History VideoGame / WorldOfMana

The fully-3D ''Franchise/KingdomHearts'' and ''VideoGame/FinalFantasyCrystalChronicles'' have [[SpiritualSuccessor usurped the place]] of ''Mana'' in the Square Enix pantheon to some extent. SE erroneously began scrambling to find [[GenreShift a different genre]] for the ''Mana'' series, such as the RealTimeStrategy ''Heroes'' and vanilla action game ''Dawn''. The latter was very poorly received, especially in Japan, where it was unwisely titled ''Seiken Densetsu 4'' and is seen as an unworthy successor to that name. ''Mana'''s mobile efforts have been met with similar derision; although trademarks for ''Circle'' and ''Rise'' were both filed in English-speaking territories, [[NoExportForYou they were never localized]], and the reception was chilly enough in Japan that both lasted about two years apiece before being shuttered.

The Square USA game ''VideoGame/SecretOfEvermore'' was often mistaken as being part of the ''World of Mana'', especially in the days before the internet. While it was directly inspired by ''Secret of Mana'', notably the [[RingMenu ring-based menu system]] and combat mechanics, it doesn't have any of the ''Mana'' story elements in it, and magic effects are based on alchemy formulas rather than, well, mana.

!!Tropes include:

* ''VideoGame/FinalFantasyAdventure'' (1991, Game Boy)
* ''VideoGame/SecretOfMana'' (1993, Super NES)
* ''VideoGame/TrialsOfMana'' (1995, Super Famicom; Japan only until 2019)
* ''VideoGame/LegendOfMana'' (2000, [=PlayStation=])
* ''VideoGame/SwordOfMana'' (2003, Game Boy Advance; first [[VideoGameRemake remake]] of ''Final Fantasy Adventure'')
* ''VideoGame/ChildrenOfMana'' (2006, Nintendo DS)
* ''Seiken Densetsu: Final Fantasy Gaiden'' (2006, Java ME cellphones, Japan only; second remake of ''Final Fantasy Adventure'')
* ''Seiken Densetsu: Friends of Mana'' (2006, Java ME cellphones, Japan only)
* ''VideoGame/DawnOfMana'' (2007, [=PlayStation=] 2; the series [[VideoGame3DLeap jump to 3D]])

* ''Seiken Densetsu: Circle of Mana'' (2013, iOS/Android, Japan only; a card battle game released in GREE. Discontinued service in September of 2015)
* ''Seiken Densetsu: Rise of Mana'' (2014, iOS/Android; 2015, [=PlayStation=] Vita; Japan only, although the fact that a ''Rise of Mana'' trademark was registered in Europe suggests that it was at least considered for localization; featured ''8-player'' co-op. Discontinued service in March of 2016.)

* ''Adventures of Mana'' (2016, iOS/Android/[=PlayStation=] Vita; third remake of ''Final Fantasy Adventure'', and the first 3D one)
* A 3D remake of ''Secret of Mana'' (2018, [=PlayStation=] 4/[=PlayStation=] Vita/Windows)
* ''Collection of Mana'' (2017 in Japan and 2019 internationally, Nintendo Switch; a CompilationRerelease of the first three games in their original form with added features, such as saving in the middle of gameplay and a SoundTest. Featured the first official localization of ''Trials of Mana'')

* ''Seiken Densetsu Legend of Mana'' (2000, by Shiro Amano, based on the [[VideoGame/LegendOfMana game of the same name]]; later collected into a two-volume set in 2008)
* ''Princess of Mana'' (2007, five-volume work by Satsuki Yoshino, set 300 years after ''VideoGame/ChildrenOfMana'' and 310 years after ''VideoGame/DawnOfMana'')

* ''Seiken Densetsu Legend of Mana - Amata no Tsuchi, Amata no Hito'' (2000, by Hiromi Hosae; a novelisation of ''VideoGame/LegendOfMana'')

