History Videogame / LegendOfMana

* CantCatchUp: Your NPC assistants and pets unless you have an accessory equipped. Leveling {{NPC}}s is pointless anyway since their levels [[BagOfSpilling reset every game cycle]].

* {{Foreshadowing}}: Talking to the {{NPC}}s give you lots of hints about what's going on, and a lot of your cactus' apparent non-sequitors that it makes post-mission only make sense in retrospect. [[spoiler: "Seventh is Girl"]] (said at the end of "The Six Wisdoms" quest), for example, refers to [[spoiler: Matilda]], who takes the previously vacant seat of the Seventh Wisdom after [[spoiler: she]] dies.

* WeaponOfChoice: At the beginning of the game, you have to choose a starter weapon - and you have a lot of weapons to choose from. You can choose between [[HeroesPreferSwords 1H swords]], [[{{BFS}} 2H swords]], [[KnifeNut Daggers]], [[AnAxToGrind 1H Axes and 2H axes]], [[PowerFist Gloves]], [[BladeOnAStick Spears]], [[DropTheHammer Hammers]], [[TheStraightAndArrowPath Bows]], [[FightingWithChucks Flails]], and [[SimpleStaff Staves]]. Though starting with any particular weapon does not lock you into only using that weapon. There's even an Achievement in the remake for getting every entry in your encyclopedia, which will require at least some time using every weapon.

* VendorTrash: Most of the items for ItemCrafting, though they don't sell for much; the valuable stuff is, alas, quite a bit more useful.

* TheChosenOne: According to Selva, Elazul, Pearl, Daena, Escad, Matilda, Larc, Sierra, and The Hero are ''all'' chosen ones - the Hero is just the most chosen of the chosen.

On June 2021, Square-Enix and Warner Bros. Japan announced an anime adaptation of the game, titled ''Legend of Mana: The Teardrop Crystal''. It has no set premiere date.

* HiddenElfVillage: There's a village of Lilipeas in the White Forest that you won't be able to find without being lead there by a Lilipea. Interestingly, it's the only area in the game proper where the music from the title screen plays.

* {{Bowdlerize}}: The remake redesigned Hamson and Roger, presumably because their original designs had big lips, which would've been called racist sooner or later (even though the two are clearly shown to be cavemen[=/=]neanderthals and not analogous to any real-life racial group). Hamson was given a bushy black beard (brown on his sprite), Roger's lips were ensmallened and his large hoop earrings were removed. It also renamed the item Virgin's Sigh to Damsel's Sigh.

* FlyingPostman: The pelican, who can usually be seen hanging out in Domina, and also figures into several sidequests.

* GiantSpaceFleaFromNowhere: a lot of the bosses are like this, but the centaur boss at the top of the Tower of Leires was a bit extra blatant.

''Legend of Mana'' (1999) is the fourth game in the ''VideoGame/WorldOfMana'' series, and the only one released for the [[UsefulNotes/TheFifthGenerationOfConsoleVideoGames fifth console generation]]. It was originally developed for [[UsefulNotes/PlayStation PS1]].
It was re-released on the North American [=PlayStation=] store as a [=PSOn=]e Classic on March, 22, 2011 and a full remaster for the UsefulNotes/PlayStation4, UsefulNotes/NintendoSwitch, and PC via Steam was released on June 24, 2021 with HD 2D backgrounds and an arranged soundtrack as well as some quality of life upgrades like saving (almost) anywhere and turning off enemy encounters as well as including the ''"Ring Ring Land"'' mini game that was previously Japan exclusive. The remaster was then brought to UsefulNotes/{{iOS|Games}} and UsefulNotes/{{Android|Games}} on December 7, 2021.

It was re-released on the North American [=PlayStation=] store as a [=PSOn=]e Classic on March, 22, 2011 and a full remaster for the UsefulNotes/PlayStation4, UsefulNotes/NintendoSwitch, and PC via Steam was released on June 24, 2021 with HD 2D backgrounds and an arranged soundtrack as well as some quality of life upgrades like saving (almost) anywhere and turning off enemy encounters as well as including the ''"Ring Ring Land"'' mini game that was previously Japan exclusive.

