Overview
Trials of Mana is an action-RPG, remake of Seiken Densetsu 3 developed by Square Enix and published by Square Enix, released in 2020. I played it on Nintendo Switch.
I never played the original game, but I enjoyed discovering this remake on Switch.
Story and world
At the start of the adventure, you choose three heroes out of six: Duran, Angela, Kevin, Charlotte, Hawkeye and Riesz. The first character you pick becomes the protagonist, and this choice determines the main thread of the story and the final boss. The world is threatened by the weakening of the Mana Tree, and several factions seek to seize the Sword of Mana.
It's an old-school JRPG, very linear, with good storytelling. Every character brings real added value to the story, and they aren't just bland NPCs.
Gameplay
Battles take place in real time, with a party of three characters: you control one, and you can switch from one to another at any time.
The class system is fairly simplistic, but it has the merit of being clear. Each character changes class at certain level milestones, choosing between a path of light and a path of darkness.
Graphics and music
The remake moves from the 2D of the Super Famicom version to 3D, with a colourful art direction. Hiroki Kikuta's soundtrack is rearranged, and you can play with the original music.
Verdict
A very good old-school JRPG, very linear, with good storytelling and characters who all matter. The class system is simple but clear. Without knowing the original, I enjoyed playing it.