Visions Of Mana Review - Limited Tunnel Vision
The Mana series has a long and admittedly inconsistent history. There have been ups and downs, but games like Trials of Mana hold a special place in my heart. Decades on from that game's original release and a few years from its remake, the Mana series has another swing at a full-fledged title with Visions of Mana. As the first original mainline game since 2006's Dawn of Mana, does Visions still have the juice for something revelatory? Unfortunately, no. Visions of Mana is not a worthy successor to the series’ best nor worth the time it takes to excavate its few virtues to find that out.
Like many of the games in the Mana series, Visions takes place in a new world with similar touchstones to previous titles: There is a Mana tree, monster-like elementals governing the natural forces of the world, animal demi-humans, and the like. In Visions' world, however, these forces are constantly waning and require the sacrifice of seven souls every four years to the Mana tree. It is considered an honor to be chosen to die for the Mana tree and the vast majority of characters treat it as such, including the entire main cast, who make a point to never think too hard about it.
Visions of Mana is about going on a journey with some of the least introspective characters that have ever been written into a story. The cast never thinks long term about their own fates or the men, women, and children that have been sacrificed before them or will be sacrificed after. A traditional story about breaking the cycle and pondering their destinies just never comes, leaving the main cast feel like poorly-written caricatures that are barely involved in their own narrative.
Continue Reading at GameSpotDate: |
-
GameSpot - Tech
HTC Vive Focus Vision Revealed, Preorders Live Now
Anyone looking to experience virtual reality can choose from several brands, and if you're searching for something new, HTC has just announced its latest standalone Vive Vision VR headset . On its ...Yesterday -
VentureBeat - Tech
HTC launches Vive Focus Vision XR headset for enterprises and high-end gaming
HTC Vive is launching the Vive Focus Vision XR headsets for enterprises and high-end gaming fans.Yesterday -
The Guardian - World
Character Limit by Kate Conger and Ryan Mac review – Musk’s Twitter takeover
Behind the scenes of a corporate acquisition that changed social media for ever. There was a time, just three or four years ago, when you could follow the news closely and not hear about Elon Musk ...Yesterday -
GameSpot - Tech
Maleficent Joins Disney Speedstorm In Limited-Time Event
The kart racer Disney Speedstorm has already included a wide selection of racers from new and classic films across Disney animation, Pixar, and even live-action franchises. But so far the game has ...2 days ago -
GameSpot - Tech
Frostpunk 2 Review
Frostpunk 2's challenging gameplay makes for a compelling experience despite a dour and cynical view of human nature.2 days ago -
Financial Times - World
Data centres must work ‘within climate limits’, says Irish minister
Energy demands of AI place strain on power supplies2 days ago - Climate -
ABC News - Top stories
Instagram introduces 'Teen Accounts' with built-in limits, parental controls
Instagram CEO Adam Mosseri announced the new feature exclusively on "Good Morning America."2 days ago -
CBS News - Top stories
Save up to 30% on Hexclad cookware sets for a limited time
Don't miss this opportunity to upgrade your kitchen cookware with Hexclad cookware, now on sale for up to 30% off.2 days ago -
The New York Times - Top stories
Trump Suggests Restoring the State and Local Tax Break He Once Limited
Former President Donald J. Trump’s 2017 tax law capped the state and local tax deduction at $10,000. He said on Tuesday that he would lift that limit.2 days ago - Donald Trump
More from GameSpot
-
GameSpot - Tech
The Gears Of War Card Game Is 20% Off At Amazon
The Gears of War series hasn’t seen much movement in recent years, with Gears 5 dropping in 2019 followed by Gears Tactics in 2020. Gears of War: E-Day was announced at the Xbox Games Showcase ...1 hour ago -
GameSpot - Tech
Save Big On Prelude To Dune Graphic Novels Ahead Of House Corrino's December Release
If you've enjoyed Denis Villeneuve's adaptations of Dune and want to spend more time in Arrakis, there's an ongoing series of graphic novels that tells the story Arrakis leading up to the ...5 hours ago -
GameSpot - Tech
Star Wars: Skeleton Crew Was Inspired By An Unexpected Video Game Series
Later this year, Skeleton Crew will introduce several new characters to the Star Wars universe, including Jude Law's Force-empowered Jod Na Nawood and Jaleel White's cyborg pirate, Gunter. While ...5 hours ago -
GameSpot - Tech
20 Best Games Like Elden Ring To Play In 2024
From Software's games have had an outsized effect on the gaming landscape since the release of Dark Souls, but none have had as big an impact as Elden Ring. The impact is so big, in fact, that for ...5 hours ago -
GameSpot - Tech
Logitech Releases New Gaming Keyboards, Mice, Headsets, And Modular Racing Wheels
Logitech is refreshing its catalog of PC gaming peripherals with a new batch of accessories launching soon. One of the biggest announcements is a new Genshin Impact edition of Logitech's ...6 hours ago