Game Card
Children Of Mana (DS)
- Publisher:
- Nintendo
- Developer:
- Square Enix
- US Release:
- 12.01.2007
- EU Release:
- n/a
- Number of players:
- n/a
- Type:
- Action Adventure
- Reality Factor:
- Fantasy
- Blood Level:
- Blood-less
- Age:
- Ancient Times
Review
We play Children Of Mana...
Ever heard of Secret of Mana? Back in the mid 90’s, Mana was one of the centrepiece SNES role playing games. Such was its popularity that it became a regular entrant into many ‘top 100 games’ lists across the world. Spawning several sequels (most of which, sadly, were not always given widespread Western releases), the series is quite rightly one of the gaming industry’s true gems… but does the latest entry into the series retain the pedigree?
Produced by Square Enix, Children of Mana is not their usual turn-based RPG system. Rather, it takes on a ‘Zelda-esque’ free-roaming fighting system. You can pick different weapons to attack a variety of opponents (mostly familiar faces from previous Mana stories – including the infamous Rabites!). Available to call on are some other familiar faces – the ‘Spirits’ from previous games – who will either unleash a magic attack upon enemies, or can cloak you with status changing advantages (i.e. making your weapons flame based, or turning your team invisible). In general, the game feels exceptionally close to the older 2D Zelda games. That’s no bad thing – it’s rare to get a game of that calibre nowadays. This title pulls that feeling off. But only just.
The story is typical ‘cheese’ fair – you pick one of four heroes who has to stand against a mysterious evil that begins to corrupt the sanctity of the life-giving Mana Tree. The Mana Sword picks your choice of hero as its new bearer and therefore the one fated to restore the Mana Tree and save the world! The cast are average anime caricatures but along the way, older fans will be treated to cameos from the usual suspects (Watts, the Spirits, Rabites, et al). To be fair, there are going to be few surprises for anybody who even remotely knows the fantasy genre but even the original legendary Mana game had only a thread of a plot to hold it together. These games are not plot-based epics like the Final Fantasy series and anyway, one could argue such fare would perhaps be difficult for the DS to showcase. However, what has been showcased well are the graphics – they are really nice, eye-catching and notable in that they surpass most other 2D RPGs on any system. The anime-esque cut scenes are also gorgeous. Graphically, this is one simple but sweet game!
Where this game becomes unique is it’s ‘gem’ system – taking a 4/4 square board, you may customise it by placing various gems within. The effects this has will depend on what gems you place within, leading to hundreds of combinations. It is actually really easy to pick up but reasonably challenging to master for the better effects.
Your characters do have their own unique weapons but you gain the different weapons during solo play anyway. You can hold two weapons at once to switch whilst fighting to allow a smoother attack pattern (as opposed to the ‘old’ system of swapping every weapon depending on what enemy you need to fight). As already mentioned, customising your ‘Spirits’ gives you your own special abilities. However, there isn’t really much deeper in regards to the system. It’s basic, which means newbies to the genre can pick this up and play easily. However, the simplicity may annoy older fans of the genre (and of the series!) and leave some getting bored swiftly.
The dungeons are varied and, as you’d expect, the bosses are exceptionally large and quite fun to fight. But if all you have to do in the meantime is beat endless legions of easy-to-kill bad guys, the action can get quite boring sometimes. You also can’t really die so the challenge never feels immense. Again, newbies to the genre will pick this game up and enjoy it but older genre fans may find themselves a little let down.
The multiplayer option is handled more adequately than the slight touch-screen options. By syncing the game with another persons’, you can enter into the dungeons together a la the older games in the series. This adds a lot more playability to the title in a Ragnarok-esque way. More so, the game changes slightly when implemented. Whether you have the friends who will want to play something of this type with other titles out there is another matter.
In short, Children of Mana has a retro feel to it – it captures the innocent magic of the Secret of Mana. Alas, that was over ten years ago! The game remains simplistic even with a lot of hours of play available. Alas, that means only those who have nostalgically stayed with the Mana series or those new to the genre will pick it up and retain it – older RPG fans would be better off finding an alternative title, or at least, solely renting this out. It is a solid enough solo player experience but a better multiplayer one. Either way, don’t let it put you off enjoying this slice of DS RPG history, if you can tolerate it to the end…
Top Game Moment: The first ten minutes, the familiar feeling of playing a Mana game.
