Trials of Mana

The opinions of the critics regarding the story of Trials of Mana are quite varied. Some critics, such as App Trigger and Nintendo Enthusiast, appreciate the game's unique story, characters, and settings, which set it apart from other titles in the series. They highlight the dark and engaging narrative, revolving around themes of war, the environment, and the struggle between ambition and nature. Additionally, TheSixthAxis praises the game for its six different playable protagonists, each with their own unique journeys and villains, and the way their stories come together based on the player's choices. This adds depth and replay value to the overall narrative. On the other hand, several critics express negative opinions about the story of Trials of Mana. PC Invasion criticizes the narrative for being simple, familiar, and populated with one-dimensional archetypes. They also point out the poor quality of the cutscenes, with recycled animations and subpar dialogue and camera work. Similarly, GameSpace and We Got This Covered criticize the story for its clichéd tropes, predictable plot twists, and tired RPG tropes, making it feel familiar and lacking in originality. COGconnected goes even further, criticizing the story for having paper-thin characters, disjointed narratives, and baffling plot developments. Overall, the consensus among the critics is mixed. While some critics appreciate the unique aspects of the story, the branching narratives, and the depth added by the different playable protagonists, others find the story lacking in strong characterization, depth, and originality. The loyalty to the original game's story and locations, as mentioned by IGN multiple times, leads to empty and clichéd NPC dialogue, which could have been improved to enhance the pacing of the game. The story of Trials of Mana seems to have its strengths and weaknesses, with some critics finding it engaging and enjoyable, while others criticize its simplicity, lack of depth, and reliance on tired RPG tropes.

The opinions of the critics regarding the gameplay of Trials of Mana are quite diverse. Many critics praise the combat system, highlighting its fast-paced and entertaining nature. They commend the ability to switch between characters mid-battle, which adds flexibility and strategic depth to the gameplay. IGN, PC Invasion, and App Trigger specifically mention the enjoyable combat experience, with PC Invasion noting that it becomes more complex as characters progress and unlock new abilities. The combat is described as action-oriented, with smooth and responsive controls, allowing players to perform combos, dodge enemy attacks, and utilize special moves. The ability to customize characters through class changes and skill customization is also appreciated by several critics, such as We Got This Covered and TheSixthAxis. However, not all critics share the same positive sentiment towards the gameplay. Some reviewers, such as DarkStation and Gamers Heroes, express disappointment with the combat, describing it as shallow, simple, and lacking engagement. They mention a lack of combos or alternate gameplay styles, which they believe hinders the overall gameplay experience. GameSkinny and GameSpew criticize the combat for feeling dated and simplistic, with flawed targeting systems and repetitive mechanics. Impulsegamer highlights the difficulty in managing combat due to the camera in the 3D remake. Overall, the consensus among the critics is that the gameplay of Trials of Mana is a mixed bag. While there are positive aspects, such as the fast and fluid combat, character customization, and the ability to swap between characters, there are also negative aspects, including the lack of depth, repetitive mechanics, and issues with camera and targeting systems. The opinions vary from praising the combat as great, as stated by God is a Geek, to describing it as boring and repetitive, as mentioned by Gamers Heroes. It is important for players to consider these varied opinions and decide whether the gameplay elements mentioned align with their preferences and expectations.

