Secret Of Mana

The Secret of Mana SNES ROM is the USA release of Square’s action RPG for the Super Nintendo Emulator. Battles have a rhythm that takes a little time to understand. Swinging the moment an enemy gets close is possible, but the hit will be weak. Let the power gauge return to 100%, and the same weapon lands with much more force. Even a group of small monsters can become troublesome when every attack is rushed.

A Sword That Brings Trouble Home

The boy lives near a valley that everyone in his village has been warned to avoid. He goes there anyway, falls near a waterfall, and finds a worn sword stuck in a stone. He needs something to cut through the plants blocking his way home, so he pulls it out.

That simple choice causes trouble almost at once. Monsters begin appearing near the village, and the elders blame the boy for breaking an old taboo. Nobody gives him much time to explain. He is handed a few supplies and told to leave.

A knight named Jema soon recognizes the weapon as the Mana Sword, though years of neglect have left it badly weakened. He directs the boy toward Watts, the blacksmith, and the palaces that guard the Mana Seeds. The Empire is already looking for those seals. Once broken, they could release the power needed to revive the Mana Fortress, the same weapon connected to the destruction of an earlier civilization.

The journey eventually gains two more members. A girl searching for someone important to her joins first, followed by a sprite who has lost much of its memory. Each has a reason to keep moving, and those reasons do not always match the boy’s mission.

Real-Time Combat with Its Own Timing

Secret of Mana leaves turn-based battles behind. Enemies walk through forests, caves, ruins, and other parts of the map, giving the party room to approach them or slip past. Fighting is direct, but attacking constantly is rarely the best plan.

After each strike, the power gauge drops to zero and begins filling again. Waiting for a full charge produces a proper hit. Attacking early may still interrupt a creature, which can be useful when something is about to lunge at the party. Later, holding the attack button prepares stronger weapon techniques, provided the character has earned the required weapon level.

Position also matters. Short-range weapons force the active character close to an enemy, while bows, javelins, and boomerangs can reach targets from farther away. Some bosses spend part of the battle outside normal striking distance, so carrying more than one trained weapon is useful.

Items, equipment, magic, and party commands are handled through the Ring Command system. Its circular menus open around the selected character and pause the action while a choice is made. Players can switch control between all three party members, leaving the other two to the computer. Their behavior can be adjusted, although companions sometimes get stuck behind scenery or have trouble following through narrow passages.

Weapons and Magic Grow Through Use

Swords are only one part of the party’s equipment. Spears, axes, gloves, bows, whips, javelins, and boomerangs become available as the journey continues. Watts can forge stronger versions after the correct Weapon Orbs have been found. Characters also build skill with a weapon by using it in combat, unlocking higher charged attacks over time.

Magic is shared between the girl and the sprite rather than the main hero. The girl receives healing and support spells, while the sprite handles much of the offensive magic. Their powers come from elemental spirits met in different palaces. Spell levels increase through use, so magic that is ignored for long stretches will remain weaker.

Travel covers forests, deserts, frozen ground, castles, caves, and ancient ruins. The game does not mark every destination on a map. Townspeople often provide the next useful direction, and an ordinary conversation may be the only hint about where the party should go.

This USA release is supplied as an .sfc ROM with English dialogue and menus. It can be opened with a compatible SNES emulator. Secret of Mana also allows cooperative control of its three-character party. Additional controllers must be assigned in the emulator settings before a second or third player can join.