We tested the video game “Visions of Mana”

The big return of the Mana license brings a new formula that will delight action-RPG fans, while dazzling with its magnificent landscapes and colorful characters.

Loic Decrausaz / jvmag

Visions of Mana is an action-RPG developed by the studio Ouka Studios and published by Square Enix which was released on August 29 on Playstation 5, PS4, Xbox Series X|S and PC (Steam).

The Visions of Mana adventure takes place in the beautiful kingdom of Aeloria. An incredibly beautiful and diverse universe. A world that thrives on a mystical energy, Mana, controlled by an ancient sacred tree. Unfortunately, everything does not go as planned. Indeed, a strange evil force corrupts this magical power and gradually causes the entire kingdom to fall into chaos.

This is where Val comes in. A young hero who was chosen by the spirits of Mana to become the guardian and restore peace to the world and stop this evil force. So this will be your main protagonist. Know that during the rest of the adventure, several very endearing characters will be added to the group. Each of course having very specific skills as well as their story to discover.

Eye-catching gameplay

To sum up the fighting style, take a bit of Tales of Arise tactics and some Kingdom Hearts style fun and you’ll get Visions of Mana. The handling is simply well thought out and very well implemented. Three characters are playable at the same time. Each has their own class (warrior, mage, healer, thief, tank, etc.).​

The other big part of the gameplay is discovery. The game encourages us to explore every corner of the kingdom and exploration is always well rewarded.

There are a multitude of class creations for the five characters in the group. Eight different ones for each character, which gives us no less than forty different classes! There is plenty to diversify and find your favorite composition. I advise you to test them all, just to find what suits you best in terms of gameplay.

The other big part of the gameplay is discovery. The game encourages us to explore every corner of the kingdom and exploration is always well rewarded.

Artistic direction, graphics and soundtrack

Visually, Visions of Mana is splendid. Throughout my trip, I always wanted to see more. If you like diversity, you will be served. All areas are unique and no two are alike. From the arid desert, to the green plains, to the snow-capped mountains. As I mentioned above, it is a truly colorful and unique journey, a visual feast. Each environment is rich in detail and makes the game world more than alive.

The animations of spells and attacks are stunning, a real feast for the eyes. The more the adventure progresses, the more spectacular they become. Square Enix truly masters its subject.

Let’s talk a little about the soundtrack, it’s also, unsurprisingly, a very good pick for the ears. The entire Visions of Mana adventure offers a permanent musical atmosphere. The orchestral compositions are immersive and intensify during combat. The mix of what’s happening on screen and in your ears makes it epic.

You will get what you pay for

By doing the main story and some side quests as well as walking around enjoying the splendid landscapes, It took me about 40 hours to see the end of the game. Easily add 10-15 more hours if you want to do all the side quests.

Also note that for the most dedicated, a New Game+ is available once the game is finished. Please note, however, that I didn’t find any real interest in it.

Should we embark on the adventure?

Honestly, yes. If you like Japanese action-RPG, this game is for you. So yes, it has some flaws due to its simplicity and its somewhat preconceived story, however all this is very quickly forgotten with such a rich universe. It’s a truly colorful and refreshing epic. It’s a very good a-RPG for this year 2024. The ideal game if you want to be able to have a good time and relax while having fun.