The opinions of the critics regarding the graphics and visual design of Trials of Mana are quite varied. Many critics praised the game's visuals, highlighting its gorgeous and colorful art style with hyper-saturated colors. IGN, App Trigger, God is a Geek, and We Got This Covered all mentioned the game's beautiful and vibrant visuals, with IGN specifically noting that the modern graphical overhaul captures the beauty of the original 16-bit game. Critics such as Nintendo Enthusiast, NintendoWorldReport, and Twinfinite also appreciated the game's attention to detail in character and enemy designs, as well as its lush fantasy environments. The character models were generally well-received, with Hardcore Gamer and Video Chums praising the beautifully animated and detailed characters. However, there were also criticisms regarding the graphics and visual design of Trials of Mana. PC Invasion and DarkStation expressed disappointment in the game's visuals, with PC Invasion describing it as looking like a game from 10 years ago and DarkStation mentioning that the graphics are flat and strange. TheSixthAxis and CGMagazine pointed out issues with the Nintendo Switch version, such as fuzzy textures, animation hiccups, and alarmingly bad cutscene animation. PlayStation LifeStyle also mentioned that the environments were mostly bland and the character models lacked detail. Additionally, Destructoid mentioned that the additional content added for the remake felt awkwardly implemented. Overall, the consensus among the critics is that Trials of Mana has visually appealing graphics with vibrant colors and attention to detail in character and enemy designs. The game's modern graphical overhaul successfully captures the beauty of the original 16-bit game, as noted by IGN and Hardcore Gamer. However, there are mixed opinions regarding the overall execution of the visuals. While some critics appreciate the game's visual charm and the improvement over previous Mana games, others feel that the graphics are lacking in certain areas, such as the environments and character models. The criticisms regarding the Nintendo Switch version's performance issues also indicate that the game may not be visually consistent across all platforms. Nevertheless, the positive comments from critics like NintendoWorldReport and Video Chums suggest that Trials of Mana's visuals are generally well-received by fans of the genre.

The opinions of the critics regarding the Sound Design and Music of Trials of Mana are varied, but there are several positive aspects that stand out. Multiple critics, including IGN, App Trigger, GameSpace, God is a Geek, NintendoWorldReport, TheSixthAxis, We Got This Covered, CGMagazine, COGconnected, Hardcore Gamer, Noisy Pixel, PlayStation LifeStyle, Player 2, TheGamer, Twinfinite, and Video Chums, praise the soundtrack of Trials of Mana. They describe it as epic, superb, fantastic, excellent, outstanding, delightful, energetic, and top-notch. The modern arrangements of the original chiptune soundtrack are particularly highlighted, with IGN and Impulsegamer specifically mentioning the ability to switch between the remake and the original 16-bit soundtrack as a great feature. The orchestration and live orchestra recordings are also commended by App Trigger and Nintendo Enthusiast. The remastered soundtrack is said to add mood to each area and enhance the gameplay experience, with Twinfinite and Video Chums emphasizing the variety and catchiness of the music. The sound design itself is generally regarded as nice, well-orchestrated, and of high fidelity, as mentioned by DarkStation, GameSkinny, and Noisy Pixel. However, there are also negative opinions regarding the Sound Design and Music of Trials of Mana. DarkStation criticizes the voice acting, describing it as terrible, with poor sound direction, cheesy performances, and an awful script. GameSpace and GamingTrend also mention issues with the English dub, considering it terrible and inconsistent, respectively. Destructoid and Game Informer specifically criticize the English localization and voice acting, with the former mentioning odd volume normalization and character choices, and the latter describing the voice acting as poor, unnatural, and amateurish. Push Square and Twinfinite recommend switching to the Japanese voice option due to questionable English voice acting and inconsistency. The voice acting is further criticized by GameSpew, Gamers Heroes, and Hardcore Gamer, with the latter describing it as rough and inconsistent. Overall, the majority of critics have a positive view of the Sound Design and Music of Trials of Mana. The soundtrack is widely praised for its epic, superb, and delightful qualities, with the modern arrangements of the original chiptune soundtrack being particularly highlighted. The orchestration and live orchestra recordings are also commended. The sound design itself is generally regarded as nice and well-orchestrated. However, the voice acting, especially in English, receives significant criticism for being terrible, inconsistent, and poorly directed. The option to switch to the Japanese voiceover is often recommended as a better alternative. Despite the negative opinions on the voice acting, the overall consensus among the critics is that the Sound Design and Music of Trials of Mana are strong and contribute positively to the overall gaming experience.

