Trials Of Mana Remake Release Date, Characters, Multiplayer And Gameplay

The '90s birthed many classic JRPGs that people still talk about today. Games like Secret of Mana, Chrono Trigger, and Final Fantasy 6 constantly make the rounds whenever people discuss the genre. The iconic Final Fantasy 7 is so popular the Square Enix will release a ground-up remake of it in early 2020.

However, no one in the West really talks about Trials of Mana, and it's understandable why. The game never officially released outside of Japan. Generally speaking, the Mana series as a whole doesn't have a big footprint in the West. Furthermore, the lackluster Secret of Mana remake didn't help things, either.

Well, it looks like Square Enix is trying to change public perception as it breathes new life into the Mana series. The upcoming remake of Seiken Densetsu 3, or Trials of Mana, looks to take the series to new heights, all while helping more Westerners get excited over one of the longest-running Japanese franchises.

If you're interested in picking up a new JRPG next year, stick around while we tell you everything you'll need to know about the Trials of Mana remake.

Square Enix has a few trailers out for Trials of Mana. The first one was at E3 2019, and another one launched ahead of Tokyo Game Show. The TGS trailer showcased the English dub, which sounds pretty solid. We get to see each of the six main characters in action, and major villains like the Crimson Wizard, Belladonna, and Goremand make special guest appearances.

We also get a glimpse of the class-changing system, complete with an animation for Angela. Afterward, we're treated to a montage of in-game combat, including a menagerie of boss fights and a series of special attacks. Overall, it presents a holistic picture of what Trials of Mana is all about.

The E3 trailer feels more like a condensed version of the TGS trailer. It also shows off the six main characters, with cutscenes that provide a little bit of insight into their stories. We also get some clips of combat and world exploration. This trailer differs, however, in its use of the Japanese voice acting. When players get Trials of Mana, they can choose between English or Japanese audio.

In the original Trials of Mana, the Goddess of Mana fought eight powerful monsters called Benevodons. She used the power of the Sword of Mana to defeat them, and afterward, she sealed them away, locking them into eight Mana Stones. With peace returned, she set out to rebuild the world so others could prosper. As her final act, she turned into the Mana Tree and fell asleep for years.

Now, three major factions look to reawaken the eight Benevodons, harnessing their power to take over the world. All the while, the Mana Tree has started to die, and the mana in the world is disappearing with it. It's up to you and your party of heroes to save the world from imminent destruction.

Granted, this story was already told in the original Seiken Densetsu 3, so if you really want to know how it goes, you could pick up Collection of Mana and play it right now. However, it's worth noting that Square Enix plans to change up the story a little bit in this remake. It'll remain faithful to the basic structure, but certain ideas will be expanded.

When you start a new game in Trials of Mana, you'll have to pick your main character and two companions. Unlike other JRPGs, these three characters will comprise your party all the way to the end. If you're interested in fighting the Dragon Lord and, by extension, the Crimson Wizard, pick Duran or Angela as your main character. Both of these protagonists are somewhat at odds with one another, but both still oppose the Dragon Lord.

Duran is a hot-headed swordsman in Valsena, and he loses both of his parents at a young age. He becomes a guard at the castle, but he fails to protect it against the Crimson Wizard. After tasting defeat, Duran vows to become a skilled swordsman and ends up in Wendel.

Angela, on the other hand, is the only princess of Altena, a kingdom that experiences perpetual spring. In order to maintain that magical climate, the Crimson Wizard tells the queen to invade other empires for their Mana Stones, including Valsena. To use all that power, the queen decides she must sacrifice Angela. The princess runs away, seeking advice in Wendel.

If fighting the Masked Mage intrigues you, make sure you slot Kevin or Charlotte in as your main character. Both of them were wronged by Goremand, the evil illusionist who works for the Masked Mage.

Kevin is a beastman, born to a beastly father and human mother. He never felt at home with his fellow beastmen or the humans, especially since humans have persecuted the beastmen for years now. However, he found a friend in a wolf pup named Karl. Unfortunately, his father, king of the beastmen, plans to attack the human city of Wendel for revenge. This bloodthirst was spurred on by Goremand, who proved his magical powers to the king by making Kevin kill Karl. After the traumatic experience, Kevin leaves home and heads to Wendel.

Charlotte, who already lives in Wendel, shares a similarly tragic story. She lost her parents at a young age, but a cleric named Heath became a father figure to her. One day, Heath investigates a disturbance near the village. Charlotte gets a premonition, worrying for her father figure's life. When she finds Heath, she sees him being kidnapped by Goremand. She sets off to rescue Heath.

Fans of the old-school titles will know that the Mana series supported couch co-op play. You could pop the game in, sit next to a friend, and whack evil monsters together. Surely, it'd make sense that this Trials of Mana remake would include such a prominent feature, right?

Well, if the multiplayer is one of the main reasons you're interested, you're in for some disappointment. Producer Masaru Oyamada told Game Informer in an interview that the Trials of Mana remake will not support any form of multiplayer. Instead, the development team wants "to focus on the single player part of the game, so you won't be going through this one with your friends."

Of course, if you're in need of a multiplayer experience, the Collection of Mana offers multiplayer support. In it, Secret of Mana supports up to three players, while Trials of Mana accommodates two players. For those who want the high-definition graphics, though, you'll have to journey into the remake solo.

So far, critics have generally praised the early builds of Trials of Mana that they played. Kotaku's Chris Kohler saw it at E3 2019, and he describes it more like a new title that just happens to be based on an older game. For all intents and purposes though, he sees it as a brand new entry in the series, and he sounds excited for it: "Trials of Mana isn't 'new,' but it is clearly an attempt to update the Mana formula for the modern day. Who knows, maybe it'll even paint the path forward for the series and lead to a truly new episode."

Meanwhile, Gillen McAllister from Sony Interactive Entertainment Europe says that Trials of Mana feels familiar. He said he felt nostalgic, even though he never played the game before. He spoke with Oyamada, who claimed that change is a necessary part of the Mana formula. "With that philosophy in mind, it's only fitting that Mana's return is under a new guise," McAllister writes. "And from what I've played so far, it's a story whose newer embellishments make it worth revisiting. Even if it's for the first time."