Sword of Mana
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- This article is about the game Sword of Mana. For the weapon, see Mana Sword.
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| Sword of Mana | |
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| Developer(s) | Brownie Brown |
| Publisher(s) | Square Enix Nintendo (North America) |
| Release date(s) | JPN August 29, 2003 NA December 1, 2003 EUR March 19, 2004 |
| Genre(s) | Role-playing game |
| Mode(s) | Single player |
| Rating(s) | ESRB: Everyone PEGI: 7+ OFLC: G8+ |
| Platform(s) | Game Boy Advance |
| Media | 64 megabit cartridge |
Sword of Mana (新約 聖剣伝説 Shin'yaku Seiken Densetsu?, New Testament Holy Sword Legend) is an enhanced remake of the original Game Boy Seiken Densetsu (Final Fantasy Adventure), released on the Game Boy Advance in 2003.
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[edit] Gameplay
At the beginning of the game, the player is able to choose to play as the male lead (Sumo, unnamed in the English versions) or as the female lead (Fuji, unnamed in the English versions). They each have a different quest, however the plot remains similar. Notably, the remake adapted many elements from the original game, which had their origin in Final Fantasy, and favored elements traditional to Seiken Densetsu games (for example, the chocobo was replaced by Cannon Travel). One notable exception to this are moogles, which do appear in the game. Shinyaku Seiken Densetsu was made to resemble the graphical style of Seiken Densetsu 3, but the artwork rather resembles that of Legend of Mana.
There are nine weapons, each with one of three attack traits, and its own unique look. The girl character starts out with a staff, and the boy starts out with a sword. The player quickly accumulates more weapons. There are also eight spirits to use. Each has an attack based on its element, and a support spell as well.
[edit] Combat
Sword of Mana uses a real-time combat system similar to that of The Legend of Zelda. Several weapons, such as swords, axes, spears, etc. are acquired throughout the game. Each weapon has an attack trait of either jabbing, bashing, or cutting. These attack traits help to determine damage done to enemies throughout the game. In addition to this, a deathblow gauge is included which, when full, allows a more powerful strike than normal attacks. A magical attack system is included as well, with elements such as light, fire, ground, etc., each affecting enemies in different ways.
[edit] Development
While originally it was thought that it would feature multiplayer options, the only connectivity feature implemented was the ability to trade information in order to enhance the power of characters. As the game's box information does not reflect this, a number of potential buyers were left confused.
[edit] Story
Hero's Story: As a young child, the male lead led an idyllic life and was friends with Lord Granza. However, his family is arrested by soldiers on charges of sheltering heretics. As this occurs, the hero is instructed to protect the heroine, but as they escape the hero is captured and forced into slavery as a gladiator. As a gladiator, the hero is plagued by recurring dreams of the events of his family's arrest and overwhelming guilt from his failure to protect the heroine. Despite these internal conflicts, he and his friend Willy escape from the castle during a battle, but both are caught and the hero jumps off of a bridge in desperation.
Shared Story
Soon afterwards, a large rabbit sales man catches the unconscious hero while fishing, and kicks him into consciousness after some deliberation. The rabbit introduces himself as Niccolo, and runs off. The hero hears a scream, and runs south, where he finds a young woman being attacked. The hero dispatches the monster, and after helping the young woman find a child's book, escort to Topple Village. The young woman takes off, and the hero returns the book. The child who owns the book, mistaking the hero for a Granz Realm soldier, yells at him, while his grandfather prays for mercy. The hero informs the child of his mistake, and that he is opposed to the Realm as well. The grandfather gives the hero the Magic Rope and tells him of Cibba the Sage, the trainer of Gemma Knights, who lives in Wendel. The hero decides to go and see Cibba, but learns of a great swordsman who lives to the northwest of Topple and takes it upon himself to visit him and learn how to defeat Dark Lord first.
