(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.
A fun little game that's easy to get into. Feels kind of like a Game Boy Zelda game without the polish.
An excellent blend of The Legend of Zelda and Final Fantasy into one of the infest action RPGs for the Game Boy. This game also had a solid story that would end up giving birth to the Mana series, and if memory serves featured the first time a Final Fantasy title had real time combat. The mix of action gameplay and RPG elements works very smoothly here and the weapon system that also doubles as a way to interact with the environment was a nice touch as well.
Mastered for RetroAchievements. I liked this a fair bit, and if it was 20 years ago and I had the patience to get lost in this game for hours on end, I would have probably loved it. As it is now though, I'd never recommend playing this without a guide unless you know you enjoy that kind of thing. It doesn't help that it's possible to softlock in at least one dungeon a couple hours into the game. It's still a fun adventure though, I have to check out the rest of the Mana series sometime, I'm sure I'd like them a lot.