Trials of Mana Review (Switch, also on PS4, PC) | Backlog Battle

[@Jman88933]

This is the game that made me a permanent Mana fan. I had a great time on my first playthrough. Such a great return of a long time Square Enix franchise! I'm hoping this game did well enough for Square to consider a sequel!

[@BacklogBattle]

It’s a smashing success! It sold a million copies as of February 2021!

[@Jman88933]

@@BacklogBattle That really brings so much happy tears to my eyes. The game deserves it!

[@Lazrael32]

@@Jman88933 maybe.... just maybe.... they'll make a new one with this engine now..... maybe.

[@BowmansWorld]

took u this long to became a mana fan? a shame. sword of mana on gba was amazing.

[@hughdenver2223]

InstaBlaster...

[@TheGamingShelf]

I absolutely loved this game! One of my favorites of last year. Here’s hoping we get a brand new game in the series in this vein.

[@BacklogBattle]

It really is fantastic, even with the gripes! So much fun from beginning to end!

[@zacheryyoung9426]

You will . In the future. Probably at the end of September in 2024 .

[@ondinnonk]

Thanks for making this video. This game has been sitting unplayed in my library for ~2 years -- aaand I'm realizing your channel name becomes more and more appropriate to my experience

[@BacklogBattle]

Haha I had a feeling the older the channel gets the more the name gets relevant lol

[@SuperDerek]

Excellent video man, really glad you ended up enjoying this as much as I did! :)

[@BacklogBattle]

After finishing the game in December, I just couldn’t believe how much this game still lingered after all this time! Felt it was the right time to make this review!

[@iMeta4]

I love the thoroughness of this review. Note, I am here upon the current e-shop sale on this very title. Thank you for your time spent on this review. It was a pleasure playing through an emulated version of the original game. When I have confidence in my backlog management, I may snag this one as well.

[@samfrito]

Great review Alex. You definitely are the right one for getting me hooked on this game (im two years late, but whtevr) Xeed should be at the helm of more of these kinds of remakes or spiritual successors. Thanks for fixing us up with a music comparison, too. I love it when a reviewer puts in the effort to call attention to this. Happy New Year!

[@BacklogBattle]

I hope you enjoy! I love this game!

[@Gwyndon]

Playing on switch right now. Easily one of my favorite JRPGs. Great video glad I found your channel!

[@BacklogBattle]

That's amazing! Super happy you're enjoying it and thankful that you found my channel as well!

[@saintofmyworldBDR]

I platinumed this game back in '20, but I'm here, watching this review, gearing up for the release of VoM, trying to resist the urge to go back for the sake of nostalgia! Great video!

[@PokeBallZ7519]

See Balan Wonderworld, this is how you do a better job at being a Disney animated movie

[@Road_to_Dawn]

Alright, you’ve pretty much sold me! It looks like you’ve almost got 3 games in one with Trials of Mana, and I’ve always loved the concept of seeing the same stories through multiple perspectives. **notices timestamp is only **5:58**** THERE’S MORE?! Haha I only need so much convincing! xD Also, seeing Odin Sphere in the very first second is the right way to immediately catch my interest lol

[@BacklogBattle]

I’m glad the review made you want to play it! It really is a great game despite the quirks 😉

[@WillKrepelin]

Another well produced and informative video. Well done, Alex. Thanks for putting in the effort.

[@BacklogBattle]

You’re welcome! I’m always happy to make these! Onward to the next project!

[@burningpapersun1]

I'm currently in my first playthrough. I'm playing on pc and I played secret of mana on the snes in the 90s. The music has been everything that it was supposed to be. I wish there was a mode to play the original 2D version but this has been fun.

[@DocLowe]

Heard you on Nude Clan Podcast and decided to come check the channel out, not disappointed at all. Can’t wait to watch more.

[@BacklogBattle]

Thanks a bunch for checking my channel out!

[@MrAllansito]

Great video, you inspired me to try this game, and what a fantastic adventure it has been for me! Thank you for this kind of video!

[@femtrooper]

Great review! Just hearing you talk about this game made me realize I liked it more than I think I did. Definitely a throwback and I really enjoyed it!

[@BacklogBattle]

Oh wow! That’s awesome! I figured there’s something special about this if I was still thinking about it months later

[@SuperBuckleMan]

Great job on this review! I just finished Trials of Mana recently and it's just one of those video games that just clicked with me. It has a lot of charm and I like how simple and satisfying the combat is. Honestly the only gripe I had with it is the party AI not dodging boss attacks.

