
Echoes of Mana
By Erin Brereton,
Common Sense Media Reviewer
Common Sense Media Reviewers
Fairly engaging battles can't salvage the drawn-out story.
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Echoes of Mana
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What’s It About?
Kids search for a sword to save the Mana Tree, the source of all life, in ECHOES OF MANA, a story-based app featuring new and known Mana game series characters. Kids build a team of allies to battle monsters. They can make their character walk by swiping back and forth, enact special moves that cost MP, or deliver a big hit when their Mega Spirit Magic Gauge is full. They'll also tackle missions, such as trying to battle without an ally fainting from low HP, and quests that boost characters' weapon skill levels to enact more damage.
Is It Any Good?
While the graphics are excellent, other aspects of the app aren't notably original or exciting. Echoes of Mana is the latest installment in the Mana game series, which was introduced more than two decades ago. The storyline involves trying to find a special sword to save the Mana Tree, which supposedly can restore life. After rescuing someone from a jail cell your character suddenly appears in -- without any explanation of how or why they arrived -- kids set off on a series of quests without knowing how a weapon could save a tree, or what to do with it when they find it, one of several unclear plot points. In addition to leaving out some key details, the storyline unfolds at a fairly slow pace. Before they can click through to the next screen, kids have to wait while another character pauses and responds to a comment with "..." A number of conversations feel pointless because they don't reveal more about the characters or plot.
The battles, unfortunately, don't happen as frequently and may not last as long as kids would like. They'll have a decent amount of control in them, though, if they don't opt to automate those scenes. They can select their character's battle moves as they play, and if they think of it ahead of time, can customize their allies' strategy settings to target the closest enemy or the same one kids are attacking. The battle action isn't always completely smooth -- with multiple characters fighting at once in the same area, it can be hard to tell exactly what's going on. Conversely, characters sometimes move off screen as they're fighting, making the action hard to follow. Still, even with some viewing issues, the battles provide a nice break from the meandering story. Hardcore fans might get a kick out of seeing the classic Mana characters. Kids who are unfamiliar with the series, though, may be left with some questions about the plot -- and as a result, might have a hard time getting engrossed in Echoes of Mana's missions and fantasy world.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about what strategies your child used in Echoes of Mana's battles. Did trial and error play a role in the decisions your child made?
How can kids use the experience to their advantage if they didn't succeed at first in a battle? How can the moves that didn't work help them do better next time?
Does the game make fighting seem like it's no big deal? What are some non-violent ways you can resolve disagreements in real life?
App Details
- Devices: iPhone , iPod Touch , iPad , Android
- Pricing structure: Free
- Release date: May 12, 2022
- Category: Role-Playing Games
- Topics: Magic and Fantasy , Adventures , Monsters, Ghosts, and Vampires
- Publisher: Square Enix
- Version: 1.0.1
- Minimum software requirements: Requires iOS 13.0 or later or Android 7.0 and up.
- Last updated: May 31, 2022
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