* LoveDodecahedron: Irwin struggles between his AlwaysChaoticEvil half-demon nature[[note]]this can be interpreted as a genetically-inherited pathological disorder[[/note]] and his feelings for Matilda[[note]]Eventually he decides he can't see a way to resolve his twin desires for true love and monstrous sadism and commits suicide[[/note]]. Escad (rightly) treats Irwin's relationship with Matilda as parasitic and damaging, yet feels [[EntitledToHaveYou entitled to the love of Matilda which she doesn't reciprocate [[KnightTemplar and causes almost as much death and destruction as Irwin ''without'' the cursed bloodline excuse]]. Daena seems to have some form of feelings for both Matilda and Escad, and constantly fights with Escad to protect Matilda's right to love freely. Matilda is in love with Irwin, but believes in Free Will to the point that she allows all of the above to fight for both her and the fate of the world rather than suppress any of their natures and prevent the ensuing tragedy.

* DevourTheDragon: [[spoiler:Sandra]] willingly sacrifices [[spoiler:herself]] to let the Lord of Jewels [[spoiler:eat her core]] to become more powerful.

* {{Bowdlerize}}: The remake redesigned Hamson and Roger, presumably because their original designs had big lips, which would've been called racist sooner or later. Hamson was given a bushy black beard (brown on his sprite), Roger's lips were ensmallened and his large hoop earrings were removed. It also renamed the item Virgin's Sigh to Damsel's Sigh.

** In the art museum, many of the statues are of characters from ''VideoGame/TrialsOfMana'': Angela, Riesz, Darkshine Knight, Duran, Hawkeye, Carlie, and a goblin appear on the main floor[[note]]there's also a spiky character with blade fingers that doesn't really match up with any [=ToM=] character, but might be a seriously off-model Kevin in wolf mode. It's facing away from the player making it hard to say for sure.[[/note]]. Gormand (Deathjester), Mispolm, Flammie, Undine, and Isabella (Bigieu) appear in the basement.

* TheVeryDefinitelyFinalDungeon: The Mana Tree. The introductory movie for the game has the Mana Tree begging you to find her. Then, after you've completed one of the three major story arcs and defeated a ClimaxBoss, stuff starts happening right outside your home, which leads to you rescuing someone from inside a dream and receiving the Sword of Mana (the InfinityPlusOne sword from ''Videogame/SecretOfMana'') as an artefact. Once you place the Sword of Mana, a dimensional portal with the Mana Tree visible inside it appears instead of a normal land.

%%* TheVeryDefinitelyFinalDungeon: The Mana Tree.

%%* WellIntentionedExtremist: Larc, Alexandra, and Escad.

%%* WizardingSchool: The Geo Academy.

** One story arc gives us Matilda (normal), Irwin (somewhat normal), Daena (unusual spelling of a normal), and Escad (not normal)

* FlyingPostman: The pelican, who can usually be seen hanging out in Domina, and also figures into several sidequests.

* DeathMountain: Norn Peaks is a somewhat-less-threatening-than-usual mountain setting. It's misty instead of stormy or snowy, and there's no lava. Akravator, a dragon who guards one of the mana crystals, lives at the mountain peak.

* AdvertisedExtra: The Six Wisdoms are described as almost omniscient entities with powers beyond normal creatures and second only to the Goddess of Mana herself. They are even featured prominently in the remake opening cinematic. In spite of this, only Selva and Pokiehl are shown to do anything remotely superhuman or even wise for that matter. Gaeus and Tote only dedicate themselves to give [[IceCreamKoan enigmatic one liners]], Rosiotti just sits in his throne (even falling asleep in the middle of an important discussion), and Olbohn who's supposed to be Archdemon of the underworld has been usurped by Drakonis. [[spoiler: The fact that Matilda]] who has been making stupid decisions one after another and bringing the world closer and closer to collapse is chosen as the seventh wisdom goes to show how good they are at their role.

* DudeLooksLikeALady: The Male Hero has long curly blond hair and wears a long skirt and midriff-bearing armor, and dresses in pastels. [[https://crossangelus.deviantart.com/art/Legend-of-Mana-3D-Model-Battle-Instance-TurnTable-537304777 Feast your eyes]]
* ChangelingFantasy: Rachel hates her life and wants something more exciting; she eventually gets her wish when she [[spoiler: switches bodies with a student at the Geo academy]].

* ForestOfPerpetualAutumn: The level called Lake Kilma is mostly the birchwood forests surrounding the lake. It seems to be early autumn - the leaves are mostly green-gold, but viewing the woods across the lake shows trees in various stages of green, gold, orange and red.

* FlyingPostman: The pelican, who can usually be seen hanging out in Domina, and also figures into several sidequests.