[@BacklogBattle]

The party AI is all sorts of bad! It's pretty much the only ding in this otherwise incredibly fun RPG!

[@zazethe6553]

I really like your taste in games on this channel, subscribed!

[@BacklogBattle]

Thank you for subscribing and hope you enjoy the other videos on the channel!

[@malakairozzey8426]

I still play this game at 2023 and i still love the franchise 😍 i create 3 teams i like them the first is : Duran (Duelist),Riesz (Starlancer) and Kevin (Monk Warrior) The Second : Hawkeye(Rogue) Riesz (Dragon knight) and Duran (Paladin) the 3rd : Kevin,Angela and Charlotte

[@MyLordChaosYT]

Thank you for your RPG reviews, looking forward to your coverage on future gaming content.

[@BacklogBattle]

You’re welcome! There’s definitely more content to come!

[@norahsaeed5001]

omg I love this game !! I'm on my third play through and I'm having the best time with it .

[@BacklogBattle]

I knew it was special when the game was still in my mind months after I'd beaten it! Replaying through it again for this review just made it so much more evident how special this game is!

[@gloriouskatatsumuri]

Thanks for this one Alex! Looks like another one to add to my personal backlog!

[@BacklogBattle]

My pleasure! Glad to have helped ;)

[@gloriouskatatsumuri]

@@BacklogBattle haha yes, 'helped' that's one way to put it! ... Seriously though, great review, your work is much appreciated! This one seems to have gone under many a radar so hopefully this review will draw some attention to it ^^

[@Qladstone]

Thanks for the well explained review. I'm definitely putting this on my must-play list!

[@BacklogBattle]

You’re welcome!

[@codygreene8783]

My dude. Been waiting on this!!!

[@BacklogBattle]

Yes! It’s finally done!

[@DemonChisae3112]

I've never played Trails of Man's but just watching your review makes me want to give it a try when I can. Great review 👍🏻

[@BacklogBattle]

Check out the demo! It’s available on all the platforms the game’s available in! Then let me know what you think!

[@DemonChisae3112]

@@BacklogBattle Didnt know there was a demo. Definitely will check it out thanks

[@sor3999]

9:58 The slider isn't "use class strikes as soon as you're able". It's "use class strikes without resource restrictions". Most of the sliders are about conserving resources like MP or class strike gauge which is why it says don't use class strikes if it drops the gauge below 25%, 50%, and 100%. The behavior style is more useful in determining how aggressive or supportive the AI is. In general I found the AI to be decent, they usually can dodge out of area attacks, but not always which is probably intentional to get you to use support skills.

[@LordelX]

I played the SFC version in 1999 and again in 2012 and again in the Collection of Mana in 2019. I was shocked how they meticulously converted every 2D map into a 3D environment. That with the combat being much faster, fluid and much, much more fun…the excellent visuals, the wonderfully remixed music…this became the game of the decade for me. Only Skyrim and Xenoblade Chronicles come close for me.

[@feistywaffles]

This game looks and plays better than I thought it would. Plus orchestrated tracks from secret of mana are a definite plus for me. I'll add this one to the backlog.

[@BacklogBattle]

The reorchestrations were really well done! I couldn’t believe how good those turned out!

[@jedimaster12100]

Absolutely love this game. I have to go back and play through it again but also play the post-game content.

[@BacklogBattle]

Post-game content isn’t too long, but it’s pretty good!

[@shakesquire84]

The SFC OST is perfection.

[@lukasaraujo3662]

Strangely I was really looking forward for this review

[@BacklogBattle]

Awesome! What did you think?

[@lukasaraujo3662]

@@BacklogBattle strangely compelled to play my first Mana game, I swear you're bad for my wallet man lol

[@UltimateEnd0]

Adding the extra difficult settings bumped this game up to 9/10 for me. -1 for lack of multi-console multiplayer but meh that's what the original is for!!!

[@b0xxkn1gh79]

Excellent Review! enjoyed watching it. Who were your favorite party members? Mines were Hawkeye, Angela and Kevin and little bit of Riesz. I feel like Duran and Charlotte's character arks were kind of lackluster but thats just my opinion.

[@BacklogBattle]

I think my favorites gotta be Riesz, Angela, and Kevin! Loved these characters!

[@mikeval1525]

I recently bought this game out of curiosity and loving it.

[@BacklogBattle]

That's great! Glad to hear! It's definitely one of the gems of last year!

[@ElLoGGe]

I'm currently replaying it on my Steam Deck and the game is still so much fun. Really enjoyed it back when it was released on my Switch and now I think I even enjoy it a lot more maybe due to being a little bit older. It's such a good remake imho.