The fully-3D ''Franchise/KingdomHearts'' and ''VideoGame/FinalFantasyCrystalChronicles'' have [[SpiritualSuccessor usurped the place]] of ''Mana'' in the Square Enix pantheon to some extent. This led Square Enix to start scrambling to find [[GenreShift a different genre]] for the ''Mana'' series, such as the RealTimeStrategy ''Heroes'' and vanilla action game ''Dawn''. The latter was very poorly received, especially in Japan, where it was unwisely titled ''Seiken Densetsu 4'' and is seen as an unworthy successor to that name. ''Mana'''s mobile efforts have been met with similar derision; although trademarks for ''Circle'' and ''Rise'' were both filed in English-speaking territories, [[NoExportForYou they were never localized]] and the reception of the games in Japan was chilly enough to result in both of them lasting about two years apiece before being shuttered.

Unfortunately, to some extent the ''Franchise/KingdomHearts'' and ''VideoGame/FinalFantasyCrystalChronicles'' series have usurped the place of ''World of Mana'' in the Creator/SquareEnix pantheon, with the aforementioned games featuring the 3D version of the three-character action RPG gameplay for which the ''World of Mana'' series was once known. This has caused Creator/SquareEnix to start scrambling to find a different genre for the World of Mana series, such as the RTS ''Heroes of Mana'' and pure action game ''Dawn of Mana'', the latter of which was extremely poorly received and criticized (especially in Japan, where it was straight-out badged ''Seiken Densetsu 4'' and seen as a completely unworthy successor to that name). Similarly, the franchise's mobile efforts have not been met with much enthusiasm; while trademarks for ''Circle'' and ''Rise'' were both filed in English-speaking territories at certain points, localization plans never came through and the reception of the games in Japan was chilly enough to result in both of them lasting about two years apiece before being shuttered.

The Square USA game ''VideoGame/SecretOfEvermore'' was often mistaken as being part of the ''World of Mana'', especially in the days beforecthe internet. While it was directly inspired by ''Secret of Mana'', notably the [[RingMenu ring-based menu system]] and combat mechanics, it doesn't have any of the ''Mana'' story elements in it, and magic effects are based on alchemy formulas rather than, well, mana.

The Square USA game ''VideoGame/SecretOfEvermore'' was often confused for being part of the ''World of Mana'', especially in the days beforecthe internet. While it was directly inspired by ''Secret of Mana'', notably the [[RingMenu ring-based menu system]] and combat mechanics, it doesn't have any of the ''Mana'' story elements in it, and magic effects are based on alchemy formulas rather than, well, mana.

The Square USA game ''VideoGame/SecretOfEvermore'' is sometimes confused for being part of the ''World of Mana'', but while it was obviously inspired by ''Secret of Mana'' (it has a [[RingMenu ring-based menu system]] and uses many of ''[=SoM=]'''s combat mechanics) it doesn't have any of the ''Mana'' story elements in it, and magic effects are based on alchemy formulas rather than, well, mana.

* ''[[CompilationRerelease Collection of Mana]]'' (2017 in Japan and 2019 internationally, Nintendo Switch; contains the first three games in their original form with added features, such as saving in the middle of gameplay and a SoundTest. Featured the first official localization of ''Trials of Mana'')

''(The World of) Mana'' series, also known as the ''Seiken Densetsu'' (''Legend of the Holy Sword''), is a series of mostly [[ActionRPG action]] [[EasternRPG role-playing games]] by Creator/SquareEnix (formerly Squaresoft) thay tenuously share a setting. Most of the games center on a Mana Tree, the source of magic in the world, and the eponymous Mana Sword.

''(The World of) Mana'' series, also known as the ''Seiken Densetsu'' (''Legend of the Holy Sword''), is a series of mostly [[ActionRPG action]] [[EasternRPG role-playing games]] by Creator/SquareEnix (formerly Square Soft), most of which also tenuously share a setting. Most of the games center on a Mana Tree, the source of magic in the world, and the eponymous Mana Sword.

