Mana fans, rejoice! One of Square Enix’s classic series is finally getting a new mainline title after a period of remasters and re-releases, and it took over 10 years to get here, but finally, here we are!

Visions of Mana is looking to be an exciting entry in the beloved Mana series, and ahead of its August 29 launch, we were afforded the opportunity to check out the game early to give our thoughts.

Related – Visions of Mana Demo Now Available

A recurring theme throughout this preview is how much of Visions of Mana honors its rich history. Apart from familiar elements, the game exudes the charm and heart of a Mana title, so consider this based on what you’re looking for!

The Mana series is renowned for its bright and colorful visuals and charming character designs, a tradition that is faithfully upheld in Visions of Mana. The main cast, including Val and Careena, whom you’ll accompany on the journey to the Mana Tree, features unique and vibrant wardrobe that fits the world well despite their flamboyant designs.

The areas you’ll traverse on your adventure are equally breathtaking, with each biome representing a specific element. In the preview, we went to a locale that had a massive volcano overlooking the town and even breezy plains that extended as far as the eye could see. As a Mana title, expect to visit diverse landscapes, such as ice-capped mountains and deserts, throughout your journey!

The inhabitants of the world of Visions of Mana are often hostile, so their cute appearances can be deceiving. Even from the very first Mana game, enemies have had adorable designs that might make you question their danger, and this is no different.

Visions of Mana, like most JRPGs, follows a generally linear adventure centered around Val’s journey with the Alms to the Mana Tree. However, what stands out from our experience so far is the vastness of the areas you traverse. During our time with the game, we were treated to a sprawling green field that encouraged exploration, with various points of interest such as treasure chests, Elementites, and crucial save points scattered off the beaten path.

It’s nice to see just how expansive everything is in Visions of Mana. Towns feel like actual towns, and even the fields are ripe for exploration, offering rewards for curious adventurers.

Adding to the exploration are the adorable Pikuls, which you can summon and ride to expedite your journey. While they make travel easier, riding Pikuls prevents you from engaging in battles, as they simply ram through enemies. Therefore, if you plan to grind and improve your combat prowess, it’s best to travel on foot.

Combat in Visions of Mana remains real-time, consistent with past entries. There is a seamless transition from exploration to combat, where you are surrounded by a ring and must defeat your foes to advance, or you can run to the edge to escape the battle.

A strategic and customizable element is introduced in Visions of Mana through the Elemental Vessels you acquire along your journey. These vessels not only change your class, providing a visual makeover and unique abilities, but also alter your default weapon.

For instance, Val can wield a sword, zweihander, or lance, depending on his equipped vessel. This system allows you to tailor your fighting style by forming your own trio from the cast and equipping them to your preference. Elements play a crucial role in combat, requiring you to switch Elemental Vessels to exploit weaknesses and protect against them.

While the combat is standard hack-and-slash with some magic, utilizing the Mana series’ signature Ring Menu, it remains engaging. You can bring up the Ring Menu at any time to cycle through your inventory of items, magic, and abilities.

You can use up to three party members at a time, and players are given the ability to switch freely between the three at anytime, adding a layer of strategy and helping you maintain momentum in battles.

It’s actually surprising that the AI-controlled companions can decently hold their own in a fight, even on the default settings. Despite that, it’s very much appreciated that you can adjust AI behavior according to your preferences as well.  

Overall, the combat doesn’t reinvent the wheel but offers a fun experience in the context of an action RPG. The controls are responsive, fluid, and easy to pick up, engaging all players of varying skill.

Visions of Mana excels in the music department, with tunes that are both pleasant and fitting for the various areas you visit. Certain pieces of music effectively capture the atmosphere and theme of their respective locations. For instance, a grand city features elegant and calming music, while mountainous areas have more adventurous tunes.

However, the character voices are somewhat inconsistent. While the Japanese voice cast is consistently enjoyable, the English voices, particularly those of the NPCs, often sound as if they are being read rather than performed. The main cast’s English voices are decent, albeit a bit exaggerated, but still serviceable.

Our preview experience of Visions of Mana was not without issues. If you’re still on a PS4, expect some lengthy loading times between areas, with the fast travel option taking up to half a minute. Slowdowns also occurred, especially when approaching enemies, causing the screen to freeze momentarily to load them in.

On the PS5, however, Visions of Mana was a silky-smooth time. Loading times are quick and almost non-existent, and moving in and out of battles was seamless, flowing from moment to moment in smooth succession that doesn’t distract from gameplay.

Overall, based on a small slice of gameplay, Visions of Mana is shaping up to be a solid and fun new entry in the Mana series. There are several familiar elements that will immediately be recognizable to series veterans, but newcomers will not find anything intimidating enough to shoo them away.

It’s too early to say if this will hold throughout the game, especially if the story can deliver, but we remain hopeful as we approach its release date.

Visions of Mana is scheduled to release on August 29, 2024, for PS4, PS5, Xbox Series, and PC via Steam.