Secret of Mana (remake)

Secret of Mana, alternatively known as Secret of Mana HD, is a 2018 remake of the 1993 game of the same name. Released on the 25th anniversary year of the original, it is the second main-series title produced by Masaru Oyamada for Square Enix. Rendered in 2.5D widescreen definition with assistance from Q Studios, the remake incorporates identical gameplay to the original, but with a revised script that includes voice acting with additional cutscenes as well as an updated music score from longtime series composer Hiroki Kikuta. Following several months of testing and preview through 2017, the game was released for PlayStation 4, PlayStation Vita and Microsoft Windows PCs on February 15, 2018.

The remake is particularly notable for preserving the original story and gameplay, and yet it is also notorious for the sheer volume of bugs, glitches, and other missteps throughout its development that led to negative reception and low sales.

Gameplay changes

 * The Mode 7 scene when characters are shot from cannon travel is replaced with a black loading screen.
 * The game loads every few seconds every time a character enters a new room.
 * Buzz Bee no longer gets attacked upon the characters landing in Gaia's Navel on impact.
 * The user interface at the bottom of the screen now also displays MP and the current weapon equipped on the played character.
 * A mini map whose art style is reminiscent of the mobile phone version of the game is displayed on the top right corner of the screen. It can be turned off from the options.
 * Negative status effects are no longer shown in the status menu.
 * Additional cutscenes at inns are added before the characters go to bed.
 * Armor values (Defense, Evade and Magic Defense) and status effect protections for each gear in the inventory are now shown in the equipment menu.
 * Players can now have a full 360º range of movement when walking and attacking instead of four in the original release.
 * Game Log menu is a new addition to the main menu, making it easier to follow the story.
 * Players can now place items, weapons and/or spells on two hotkeys for easier access.
 * Players can now increase the consumable item carry limit to eight or twelve in the options instead of being limited to four in the original release.
 * Characters recover fully their MP upon leveling up.
 * Players cannot chain cast spells like in the SNES version.
 * Players are now not limited to the rubber band AI of the other party members and can go anywhere they want and make them come to you instantly if need be.
 * When the players sleep at the Inns. The players lie on the bed rather than get in the covers. Also when they're shrunk or Moogled, they automaticity get cured even before they lay down on the bed.
 * Players can now run in any direction with the energy meter depleting much slower than in the original version when you could only run in one direction and it would empty the meter completely.
 * Stairs are now treated as flat ground and thus can be traversed faster and without interruption.
 * Attacks doing zero damage are now displayed as MISS instead of 0 for the SNES version.
 * Javelin attacks can now pierce through enemies instead of being stuck to them like in the SNES version.
 * In order to find the Sprite's hidden village, players now need to traverse the Forest of Seasons from spring, to summer, to falls, to winter and then spring again, effectively going back to the spring map from the Moogle village. On the SNES, one would only have to go through summer, falls, winter and spring to unlock the path to the hidden village.
 * The Enemies Mystic Book and National Scar who originally flashed the Devil Magazine picture of a naked woman has been removed in the Playstation 4, Playstation Vita and PC remake.
 * The Playstation 4, Vita and PC now has a Trophies List Achievements.
 * It is no longer possible to get the Sword Orb cheat without casting Dryad's Mana Magic spell.

Story changes

 * Additional scenes where added when players would visit an Inn. Characters will discuss previous or current game plots.
 * After completing the Underground Palace, Luka will now telepathically reach the player to inform him about an incident in the Water Palace.
 * After completing the Underground Palace, Pamaela is now blocking the path to Pandora Ruins and must be interacted in order to pass. This is in contrast to the SNES version when she would be wandering near the path and the player could opt not to talk to her.
 * The clue for revealing the path to Sprite Village is no longer in verse. Popoi now recites it as follows:
 * "Walk the seasons from spring to winter. When you reach spring again, the village will appear."


 * Players now are prevented to leave the Wind Palace until they've interacted with the Mana Seed. In the SNES version, they could leave as soon as receiving Sylphid.