* ''VideoGame/DawnOfMana'' (2007, [=PlayStation=] 2)

Games in the series include:

* ''Adventures of Mana'' (2016, iOS/Android/[=PlayStation=] Vita; third remake of ''Final Fantasy Adventure'')

* ''Adventures of Mana'' (2016, iOS/Android/[=PlayStation=]; third remake of ''Final Fantasy Adventure'')

''(The World of) Mana'' series, also known as the ''Seiken Densetsu'' (''Legend of the Holy Sword''), is a group of mostly action [=RPGs=], most of which also tenuously share a setting. Most of the games center on a Mana Tree, the source of magic in the world, and the eponymous Mana Sword.

** In ''VideoGame/SeikenDensetsu3'', the attack charging is changed from holding down a button to filling up the meter by hitting the enemy with melee strikes. (As far as pure DPS goes, though, it's still much more practical to just use the first level charge.)

* BittersweetEnding: If the ending to a game in this series isn't a DownerEnding, changes are good that it'll be a BittersweetEnding. ''VideoGame/SecretOfMana'' and ''VideoGame/SeikenDensetsu3'' are great examples.
* BlackAndWhiteMagic: The Girl and Sprite from ''VideoGame/SecretOfMana'', Angela and Carlie/Charlotte from ''VideoGame/SeikenDensetsu3''.

* BladeOnAStick: The Spear and Javelin in VideoGame/SecretOfMana; Lise/Riesz wields one in ''VideoGame/SeikenDensetsu3''; the Spear is also a weapon type in ''VideoGame/LegendOfMana''.

** In ''VideoGame/SeikenDensetsu3'', you can't even access the Moonlight Forest (where the Luna elemental is hidden) until you've gained Salamander, Undine, and Sylph, nor can you access where Dryad is hidden until you use the Luna elemental on the row of trees blocking your path.
* {{Cap}}: Every inventory item in ''VideoGame/SecretOfMana'' is capped to four. In ''VideoGame/SeikenDensetsu3'', you can hold up to nine of each item in the ring menu, with more storeable in an inventory menu that's only accessible outside of battle. What's more, the number of items in the ring menu is also limited.

** In ''VideoGame/SeikenDensetsu3'' and ''VideoGame/LegendOfMana'', the charge meter builds by successful attacks, and in ''Legend'' certain {{NPC}}s have synchronization effects that can help build said meter faster.

** In ''VideoGame/SeikenDensetsu3'', the chosen one is whoever the Fairy chooses to inhabit.

* CoOpMultiplayer: ''VideoGame/SecretOfMana'' was the first RPG to feature a co-operative multiplayer gameplay mechanic where a second or third player could drop-in and drop-out at any time. ''VideoGame/SeikenDensetsu3'' used the same form of co-operative multiplayer.

* DidYouJustPunchOutCthulhu: The FinalBoss of most games is generally a sufficiently terror-inspiring EldritchAbomination; in ''VideoGame/SeikenDensetsu3'' you fight ''eight'' God-Beasts and the final boss [[spoiler:absorbs all of their power, as well as that of the Mana Sword]]; and in ''VideoGame/LegendOfMana'', you even have to kill [[spoiler:the Mana goddess' SuperPoweredEvilSide]].
* DoomedHometown: In ''VideoGame/DawnOfMana'', the HiddenElfVillage where Keldy is raised gets invaded; the Girl from ''VideoGame/SecretOfMana'' hails from one of these as well, and in ''VideoGame/SeikenDensetsu3'' '''all six''' protagonists hometowns get invaded/taken over by bad guys at one point or another (the order thereof depending on who you picked to be your PowerTrio).

* FloatingContinent: The Mana Fortress in ''VideoGame/SecretOfMana''. Possibly the Mana Holyland in ''VideoGame/SeikenDensetsu3'', if it's not simply in another dimension.
* GiantEnemyCrab: A boss battle ''VideoGame/FinalFantasyAdventure'', ''VideoGame/SeikenDensetsu3'', ''VideoGame/LegendOfMana'', and ''VideoGame/DawnOfMana''.

