Together RPG - Secret of Mana - 4/1 --> 6/1

[Ack]

Hmmm... I'll have to give this some thought as I've beaten it multiple times already and it takes a while to play through.

Yeah, I beat it in 2013, and I've got so many other games, I don't think I'll be joining in for this one.

[dsheinem]

I have never played this game.

[MrPopo]

I have never played this game.

You should fix that.

[Exhuminator]

My history with this game:

1997 - Found game in pawn shop, bought it, played 70% of it single player, finished last 30% co-op with a friend. Thought it was awesome.

2013 - Attempted to play this co-op from start using emulation. Graphics still good, music still awesome, but gameplay... lousy. Combat is slow and inaccurate, game flow is confusing insofar as keeping straight where you are supposed to go, menu system is clunky at the sake of being unique, overall pace feels grindy... we didn't have a good time with it. Dropped it a few hours in.

Overall I think Secret of Mana was certainly good for its time, and it did help move the action-RPG genre forward, especially in the realm of co-op. However there are far funner action-RPGs to play out there, even on the same platform and from the same era. While I appreciate its aesthetics and audio, Secret of Mana is rather overrated in today's retro gaming climate.

[MrPopo]

I feel like your second experience was coming at it knowing things about video games but not knowing things about SoM. If you understand its systems it still plays very well.

That said, SD3 fixes a lot of the complaints you're having, so join in palying that.

[Exhuminator]

I feel like your second experience was coming at it knowing things about video games but not knowing things about SoM.

That makes zero sense considering I had previously beaten SOM before my second play.

[Sarge]

Secret of Mana is the Mass Effect of SNES action-RPGs. While there is some skill there, there's a lot of math going on under the hood that determines hit rates and whatnot.

I thought it was awesome when I played it back in the day. I played some again, and I still think it's good, but I do find the pacing of the combat a bit tedious now.

Seiken Densetsu 3 has a little bit of that going on as well, but it's just a more polished product all around, so it's a great time. I really should get a legit Japanese copy, or build a repro.

[MrPopo]

I feel like your second experience was coming at it knowing things about video games but not knowing things about SoM.

That makes zero sense considering I had previously beaten SOM before my second play.

Sure it does. Previously you were just powering through because you hadn't become an old man yet so it didn't matter that you weren't doing things like understanding how the damage works or using damage stacking.

Put it another way, you can beat Final Fantasy V, but until you do a few Four Job Fiesta runs you don't really UNDERSTAND it.

[Exhuminator]

you weren't doing things like understanding how the damage works or using damage stacking.

When I said the combat is slow and inaccurate, I wasn't referring to the invisible dice rolls behind the action. I'm talking about animation frames versus player action intent, along with sloppy hit box detection, that sort of thing.

The truth is I thought SoM was a better game than it was because (A) the presentation was (still is) excellent and (B) I had not played other better SNES action-RPGs at that time yet.

Also old man veteran gamer mmkay thanks.

[BoneSnapDeez]

Secret of Mana has some janky mechanics, yes. But I don't think it's enough to detract from the game as a whole. It's a wonderful experience. I've played through it many times since 1995 or so.

Oh, and it has the best opening / title screen of any game ever made. Dead serious.

Hmmm... I'll have to give this some thought as I've beaten it multiple times already and it takes a while to play through.

What are you talking about? We know your schedule. You can roll through this next time you have a casserole in the oven or whatever.

I have never played this game.

I'm really interested in hearing the opinions of first-timers.

I'll start when I get a chance. I need to clean my game room first (seriously, it's trashed).