Changes: Mana series

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For the first game in this series, see Final Fantasy Adventure. For a more comprehensive look at this series, please visit the Wiki of Mana. Certain links will take the reader to corresponding pages on Wiki of Mana.

The Mana series, known in Japan as Seiken Densetsu, is a series of top-down action role-playing games published by Square Enix. Initially developed as a gaiden to the original Final Fantasy, Mana chronicles a world held in perfect balance by the omnipresent Tree of Mana and the warriors who seek to protect or exploit it.

To date, the series comprises four main games, three corollary games, two defunct spin-off MMOs, and multiple remasters.

Gameplay

As clones of Nintendo's The Legend of Zelda, the first two Mana games have the player controlling the protagonist(s) from an overhead 2D or high-angle 3D perspective as they traverse an immersive world . Battles are fought in real time, with the strength of physical attacks tied to a spirit gauge; the fuller the gauge, the stronger the attack will be. The player can also choose to attack rapidly, but doing so drastically dampens the effect of each strike. The party can also use a selection of weapons and change them on-the-fly in order to gain advantage in battle or solve puzzles in the open field.

Like the Final Fantasy series from which it broke out, Mana allows certain characters to cast magic, also in real time. Although delays are possible in some titles, spells never miss their marks. However, each spell must be invoked through calling one of the eight elemental Mana Spirits that has domain over the desired spell.

As in Final Fantasy II, weapon and skills development in the first two titles is proficiency-based; the more the player succeeds in landing blows or casting spells, the stronger the effects. The third installment adds a job system wherein characters evolve into different roles and gain new abilities as their stories progress. It also replaces the skill system with a point-based progression model as in recent Final Fantasy titles.

Other RPG staples, like equipment, stats, and consumable items, are also present throughout each game.

Development

Main article: Final Fantasy Adventure § Development

Although this series has received nearly universal acclaim from critics and fans, no new Mana titles aside from remasters have been released since 2007. This is attributed to large portions of the original development team, including series creator Koichi Ishii, having left Square Enix.

This section is empty or needs to be expanded. You can help the Final Fantasy Wiki by expanding it.

Other connections to Final Fantasy

The Mana series has borrowed the chocobo and the moogle from the Final Fantasy series. While the former's purpose and nature are consistent across both series, the latter are timid and fearful creatures against the gregarious and energetic moogles of Final Fantasy.
The main characters in Adventures of Mana and Secret of Mana have been frequent guests in the main series and other spinoffs, as well as in other products from Square Enix:
- Final Fantasy X-2 refers to the series in a sidequest.
- Final Fantasy Record Keeper hosted an event.
- Final Fantasy Brave Exvius has issued units from the first three Mana games.
- The defunct Heavenstrike Rivals featured redesigned units from Adventures of Mana as possible gacha prizes.

This section in Related games is empty or needs to be expanded. You can help the Final Fantasy Wiki by expanding it.

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+{{DISPLAYTITLE:''Mana'' series}}
-{{Userplans|Write a high-altitude overview of the '''series''' and its links to Final Fantasy in the past and present}}
 {{Expand}}
+{{Image needed}}
-The '''''Mana''''' series, known in Japan as '''''Seiken Densetsu''''' <!--{{J|||Legend of the Holy Sword}}--> is a series of top-down action role-playing games published by [[Square Enix]]. Initially developed as a ''gaiden'' to the original ''[[Final Fantasy]]'', ''Mana'' chronicles a world held in perfect balance by the omnipresent Tree of Mana and the warriors who seek to acquire its multitude of powers.
+{{infobox series
+|title=''Mana''
+|image=
+|japanese=聖剣伝説
+|romaji=Seiken Densetsu
+|developer=[[Square Co., Ltd.]] ''(original)''
+|publisher=[[Square Enix]]
+|genre=Action RPG
+|media=Video games
+|first=''[[Final Fantasy Adventure]]''<br>1991
+|latest=''Trials of Mana'' 3D<br>April 24, 2020
+|related=
+}}
+:''For the first game in this series, see ''[[Final Fantasy Adventure]]''. For a more comprehensive look at this series, please visit the '''[[w:c:mana:Wiki_of_Mana|Wiki of Mana]]'''. Certain links will take the reader to corresponding pages on Wiki of Mana.''
+The '''''[[w:c:mana:Mana_(series)|Mana]]''''' series, known in Japan as '''''Seiken Densetsu'''''<!--{{J|||Legend of the Holy Sword}}-->, is a series of top-down action role-playing games published by [[Square Enix]]. Initially developed as a ''gaiden'' to the original ''[[Final Fantasy]]'', ''Mana'' chronicles a world held in perfect balance by the omnipresent [[w:c:mana:Tree_of_Mana|Tree of Mana]] and the warriors who seek to protect or exploit it.
 To date, the series comprises four main games, three corollary games, two defunct spin-off MMOs, and multiple remasters.
-{{Stub}}
+==Gameplay==
+As clones of Nintendo's ''The Legend of Zelda'', the first two ''Mana'' games have the player controlling the protagonist(s) from an overhead 2D or high-angle 3D perspective as they traverse an immersive world . Battles are fought in real time, with the strength of physical attacks tied to a spirit gauge; the fuller the gauge, the stronger the attack will be. The player can also choose to attack rapidly, but doing so drastically dampens the effect of each strike. The party can also use a selection of weapons and change them on-the-fly in order to gain advantage in battle or solve puzzles in the open field.
+Like the [[Final Fantasy series|''Final Fantasy'' series]] from which it broke out, ''Mana'' allows certain characters to cast magic, also in real time. Although delays are possible in some titles, spells never miss their marks. However, each spell must be invoked through calling one of the eight elemental [[w:c:mana:Mana Spirit|Mana Spirits]] that has domain over the desired spell.
+As in ''[[Final Fantasy II]]'', weapon and skills development in the first two titles is proficiency-based; the more the player succeeds in landing blows or casting spells, the stronger the effects. The third installment adds a [[job system]] wherein characters evolve into different roles and gain new abilities as their stories progress. It also replaces the skill system with a point-based progression model as in recent ''Final Fantasy'' titles.
+Other RPG staples, like equipment, stats, and consumable items, are also present throughout each game.
+==Development==
+{{Main|Final Fantasy Adventure#Development}}
+Although this series has received nearly universal acclaim from critics and fans, no new ''Mana'' titles aside from remasters have been released since 2007. This is attributed to large portions of the original development team, including series creator [[Koichi Ishii]], having left Square Enix.
+{{Section}}
+==Other connections to ''Final Fantasy''==
+*The ''Mana'' series has borrowed the [[chocobo]] and the [[Moogle (race)|moogle]] from the ''Final Fantasy'' series. While the former's purpose and nature are consistent across both series, the latter are timid and fearful creatures against the gregarious and energetic moogles of ''Final Fantasy''.
+*The main characters in ''Adventures of Mana'' and ''Secret of Mana'' have been frequent guests in the main series and other spinoffs, as well as in other products from Square Enix:
+**''[[Final Fantasy X-2]]'' refers to the series in a [[sidequest]].
+**''[[Final Fantasy Record Keeper]]'' hosted an event.
+**''[[Final Fantasy Brave Exvius]]'' has issued units from the first three ''Mana'' games.
+**The defunct ''[[Heavenstrike Rivals]]'' featured redesigned units from ''Adventures of Mana'' as possible [[gacha]] prizes.
+{{Section|Related games}}
+{{navbox series}}
 [[Category:Related games]]
+[[Category:Mana series]]