Secret of Mana: The Multiplayer RPG Ahead of Its Time
Secret of Mana's real-time combat and 3-player co-op made it revolutionary. Here's why it deserves more recognition.
While Final Fantasy III gets most of the SNES RPG glory, Secret of Mana deserves equal recognition for its innovations.
Real-Time Combat
Instead of turn-based battles, Secret of Mana featured action-RPG combat years before it became popular. The stamina-based system required timing and strategy.
3-Player Co-op
With a multitap, three players could adventure together. In 1993! This was revolutionary. Playing through with friends created memories that single-player games couldn't match.
The Legendary Soundtrack
Hiroki Kikuta's score is atmospheric and memorable. "Fear of the Heavens" and "The Oracle" are still played at game music concerts worldwide.
Play It Today
The SNES Classic includes Secret of Mana, or you can find the Collection of Mana on Switch. It holds up remarkably well.
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