Shinyaku Seiken Densetsu on GBA, Japanese version of the Secret of Mana remake. Splendid graphics, fluid action system, enchanted Mana world. A high-quality action RPG.
Your verdict
Category
Action RPG1 player12+
Description
Action RPG developed by Brownie Brown and Square Enix, published by Nintendo in Europe in April 2004. The stories of Sumo, an apprentice soldier dreaming of glory, and Silk, a young fleeing mage, intertwine in a magical world. Two distinct storylines based on the chosen character, real-time combat and enriched character actions, dungeon exploration and the Seiken Densetsu series world. European version of the remake of the original Famicom game.
Square's remake of Seiken Densetsu, the first entry known in the West as Mystic Quest, reworked into a polished action RPG with warm art direction. The European edition, less widespread than the US version, appeals to Mana fans attached to the PAL catalogue. Desirability rests on the entry's founding place in the line and on the quality of this reimagining, more than on extreme scarcity.
Is Sword of Mana still worth playing in 2026?
A Japanese remake of the very first Seiken Densetsu, Shinyaku Seiken Densetsu reinvents the founding action RPG of the Mana series with superb pixel art, an enriched combat and crafting system and a reworked storyline. The enchanting art direction, the exploration and the collecting keep a definite charm, despite sometimes shaky balancing and uneven storytelling. The language barrier remains. A polished pick for fans of Japanese action RPG and lovers of the Mana series.