* GoForTheEye: The Demon Wall in ''VideoGame/SecretOfMana'', and the Full Metal Hugger boss in ''VideoGame/SeikenDensetsu3'' (although it had two eyes).
* GoodOldFisticuffs: The Fist weapons in ''VideoGame/SecretOfMana'' and ''VideoGame/LegendOfMana''; Kevin fights like this in ''VideoGame/SeikenDensetsu3''.
* TheGoomba: Rabites.

** Knowing which enemies to farm for the third job class unlocking item or the best weapons/armor in ''VideoGame/SeikenDensetsu3'' is also a massive pain in the butt even ''with'' a guide.

* HiddenElfVillage: In ''VideoGame/SeikenDensetsu3'', a literal example is hidden in TheLostWoods. There's a non-literal example in ''VideoGame/DawnOfMana'', on its own remote island.

* Creator/HirokiKikuta: Composed the entire soundtracks for ''VideoGame/SecretOfMana'' and ''VideoGame/SeikenDensetsu3'', as well as scattered tracks from the post-''VideoGame/LegendOfMana'' games.

* HonestJohnsDealership: Neko/Niccolo (who share the same name in Japanese versions, Nikita, which appears in the fan translation of the third game), who sells overpriced items in most games and bilks quite a few people out of their hard-earned money (including the player character) in ''VideoGame/LegendOfMana''.
** ''VideoGame/SeikenDensetsu3'' reveals that Neko belongs to a ''race'' of such vendors.
** ''VideoGame/ChildrenOfMana'' reveals the same about Niccolo.

* HyperspaceArsenal: Most obvious in ''VideoGame/SeikenDensetsu3'', in which you have a second "bag of holding" that can hold quite a bit more than the main inventory, but all of the other games has your party carting around quite a bit of stuff. Even more so in ''VideoGame/LegendOfMana'', in which you can carry a ridiculous amount of VendorTrash, weapons, armor, instruments, and magical artifacts in your pockets.

* InsurmountableWaistHighFence: Bushes, rocks, or even just mildly rough terrain can prove impassable; in ''VideoGame/SeikenDensetsu3'', the entrance to the dwarf cave is blocked by an insurmountable ''optical illusion'' that cannot be bypassed unless you talk to an NPC and then use the Wisp elemental to remove said illusion.

* InUniverseGameClock: ''VideoGame/SeikenDensetsu3'' has both a day/night cycle and a weekly cycle tied into character stats, types of monsters spawned, and which {{NPC}}s are active; ''VideoGame/LegendOfMana'' has a weekly cycle whose only obvious effect is which teachers are in session at the Geo academy and whether you can recruit Pearl or [[spoiler:Blackpearl]] in the Bejeweled City after you've finished the Jumi arc.

** The BonusBoss in ''VideoGame/SeikenDensetsu3''.

* ItsAllUpstairsFromHere: The tower in the City of Gold in ''VideoGame/SecretOfMana'' and the Luna Tower in ''VideoGame/SeikenDensetsu3''; the Tower of Leires in ''VideoGame/LegendOfMana'' isn't ''quite'' all going upstairs, but it may as well be.

* LightIsNotGood: Several of the games have light-elemental monsters, including the Dread Slime and Terminators from ''VideoGame/SecretOfMana'', the Full Metal Hugger and Lightgazer from ''VideoGame/SeikenDensetsu3''', and the Light Cyclops from ''VideoGame/SwordOfMana''.

* MookMaker: Eggplant Men have a tendency to summon zombies, whereas Slimes can reproduce and at least one boss in ''VideoGame/SeikenDensetsu3'' and ''VideoGame/DawnOfMana'' can summon {{Mooks}} to attack the party; several of the games also have destructible enemy spawn points.

