Secret of Mana

As I write this, I'm in a tiny little town in middle-of-nowhere Oklahoma. My cell phone barely holds a signal. The sole television in the house is a 12-inch that only shows programs of a religious nature. All the food is vegan. Alcohol is prohibited. The lone internet connection is a dial-up through a computer that takes several seconds to display a word after it has been typed. Oh yeah, and videogame playing is expressly forbidden.

Heroes of Mana feels like Dawn of Mana, take two. It's gorgeous and somewhat interesting, but undermined by basic flaws in its ability to let players see what's going on. Here's hoping there's no take three in the works.

According to ESRB, this game contains: Language, Mild Fantasy Violence

Game Description: Developed exclusively for the Nintendo DS, Heroes of MANA breathes new life into the World of MANA by taking it into an entirely new dimension. For the first time in the history of the series, stylus-wielding generals must plan, plot and strategize their way to victory on the battlefield. Utilizing the Touch Screen to the fullest, you take full control of the battle as you gather resources, assemble armies and experience an all-new perspective on the ever-evolving battle for the world of MANA.

I don’t know what went wrong with Dawn of Mana. Its worlds are bright fairylands; its characters are pretty without looking sickly cute. The gameplay itself is an interesting twist on Devil May Cry-style combo-racking, with few lulls in the action and lots of property to destroy. Unfortunately, a lousy camera and odd difficulty levels make the game much more frustrating than it should be.

According to ESRB, this game contains: Fantasy Violence

Game Description: In Dawn of Mana players will finally uncover the origins of the long-running MANA series, which boasts unique and fully interactive 3D environments. Players will be able to interact with their environment like never before, as they explore, destroy and use objects in their fight against fierce—and often funny—enemies. Four difficulty levels, gameplay-altering emblems and a battle arena with collectable pets add customization to the adventure and increase replay value.