Kids who are unfamiliar with the series, though, may be left with some questions about the plot - and as a result, might have a hard time getting engrossed in Echoes of Mana's missions and fantasy world. Hardcore fans might get a kick out of seeing the classic Mana characters. Still, even with some viewing issues, the battles provide a nice break from the meandering story. Conversely, characters sometimes move off screen as they're fighting, making the action hard to follow. The battle action isn't always completely smooth - with multiple characters fighting at once in the same area, it can be hard to tell exactly what's going on. They can select their character's battle moves as they play, and if they think of it ahead of time, can customize their allies' strategy settings to target the closest enemy or the same one kids are attacking. They'll have a decent amount of control in them, though, if they don't opt to automate those scenes. The battles, unfortunately, don't happen as frequently and may not last as long as kids would like. Before they can click through to the next screen, kids have to wait while another character pauses and responds to a comment with "." A number of conversations feel pointless because they don't reveal more about the characters or plot. In addition to leaving out some key details, the storyline unfolds at a fairly slow pace. After rescuing someone from a jail cell your character suddenly appears in - without any explanation of how or why they arrived - kids set off on a series of quests without knowing how a weapon could save a tree, or what to do with it when they find it, one of several unclear plot points. The storyline involves trying to find a special sword to save the Mana Tree, which supposedly can restore life. Echoes of Mana is the latest installment in the Mana game series, which was introduced more than two decades ago. While the graphics are excellent, other aspects of the app aren't notably original or exciting. Click the link to subscribe.Ĭlick to follow Telangana Today Facebook page and Twitter. Now you can get handpicked stories from Telangana Today on Telegrameveryday. Give it a try if the mana franchise is something you like.
The nostalgia is strong with this one though. In my twenty hours with the game, all I could witness were F2P constants like in-game purchases and micro-transactions. With a solid plot accompanied by robust gameplay dynamics, Echoes of Mana is a good game but it doesn’t offer us any insights into Square Enix’s blockchain and NFT plans. The sound, visuals, and gameplay are at a level that does justice to the Square Enix name. However, I found that the narrative is too heavy in the early parts of the game and first-time players of the Mana franchise may not have the patience to sit through hours of dialogue. The game offers an endless grind if you are up for it as characters, gear, and abilities all need to be constantly leveled up. Just like any modern free-to-play game, Echoes of Mana offers daily rewards for login and play along with daily missions and objectives. The game prioritizes and rewards for efficiently killing the enemies and thus unless you want to spend actual money, the best rewards aren’t achievable through automatic combat. From the gameplay screen shots I wonder if it has the semi- turn based/semi-action gameplay of the older mana games (kind of like chrono trigger). However, for those willing to battle it out, the game offers unique mechanics and a classic Pokémon style strength/weakness system for you to strategize and fend off waves of enemies in a classic 2D left-to-right combat system. In terms of gameplay, the combat is simplistic and can actually be automated in parts or entirety if you wish to sit back and just take in the experience. It also incorporates a classical gacha mechanic where players can draw heroes and characters to augment their teams during the combat sequences. A game built to tap into its players’ nostalgia, Echoes of Mana offers the franchise’s most popular characters to play through its narrative. Thus, as these transactions and their consequences begin to manifest, this week’s game Echoes of Mana is important to review as it shows us not just what the game can do but also the possible trajectory that Square Enix wishes to take in the future.Įchoes of Mana is a continuation in the Mana franchise of games that was announced at the franchise’s 30-year celebrations in 2021. In a deal worth 300 million dollars, Square Enix has parted with Crystal Dynamics, Eidos Montreal, and its own Montreal studio.