Because it's awesome, that's why, and to celebrate the release of this retro jewel on the Virtual Console, tonight we'll be discussing the Secret of Mana games. Some of you may know it as Seiken Densetsu, or maybe even as Final Fantasy Adventure for the Game Boy.
Regardless of what you call it, it pretty much ruled, and an action RPG by any other name would smell as, um ... I dunno, ass-kicky. What started as a spinoff eventually grew to become one of Square's finest franchises without having to carry the Final Fantasy nameplate. Too bad they aren't so willing to try that again nowadays, huh? Hit the comments with your questions for us this week
| BBcode help |
| [b]Bold text[/b] |
Bold text |
| [i]Italic text[/i] |
Italic text |
| [url]http://www.dtoid.com/[/url] |
http://www.dtoid.com |
| [url=http://www.dtoid.com/]Web link[/url] |
Web link |
|
| [img]http://www.example.com/robot.jpg[/img] |
 |
Post a comment! You can also post a photo below:
Comment with Facebook
Click connect and comment instantly!
|
Comment with Dtoid
New? SIGN UP - it takes 5 seconds
|
83 comments | showing # 1 to 50
|
Comment with Facebook
Click connect and comment instantly!
|
Comment with Dtoid
New? SIGN UP - it takes 5 seconds
|
Comments policy
Destructoid is an open discussion community. You don't need to "audition" to post a comment - just speak your mind. We respect differing opinions on the site, so have at it. Be smart, funny, insightful, clueless, or cute -- but back it up with substance. Keep your cool, keep it fun. We only ask that you act respectfully and above all: don't be a troll and ruin it for everyone else. Don't bring down gamers or we'll, you know, gently shoot you in the face and stuff you into a flaming mailbox. Each comment is your opportuntity to make this community awesomer. Is that even a word?
Avoiding the banhammer only requires common sense: spamming, trolling, racism, NSFW stuff, and other forms of sucking will not be tolerated. If anyone is griefing please report abuse. Be good. Don't suck!
Contest:
5:24 PM on 10.16.2008
| 
Anyways I has a request, maybe for a future episode (maybe a retro-limbo episode) perhaps you guys could do a fighting game show? That is of course if you haven't done on already... I better go check :P
Also, sorry this isn't a SoM question (I unfortunately never touched the series), but, what do you think this new Mega Man boss DLC everyone is talking about going to be? Everyone seems to be going for Star Force Mega Man, since Capcom released an 8-bit version of him. Would you pay for the chance to kick this reject-Mega-Man's ass?
With RPGs coming in all flavors now (turn based, action, rts, first person etc) which is your all time fave and which do you think we need to see more of nowadays?
Also I hope the cast is as handsome as always, you guys rock.
Secret of Mana is my favorite RPG ever. I bought it randomly at a car boot sale for £5....So awesome.
Quite surprising how great it is despite it's many programming flaws (Not sure if you knew that SoM was originally designed for the SNES CD addon, but was then shifted to regular SNES when that fell through - That's why there are so many bugs and things missing in the game)
On top of that, one of my favorite soundtracks ever! What are your favorite tracks? I'm rather partial to the song that is played in the credits.
I can't think why Square has never made a Mana game that has come close to this installments greatness.
MATANGO!
1.Do you ever think we will ever see a mana game that will be just as good as Secret of Mana?
2.I remember hearing from someone in a past episode that they would like to do an Earthbound episode when the Mother 3 translation comes out. So I just gotta ask are we gonna see one in the future?
3. This is kind of a random question but have any of you guys seen the old video game tv shows from the early 90s? Gamepro TV and Video Power were so awesomely bad I'm surprized that anyone on the show hasn't commented about those shows at least once.
You can do a youtube search for some old gamepro tv episodes if you care to see them.
Has a boss ever made you give up on a game, either cos there were frustratingly unbeatable, or just cos they were lame/jumped the shark? If so, which one? why?
Also, I don't believe you can mispronounce my name.
I'm not old and/or crusty enough to reminisce...
I'm in the underground palace fighting the fire goblin and he just handing me my ass. I need to level up more
How many of you have played the translated SD3? Who was your favourite character in that one? How fucking epic are Hiroki Kikuta's soundtracks for SD2 and 3?
