History YMMV / LegendOfMana

*** Is Matilda a [[TheWoobie sympathetic character]] who [[spoiler: [[IWantMyBelovedToBeHappy doesn't want to curb Irwin's demonic urges]]]], which is why she [[spoiler: doesn't object to him trying to destroy the world]]? Or is she an [[TheScrappy unlikable]], [[LoveMakesYouDumb love-addled]] fool who [[spoiler: [[DoubleStandard would willingly step on the rest of Fa'Diel's freedom to avoid stepping on Irwin's freedom]]]]? Or is she [[spoiler: a SecretlySelfish MagnificentBitch who orchestrated both her own and Irwin's deaths so that they could each fulfill their obligations as best they could and be TogetherInDeath afterwards (basically having her cake and eating it, too), a plan which only failed because Irwin changed his mind at the last minute?]]

*** Is Matilda a [[TheWoobie sympathetic character]] who [[spoiler: [[IWantMyBelovedToBeHappy doesn't want to curb Irwin's demonic urges]]]], which is why she [[spoiler: doesn't object to him trying to destroy the world]]? Or is she an [[TheScrappy unlikable]], [[LoveMakesYouDumb love-addled]] fool who [[spoiler: [[DoubleStandard would willingly step on the rest of Fa'Diel's freedom to avoid stepping on Irwin's freedom]]]]?

* HilariousInHindsight: The Orc boss is basically Film/Sharktopus.

* FamilyUnfriendlyAesop: The ends justify the means, even if your ultimate goal is TheEndOfTheWorldAsWeKnowIt.
** As Flameshe explains to Elle, being yourself is the most important thing, and whether other people get killed in the process doesn't matter. Furthermore, doing something for the sake of someone else because you don't want to hurt them is ''wrong''.
** This goes straight into BrokenAesop territory as the Player Character is looked upon to solve the very problems caused by others' passivity. (Possible AccidentalAesop: "It doesn't matter what you do, the ChosenOne is going to breeze through and fix all of your problems", perhaps?)
** A girl's friend is dying and has already given up hope. The advice of Gaeus the Wisdom? [[spoiler: "She said to let her die, so let her die."]]

* PlayerPunch: One per major story arc, as horrible things keep happening to the characters you grow to care for either as a direct result of your actions or because you weren't strong enough to protect them.
* ReplacementScrappy: Aura for Luna. Because Luna (the moon) and Dryad (trees) were the elements with no opposite, [=LoM=] ditched Luna and created Aura (metal) to be Dryad's opposite. There's nothing wrong with Aura per se, but just getting rid of Luna like that annoyed part of the Mana fanbase.

* TheWoobie: Too many to name. Larc, Matilda, Irwin, ''every single Jumi'', Elle, Bud and Lisa, Rachel...

** Shiro Amano's manga version of Emperor Drakonis, like his game counterpart, is a cruel, megalomaniacal dragon banished to the underworld for his cruel designs on the world. [[ManipulativeBastard Playing on the desperation]] of the fallen warrior Larc to reunite with his sister, Drakonis makes Larc his servant and through him slaughters the dragons who initially stopped him to return to the world of the living. When Larc confronts him on this, Drakonis [[PainfulTransformation painfully transforms him into a horrible beast]], loosing him on his own sister and hysterically laughing when Larc is forcefully put down as a result. With his physical form attained again, Drakonis intends to [[YourSoulIsMine devour the souls of all in existence]], scouring both the souls of those alive and in the underworld to sate his lust for power.

* CompleteMonster: Shiro Amano's manga version of Emperor Drakonis, like his game counterpart, is a cruel, megalomaniacal dragon banished to the underworld for his cruel designs on the world. [[ManipulativeBastard Playing on the desperation]] of the fallen warrior Larc to reunite with his sister, Drakonis makes Larc his servant and through him slaughters the dragons who initially stopped him to return to the world of the living. When Larc confronts him on this, Drakonis [[PainfulTransformation painfully transforms him into a horrible beast]], loosing him on his own sister and hysterically laughing when Larc is forcefully put down as a result. With his physical form attained again, Drakonis intends to [[YourSoulIsMine devour the souls of all in existence]], scouring both the souls of those alive and in the underworld to sate his lust for power.

* BrokenBase: Aesthetically, it’s a masterpiece, but the quests can be very tedious and sometimes impossible without reading a guide. The hand-drawn art style, rotaing cast, and overall lack of direction is just is too big of a shift for longtime fans to continue. Conversely, fans of ''Legend'' tend to prefer it to other ''Mana'' titles.

* BrokenBase: Aesthetically, it’s a masterpiece, but the quests can be very tedious and sometimes impossible without reading a guide. The hand-drawn art style, rotaing cast, and overall lack of direction is just is too big of a shift for longtime fans to continue. Conversely, fans of ''World'' tend to prefer it to other ''Mana'' titles.

* ContestedSequel: Much like ''VideoGame/ChronoCross'' (another contested sequel for [=PS1=]) the title didn't harm the game's exposure...but it doesn't really service it, either. Most of fans' problems with the game come down to their expectations not being met because ''World'' threw so many accepted conventions out the window.

* AntiClimaxBoss: Lord of Jewels 1000. You can't lose to this guy if you ''try''. He barely even fights back. It's especially disappointing after Lord of Jewels 999, who was (by Legend of Mana standards at least) fairly difficult.

* BrokenBase: Aesthetically, it’s a masterpiece, but the quests can be very tedious and sometimes impossible without reading a guide. The hand-drawn art style, rotaing cast, and overall lack of direction is just is too big of a shift for longtime fans to continue. Conversely, fans of ''Legend'' tend to prefer it to other ''Mana'' titles.

