Heroes of Mana

Infobox VG
title= Heroes of Mana


caption=
developer= Brownie Brown
publisher= Square Enix
designer= Koichi Ishii (producer)
Masato Kato (scenario writer)
Ryoma Itō (character designer)
Yoko Shimomura (composer)
series=
engine=
version=
released=vgrelease|JP=March 8, 2007|NA=August 14, 2007|PAL=September 14, 2007
genre= Real-time strategy role-playing game
modes= Single player, Multiplayer
ratings= vgratings|ESRB=Everyone (10+)|PEGI=12+
platforms= Nintendo DS
media=
requirements=
input=
series = "Mana" series
"World of Mana"

"Heroes of Mana" (known in Japan as nihongo|"Seiken Densetsu: Heroes of Mana"|聖剣伝説 HEROES of MANA|Seiken Densetsu Hīrōzu obu Mana) is a real-time strategy role-playing game developed by Square Enix for the Nintendo DS video game console. The game was released on March 8, 2007 in Japan and was released in the U.S. on August 14, 2007.

Gameplay

The game is a real-time strategy game (RTS) and is almost entirely a touch-based system. Players will summon monsters to fight alongside heroes in order to accomplish objectives such as destroying an enemy carrier or defeating all enemies in the area. Throughout the game players will unlock new units, spirits, and tips that will be useful in achieving victory. New equipment is obtained through completing story and bonus missions and finding it as hidden treasure. There are a total of 26 bonus missions, one for each mission of the story mode, as well as additional missions only available through the Heroes Ranking system. There is multiplayer wireless support, however the Nintendo Wi-Fi Connection service is restricted to downloading new maps and missions. Special items can be obtained by logging on the Wi-Fi Heroes Ranking system as well as by earning points through mission achievements such as fast times and most thrifty.

tory

Plot

"Heroes of Mana" takes place several years prior to "Seiken Densetsu 3". The protagonist's name is Roget, who is shot down doing reconnaissance on the kingdom of Ferolia. As the events unfold Roget and his team learn that their country, Pedda, is launching an attack on the other countries. [cite web | author=Brad Shoemaker | date=2007-04-06| title=Heroes of Mana First Look| url=http://www.gamespot.com/ds/strategy/seikendensetsuheroesofmana/news.html?sid=6168739&om_act=convert&om_clk=newsfeatures&tag=newsfeatures;title;2 | work= [http://www.gamespot.com Gamespot.com] | accessdate=2007-08-01]

Characters

Note: These are only the characters that join your party.

Roget — A young warrior skilled with his sword who is forced to fight against loved ones at the cost of never returning home. His concealed emotions will never let anyone know he is quite lonely. His weapon is the sword.

Yurcheal — A lieutenant of the Peddan Army he accompanies Roget on his journey to destroy the Peddan commanding general, Baxillios, and the prince of Peddan, Inath. He is calm and mysterious and no one can ever tell what he is thinking. His weapon is the bow and arrow.

Qucas — A wanderer who is a hired gun for the Peddan Army. He doesn't care what he has to do as long as he gets paid. He joins Roget on his journey to vanquish the Peddans who are in the possession of Esina's cursed mirror. His weapon is a blade.

D'Kelli — A young child who is the only remainder of a minority forest tribe. Her sunny and happy attitude covers up that she was taken away from her parents at a very young age. Her special abilities allow her to blow on her horn to summon creatures.

Geimere — A young woman who is quite temperamental. She is also the niece of the head chancellor of Peddan. She joins Roget on his journey to defeat the Peddan army, always willing to take risks. Her weapons are two daggers.

Gauser — The king of the Beastman Tribe. He saves Roget and company many times before joining their party. Gauser is very serious and is always looking out for others. When the Peddans attacked his country he lost many of his people and his entire kingdom. His weapon are claws.

Alma — A warrior of the winds of Laurent. She feels no need to express her feelings though under her tough exterior is a deep and thoughtful soul. She has deep feelings for Joster but set those feelings aside when she found out that her best friend, Minerva, had fallen in love with Joster. She helps Roget, hoping to reclaim her kingdom, Laurent, back. Her weapon is a wind lance.

Belgar — The Oracle of Darkness from the Holy capital of Wendal. He joins Roget to help investigate the cause of the war and to find the spirits which are the only hope of destroying Esina's Black Mirror. He is deep and more thoughtful than the others and his knowledge is very valuable on many occasions. His weapon is a staff.

Falcon — A Neverlan who has abondened her tribe when she found out that the Neverlands had joined the Peddans in the quest to conquer the world. She is brave and fights for what she believes in. She joins Roget on his quest to restore peace to the land of Mana once again. She is very down-to-earth and is always up for a challenge. Her weapons are two longswords.

Loki — A young warrior who is fiercely loyal to his prince. He will do anything and will make any sacrifice to protect Prince Richard. Loki is very kind and clever. Loki is very humorous and always likes a good laugh but when it comes to battle he is all serious. His weapon is a broadsword.

Valda — A young witch who has yet to learn how to control her magic. When under stress she tends to unleash a powerful magic attack that she cannot control. She is kind and gentle even though she has suffered many losses. Her weapon is a wand.