* ITakeOffenseToThatLastOne: After Cap'n Tusk has decided to release Gilbert he insults them by saying that the pirates are all cranky because they don't have girlfriends. Tusk immediately orders the Penguins to make Gilbert WalkThePlank.

* InfinityPlusOneSword: Or Spear, bow, etc... Unique in that these weapons have to be crafted using not crafting recipes, but honest to god techniques and patterns. Getting a weapon to 200 with a basic understanding of the rules isn't too hard. Getting a 999 power weapon is a flat out GuideDangIt. Any weapons created this way can then be crafted into the body or logic block of an [[RobotBuddy infinity +1 Golem]].
* InterfaceSpoiler: Alex appears right after Sandra in the Character encyclopedia, with their artwork positioned so that the characters' heads are in the same spot on the page. It's just one of many ways the game manages to make the reveal that [[spoiler:Alex is Sandra's alterego]] not much of a surprise.

* ItsUpToYou: Seriously, how does anybody get anything done in Fa'Diel without the player character? Hell, you even have to build the map! (Not as in you have to draw the map, but you literally create the world around you by plonking down the magical artifacts that create the towns and dungeons you quest in.)

* KneelBeforeZod: Sandra, right before killing Jumi, will order them to cry and beg for their lives. Of course, they ''can't''. This interaction has a layer of added depth, since Sandra [[spoiler:hates the entire Jumi race for slowly killing their Clarius, who can still cry healing tears but is giving up bits of her life when doing so and will eventually die.]]

* MirrorMatch: During one of the missions you undertake you are having to chase your {{Doppelganger}} across town as they cause mischief. This culminates with a fight against them at the edge of town.

* PortTown: Polpota Harbor is primarily a resort town, but it is set at the ocean and has boats and a small beach and stuff.

* WhatHappenedToTheMouse:
** The female penguin who hid her egg from her partner gets no resolution. Unless [[spoiler: you step on 32 crabs on Madora Beach. If you do, she and the baby will move in with you.]]
** After finishing Rachel's story there are no further quests or interactions with her and her family. You can find a student in the Geo Academy that will refuse to speak [[spoiler: just like she did while she worked in the Domina tavern]] but we're never shown what came of their relationship or her plans to build a rocket.

** The description of the "Jump" skill in the encyclopedia reads: "Might as well jump." This is a reference to [[Music/VanHalen]]'s song "Jump", although it could additionally be a reference to ''Videogame/{{Final Fantasy VI}}'' and the scene where Sabin and Cyan jump over the edge of a waterfall.

* UnsurmountableWaistHighFence: The Mindas Ruins are full of pagodas with paths leading 4 ways, but gates blocking off 2 of those paths at any given time. One particularly frustrating quest causes 3 of the paths to be blocked off at once. The pagodas are only two ''steps'' above ground level and it would be extremely easy to just walk around the gates if those two steps weren't unsurmountable.

%%* BrotherSisterTeam:
%%** Bud and Lisa.
%%** [[spoiler: Larc]] wanted to be one with his sister (it's why [[spoiler: he made the DealWithTheDevil]]); it's suggested in the DistantFinale that [[spoiler: he at least eventually reunites with her]].

* BrotherSisterTeam:
** Bud and Lisa.
** [[spoiler: Larc]] wanted to be one with his sister (it's why [[spoiler: he made the DealWithTheDevil]]); it's suggested in the DistantFinale that [[spoiler: he at least eventually reunites with her]].

* BrokenBridge: The game uses Boinks - a monster that teleports you when you try to talk to it (or in some cases, get too close to it) - to keep you out of areas you shouldn't be in. For example, [[spoiler:Elle's cage]] is blocked by a Boink until the mission that introduces her starts.

** Bud and Lisa (though the latter was more or less roped into it).

** As Silva essentially says to Matilda, [[spoiler:"You did absolutely nothing as your friends killed each other and eventually you. This proves you have the required wisdom to be the new Seventh Wisdom."]]

* DevourTheDragon: [[spoiler:Sandra]] willingly sacrifices [[spoiler: herself]] to let the Lord of Jewels [[spoiler: eat her core]] to become more powerful.

* ShootTheDog: [[AllThereInTheManual Apparently]], Inspector Boyd was a huge Sandra fanboy back when she was a ClassyCatBurglar, but when she started killing Jumi, he became ashamed and decided to take her down before she went too far over the MoralEventHorizon.

* FetchQuest: All over the place, the most egregious one however is "Lil' Cactus".