Secret of Mana

A faithful recreation of a magical childhood game that... doesn't really hold up.
The updated graphics, animations, and character/enemy models don't smooth out the rough edges of the game. On the contrary, they make some of the weaker aspects more noticeable.
However, the fact that this even exists is great. I don't care that it doesn't hold up. I wouldn't expect it to.
If you play the game on its own terms, then it can be very fun and enjoyable.
The combat is an early implementation of a stamina-management system (Dark Souls a Secret of Mana-like?). Stun-locking enemies is basically the default mechanic and works throughout the game. I'm not sure you can even avoid stun-locking enemies.
It's very easy to die if you get stun-locked.
Level design is incredibly basic. Areas are very small before loading the next area.
Bosses can be very difficult, unless you stun-lock them with their weakness. Then they're very easy.
Magic and weapon grinding kind of suck, but you don't have to do too much of it to get strong enough.
Even with all of these complaints, I've beaten the original SNES version numerous times, and could see myself coming back to this version periodically. It's a simple, fun video game.
I'm kind of glad they didn't update too much.
Ok, Square, please give us remasters of Treasure of the Rudras, Secret of Evermore, Bahamut Lagoon, Saga Frontier 2, Adventures of Mana (on Steam), Actraiser 2 (with city building but without tower defense), and Xenogears.

I adored this game when I was young, and I still love it. I know there's a lot of hate for it out there, so keep in mind that this is an old game with some mechanics that just won't seem obvious if you didn't grow up with games like this. It's not gonna be for everyone, and the archaic mechanics might be difficult for some people to get past, but there's a good game here if you can get post those obstacles.

I think they did a great job with the remaster. The extra voice parts and interactions really add some depth to the game. I was 12 when I first played the original (when it came out) and I don't care what everyone else says, this is great. :)

Overall, this remake is decent.
But it's hard to recommend to those who have already played the original SNES title.
It's faithful to a fault. For being a "remake", they seemingly didn't embrace the opportunity to make any significant QoL changes to improve the original. Attacks still miss 80% of the time, the AI companions are dummies, hit registration is wonky.
The biggest difference is the graphics, which I think most would agree is unfortunately a downgrade. It looks like a cheap PSP title. The original game holds up much better.
There's still some of the original charm here, but I'd argue to a lesser extent. Environments aren't as vibrant, the detail is lacking, some of the sequences are cut (RIP to the cannon travel scene).
But still, it's... fine. I've had fun for a single playthrough. I just doubt I'll ever play this version again once I wrap up my current run.
Just make sure to buy it on sale. It's *definitely* not worth $40.

Just as fun as the original, with updated graphics. One of the best action RPG ever made.

Pretty good remake. Controls are simple, although the menu UI with switching between characters and items feels a bit clunky at times. Combat is basic with attacking with weapons and waiting for a recharge to deal max damage and using mp to cast spells, while the plot is easy to follow and isn't full of cryptic nonsense.
It's fairly easy and only 2-3 bosses give any real challenge, but if you level up magic the whole game is a cakewalk. It gets grindy in the second half of the game, particularly the final quarter of it with collection gear and leveling weapons and magic. Fairly long game about 30ish hours but if you're grinding it'll be longer.

This is such a great game! The original on the SNES has always been a favorite, right up there with Resident Evil 2 and Final Fantasy 7. I would highly recommend trying this remake out if you liked the original or if you never played it but like adventure games like Zelda. I loved how they remade the music to make it more dynamic and complex but kept it similar to the original. I know some people complain about the art style, but I like it! It's definitely more cutesy/cartoony than the original, but it looks good. I liked the voice acting, and it's very cool how the characters have a conversation before they go to bed when you stay at an inn. The sprite's voice is especially hilarious, especially when he casts mana steal. When he gets even just 1 mp, he goes "whhooohoooo!" all excited like Toad when he rocks a mushroom in Mario Kart. Overall, I think this is an absolutely amazing remake of what was already an absolutely amazing game.
So for the negatives, I have a few: I really liked the new music, but I also wish there was a way to change it to the original. Most of the tracks were an improvement while a few just sounded like club remixes, but I do miss the original music. Especially that opening song; the original is a nostalgic A-bomb, and though the new version is good, I would have loved to hear the original somewhere in the game. The graphics are very cartoony/cutesy, which is cool, but it would have been neat if they'd gone in the opposite direction where it was an over the shoulder camera like in the Final Fantasy 7 remake where you could look up at the buildings and trees and feel like you were really on this great adventure. I love the overhead camera and don't like how every game these days seem to have to be over the shoulder, but for this game I think it would have been cool. It would have been especially neat to stand in front of the Mana tree and be able to look up at how it towers over everything. That's another thing I didn't care for in the original and the remake - where the mana tree is. In the poster it's a tropical lush forest surrounded by water and plants, but in the game it's just a small rocky platform. That's a big part of the game so it's strange to me how just kind of bland the area is where the tree grows. Also, some of these achievements seem impossible. Like the one where you travel everywhere with Flammie. I seriously spent an hour trying to land in each little place but I still didn't get that achievement. Plus you're supposed to be able to level every weapon up to 9? I think I got lucky enough to get one weapon orb fighting monsters on the Mana fortress. Where are the other ones!?!? Also, the little conversations don't really follow where you are in the game. Like near the end of the game, the characters were still talking about what it'll be like to experience something mid game. I guess the programmers figured players would stay at an inn way more than I did? Also, it's super weird that the sprite is referred to as a "they". It always throws me off every time it happens.
But yeah, fantastic game. The gripes are minor and don't take away from it in anyway. I'll be playing through again sometime trying to get the achievements I missed the first time. I'd highly recommend it if you like adventure games.