[@Vayr0n]

This is the game that got me back into playing J-RPGs, I wanted something simple and straight forward to ease myself back into the genre and the game did its job. Great review as expeted.

[@BacklogBattle]

Thank you! Glad you enjoyed the review and I’m doubly glad you enjoyed the game! It is really interesting how much pull this game has despite its flaws!

[@VeryNijsMan]

Actually this game has revitalised my jrpg love! Have since completed another 8!

[@Azureblaze77]

I had a blast with this one, I'll get that 100% trophy completion one day! I got a little burn out since I beat it then beat it again with new game+ back to back. I found out have you have to do it one more time (3 clears with 3 different protags to get 100% and I was like...maybe later!

[@BacklogBattle]

Great idea! Why rush to 100%? Good excuse to come back later 😉

[@max_reaver5548]

Masterpiece.

[@darwins.2646]

I absolutely loved this game. It was like playing an old PS2 RPG and that’s not a bad thing. The English VO was hilariously bad, but it kind of added to its charm. Make a party with Angela and Riesz to see what I mean lol.

[@BacklogBattle]

I don’t think I’ve actually ever had both of them in a party before! Well, another reason to boot up the game again!

[@Djay_B]

Don't fowget wittle Charwotte!

[@kythlyn]

Did you know that for the soundtrack for Secret of Mana, composer Hiroki Kikuta was allowed use of 8 audio channels? From what I've read, the SNES's SPC700 only has 8 channels, which is why sound effects in Secret of Mana would cause instruments in the music to drop out. In contrast, for Seiken Densetsu 3, Hiroki Kikuta was limited to only 6 channels. Though nostalgia is at play, this is probably why I personally always preferred the Secret of Mana soundtrack, but I also believe this is a direct answer to why the respective remake's orchestrated soundtracks are a hit in Trials of Mana and a miss in Secret of Mana. In any case, Hiroki Kikuta tried to make the best possible music in these formats, but what if he designed a soundtrack to be performed in a studio? For that, look no further than the soundtrack to Soukaigi, a 1998 PS1 ARPG that was never released outside of Japan.

[@HybridAngelZero]

I was infatuated with this game the moment it was announced, and I spent way too much time with the demo on all three platforms xD This game is just enchanting, and in my personal opinion, one of the most visually stunning games in recent memory, and a sheer joy to play. I feel like the voice direction problem (actors given no context or visual information to go off) is something that's been sadly common in recent games, perhaps a side effect of limited budget with simultaneous international releases? Either way, I'm happy to see the Mana series back in full swing, hopefully the positive response and solid sales will get us some new Mana titles at this level of quality!

[@BacklogBattle]

1 million sold so far says a lot! And everyone I’ve spoken to seems to really like it!

[@HybridAngelZero]

@@BacklogBattle I was so happy when I found out it hit 1 mil! The team behind it made something really special, I'm glad it's been resonating with people

[@mikeylovespizza4012]

Which platform did you enjoyed this the most?

[@HybridAngelZero]

@@mikeylovespizza4012 I enjoyed it pretty evenly on each of them, but I ended up getting it on PS4! It's usually the cheapest on the secondhand market, and it runs at 60 FPS. But no matter what platform you choose, it's a great time

[@swigzby]

The only acceptable class choice with Kevin is dark/dark. Fatal Fist is disgustingly broken.

[@bobross4886]

It plays pretty good.

[@raciallyconfused]

Great content as always. I can get by the gripes. Still a great game.

[@BacklogBattle]

Indeed! Definitely one of the best surprises of last year!

[@JohnQ5]

NGL, I actually dig the English voices in this game. Everyone sounds unique, line reads are usually good, and the only one I was lukewarm on was Riez, and even she was never bad, just kinda flat as opposed to stoic.

[@MrDarksol]

I know I have heard from some people who wished that the game did more like the FF7 remake would give the characters more development, add a bunch of stuff that never existed, give the villains more depth and have all 6 playable characters come together and stuff like that but I do prefer the simple approach that this game did. Hell, I was not about to play the game with the dub until I found out that Hawkeye and Rielz's VAs were also in Three Houses and Hawkeye's VA I follow on KZbin so........yeah I am willing to deal with the sketchy acting and at least I love new game + as an idea, Rielz and Angela are very attractive as are a good chunk of the NPC women, including Belladonna and the remake music IS a lot better then Secret of mana's remake. In the end, soild review Alex!