** In ''VideoGame/SeikenDensetsu3'', once the heroes finally complete their goal of rounding up all eight spirits in order to open a gate to the Holyland, it turns out that their efforts [[spoiler:allowed the Mana Stones to be unsealed, opening a gate that ''every faction other than the heroes'' is able to use.]]
*** And then, after stopping an apocalypse by defeating the eight God-beasts, you realize that by defeating them, you released their power into the Sword of Mana. [[spoiler:Too bad you let TheDragon take the sword, hero.]]

* OurWerewolvesAreDifferent: Werewolves show up in most of the games. They are called Beast-Men in ''VideoGame/SeikenDensetsu3'', but they only look wolfish at night. During the day they resemble ''camels'' for some reason [[BizarreSexualDimorphism or at least the men do]]. Kevin, one of the playable characters, appears more human as he's a HalfHumanHybrid, but he can go full-on werewolf at night.
* PaletteSwap: Almost every early enemy has a harder palette-swapped version. The player characters themselves in ''VideoGame/SeikenDensetsu3'' are usually palette-swapped for their class changes.

* RandomlyDrops: Several of the orbs necessary to power up the weapons on ''VideoGame/SecretOfMana'' can only be obtained by random drops from certain enemies in the final area. The items necessary to upgrade character classes in ''VideoGame/SeikenDensetsu3'' are similarly tricky to get.

* RapunzelHair: Just about every female character in all of the games; Hawkeye in ''VideoGame/SeikenDensetsu3'' is a male version.
* RebelliousPrincess: Primm from ''VideoGame/SecretOfMana'' (comes from a noble family, and is not actually royalty but otherwise fits perfectly) and Angela (and to some extent Charlotte/Carlie) from ''VideoGame/SeikenDensetsu3''.
* RecurringLocation: The Mana Holyland, which is routinely blown to smithereens.

* SceneryPorn: The series as a whole sports a very unique art style and color palette. Load up a ROM of ''VideoGame/SeikenDensetsu3'' some time and boggle at how seamless the tilesets can be.

* ''[[CompilationRerelease Seiken Densetsu Collection]]'' (2017, Nintendo Switch, Japan only; contains the first three games with added features, such as saving in the middle of gameplay and a SoundTest.)

* ''VideoGame/SeikenDensetsu3'' (1995, Super Famicom; Japan only, a [[http://www.romhacking.net/translations/440/ fan translation is available]] via UsefulNotes/{{emulation}}; commonly nicknamed ''Secret of Mana 2'')

* OurWerewolvesAreDifferent: Werewolves show up in most of the games. They are called Beast-Men in ''VideoGame/SeikenDensetsu3'', but they only look wolfish at night. During the day they resemble ''camels'' for some reason. Kevin, one of the playable characters, appears more human as he's a HalfHumanHybrid, but he can go full-on werewolf at night.

* QuicksandBox: In ''VideoGame/SecretOfMana'' and ''VideoGame/SeikenDensetsu3'' you could theoretically travel to any spot on the globe, but realistically it'd be a lot easier to take the path recommended by [[GuideDangIt online walkthroughs]] and there are multiple choke points where you can't get past unless you have the right kind of magic.

Unfortunately, to some extent the ''VideoGame/KingdomHearts'' and ''VideoGame/FinalFantasyCrystalChronicles'' series have usurped the place of ''World of Mana'' in the Creator/SquareEnix pantheon, with the aforementioned games featuring the 3D version of the three-character action RPG gameplay for which the ''World of Mana'' series was once known. This has caused Creator/SquareEnix to start scrambling to find a different genre for the World of Mana series, such as the RTS ''Heroes of Mana'' and pure action game ''Dawn of Mana'', the latter of which was extremely poorly received and criticized (especially in Japan, where it was straight-out badged ''Seiken Densetsu 4'' and seen as a completely unworthy successor to that name). Similarly, the franchise's mobile efforts have not been met with much enthusiasm; while trademarks for ''Circle'' and ''Rise'' were both filed in English-speaking territories at certain points, localization plans never came through and the reception of the games in Japan was chilly enough to result in both of them lasting about two years apiece before being shuttered.

