Charming Visuals, Atrocious Voice Acting

Trials of Mana

- Tim Augustin

AT A GLANCE

DEVELOPER

Xeen

PUBLISHER

Square Enix

GENRE

Action, RPG

PLATFORM

PC, PS4, Nintendo Switch

PLAYERS

Single

Between Resident Evil 3, Final Fantasy 7 and Pokémon Mystery Dungeon: Rescue Team DX, we’re pretty much living in a golden age for nostalgia. Games are getting remade left and right - so of course the iconic Seiken Densetsu 3 would get similar treatment, given its iconic stature as an RPG from the Super Famicom era.

So, where does Trials of Mana land on the spectrum of remake quality?

Right out of the gate, Trials of Mana does a great job of differentiating itself from other RPGs. When booting up the game for the first time, you are given six different characters to choose from - one to be the main character, and two more to act as companions. The game will then unfold in one of six different ways. Depending on which main character you chose, you’ll start in entirely different locations and play through lengthy backstories, before you meet up with your companions and start your true journey.

This is a really, really unique way to play through an RPG, and lends it a ton of replayability. That being said, it is also pretty flawed in execution. I’ve restarted my game once because my selection of characters bored me to tears.