, but there will also be new faces within this group. Of course, those who seek to fight non-stop will feel more than satisfied, because there are beasts to give and take everywhere, among which I must also highlight that I came across more powerful versions of the common enemies that gave quite a fight. and it took a lot to defeat them without dying in the attempt.
On the other hand, The encounters against final bosses also point out ways. The only one I fought was against Mantis, who apparently didn't get tired of taking beatings in the great Secret of Mana and has decided to try his luck again. The truth is that this fight left me with a great taste in my mouth because you not only have to limit yourself to mashing buttons, but you also have to be aware of his lethal attacks and how he interacts with the environment to avoid his special attacks, although These are clearly reflected on the ground to know where the impact will occur and thus avoid it.
In another order of things, the group of protagonists is made up of a total of three completely different characters from each other. Each one is specialized in a type of weapon and with just the press of a button you can alternate between one and the other, which is undoubtedly a bonus for alternating combos or for choosing the one that best adapts to certain situations. At the same time, they all have an energy bar that, when filled completely, unleashes a devastating attack with its own sequence that makes it look even more impressive.
Exploring your fantasy world
Beyond fighting whenever I had the chance, in this test version I was able to see both sides of the coin when it came to exploration. In the first part I had before me a huge open world I could explore it anywhere I wanted, which is why I kept coming across enemies or camps where there were some more imposing creatures like the ones I mentioned above.
Not leaving any corner unexamined is of vital importance because there are chests to give and take everywhere that are always good to open as they contain money or very useful objects for the journey. In addition, it is seen that Square Enix is aware that in the long run walking from one place to another can end up being somewhat exhausting, hence one of the biggest novelties of the game are the Pikuls.
These touching creatures in the form of giant wolves can be summoned at any time to climb on their backs and thus move at full speed around the stage. In fact, Koichi Ishii, the creator of the saga, has acknowledged having been inspired by real and mythological animals when designing these adorable companions that will become a fundamental piece of travel through this fantasy world.
On the contrary, The dungeons seem to be a little more linear.. The only one I visited was outdoors, but it had only one path that had to be followed, but it helped me test another novelty of this adventure, which is a kind of boomerang that releases bursts of air. Thanks to it, the characters can ride a kind of tornado to reach other areas that would otherwise be inaccessible, although I was left wanting to see if it can only be used at certain specific times or not.
I am clear that Visions of Mana He hasn't shown me all the cards and he still has a few surprises in store. For example, I want to discover how interesting its plot will be, what other ways the characters can fight and, of course, what I want most is to get lost in its fantasy world while enjoying an epic adventure like the unforgettable ones in the titles. previous. In summary, another RPG to add to the list.
Visions of Mana sheet
- Platforms: PC, PS4, PS5 y Xbox Series
- Multiplayer: No
- Developer: NetEase Games / Square Enix
- Company: Square Enix
- Launch: summer 2024
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