* SpiritualSuccessor: The ''VideoGame/KingdomHearts'' and ''VideoGame/FinalFantasyCrystalChronicles'' series are both ones to this one.

Unfortunately, to some extent the ''VideoGame/KingdomHearts'' and ''VideoGame/FinalFantasyCrystalChronicles'' series have usurped the place of ''World of Mana'' in the Creator/SquareEnix pantheon, with the aforementioned games featuring the 3D version of the three-character action RPG gameplay for which the ''World of Mana'' series was once known. This has caused Creator/SquareEnix to start scrambling to find a different genre for the World of Mana series, such as the RTS ''Heroes of Mana'' and pure action game ''Dawn of Mana'', the latter of which was extremely poorly received and criticized. Similarly, the franchise's mobile efforts have not been met with much enthusiasm; while trademarks for ''Circle'' and ''Rise'' were both filed in English-speaking territories at certain points, localization plans never came through and the reception of the games in Japan was chilly enough to result in both of them lasting about two years apiece before being shuttered.

Unfortunately, to some extent the ''VideoGame/KingdomHearts'' and ''VideoGame/FinalFantasyCrystalChronicles'' series have usurped the place of ''World of Mana'' in the Creator/SquareEnix pantheon, with the aforementioned games featuring the 3D version of the three-character action RPG gameplay for which the ''World of Mana'' series was once known. This has caused Creator/SquareEnix to start scrambling to find a different genre for the World of Mana series, such as the RTS ''Heroes of Mana'' and pure action game ''Dawn of Mana'', the latter of which was extremely poorly received and criticized. [[http://www.siliconera.com/2012/09/07/report-circle-of-mana-trademark-filed-by-square-enix/ A trademark]] for ''Circle of Mana'' was filed in September 2012. As it turns out, it's a casual social RPG in the same vein as ''Final Fantasy Artniks'' and ''The World Ends With You Live Remix''.

The Square USA game ''VideoGame/SecretOfEvermore'' is sometimes confused for being part of the ''World of Mana'', but while it was obviously inspired by ''Secret of Mana'' (it has a [[RingMenu ring-based menu system]]) it doesn't have any of the ''Mana'' story elements in it, and magic effects are based on alchemy formulas rather than, well, mana.

* ''Seiken Densetsu: Circle of Mana'' (2013, iOS/Android, Japan only; a card battle game released in GREE.)
* ''Seiken Densetsu: Rise of Mana'' (2014, iOS/Android; 2015, [=PlayStation=] Vita; Japan only, although the fact that a ''Rise of Mana'' trademark was registered in Europe suggests that it was at least considered for localization; features ''8-player'' co-op.)

* {{Ninja}}: Recurring enemies in the series, and Hawkeye can become one.

Unfortunately, to some extent the ''VideoGame/KingdomHearts'' and ''VideoGame/FinalFantasyCrystalChronicles'' series have usurped the place of ''World of Mana'' in the Creator/SquareEnix pantheon, with the aforementioned games featuring the 3D version of the three-character action RPG gameplay for which the ''World of Mana'' series was once known. This has caused Creator/SquareEnix to start scrambling to find a different genre for the World of Mana series, such as the RTS ''Heroes of Mana'' and pure action game ''Dawn of Mana'', the latter of which was extremely poorly received and criticized. [[http://www.siliconera.com/2012/09/07/report-circle-of-mana-trademark-filed-by-square-enix/ A trademark]] for ''Circle of Mana'' was filed in September 2012. As it turns out, it's a casual social RPG in the same vein as ''Final Fantasy X GREE'' and ''The World Ends With You Live Remix''.

* InstantAwesomeJustAddNinja: Recurring enemies in the series, and Hawkeye can become one.

* NiceJobBreakingItHero: In ''VideoGame/SecretOfMana'', releasing the sword from the stone on the waterfall spawns Rabites outside of town, eventually leading to the hero getting [[YouCantGoHomeAgain kicked out of the village forever]].