Development

"Heroes of Mana" was first revealed in the September 2006 issue of "Famitsu" magazine and subsequently featured at the Tokyo Game Show. [cite web | author=Josh Freund | date=2006-09-13| title=Seiken Densetsu: Heroes of Mana (DS) scans, info| url=http://www.gamesarefun.com/news.php?newsid=6872 | work= [http://www.gamesarefun.com/ GamesAreFun.com] | accessdate=2006-09-14] [cite web | author=Kristine C. | date=September 25, 2006 | title=TGS 2006: Heroes of Mana trailer | url=http://ds.qj.net/Heroes-of-Mana/cid/2591| work=QJ.net| accessdate=2008-06-21] The staff for "Heroes of Mana" is composed of many previous designers of the series, including producer Koichi Ishii, writer Masato Kato, and character designer Ryoma Itō. The game was developed by Brownie Brown, who previously helped develop "Sword of Mana".

"Heroes of Mana" was created as a RTS game to coincide with the other titles in the "World of Mana" compilation, which all offer a spin on the original "Seiken Densetsu" formula. Koichi Ishii stated that it was also to help expose Japanese gamers to real-time strategy, a genre that is relatively obscure in Japan, while simultaneously satisfying players abroad as an RTS for "casual gamers."cite web | author=Riley, Adam| date=November 11, 2007 | title=Square Enix Talks Heroes of Mana | url=http://www.cubed3.com/news/9011/ | work=Cubed3.com | accessdate=2008-06-30] [cite web | author=Bozon | year=2007-04-06| title=IGN Interviews Koichi Ishii| url=http://ds.ign.com/articles/778/778785p1.html | work=IGN.com | accessdate=2007-07-31]

Music

The game's score was done by Yoko Shimomura, who solely composed "Legend of Mana" in 1999. It was released on April 18, 2007.cite web | title=Seiken Densetsu Heroes of Mana Original Soundtrack | url=http://www.squareenixmusic.com/albums/s/seikendensetsuheroes.shtml | work=SquareEnixMusic.com | accessdate=2008-06-30] Some of the tracks were also a part of the 2008 compilation album "".cite web| url = http://www.square-enix.co.jp/music/sem/page/drammatica/| publisher = [http://www.square-enix.co.jp Square Enix] | title = Drammatica| accessdate=2008-07-15]

Reception

VG Reviews
1UP = B [cite web|url=http://www.1up.com/do/reviewPage?cId=3161959|title=Heroes of Mana Nintendo DS Review Index, Heroes of Mana Reviews|publisher=1UP.com|date=2007-08-14|accessdate=2008-04-27]
GI = 5 of 10
GSpot = 5.5 of 10 [cite web|url=http://www.gamespot.com/ds/strategy/seikendensetsuheroesofmana/review.html|title=Heroes of Mana for DS Review - DS Heroes of Mana Review|publisher=Gamespot.com|date=2007-08-14|accessdate=2008-04-27]
GSpy = 3 of 5 [cite web|url=http://ds.gamespy.com/nintendo-ds/seiken-densetsu-heroes-of-mana/812551p1.html|title=GameSpy: Heroes of Mana Review|publisher=Gamespy.com|date=2007-08-13|accessdate=2008-04-27]
IGN = 8 of 10cite web | author=Bozon | date=2007-08-09| title=Heroes of Mana Review| url=http://ds.ign.com/articles/811/811824p2.html | work=IGN | accessdate=2008-04-27]
GamePro = 3.5 of 5
NP = 6.5 of 10 Nintendo Power, volume 219, page 87. Nintendo of America, 2007. Retrieved 2007-8-9]
XPlay = 2 of 5 [cite web|url=http://www.g4tv.com/xplay/reviews/1613/Heroes_of_Mana.html|title=G4 - X-Play - Reviews|publisher=X-Play|accessdate=2008-04-27]
Play = 8.5 of 10
EGM = 6.33 of 10|
compilation = yes|
MC = 65 of 100cite web|url=http://www.metacritic.com/games/platforms/ds/heroesofmana?q=heroes%20of%20mana|title=Heroes of Mana (ds: 2007): Reviews|publisher=Metacritic|accessdate=2008-04-27]
GR = 65%cite web|url=http://www.gamerankings.com/htmlpages4/935583.asp|title=Heroes of Mana Reviews|publisher=Game Rankings|accessdate=2008-04-27] This game received a 6.5 from Nintendo Power for providing a great basis for an RTS but shoddy player AI. IGN gave the game an 8.0, or "Impressive", citing it as the first real time strategy game on the Nintendo DS. However, reviews abroad were generally lukewarm, averaging 65 on Metacritic.

It sold 50,000 copies in Europe and 30,000 copies in North America as of November 2007. [cite web | author= | date=2007-11-19| title=FY 2007 First-Half Period Results Briefing Session| url=http://www.square-enix.com/jp/ir/e/explanatory/download/20071119en_20.pdf| work=Square Enix | accessdate=2008-04-27|format=PDF] Initial sales were actually lower than those for "Children of Mana", the other Nintendo DS title in the series. Koichi Ishii attributes this to the saturation level of the portable console in Japan, and to the overall lack of exposure the RTS genre continues to receive in the country.

References

External links

* [http://na.square-enix.com/heroesofmana Official North American website]
* [http://www.square-enix.co.jp/mana/ Official "World of Mana" site] ja icon