It’s been more than fifteen years since the last mainline entry in Square Enix’s Mana series of games. Today though come brand new details – and a neat trailer – for Visions of Mana. Release date window, anyone?
Visions of Mana will be Square’s first new mainline entry into the Mana series of games since Dawn of Mana in 2016. Of course, there have been others continuing the franchise since then, but they have mostly been remakes or Japan-only options.
Shown at the Xbox Developer Direct
Shown as part of the Xbox Developer Direct presentation, Square Enix have revealed a host of new details. It featured Mana Series Producer, Masaru Oyamada and Mana Series Creator, Koichi Ishii who introduced players to the newly imagined world of Mana. They also provided a deeper look at the game’s development process and action-packed gameplay.
It’s that which players can expect from Visions of Mana when it launches in Summer 2024 on Xbox Series X|S, PlayStation 5, PlayStation 4 and PC, via either Windows PC or Steam.
The new gameplay and behind the scenes footage provides a closer look at some of the latest gameplay features and monsters and creatures in Visions of Mana.
It was left to Mana Series Producer, Masaru Oyamada to reveal new details about Visions of Mana’s combat, including the new addition of the aerial combat system which will take players to new heights during battle and enable physical attacks with weapons and magic attacks mid-air.
The Elementals return
And when Visions of Mana drops, you can also expect to see the return of series staple, the Elementals. These assist players during battle in the form of specialized items, with each weapon producing a different effect in combat according to its respective element, allowing for a fast-paced, flexible fighting style.
Further is the introduction of a new companion called the “pikuls”. Designed by Mana Series Creator, Koichi Ishii, the new, adorable companion takes inspiration from animals and mythology and will help players traverse the game’s expansive ground map as they explore the vibrant world in Visions of Mana.
Need more? You got it as Square Enix also revealed that the Visions of Mana soundtrack will feature a track list of 100 songs at launch. All of those have been composed or received contributions from musical creators who lent their talents to previous Mana titles, including Hiroki Kikuta, Tsuyoshi Sekito and Ryo Yamazaki.
Visions of Mana will also feature a new adaptive music system which will allow players to seamlessly transition from map exploration into battles and heighten their sense of urgency through the arrangement of background music which will change the moment players enter or leave combat.
Trailer time
Take in the Gameplay Reveal trailer below and let us know your thoughts. Does this Final Fantasy spin-off float your boat?
You’ll find Visions of Mana dropping onto Xbox Series X|S, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5 and PC in Summer 2024.