After much thought, and starting to play Secret of Mana on the VC again, I have come to the realization that Secret of Mana is my FAVORITE VIDEOGAME OF ALL TIME. (There. I said it.) Everything from the characters, to the music (especially the music), to the magic and battle system is epic. I LOVE this game. <3 <3 <3 <3
Anyway, question time: Who did you play this game with? I remember playing with my little brother and letting him play as the "boy" while I controlled all the magic casting (i.e. spamming).
I also remember it being necessary to grind my character's magic spells, so I would go to the snow area and fight the wolves until I leveled my magic as high as it would go. Tell me you guys did the same thing :P
Anyway, cant wait to hear this episode! BEST GAME EVER!
Anyway
That spell only works in the final battle and temporarily transforms the sword so you can damage the Mana Beast. It's a real pain in the ass. However with the SNES cart, there is a glitch you can do to get an extra Sword's Orb and upgrade the sword to the Mana Sword permanently. It has waaaay higher attack than any other weapon, but you still need to cast the spell on it when fighting the Mana Beast to hurt it.
How do you all think a game like Secret of Mana would do, were it to be initially released in this day and age alongside the current big hitters coming like Little Big Planet, Gears of War 2, Left 4 Dead and Fallout 3? Would it be overshadowed by such games and just be a sleeper hit or do you think it could actually outshine the others and make itself known to core and casual gamers alike?
I ask that question with the intent of not having SoM compared graphic-wise, but gameplay/story-wise.
Also, Watts. Greatest blacksmith ever or GREATEST BLACKSMITH EVER!?
I have a couple of questions. What was up with the special magic spell animations on the highest levels? It took a lot of work to get there. Did they have any special meaning that I missed somewhere else in the game? I don't think that they were extra-powerful or anything.
There was a bug in one of the towns where, if you left the town in a specific direction between certain tasks, the whole game would freeze and your saved game would become corrupted. I'm curious if this has been fixed in the VC release.
The music is great in this game. Who did it and where do I get it?
Last question: Of these, which is the best SNES RPG? Mario RPG, Chrono Trigger, Secret of Mana, or Earthbound?
I will try to avoid using the Japanese names in this post(though, admit it, Seiken Densetsu sound cooler).
Shown: Final Fantasy Adventure, Secret of Mana & Legend of Mana
This episode better extend beyond JUST Secret of Mana though. Don't forget to mention Final Fantasy Adventure and the rest of the series.
I really like this game , but I liked Legend of Mana more. I know though that a lot of other people who played Secret of Mana before Legend of Mana hated it. What were your feelings of the Legend of Mana?
Did you feel it blended beat'em up style combat system into a (relatively)traditional RPG formula well?
On another Legend of Mana related note, if you have played it, did any of you get the Chocobo pet?
Did you guys ever get to play Seiken Densetsu 3 which was only released in Japan(or the fan translation)? If not, do you want SquareEnix to bring it over? If so, opinions?
Opinions about Final Fantasy Adventure(the first game in the series)? How about the crappy GBA remake of it?
In Secret of Mana, did you always walk around with a fully charged attack, or did you just slash around with the basic attack?
Did you guys buy the multi-tap so you could have that third person play with you?
How much superior to main series Final Fantasys was the Mana series at that time?
I know Koichi Ishii said somewhere that he wants each Mana game to be different from each other and unique in their game type. The recent 3 Mana games (Children, Heroes, and Dawn) suxxed majorly(with Heroes being the best at just decent). Where would you like to see the series go in the next iteration WITHOUT rehashing an old game engine?
----
Record a good episode. I totally wish I could be there for a live debate(on why Legend of Mana is the best in the series) and discussion(about the rest). This series is definitely one of my favorites, if not my all time favorite.
I forgot exactly how it went, but I think I got my point across.
If Nintendo were to release VC games as multiplayer online offerings, I'd be buying more. Especially games like this.
^Final Fantasy Adventure, Secret of Mana, and Legend of Mana
Now I just need money so I can play it.
The level 8 special versions of the spells were not something that happened 100% of the time, and they did actually do more damage when the special animations played. I just liked them because they looked cool though.
http://secretofmana.planets.gamespy.com/nintendopower.html
That was pretty awesome of them do do a big coverage on Secret of mana.
Did anyone else play it with a friend(s)? When I was growing up I didn’t have any gamer friends, so I never got to experience the magic. Earlier this year my boyfriend decided we should play through it together and it was awesome!
