Collection of Mana Reviews

The final release date of the Western version of Collection of Mana, previously known as Seiken Densetsu Collection in Japan, was one of my favorite announcements coming from Nintendo’s E3 Direct. I grew up loving these games, much more than any other Final Fantasy. So the fact that I could finally play them on my Switch without the need of learning a new language was worthy of a celebration.

It may seem a little pricey, but, considering that Trials of Mana has never been available outside of Japan before, Collection of Mana is a must-have for Switch owning JRPG fans. Those who have fond memories of playing Secret of Mana all those years ago will simply love Trials of Mana and the new additions that it brings to the table. And those who have never played a Mana game before will be able to discover their magic for the first time. There’s over 50 hours of classic RPG goodness here, and time has only weakened the combined experience a little.

Collection of Mana is a great chance for newcomers and longtime fans to revisit this long-dormant series. While Square Enix did try and breath new life into the series with the Secret of Mana remake last year, I'd definitely say that this is the best way to experience that game as well as its predecessor and sequel. The novelty of having these titles at home or on the go with Nintendo Switch has been mentioned time and time again but it also cannot be understated here. The collection as a whole has me super excited to ultimately get my hands on the Trials of Mana remake in 2020 as I'll be interested in seeing how the game makes the transition into a modern action RPG.

Square's classic action RPG franchise is making a comeback and with this new Mana collection, you can play the first 3 iconic Seiken Densetsu games in one convenient and comprehensive package.

When you consider how many titles Konami is packing into its Anniversary Collection packages – and that their retail price is almost half what Square Enix is demanding for the three games included here – it's impossible to not question the value of Collection of Mana. However, there's no denying the fact that Secret of Mana is one of the finest console RPGs of all time, and even though it's readily available elsewhere, playing it on Switch is like wrapping yourself up in a warm and familiar blanket; it's just right somehow. We could argue that Secret of Mana is merely the appetizer for the real star of this collection: Trials of Mana. It's nothing short of a masterpiece and finally getting the chance to play it officially in English is a landmark moment for SNES and RPG fans alike. Sure, there's the temptation to wait for the upcoming 3D remake – also confirmed for Switch – but if you're serious about this genre then it shouldn't take our recommendation to convince you to part with your hard-earned cash. What you've got here are two of the finest examples of the genre, accompanied by a third likeable entry which is also well worth a look. When you consider the many hours of top-notch entertainment on offer, the price is very nearly a steal.