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| Hug a hoodie! | All your base are belong to meeee! |
Produced by Square Enix, Children of Mana is not their usual turn-based RPG system. Rather, it takes on a ‘Zelda-esque’ free-roaming fighting system. You can pick different weapons to attack a variety of opponents (mostly familiar faces from previous Mana stories – including the infamous Rabites!). Available to call on are some other familiar faces – the ‘Spirits’ from previous games – who will either unleash a magic attack upon enemies, or can cloak you with status changing advantages (i.e. making your weapons flame based, or turning your team invisible). In general, the game feels exceptionally close to the older 2D Zelda games. That’s no bad thing – it’s rare to get a game of that calibre nowadays. This title pulls that feeling off. But only just.
The story is typical ‘cheese’ fair – you pick one of four heroes who has to stand against a mysterious evil that begins to corrupt the sanctity of the life-giving Mana Tree. The Mana Sword picks your choice of hero as its new bearer and therefore the one fated to restore the Mana Tree and save the world! The cast are average anime caricatures but along the way, older fans will be treated to cameos from the usual suspects (Watts, the Spirits, Rabites, et al). To be fair, there are going to be few surprises for anybody who even remotely knows the fantasy genre but even the original legendary Mana game had only a thread of a plot to hold it together. These games are not plot-based epics like the Final Fantasy series and anyway, one could argue such fare would perhaps be difficult for the DS to showcase. However, what has been showcased well are the graphics – they are really nice, eye-catching and notable in that they surpass most other 2D RPGs on any system. The anime-esque cut scenes are also gorgeous. Graphically, this is one simple but sweet game!
 |
 |
|
| It’s the deadly attacks of Mr Frosty the Snowman. Back away! | Er…Metroid-like clouds? Be warned, these hurt! |
Where this game becomes unique is it’s ‘gem’ system – taking a 4/4 square board, you may customise it by placing various gems within. The effects this has will depend on what gems you place within, leading to hundreds of combinations. It is actually really easy to pick up but reasonably challenging to master for the better effects.
Your characters do have their own unique weapons but you gain the different weapons during solo play anyway. You can hold two weapons at once to switch whilst fighting to allow a smoother attack pattern (as opposed to the ‘old’ system of swapping every weapon depending on what enemy you need to fight). As already mentioned, customising your ‘Spirits’ gives you your own special abilities. However, there isn’t really much deeper in regards to the system. It’s basic, which means newbies to the genre can pick this up and play easily. However, the simplicity may annoy older fans of the genre (and of the series!) and leave some getting bored swiftly.
The dungeons are varied and, as you’d expect, the bosses are exceptionally large and quite fun to fight. But if all you have to do in the meantime is beat endless legions of easy-to-kill bad guys, the action can get quite boring sometimes. You also can’t really die so the challenge never feels immense. Again, newbies to the genre will pick this game up and enjoy it but older genre fans may find themselves a little let down.
The multiplayer option is handled more adequately than the slight touch-screen options. By syncing the game with another persons’, you can enter into the dungeons together a la the older games in the series. This adds a lot more playability to the title in a Ragnarok-esque way. More so, the game changes slightly when implemented. Whether you have the friends who will want to play something of this type with other titles out there is another matter.
 |
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| There’s plenty of cute n’ cuddly love! |
In short, Children of Mana has a retro feel to it – it captures the innocent magic of the Secret of Mana. Alas, that was over ten years ago! The game remains simplistic even with a lot of hours of play available. Alas, that means only those who have nostalgically stayed with the Mana series or those new to the genre will pick it up and retain it – older RPG fans would be better off finding an alternative title, or at least, solely renting this out. It is a solid enough solo player experience but a better multiplayer one. Either way, don’t let it put you off enjoying this slice of DS RPG history, if you can tolerate it to the end…
Top Game Moment: The first ten minutes, the familiar feeling of playing a Mana game.