Secret of Mana’s multiplayer is much cooler than Final Fantasy 3’s which just lets the second player enter commands for half the party.
Are there any other RPGs y’all like which have multiplayer elements?
Its too bad Secret of Evermore didn’t include multiplayer :(
Also, not-related, but still retro current events (kind of an oxymoron). The Mother 3 fan translation... This weekend man... This weekend... How excited about it are you, how are you going to be playing it, and how stupid is Nintendo of America for not releasing their work on WiiWare or something?
@RFGO! Crew: Do you think there's any chance we could see Secret of Mana DS? If so, how many seconds after its announcement would it take for you be drooling uncontrollably?
Question: If you could update Secret of Mana, what things would you change without totally revamping the game (i.e. 3D upgrade...)? The main thing I would change would be the circle wheel selector. If I could change items/weapons/spells on the fly without pausing the game would be great. It would make the game much more dynamic and fluid. I remember fighting bosses was nothing but a pause fest. Constantly pausing, select spell, unpause...repeat.
Never the less great pick for this week!
2.Hidden secrets in the game or the history.
3. Prefer to play old school games on gaming console or portable device (tiny little screens)? Compare and contrast.
Let it be known, the most annoying boss in the game remains the spikey tiger thing in the witches castle. It is the last boss that you face before getting any kind of magic, hence they made sure that you're REALLY happy when you can finally heal yourself.
One particular part of the game is very much flawed, however. You may end up stuck in the game until you talk to a specific, incognito npc in the golden city. Me and my brother hit that snap for about 5 hours, trying to figure out why we couldn't continue. (it's the robed guy at the end of the city wall passage that you need to talk to, btw)
If you guys could all be in your own RPG your the party of four, you would be what type of character like would you be the mage or warrior type kind of thing? also what would the story be?
If you could have any game modern or retro turn in to an RPG, similar story and characters what game would it be and why?
Also what is your favorite cheesy RPG cliche? Mine is defiantly that you can go in anyone's house and take whatever is in their treasure chest.
Oh well, Secret of Mana is awesome so that makes up for it. =D
Although with the N64 in mind, do you think that Secret of Mana (I hope you don't mind I call the series Secret of Mana instead of Seiken Densetsu.) is something that can work in 3D? Or is Secret of Mana something that you consider to strictly be a 2D game? I haven't played Dawn of Mana (the first 3D game in the series) but the general buzz about that was that it was not so good...
And if Square-Enix would make a new Mana 2D game (that doesn't suck) for consoles, would you want it to be a retail release or downloadable game? Also would you want the graphics to be HD hand drawn sprites, Isometric 2.5D with some cinematic camera angles during big events, or Super Nintendo style pixel art (Mode 7 included) ala a Mega Man 9 like "Retro Make"?
(you can add that to your New Gamer Dictionary Anthony.)
this will be up there with the disney episode as the best episode ever!!! that is until there is the earthbound/mother3 episode... but i think itll all just keep tying for first.
best game in the SD series is still SD2 by the way. 3 was too formulaic, 1 was a bit unrefined. legend was weak though i cant say i played it enough to pass judgement (ugh that map system ;_;)
i never played the ps2 game and dont plan to, the DS game was obnoxious.
in short; mana orbs, flammie, watts, sprite, jabberwoky, rabites, santa, and that robot thing (frick i forget its name) are where its at. SD2 wins.
My question for this week is:
In your opinion, Which game had the best soundtrack, Secret of Mana, Chrono Trigger, or FF3?
The only thing I remember about it is the magazine ad, which is pretty much the same as the header image: Three people standing at the bottom of a huge ass tree. And as a kid, I looked at that, and thought "a game about a huge ass tree? Why?" But now I'm regretting it.
So I guess my question is (and excuse me for not being strictly Secret of Mana related), did any of yous guys, when you were kids, back when quick internet research was impossible, ever see a magazine ad for a game and instantly thought "well eff that ess, do not want!" so you pass on it, and later on in life, it turns out to be an epic classic and you kick yourself for missing out?
I got to play Seiken Densetsu 3. The gameplay is a bit different but I think it was more enjoyable. You can't go wrong when the characters make a joke about the swordsman's porno collection.
I also love the series' use of the radial menus. It's a simple, graphic and intuitive, spin and click.
cant wait to hear it =D