(pssst, Backloggd: add also "Switch" since this is also part of "Collection of Mana")
This the game that started the Mana series feels like a Zelda roguelike where your point is to explore towns, dungeons and move on with the story. Many assets are obviously taken from Final Fantasy, specifically III since it was fresh new, and it shows: we have black mages, white mages, Chocobos and treasure sprites directly taken from it.
It can feel stiff (especially the inventory) and dungeons will definitely feel a lot repetitive and enduring, but once you get into it: well, it is a very great action game for Game Boy standards.
I would recommend this version over Adventures of Mana, a mediocre remake for PS Vita and phones, since it feels more genuine and presents better even if it's dated.
For anyone wanting a more visually appealing game: Sword of Mana is a mix of reboot/remake of this and can be a very valid alternative.
This the game that started the Mana series feels like a Zelda roguelike where your point is to explore towns, dungeons and move on with the story. Many assets are obviously taken from Final Fantasy, specifically III since it was fresh new, and it shows: we have black mages, white mages, Chocobos and treasure sprites directly taken from it.
It can feel stiff (especially the inventory) and dungeons will definitely feel a lot repetitive and enduring, but once you get into it: well, it is a very great action game for Game Boy standards.
I would recommend this version over Adventures of Mana, a mediocre remake for PS Vita and phones, since it feels more genuine and presents better even if it's dated.
For anyone wanting a more visually appealing game: Sword of Mana is a mix of reboot/remake of this and can be a very valid alternative.
The best Zelda game yet!
Finished the game at Max Level and with Best Equipment (not a particularly challenging feat in this game)
What I enjoyed
- i actually do enjoy it more than the first two Zelda games
- adding RPG elements to Zelda's field and dungeon gameplay is a fun innovation that blends the two genres in both good and bad ways
- A pretty good world and story for an early Game Boy game
- The leveling happens at a perfect rate where you'll never be too long between level ups, I never felt underleveled in my playthrough and was pretty much maxed by the time I was finishing the last dungeon
- Early example of a flexible leveling system in a JRPG
-Chocoboat
What I didn't like
- I know it's an old JRPG but oh my god the menuing is bad here. You have to open a menu whenever you want to switch weapons, choose a different spell or item (you can only have one of either equipped on the B-button), or ask your companion to use their ability and it just takes a lot out of the action combat.
- Map is kinda useless in most cases unfortunately
- Dungeons are pretty dull both in gameplay and theme, much like The Legend of Zelda
- I have a personal vendetta against breakable walls in games where the only way to find them is to attack every single wall in a dungeon with your weapon
Despite my complaints, it's still mostly what you'd expect of a very early action-RPG on the Game Boy and is worth playing if you want to see that type of game at its most simplistic
Finished the game at Max Level and with Best Equipment (not a particularly challenging feat in this game)
What I enjoyed
- i actually do enjoy it more than the first two Zelda games
- adding RPG elements to Zelda's field and dungeon gameplay is a fun innovation that blends the two genres in both good and bad ways
- A pretty good world and story for an early Game Boy game
- The leveling happens at a perfect rate where you'll never be too long between level ups, I never felt underleveled in my playthrough and was pretty much maxed by the time I was finishing the last dungeon
- Early example of a flexible leveling system in a JRPG
-Chocoboat
What I didn't like
- I know it's an old JRPG but oh my god the menuing is bad here. You have to open a menu whenever you want to switch weapons, choose a different spell or item (you can only have one of either equipped on the B-button), or ask your companion to use their ability and it just takes a lot out of the action combat.
- Map is kinda useless in most cases unfortunately
- Dungeons are pretty dull both in gameplay and theme, much like The Legend of Zelda
- I have a personal vendetta against breakable walls in games where the only way to find them is to attack every single wall in a dungeon with your weapon
Despite my complaints, it's still mostly what you'd expect of a very early action-RPG on the Game Boy and is worth playing if you want to see that type of game at its most simplistic