Coming to America, it is the third, secret Mana title.
Trials of Mana
Aka Seiken Densetsu 3
1995
Super Nintendo Entertainment System (sorta)
What’s the story?
Yes, there was an age when man abused the powers of Mana. But this time, there were eight Benevodons that were divine beasts sent to ravage the land in retribution. Those suckers got sealed away, evil empires were quashed, and everything was good for a couple hundred years or so. Now Mana is weakening, and one of six random doofs is going to be coopted by a fairy to make sure the Benevodons do not break out and turn the world into Benevodon chow.
Who are the baddies?
There are identified “forces of Evil”, but they are not working together. Six possible protagonists will funnel into three final opponents, but they all have the same basic MO: influence a random kingdom to attack other kingdoms, and then betray whoever is in charge at about the story’s halfway point. Ultimate baddies include The Dragon Lord, Belgar the Dark Lich, and Definitely Not Ganondorf.
What is the Mana Sword?
Everybody wants the Mana Sword, but nobody ever gets the Mana Sword. Well, nobody good, as the baddies control it for the second half of Trials. And then it gets destroyed! Bah! This is exactly what happens when 83% of your playable characters can’t even wield a sword.
How does it play?
This is pretty much Secret of Mana 2, though now with a “hidden” 100% attack meter, and a different (better) way to charge for special attacks. The most significant changes are on the back end, as Trials of Mana delivers on Secret of Mana’s “branching paths” and includes three whole separate finales married to six separate starts. Variety is a lot more in-depth than “do you want to fight werewolves now”.
Is it pretty?
This may be one of the prettiest games on the Super Nintendo. Chrono Trigger and Yoshi’s Island are really the only competition. Donkey Kong Country 1-3 is right out.
What is Magic?
Same basic deal as last time. Be careful how you build your party and class changes, though! You don’t want to wind up without a healing skill, or only random useless buffs.
What’s Watts?
Our favorite dwarf has less of a presence in Trials of Mana, but he still gets his own vignette. As is traditional, you need an item (nitromyte) to proceed, so you head into the Dwarf Cave to find the only man with a plan. Watts is exploring a mine, winds up threatened by the Jewel Eater, and then gets to meet Gnome before handing over your hard-earned TNT. He presumably sticks to mining ‘n merchanting for the rest of the adventure.
Are there Duck Soldiers?
Mad Mallards are patrolling the desert and tossing pumpkin bombs at weary travelers. Maybe you can steal one of their bombs…
What makes it good?
Secret of Mana: But More is all we wanted in 1995, and Squaresoft delivered. The only thing that could improve it would be more transparent choices for character selection/progression, but that could be solved by inventing Gamefaqs.
What makes it bad?
Hit detection is still slow and confusing. This compounds how certain bosses are disproportionately difficult due to confusing hit-hidey holes. Looking at you, Pumpkin Jack.
Anything else?
This one was famously never released outside of Japan. It was fan translated quickly (for its time), and then officially ported over in time for the Nintendo Switch a few decades later. So you don’t have to miss out on Angela smacking her ass for werewolves anymore.
Even Worse Streams Presents The Mana Franchise
Night 3
Trials of Mana
October 1, 2024
Random Notes:
- After a couple weeks of random streams, we are back to Mana with Cassandralyn, fanboymaster, BEAT, Chromes, and myself.
- Our character selection shakes out to Kevin the Werewolf, Angela the (Bunny Lady?) Wizard, and Charlotte the Moppet.
“We’re gonna take a chance on this Death Devourer guy. He seems like he’s on the up and up.”- Kevin kills his dog, Karl, so BEAT abandons watching the game to dispense Aqua Teen Hunger Force Carl quotes.
- As the opening credits roll on Trials of Mana, I am inscribing this here forever: BEAT claims to be impressed and intimidated by my videogame writings (see: this entire site).
- Ample Vigour joins as we tell tales of when we individually first understood Aqua Teen Hunger Force.
- Don’t worry, we do get deep into Bonkers production lore during this stream.
- “I love Big Bosses and I cannot lie.”
- We got our fairy! And what is the Pets.com Metal Gear?
- Just as we earn a full party, Ample Vigour relays his story of first playing Seiken Densetsu 3 in the coldest of Chicagos.
- You once made a baby cry, and now you are tormented by Fark.com.
- An examination of the effects of muscle relaxers naturally segues into noting the best Achewood strips.
- He-Man and She-Ra are discussed while fighting Fullmetal Hugger. This is foreshadowing for Sword of Mana in another two weeks.
- Caliscrub arrives just as we are noting werewolves again. He has a skill.
- As we finally escape Wendell and wrap up the Wisp quest, we attempt to find the most theatre-kid tabletop RPG.
- As we are attacked by bridge robots, fanboymaster quotes a Dril tweet that was recounted by Chromes the previous week. We know what we like!
“Buddy, go to the grocery store.”- Adult Swim had a huge cultural impact… and stars that made $20 an episode.
- Adult Jughead rapping is the musical equivalent of jelking.
- “Why would you do that to a clam!? Or a tomato!?”
- And we wrap up back at the inn after a mole attack. Sleep well, werewolf!
Next time on Manapiece Theatre: The Legend slowly builds.