* ContestedSequel: Much like ''VideoGame/ChronoCross'' (another contested sequel for [=PS1=]) the title didn't harm the game's exposure...but it doesn't really service it, either. Most of fans' problems with the game come down to their expectations not being met because ''Legend'' threw so many accepted conventions out the window.

* ContestedSequel: Much like ''VodeoGame/ChronoCross'' (another contested sequel for [=PS1=]) the title didn't harm the game's exposure...but it doesn't really service it, either. Most of fans' problems with the game come down to their expectations not being met because ''Legend'' threw so many accepted conventions out the window.

* ContestedSequel: This game did some things very, very well. It did some things very, very poorly. When you play it, you will either forgive the flaws, or you won't.

* EarWorm: "Blue Gloom", played partway through the Jumi storyline.

* SugarWiki/AwesomeMusic: More like Crowning ''Soundtrack'' Of Awesome, particularly the themes of the three main stories and the boss fight tracks. Fans of ''Franchise/KingdomHearts'' will recognize Creator/YokoShimomura's style.

Kima. It's not a particularly strong boss, but it ''constantly'' goes into attack animations, making it almost impossible to hit with special techniques.

* SugarWiki/AwesomeMusic: More like Crowning ''Soundtrack'' Of Awesome, particularly the themes of the three main stories and the boss fight tracks. Fans of KingdomHearts will recognize Creator/YokoShimomura's style.

* CrowningMomentOfAwesome: Cap'n Tusk insisting that Elle go ahead and sing. The voices of sirens cause nautical disasters. Tusk keeps his ship afloat anyway (with a little bit of monster-slaying help from you, of course).
** In a way, [[spoiler:Sandra ripping her own Core out and throwing it to the Lord of Jewels.]]
* CrowningMomentOfHeartwarming: The ending of the Jumi story arc. Just that.
** Also, try visiting Sierra with Larc in as your partner or vice versa after completing their story path.
* CrowningMusicOfAwesome: More like Crowning ''Soundtrack'' Of Awesome, particularly the themes of the three main stories and the boss fight tracks. Fans of KingdomHearts will recognize Creator/YokoShimomura's style.
** Of particular note to ''Kingdom Hearts'' fans, try listening to ''[[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qqwZC5n8WZ0 The Crimson Dragon Emperor]]''. You'll notice it's a precursor to ''Destiny's Force,'' ''Shrouding Dark Cloud,'' '''and''' ''The Deep End,'' some of the [[VideoGame/KingdomHeartsI first KH game's]] [[AwesomeMusic/KingdomHeartsI best boss themes]].
** The opening song and it's accompanying cinematic of the world falling apart, with the game coming to rest on the last place in existence.
*** The opening song is the same as the ending song, only truncated a little. [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_hW-MHssUd8 Song of Mana]] is a truly ''magical'' song [[MeaningfulName befitting its name]].

* LesYay: Pearl blushes and gets self conscious in front of the female hero, and Esmerelda develops a tiny BodyguardCrush towards her as well. Granted, since gender has minimal effect on in-game dialogue, this also happens with the male hero. Sandra exchanges suggestive dialogue with various female Jumi, and then there's her relationship with Florina. Daena is said to love Matilda like a sister, but there's a little room for speculation.

* GoddamnBoss: Kima. It's not a particulary strong boss, but it ''constantly'' goes into attack animations, making it almost impossible to hit with STs.

* AnticlimaxBoss: Lord of Jewels 1000. You can't lose to this guy if you ''try''. He barely even fights back. It's especially disappointing after Lord of Jewels 999, who was (by Legend of Mana standards at least) fairly difficult.

* AwesomeArt: One of the few things people generally agree on with this game, is that it sports an enchanting, gorgeous art style.

* CompleteMonster: Shiro Amano's manga version of [[BigBad Emperor Drakonis]], like his game counterpart, is a cruel, megalomaniacal dragon banished to the underworld for his cruel designs on the world. [[ManipulativeBastard Playing on the desperation]] of the fallen warrior Larc to reunite with his sister, Drakonis makes Larc his servant and through him slaughters the dragons who initially stopped him to return to the world of the living. When Larc confronts him on this, Drakonis [[PainfulTransformation painfully transforms him into a horrible beast]], loosing him on his own sister and hysterically laughing when Larc is forcefully put down as a result. With his physical form attained again, Drakonis intends to [[YourSoulIsMine devour the souls of all in existence]], scouring both the souls of those alive and in the underworld to sate his lust for power.

** a RobotBuddy Golem with a InfinityPlusOneSword as a key ingredient in its Logic Block can wipe out average monsters with ease. this Troper remembers one time his Golem did this move where he shot a laser out of its ass and took a regular difficulty boss down by three health bars.

** Due to the wonders of alchemy and weapon tempering, it's possible to beat the final boss in two hits. Of course, that's on normal difficulty settings.

** Also, using [[spoiler: Blackpearl]] as your NPC assistant, as her synchronization effect instantly fills your Charge Meter.

** Of particular note to ''Kingdom Hearts'' fans, try listening to ''[[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qqwZC5n8WZ0 The Crimson Dragon Emperor]]''. You'll notice it's a precursor to ''Destiny's Force,'' ''Shrouding Dark Cloud,'' '''and''' ''The Deep End,'' some of the [[VideoGame/KingdomHeartsI first KH game's]] [[AwesomeMusic/KindgomHearts best boss themes]].