Legend of Mana

Mana's evolution towards western/SaGa-like JRPGs peaked with Legend of Mana, a massive overhaul whose world map and main questline are entirely shaped by the player. Not surprisingly, the contrast between this and its previous output lies in the structure: If Trials of Mana built its narrative around distinct, polyphonic journeys, this work dispensed with the narrative altogether - sporting non-linear progression and optional, vaguely related arcs with lots of charming characters and events to encounter. Along the way, its high-fantasy setting, silly humor, simplistic dialogue and colorful hand-drawn aesthetic gives the adventure a delightful, storybook-like quality, which makes up for the lack of a cohesive plot.

Obscure as they may be, new systems like crafting, farming, and even monster raising complement its less urgent and more relaxed design. Ditto for its real-time battle system, which mirrors that approach with tweaks to pacing (long recovery, variable party size), customization (fully configurable movesets) and especially to flexibility (combos, chain-cancelling). Super moves and a huge influx of new skills contribute to their least challenging but also their most diverse and enjoyable combat yet. More than a cheerful romp, this is an unlikely reinvention that ranks among its series' best.