After entering the house, the hero is attacked by the young woman from earlier. He hands her a letter he took. After they talk a while, the woman decides to accompany the hero to Wendel. They are able to make their way to Vinquette Vicinity fairly easily, where they decide to spend the night in the house of the local lord, Count Lee. They meet the mysterious Ms. Isabella, a friend of the count's. The heroine slips away in the middle of the night, and the hero sets off after her. The hero encounters a trapped fire spirit named Salamander, who joins the hero after being freed. The hero catches up with the heroine in the count's private chambers. There, they learn the count has been putting Mana women in a coma-like state to protect them from Dark Lord and the Realm. After overpowering the count, the "ghost" of Dark Lord's father, Lord Granz, telling Lee to let the hero and heroine pass. Lee consents, and tells the hero and heroine they need the water spirit in Marsh Cave to break the seal to Wendel. While leaving, the hero has a revelation, and realizes the heroine is the girl from his dreams of the past.
The pair go to Marsh Cave, a large cave east of Vinquette Hall. After coming to its end, they find a strange mirror. They take it, which triggers an attack by a hydra. After the beast is slain, a weakened water spirit. The hero and heroine take it to clean waters in the north, and out of thankfulness, the water spirit, Undine, joins them. They break the seal in Wendel Cave, and arrive in Wendel.
In Wendel, the hero and heroine go the center of town, where they see a minstrel named Lester singing a song about Lord Granz. They compliment him, and so does a man named Devius, who also warns Lester not to be to free about praising Lord Granz. He explains his warning and leaves. If you play as the heroine and go to the blacksmith's shop, a dwarf named Watts, who is leaving, gives you a sickle. The hero and heroine go to Wendel Cathedral, where Cibba the Sage and Sir Bogard await them. After a fairly disheartening conversation, the hero dashes out of the cathedral. In the hero's story, he grumbles, hears the Realm airship approach, and attacks Dark Lord again, and is sent flying by Dark Lord's accomplice, Julius. In the heroine's story, she learns about her pendant and Mana power. When the hero flies in, the stranger mirror is shattered, revealing a shadow around Julius. Dark Lord demands the heroine be given to him. The heroine and Cibba agree, but the hero and Sir Bogard attack Dark Lord. The hero is knocked unconscious and the heroine is taken.
[edit] Sidekicks
Both characters get a variety of sidekicks who accompany them, the hero getting several, the heroine getting several. By pressing the SELECT Button, players may switch between the main character and his/her sidekick.
The Hero's Sidekicks:
The Heroine: The heroine uses light magic and a staff in battle. She accompanies the hero in Vinquette Vicinity, Wendel, Granz Castle, Glass Desert, and Mana Sanctuary.
Watts: Watts is a dwarf who uses an axe in battle. He accompanies the hero in the Abandoned Mine. After beating Ankheg, he will forge and temper new weapons for the hero to use.
Cibba: Cibba was the trainer of the Gemma Knights. He uses a staff and light magic in battle. He accompanies the hero when he boards the airship.
Amanda: Amanda is an ex-gladiator from the hero's past. She uses a lance and wind magic in battle. She accompanies the hero in the Jadd Desert.
Lester: Lester is a minstrel, and Amanda's brother. He uses a bow and wood magic in battle. He accompanies the hero in Cascade Cave, Mount Illusia, Lorimar, the Rocky Wilds, Subland River, and Subsea Volcano.
Marshal: Marshal is a robot created by the Vandole Empire. He uses a laser in battle.
The Heroine's Sidekicks:
The Hero: The hero uses a sword and fire magic in battle. He accompanies the heroine in Vinquette Vicinity, Wendel, Granz Castle, Glass Desert and Mana Sanctuary.
Sir Bogard: Sir Bogard is the man who raised the heroine and a Gemma Knight. He uses a sword and earth magic in battle. He accompanies the heroine on the Airship, Jadd Desert, Cascade Cave, Mount Illusia, and part of Granz Castle.
Lester: Lester is a minstrel met in Wendel. He accompanies the heroine in Devius Manor.
Willy: Willy is another ex-gladiator, and one of the heroine's childhood friends. He uses knucks and water magic in battle. He accompanies the heroine in Lorimar, Rocky Wilds, Subland River, and Subsea Volcano.
[edit] References
Categories: Computer and video games cleanup | Pages needing expert attention | Articles lacking sources from October 2006 | All articles lacking sources | 2003 computer and video games | 2004 computer and video games | Computer and video game remakes | Computer and video role-playing games | Game Boy Advance games | Seiken Densetsu games