Cosmetic changes

 * Cutscenes are now added for important plot events.
 * This game now features voice acting cutscenes. Also, every character the players talk to has voice acting. Also Randi, Primm, Popoi now talk during battle. Players can choose to hear them in Japanese or English.
 * The sound effects from the original has been replaced.
 * The player can choose between the original soundtrack and the remake soundtrack.
 * Many of the enemy sprite models have been altered.
 * When performing any activity in battle, certain numbers will use different colors vs. the original version: damage points are now yellow, critical damage is orange, HP recovery is green, and MP recovery is blue.
 * When a character lands a critical hit, the victim no longer "gets whacked!" and instead simply "takes a critical hit!".
 * Neko will now leave the Witch's Castle as soon as the player defeat Spiky Tige r whereas he would remain in its cell until the player go outside the dungeon.
 * Jema's name in the original SNES version has been respelled Gemma.
 * Phanna's name in the original SNES version has been renamed Pamaela.
 * Players can now walk behind the altar when Thanatos initially stands in Pandora Ruins. In the SNES, the altar texture extended all the way to the back wall.
 * Stone totems, which can be found in various places, no longer stick out their tongue upon being hit with a weapon.
 * Geshtar can now only be interacted to the front since its character model has been moved to the stairs of its pedestal on the Sandship. On the SNES, it was possible to speak with it at an angle, making its sprite facing to the side.
 * As with the mobile ports, players can now walk on the edge of the narrow path in the Ice Palace, making dodging enemies and reaching switches easier.
 * The top right interactable sphere's text in Mandala Temple has been slightly modified and is no longer referencing Abe Lincoln and Jeopardy!, making its reference Who Wants to Be a Millionaire.
 * The Matango catchphrase "Gontma" no longer means "Goodbye" as it was replaced by "Ognatam".
 * The Tree Palace was renamed Mana Palace.

References to other games

 * Adventures of Mana - A portrait of Sumo can be found in the basement of Potos Elder's house.
 * Adventures of Mana - A portrait of Fuji can be found in Pamaela's house in Pandora.
 * Adventures of Mana - A portrait of Bogard and Fuji's Mother can be found in the reception room in the castle of Pandora.
 * Adventures of Mana - A portrait of Marcie can be found in the Cannon Man's house in Kippo Village. This is befitting the fact that in the original Final Fantasy Adventure game, Marcie was created by Dr. Bowow which in turn is a direct ispiration for the Cannon Man character.
 * Trials of Mana - Vuscav's flag can be found on top of the central hut of Turtle Shell Isle.
 * Trials of Mana - Duran's ultimate weapon for his Paladin class, the Brave Blade can be found hanging on a wall in the King's room in the Republic of Tasnica.
 * Legend of Mana - A portrait of Niccolo can be found at Neko's which in fitting since they share the same name in japanese.
 * Legend of Mana - A portrait of the Hero (Toto in japanese) can be found in northeastern house in Tropics BEFORE Salamando's rescue.
 * Legend of Mana - A portrait of the Heroine (Imu in japanese) can be found in northeastern house in Tropics AFTER Salamando's rescue.
 * Legend of Mana - A portrait of Pearl can be found at Gold City shop.
 * Legend of Mana - Li'l Cactus' pot can be found at the inn in Kakkara.
 * Legend of Mana - The Sword of Fate obtained from the Teardrop Crystal quest by choosing Pearl is found hanging on a wall in Watts's forge in Dwarf Village.
 * Children of Mana - During one of the Inn Cutscenes, Popoi mentions that they have found a rare plant that the showed to his Grandpa. This is a reference to the Lake Flower item which description reads as follow: A rare flower that blooms in the outer reaches of Star Lake. Believed to grow only in this area, it is highly prized for its medicinal uses.
 * Children of Mana - Near the end of the game, the Mana Tree mentions that Soon all the Mana beasts in the world will be transformed into one giant creature. The term Mana Beast was translated as Benevodons in some languages, leading to some speculations linking the Malevodons from Children of Mana being the result of such transformation.
 * Rise of Mana - A plushie of Shyarumu (Sharm) can be found at the inn in Todo Village.
 * Rise of Mana - A portrait of Rein & Vahn can be found at the inn in Mandala.
 * Rise of Mana - The Wing Sword (ウィングソード) can be found hanging alongside other pieces of equipmenta at the shop in Northtown.

References in later games

 * Legend of Mana - Flammies is referenced many times in the Encyclopedias in the protagonist house. On entry called The Dark One speaks about a dragon race called Flammie.

Development and release
As early as 2017, Oyamada floated the possibility of a remake in time for the Secret of Mana 25th anniversary. More details surfaced in the form of gameplay footage later in the year, and the project was submitted to Q Studios for development and conversion. The 2.5D remake was ultimately released on February 15, 2018 on PlayStation 4, PlayStation Vita, and Windows PCs, with a physical PS4 Blu-ray release available to select retailers. Players who pre-ordered digitally also received two selectable costume sets for the party to wear in-game. Reviews of the remake were initially mixed; but unfortunately, several show-stopping bugs were hit upon by a number of reviewers and players, who then blasted Square Enix for delivering a rushed and/or unfinished game. Although many of the worst bugs are now patched out as of late 2018, the remake remains one of the least-recommended in the series as a whole.

Trivia

 * Fanha is the only of Emperor Vandole's generals that doesn't yield an achievement upon defeat.
 * The Obtain all torso, head and arm gear achievements depict the most protective end-game equipment dropped from rare enemies. They are respectively the Faerie Cloak, dropped by Master Ninjas, the Griffin Helm, dropped by Griffin Hands, and the Faerie's Ring, dropped by Wolf Lords.