At today’s Xbox Developer Direct, Square Enix dropped in unannounced to showcase the next Mana title. With Visions of Mana release window slated for a Summer 2024 release, fans of the long-running fantasy series have a new experience to look forward to in the near future.
The Visions of Mana segment of the Xbox Developer Direct can be viewed below:
The new gameplay looks fast and flashy. Square Enix has treated the Mana series pretty well in the last several years, and this looks to be no exception. That being said, Visions of Mana marks the first time the game has received a new mainline entry in 15 years. Here’s are some in-depth details from today’s press release:
The new gameplay and behind-the-scenes footage provides fans and newcomers alike with a closer look at some of the latest gameplay features, monsters and creatures in Visions of Mana. Mana Series Producer, Masaru Oyamada, revealed new details about Visions of Mana’s combat, including the new addition of the aerial combat system, which will take players to new heights during battle and enable physical attacks with weapons and magic attacks mid-air. Fans can also expect to see the return of series staple, the Elementals. These assist players during battle in the form of specialized items, with each weapon producing a different effect in combat according to its respective element, allowing for a fast-paced, flexible fighting style.
Players were also introduced to a new companion they can expect to encounter in Visions of Mana called the “pikuls.” Designed by Mana Series Creator, Koichi Ishii, the adorable new companion takes inspiration from animals and mythology and will help players traverse the game’s expansive ground map as they explore the vibrant world in Visions of Mana.
Square Enix also revealed that the Visions of Mana soundtrack will feature a track list of 100 songs at launch, all of which have been composed or received contributions from musical creators who lent their talents to previous Mana titles, including Hiroki Kikuta, Tsuyoshi Sekito and Ryo Yamazaki. Visions of Mana will also feature a new adaptive music system, which will allow players to seamlessly transition from map exploration into battles and heighten their sense of urgency through the arrangement of background music which will change the moment players enter or leave combat.
Visions of Mana was originally announced at The Game Awards back in December. This is the first news we’ve received of a specific release window. Series creator Koichi Ishii returns to the project as a designer for the creatures, while series producer Masaru Oyamada is heading the project.
Visions of Mana launches during Summer 2024 for PS5, PS4, Xbox Series X|S, and PC. We’ll be sure to let our readers know when we get an exact release date.
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This is awesome, i hope Visions of Mana release window is summer or before. As an avid jrpg player im definitely anticipating the release and look forward to more articles about Visions of Mana.