Visions of Mana was released on August 29, 2024 across multiple platforms including PC, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox Series S|X and Nintendo Switch. The Visions of Mana game received praise from IGN awarding it an 8/10 and others giving it favorable reviews.
Also Read: Black Myth: Wukong Review: China’s First AAA Game Surges to Global Success
Visions of Mana’s narrative is around a pilgrimage of eight chosen individuals known as the Alms, who must sacrifice themselves to maintain elemental balance.
This concept isn’t new, bearing similarities to Final Fantasy X and Tales of Symphonia. Yet, Visions of Mana manages to carve out its unique take, where even the protagonist, Val is complicit in the idea of self-sacrifice.
As the story progresses most characters including Val and Morley, evolve. Val transitions from a straightforward hero to a more conflicted figure, while Morley’s cold demeanor slowly warms. Unfortunately not all characters are as compelling. Hinna, Val’s childhood friend remains bland.
Visions of Mana integrates its elemental lore into gameplay by introducing vessels representing the eight elements. These vessels unlock new job classes and also be as tools to interact with the environment.
The wind vessel allows players to reach higher elevations, while the fire vessel turns into a makeshift rocket.
Each party member has access to eight elementally-based classes. The customization is extensive with the ability to transfer special abilities between classes, though passive skills remain locked to their respective classes.
The combat was engaging and it fails to evolve meaningfully as the game progresses. Players will encounter minor variations but no major new mechanics leading to a sense of stagnation. Despite this the game features a few late-game boss fights that stand out.
One of the drawbacks of Visions of Mana is its exploration. The world is visually stunning, but it often feels empty. The large open-world areas lack personality.
The side quests exacerbate this issue with over 130 tasks that are mostly uninspired fetch quests or monster hunts.
If there’s one area where Visions of Mana shines, it’s in its visuals. The game is a graphical marvel with an anime art style that brings the world to life.
From breathtaking sunsets to mystical underwater ruins, the game’s environments are a feast for the eyes.
However this visual splendor comes at a cost. The game’s performance on the PlayStation 5 is inconsistent. Frame rate drops are common in larger open-world areas and during combat.
Visions of Mana does provide a performance mode to tackle these issues, but even then, the experience can be marred by technical hiccups.
Also Read: Epic Games Store Launches Both on iOS and Android Devices
The story moves at a brisk pace, which, while keeping the action flowing leaves little room for deeper character development.
Important plot points and character arcs are often resolved too quickly. This contrasts with other RPGs, like Trails Through Daybreak, where character development is more gradual and impactful.
The variety of moves and spells becomes repetitive and the lack of new mechanics as the game progresses makes battles feel monotonous. The elemental interactions, though interesting, don’t add much depth.
The auto-targeting system is unreliable and the camera often swings wildly during battles making it difficult to keep track of the action. This combined with cluttered UI elements and poorly choreographed combat scenes.
With over 130 quests to complete, the majority are uninspired and repetitive. Tasks often involve collecting monster parts or retrieving items from the same locations leading to a sense of déjà vu.
Ouka Studios was founded in 2020 with backgrounds at major companies such as Bandai Namco and Capcom. The studio was created with the ambition to develop high-quality games that would appeal to both Japanese and international audiences.
The studio gained attention within the gaming industry due to its experienced leadership and projects. Visions of Mana became the studio’s flagship project.
The decision to close Ouka Studios reportedly stems from a shift in strategy by major Chinese companies like NetEase and Tencent. These companies are moving away from their Japan-centric approach.
According to Bloomberg, both NetEase and Tencent have become frustrated with the progress of their investments in Japanese developers.
The cultural and operational differences between the Chinese companies and their Japanese counterparts have reportedly led to misalignment in visions and objectives.
The success of Black Myth: Wukong developed by a small Chinese studio has influenced this shift. The game sold 10 million copies within three days of its release.
Also Read: Red Dead Redemption PC Release Confirmed on PlayStation Store
