Collection of Mana

Let there be no doubt about it: this is a fantastic collection of games that have stood the test of time incredibly well. If you even remotely think of picking up the new Mana game next year, you owe it to yourself to give these games a go on your Switch. It might be advisable to wait for a sale, however, as even though the games are among the best of the Game Boy and SNES era, you’re still paying the price of a modern AAA-game for three ports of games that are over 20 years old.

Whether you think this collection is worth forty bucks or not, is up to you. I really love all three games included in here, especially Final Fantasy Adventure. However, I honestly think Square Enix and M2 could have added a bit more content to make this collection a meatier experience not only for fans of the Mana games, but RPG fans in general.

Trials of Mana is certainly a title worth your time, but newcomers to the series may want to hold off until the release of the modern remake next year. The Collection of Mana does a fine job of providing faithful recreations of 8 and 16-bit classics for a modern portable system, but make no mistake: all three games show their age. For those who had their formative years during the Super Nintendo era and those that simply prefer 2D sprite-based gaming, this package will serve you well.

It may seem a little pricey, but, considering that Trials of Mana has never been available outside of Japan before, Collection of Mana is a must-have for Switch owning JRPG fans. Those who have fond memories of playing Secret of Mana all those years ago will simply love Trials of Mana and the new additions that it brings to the table. And those who have never played a Mana game before will be able to discover their magic for the first time. There’s over 50 hours of classic RPG goodness here, and time has only weakened the combined experience a little.

Collection of Mana is a great chance for newcomers and longtime fans to revisit this long-dormant series. While Square Enix did try and breath new life into the series with the Secret of Mana remake last year, I’d definitely say that this is the best way to experience that game as well as its predecessor and sequel. The novelty of having these titles at home or on the go with Nintendo Switch has been mentioned time and time again but it also cannot be understated here.

Anyone who has never tried these titles before is now given the opportunity in easily the best way possible, and despite the remakes these titles have or are soon going to see, it’s well worth playing each one from where they began. Collection of Mana is a title every fan of JRPGs should have whether they’ve played them or not, as they are tried and true classics that stand the test of time by still being simply outstanding well over twenty years later.