Visions of Mana paints a promising picture of the RPG series’ return

The vibrant settings and character designs in Visions of Mana instantly alerted me that I’d be knee-deep into fantasy, riding on the back of a giant black wolf into the grassy plains of Fallow Steppe. A lush landscape welcomed me as I chatted with my teammates on top of my mount and tussled with little woodland monsters.

I had this experience at this year’s PAX East, where I went hands-on with a demo of the upcoming RPG. I never played previous Mana games, but I have enough experience with RPGs and real-time combat to name it one of the most gorgeous, action-packed games I played at the show. The shiny open-world and slick combat I experienced point to a strong comeback for the Mana series coming later this summer.

Producer Masaru Oyamada once spoke to Xbox about the distinct flavor of the series, mainly its nature-themed, high-fantasy aesthetic and connection to the titular Mana tree. In Visions of Mana, protagonist Val and his childhood friend Hinna attend a festival that determines the next “alm,” someone who journeys to the Tree of Mana to replenish its power. When Hinna is chosen as the Alm of Fire, Val becomes her “Soul Guard” to accompany her on the trip. They meet new allies along the way, including the aloof, cat-like fencer Morley and the rambunctious, one-winged dragon girl, Careena.

In the demo, I had access to three playable characters that I could seamlessly switch between depending on the matchup: Val, Morley, and Careena. Val is the typical long sword user with controlled, heavy-hitting swings. His special attack hones in on an enemy and uppercuts them into the air. Morley offers fast-paced combat with two short swords. Meanwhile, Careena has a slower-paced, martial arts-inspired fighting style. Each character has their own distinct skills and variations depending on the Elemental Vessel they have equipped.