Overall, the opinions of the critics regarding the voice acting in Trials of Mana are largely negative. Several critics, such as App Trigger and Video Chums, highlight the positive aspects of the voice acting, praising the main cast for their decent performances and their ability to bring out the distinct personalities of the characters. Additionally, PlayStation LifeStyle mentions that the over-the-top and melodramatic acting of some side characters adds to the campy storytelling and fits well with the overall tone of the game. However, the majority of the critics express strong criticism towards the voice acting in Trials of Mana. Many reviewers, including DarkStation and CGMagazine, point out that the voices of non-playable characters (NPCs) are particularly awful, with some NPCs delivering laughably bad performances. TheSixthAxis also notes that the English voices can sound campy and reminiscent of Saturday morning cartoon arch-nemeses, which may not be appealing to all players. Furthermore, critics like Game Informer and GameSpew criticize the voice acting for its stilted deliveries, odd character choices, and wooden performances, which can be jarring and detract from the overall experience. Taking into account the opinions of the critics, the overall consensus is that the voice acting in Trials of Mana falls short of expectations. While there are some positive aspects, such as the main cast's decent performances and the fitting campiness of certain side characters, the negative aspects outweigh the positives. Critics like Nintendo Enthusiast and Push Square suggest sticking to subtitles or switching to the Japanese voice option, as they find the English voice acting to be inconsistent, lacking in enthusiasm, and sometimes miscast. The general sentiment is that the voice acting, especially for NPCs, is subpar and can be distracting or even detrimental to the overall enjoyment of the game.

In terms of the technical performance on different gaming platforms, there are both positive and negative aspects highlighted by the critics. Starting with the positives, the PS4 version of Trials of Mana is generally praised for its consistent framerate and quick loading times, as mentioned by Game Informer and Hardcore Gamer. The PC version also receives some praise for its graphical options, although it is noted by PC Invasion that a mod was necessary to address the lack of options. Additionally, God is a Geek mentions that the Nintendo Switch version offers faster load times compared to the PS4 version. Moving on to the negatives, the Nintendo Switch version seems to have the most criticisms regarding technical performance. Multiple critics, including IGN, GameSpace, GamingTrend, and IGN again, mention framerate issues and frame drops, particularly noticeable in cutscenes. GameSpace also mentions problems with the interaction button, causing accidental attacks instead of interactions. The Switch version is also described as having inconsistent performance and framerate issues by GamingTrend. Furthermore, Nintendo Enthusiast mentions that the camera can be problematic in small rooms, and NintendoWorldReport notes some pop-in and fuzzy textures. Overall, the consensus among the critics is that the technical performance of Trials of Mana is somewhat lacking, particularly on the Nintendo Switch. While the PS4 version generally performs better with consistent framerates and quicker loading times, the Switch version struggles with framerate issues, frame drops, and inconsistent performance. The PC version also has its drawbacks, with limited graphical options that required a mod to address. However, it is worth noting that some critics, such as God is a Geek and NintendoWorldReport, still find the technical performance on the Switch to be acceptable or even good in some aspects.

The opinions of the critics regarding the replay value of Trials of Mana are generally positive. Many critics highlight the game's multiple characters and their unique storylines as a major factor contributing to its replayability. IGN, PC Invasion, App Trigger, GameSkinny, GamingTrend, Impulsegamer, Nintendo Enthusiast, and NintendoWorldReport all mention the game's multiple character options and story variations as a positive aspect that enhances replayability. The ability to mix and match characters and experience different sequences of events adds a layer of depth and variety to subsequent playthroughs, as mentioned by PC Invasion. TheSixthAxis also emphasizes the incredible combinations of characters and their stories coming together, which adds to the game's replay value. On the other hand, there are a few critics who express some negative aspects regarding the game's replay value. Destructoid mentions that the additional content added for the remake feels somewhat awkwardly implemented and has little impact on the narrative. GameSpew states that there is little reason to replay the game with different characters, as the main content remains largely unchanged. The Games Machine describes the game as excessively easy and almost banal, which could potentially detract from the desire to replay it. Overall, the consensus among the critics is that Trials of Mana offers a good amount of replay value. The game's multiple character options, story variations, and class systems are often praised as key factors that make multiple playthroughs worthwhile. Critics such as Hardcore Gamer, Noisy Pixel, PlayStation LifeStyle, and TheGamer all highlight the game's replayability through its different character choices and class shifting. The length of the main campaign and the amount of additional content to explore are also mentioned as positive aspects contributing to the game's replay value by critics like Noisy Pixel, PlayStation LifeStyle, and Shacknews. However, it is important to note that there are a few critics who express concerns about the implementation of additional content and the game's overall difficulty level.