[@BacklogBattle]

Thank you! It’s such a fun game to review! Makes me tempted to double dip for the PS4 version!

[@MrDarksol]

@@BacklogBattle I was gonna double dip for the play station 4 version myself until I realize why should I play the same game twice lol.

[@digitaladventurer2142]

Yeah I loved this remake having actually played the original SNES on emulator and the one gripe I have is the Remake's unbalanced difficulty's. The Hard Mode was still very easy but the Expert and No Future modes just cranked it up to like 20

[@BacklogBattle]

Haha yea I've heard about the weird balancing issues they have with the harder difficulties!

[@trixiesauce]

great video thank you

[@NovaSniper12]

That point you made about how incompetent your ai controlled teammates are gave me flashbacks when I fought the hidden boss in the game. Your members get literally annihilated in mere seconds of starting the fight, it was funny but in a sad way lol

[@BacklogBattle]

After playing Persona 5 Strikers and how well it implemented the AI - I'm assuming it's some hybrid of the DW morale system - it's very difficult to give Trials' AI a pass. And yet I managed with the hidden boss? The fight I was describing was that one where you're fighting in a small square room, with the boss jutting out of the wall on one end, and a bunch of line damage markers covering 80%+ of the field. Now THAT was a pain! And yet, EVEN THEN, I still loved my experience with it! So strange!

[@NovaSniper12]

@@BacklogBattle at least the ai isn’t as bad like in ys memories of celceta, they sometimes run around like headless chickens glitching all over the place lmao, I love that game but that’s still rough to see 🤣

[@michaelcoffey1991]

Getting this for the PS4 this looks like "Chicken soup for the soul" for jrpg fans. Love the splashes of color, glad it is a new look but maintains the "soul" of the original.

[@BacklogBattle]

It really does! Such a fun game to play!

[@JorgeSanchez-qg2ne]

This is also on mobile and looks better than the Switch. Hopefully they add controller support soon...

[@BacklogBattle]

Hope so too! Thanks for letting me know

[@more_UO_memes]

Loved this game on PS4 Pro (prefered 60 FPS and better resolution over portability) and got the Plat. Trophy.

[@BacklogBattle]

I've been tempted to double dip since it's on sale! Is it only 60fps on PS4 Pro? I'm curious how it runs on a base PS4!

[@NovaSniper12]

@@BacklogBattle if the game case says ps4 pro enhanced in the back than yea it will definitely benefit the gameplay but if it doesn’t I don’t think playing it on either console matters besides sharpness if I’m not mistaken.

[@more_UO_memes]

@@BacklogBattle It is also 60 FPS on a base PS4. :)

[@HectorPerez-zl4zp]

@Backlog Battle hey man i just got this game after a while, i gathered a lot of info and i kinda wanted to main Angela i know not optimal but i'm kinda interested , what i was wondering is which is better disregarding the story changes in your opinion? Angela / Duran / Liesz Angela / Liesz / Hawkeye Angela / Duran / Charlotte Angela / Duran / Hawkeye

[@BacklogBattle]

Our first playthrough was actually Angela Duran and Riesz! Honestly you’ll be fine with any configuration!

[@B1az1ngSuN]

which version is best between switch ps4 and pc? I heard they censored dialogue on ps4?

[@BacklogBattle]

I’ve never played the other versions so I can’t tell you.

[@erwanights5641]

I just love how this game remind me of Dragon Quest 9 on Ds ..

[@jhon1406]

all this ng+ discussion makes me rly wanna check this out ...

[@BacklogBattle]

There’s a demo out!

[@mrtjharrishblock]

Great vid.way better than IGN

[@yamburg]

I played the other Mana remake and I didn't like it. This one looks good, will give it a try as soon as the backlog shrinks a little.

[@BacklogBattle]

This one is currently on sale on PSN and eShop FYI!

[@ReaveIdono]

This plays a lot better. Secret of Mana was too close to its original so it didn't feel fun to play in modern times.

[@Road_to_Dawn]

@@BacklogBattle Currently on sale?! Sold!

[@erikalexander3085]

Its a great remake. Its weakest point is probably the AI, but it has so much more to offer. I always loved the dark/light path class system from the 90s, but what I love more in the remake is the the approachable ability system. Which with more playthroughs unlock chain abilities creating even more options for all classes.

[@BacklogBattle]

Definitely agree with you on the AI! If they made a game just like this, I’ll definitely be there day one!

[@BowmansWorld]

sword of mana and trials are the best mana games

[@BacklogBattle]

I’m kinda hoping for a Sword of Mana port or remake!

