Faithful and charming remake of a 90’s classic
ANOTHER week, another remaster and this one is yet again the product of the anachronistic minds at Square Enix. Clearly the idea of remastering the most popular single- player RPG of all time wasn’t taxing enough and they decided to try their hand at a JRPG with one of the biggest and most rapidly devoted cult followings.
The original Trials of Mana – the first of which was originally published by Square as a spin- off from the Final Fantasy series – was one of the more beautiful games of its time. Utterly drenched in colour and Daedalian pixel art, the aesthetics presented a difficult hurdle for any future developer who would take upon themselves the unenviable task of reimagining the stunning visuals in a modern context. And indeed, while Square Enix have done a wonderful job remastering the 1995 classic, there was something so intricate and alluring about the pixel art that didn’t survive the transition to the third dimension.
Nonetheless, the art department have done a commendable job bringing a now- classic art style to a context that kids today can appreciate.
Similarly, the beautifully reimagined score brings the older chiptune soundtrack to a much more modern setting. The soaring whirls and staccato intruments have been given the orchestral treatment, lending a much more full and vibrant feel to the tired old sounds of the 90’s.
Funnily enough, Square Enix’s remake of Final Fantasy VII definitely subscribes to the “complete facelift and reconstructive surgery” school of thought, while Trials of Mana is – aside from the transition to the third dimension – actually a fairly faithful reconstruction of its 90’s predecessor. Mercifully, the excellent combat system has remained untouched. The balance between real- time combat of action games married with the party management of a traditional RPG is a breath of fresh air in a sea of Final Fantasy plagiarisms. True, it takes some getting use to the hang of Trials of Mana’s hectic combat rhythm, but the payoff is indeed well worth the learning.
Trials of Mana is an endlessly charming remake of an original that perhaps doesn’t get as much attention as it deserves in the western world. Nonetheless, Square Enix have done a commendable and respectful remake that, while not without its faults, is as beautiful and fun as it was 25 years ago.