Trials of Mana: The Insert Cartridge Review (Switch, Xbox One, PlayStation 4, PC)

Like Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde, the two versions of Trials of Mana show strengths and flaws in opposite ways

Remakes are super hot right now. From the huge success of Final Fantasy VII Remake to Switch re-releases of the Bioshock trilogy, game publishers are leveraging nostalgia to sell old games to both new and longtime fans. One of the most surprising is Square Enix’s Trials of Mana for the Switch, Xbox One, PlayStation 4, and PC. Based on the 1995 game of the same name, Trials of Mana is a from-the-ground-up remake that attempts to capture the magic of one of the Super Nintendo’s most impressive — and elusive — games.

I grew up playing and loving Square’s Super Nintendo games like Chrono Trigger, Final Fantasy VI and the more action-oriented Secret of Mana. As the Super Nintendo’s lifespan came to a close and my love for Japanese RPGs really exploded with the release of Sony’s PlayStation — but there was one white whale that got away: Seiken Densetsu 3. 23 years later, I finally played Seiken Densetsu 3 in 2018 thanks to Neill Corlett’s legendary fan translation (originally released in 2000), and walked away from the experience impressed with the game’s graphics and soundtrack, but disappointed by its structure…