[@steve5181]

I loved this game I did not finish it yet though I'm about 25hrs in. Really fun though.

[@BacklogBattle]

You’re almost to the end of your first playthrough!

[@steve5181]

@@BacklogBattle I know I just got sidetracked with persona strikers and yakuza like a dragon. I want to finish it soon I love it great review!

[@mikgenta]

LETS GOOOOOO

[@BacklogBattle]

🥳

[@ezg8448]

Scored a physical copy the other day at eBay games for $20!

[@BacklogBattle]

That’s awesome! Hope you enjoy it!

[@hoihoi13]

I just bought a second hand copy for like usd 12 equivalent and it’s a absolutely bargain, having so much fun with it!

[@jaydee758]

One of the few games I've platinumed...72hrs...and damn skippy ide do it again

[@BacklogBattle]

It’s why I’ve been tempted with getting the PS4 version!

[@jaydee758]

@@BacklogBattle do it!! :D

[@sor3999]

7:00 No context given by the director (if there even is one) is often why these dub performances always feel off. That said I did like the dub for the most part.

[@leenico2529]

time to watch even if we own the game

[@BacklogBattle]

Am curious to hear what you think!

[@brunosnowsilva]

If Legend of mana weren't announce, i would be playing Trials. And probably mute the characters voice. Good review tho

[@BacklogBattle]

Thank you! I’ve already played LoM, so I’ll probably skip that one!

[@PokeBallZ7519]

Can you still consider this to be a kids game despite the amount of actual deaths and mild blood violence in it?

[@BacklogBattle]

I never said it was a kid’s game

[@shyguy2046]

Awesome review as always....haven't played it although it's on my wishlist. The only thing that makes me cringe is The voice acting. Not a fan of it Recently bought .Hack remaster on the PS4. On the SA psn it works out to be under $6 so had to get that Guilty gear RD (I believe) is like just over $1 .

[@BacklogBattle]

Yea the voice acting is really crazy lol Great game though despite what I mentioned!

[@Mindblazter80]

Hm.. I loved the original on snes. Magic game. I just played this one to the end, 1 playtrough, and I dont know if I like it, its a okey game but I didnt used magic until the end. It was to much push the fight button in fast battles. To much loading between scens. It killed me. The game was over in 20 hours? (Im not happy to play again with other character, sure new storys but still same world..). Its an okey game, like 6.5/10 for me.

[@kadshiri6513]

Bought the game for the voice acting to see how bad it can get but ended up loving everything about the game even the acting lmao

[@BacklogBattle]

That’s dedication! Glad you enjoyed it either way!

[@TheMicWillExperiment]

I keep passing on this one during sales and regretting it... One day lol

[@BacklogBattle]

Psst! It's on sale RIGHT NOW on PSN and eShop!

[@SamC77]

i love the original, but in 2020, i just keep wishing this game's combat was more like FF15.

[@BacklogBattle]

That’s interesting! What parts of 15 would you have liked to see?

[@SamC77]

@@BacklogBattle the better animations, the fast action, the team combos, and they could even add multiplayer for your team over the internet. what we have here is a lower budget upgrade from the SNES to PS2 animations and environments, with PS3 lighting, effects, textures, and character models.

[@BacklogBattle]

That’s definitely more than just the game’s combat! Thanks for sharing!

[@cucumberslices]

I was about 20 hours into this on the Switch and had to drop it. My experience with it was nothing like yours. I hated it. I found it bland and nothing special. The vocal work was terrible. What drove me over the edge was the excessive loading screens. At one point when you first change your class it goes through 6 loading screens! Ugh!!! I can’t even imagine playing this game through once let alone 3 times for the full experience.

[@BacklogBattle]

I appreciate sharing your experience! I think it’s invaluable for people to know other perspectives! That said, you articulated your points well while expressing your frustrations in a constructive way, so I have to commend that! I do wonder if you experienced it on a different platform if the loading wouldn’t have compounded your frustrations, though it just didn’t sound like aspects of the game didn’t jive with you.

[@Djay_B]

Wait...isn't 20 hours enough to complete the story? (postgame doesn't count)

[@erthan6161]

9/10 for me and the 1 point was just for Charlotte's unrelenting uwu speak.

[@jeanyve_person]

*Starts watching review.* (15 minutes pass) *buys game*

[@BacklogBattle]

Thank you for watching the whole thing! I didn’t even think it was going to be this long!

[@sabin1981]

"in an effort to sound cute and adorable" And failing MISERABLY. God I hate Charlotte's voice, same with Tama in WoFF.