About Seiken Densetsu a.k.a. Final Fantasy Adventure, Sword of Mana, Adventures of Mana

Final Fantasy Adventure

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Final Fantasy Adventure is a Game Boy action RPG developed by Squaresoft and released in June 1991. Yes, the good old 4-color Game Boy! Despite its name, this game is actually the first entry in the Secret of Mana series, known as Seiken Densetsu in Japan, meaning “Legend of the Sword.”

Squaresoft changed the title to Final Fantasy Adventure for the U.S. release, likely to capitalize on the popularity of the Final Fantasy brand. In 1998, Sunsoft obtained the license and re-released the game (along with Final Fantasy Legend 1-3). The only change they made was replacing Squaresoft's logo with their own on the packaging and title screen.

Sword of Mana

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Sword of Mana is a Game Boy Advance action RPG developed by Square Enix and released in December 2003. It is a full remake of Final Fantasy Adventure, rebuilt from the ground up.

The battle system and graphics are reminiscent of Seiken Densetsu 3 and Legend of Mana. While the core storyline and main characters remain, new characters have been added. The overworld and dungeons have been completely redesigned, and all the original music from Final Fantasy Adventure has been beautifully remade.

Adventures of Mana

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In February 2016, Square Enix released a complete 3D remake of Final Fantasy Adventure under the title Adventures of Mana. It was released worldwide for Android and iOS. A PlayStation Vita version was also released on the same date in Japan, and in June 2016 in North America, South America and Europe.

Unlike Sword of Mana, which was more of a reimagining, this remake is a faithful 1:1 recreation, down to the exact placement of terrain and obstacles. It is essentially the same 1991 game but in 3D, with the only new feature being a revamped circular menu system.

Collection of Mana

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In June 2019, Square Enix released Collection of Mana, which includes Final Fantasy Adventure, Secret of Mana, and Seiken Densetsu 3 (as Trials of Mana) in their original forms. This collection was released exclusively for the Nintendo Switch, with PlayStation 4 and Steam versions promised for 2020.

At $40 US, the price was considered steep, especially compared to other retro game collections priced at $19.99 US. Special features were minimal, offering only a music player and a few display options.

Final Fantasy Adventure

The land is in chaos, threatened by an evil warlord seeking the power of Mana to rule the world. At his side is the mysterious wizard Julius, whose true motives remain unclear.

You play as a gladiator who has been imprisoned by the Dark Lord, forced to fight daily for his entertainment. After escaping, you overhear a sinister plan to seize the power of Mana. However, you are discovered and thrown off a waterfall - presumed dead.

Your journey begins when you encounter a mysterious young woman and save her from monsters. From there, you will travel across strange lands, wielding weapons, spells, and skills to battle terrifying enemies and protect the Mana Tree.

Sword of Mana

Long ago, a mighty empire sought to control Mana and use it to rule the world. To stop them, a woman from the Mana tribe transformed herself into the Mana Tree, sealing away the power. Now, a new evil force has risen to claim that power.

Only a young woman with ties to the Mana goddess and a young gladiator from the slave pits of Grants can stop the darkness. In this prequel to the Mana series, you can play as either the hero or the heroine, with your choice affecting the story's progression.

Using swords, staves, spells, and skills, you must battle massive bosses to protect the Mana Tree and stop evil from conquering the world.

Final Fantasy Adventure

The first battle

The gameplay is similar to The Legend of Zelda on the NES, where you explore the world and fight monsters in real-time combat. You can equip different weapons, each with its own strengths. Some enemies require specific weapons or even specific magic to defeat.

There's a gauge on the bottom of the screen for executing a special attack. Every weapon has its own unique special attack. The gauge loads when you're not attacking. When full, your next attack will be a special. This gauge loads very slowly in the beginning of the game. As you level up, towards the end of the game it loads much faster.

An ally healing you

Leveling up lets you choose between increasing stamina, power, wisdom, or will. Stamina improves durability, power boosts attacks, wisdom strengthens spells, and will affects the charge speed of your special attack meter. Each weapon has a special attack that can be used when this meter is full.

Various allies will assist you throughout your journey, offering healing, MP boosts, or even selling items. Always keep an eye on your HP, and never forget to stock up on Keys and Mattocks - running out in a dungeon can be frustrating!

Sword of Mana

The first battle

The battle system has seen major improvements. New weapons, such as staves and bows, have been added. The game also incorporates mechanics from Seiken Densetsu 3, including a class system and an expanded magic system.

As you level up, you allocate stat points to different areas, influencing how your character evolves. Certain stat combinations will trigger a Class Change, granting new abilities and bonuses. Magic is also acquired differently, as you unlock spells by obtaining elemental spirits.

Final Fantasy Adventure

This game is a masterpiece. Considering the limitations of the original Game Boy, it's incredibly impressive in every aspect. It's undoubtedly one of the best games ever made for the system. The gameplay is fun, addicting, and the soundtrack is fantastic. If you're a Game Boy fan, I highly recommend Final Fantasy Adventure.

Sword of Mana

This game is visually stunning, with graphics that resemble Seiken Densetsu 3 and Legend of Mana. The remastered soundtrack is excellent, and the game even has some cute quotes, like this one lol.

However, its biggest drawback is that it's too easy. The lighthearted tone makes it feel campy, similar to many other GBA RPGs.

Adventures of Mana

This is an excellent remake - essentially Final Fantasy Adventure in 3D. My only complaint is that the touch screen controls can be awkward. I wish it had proper gamepad support.