Studio Squaresoft’s renowned 1993 classic Secret of Mana dwells in the realm of nostalgic JRPG royalty for good reason. The real-time RPG gameplay was groundbreaking, the co-op option was unprecedented, but, most importantly, artist Hiroo Isono’s iconic and objectively beautiful box art was…otherworldly. However, the cover was a deceptive ruse, as the graphics in the game itself were miles from anything close to that captivating image. In a modern world with technology so advanced that it’s problematic, it is mind-boggling that we haven’t properly made a version of the SoM based on the graphics that appeared on the cover in the past 20 years.
Imagine the scene, circa 1994 at my local Blockbuster. Gripping this entrancing game, my eyes drank up the cover: a meticulously drawn and imposing Mana Tree majestically looms over the picture’s three lone bipeds—rendered tiny by comparison—who bask in the awe of the overpowering expanse. And what an expanse indeed! It’s as if the Malaysian rainforest drank super fertilizer and killed off all the tourists. I couldn’t help but be mesmerized by just how green everything was, with moss so detailed that I could almost feel its soft texture under my fingers. When I got home and booted up the game, there was only childlike disappointment at SNES’ 16-bit graphics, without a shred of Isono’s handiwork anywhere.
Looking back now, I totally get it. In fact, I now know SNES was really pushing the limits of its hardware as it was with graphics and gameplay. Moreover, according to strafefox’s YouTube channel, the entire development of SoM was flawed from the start, but try telling that to a 9-year-old too naive to separate a game’s more ambitious creative concepts from its physical limitations. Funnily enough, I have the same duplicitous issue with Mike McGinty’s cover for Street Fighter 2, as there’s no way Blanka is that badass in the actual game. But you know what? Street Fighter 6 comes pretty damn close to McGinty’s vision—way closer than Secret of Mana’s 2018 remake abomination came to Isono’s.
Despite being an emotional and critical moment in the game, the bright and shiny 3D graphics didn’t move me in the slightest
In an attempt to introduce Secret of Mana to a fresh demographic, Square Enix released a $40 3D SoL remake for PS4 and Steam that not only pissed off older gamers but made new players question what it was that made the original a hit in the first place. Rose-colored claims from senior players like “this game changed my life!” or “we’re talking about a quintessential JRPG here” seemed baseless without the beautiful music from the ’93 version, but with emotionless faces emitting mediocre voice acting added in. About 3D graphics in general, I have my own biased opinions, but the sloppy work that was used to cut corners in the remake could easily serve as evidence in a court case. If that wasn’t enough, Square Enix had the gall to paste Isono’s original artwork on the cover…again!
Look, I’m not asking for a lot and, however cool it was to have all 3 Mana games tied together in 2019’s Collection of Mana bundle, my 20-year-old itch still hasn’t been scratched. I’m just spit-balling here, but merging what had Squaresoft originally planned with Isono-san’s prolific output, the final hand-drawn product would be nothing short of perfection. For example, the Forest of Season would explode with painstakingly illustrated cherry blossoms, Pure Land’s Mana Tree cut-scene would be spectacularly heart-breaking, and the Mana Beast would actually be terrifying.
Take a moment and think about how much better Spring would be with painstakingly hand-drawn Cherry Blossoms.
If that seems like a tall order, it’s really not. Whether you’re a fan of the game or not, aesthetics are crucial, and we all want something nice to look at. From the get-go, SoM’s cover was destined for something bigger than its cardboard purgatory. Even my wife—not a Mana fan—fell in love with the box art and now wants it as a poster (win!).
And so, Square Enix, the ball is in your corner. To quote Mana’s opening text, time does indeed flow like a river and history inevitably repeats. Since there are currently no DLC plans for the upcoming Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth, I’d say you’re as free as a pink exotic bird to turn the artistic dream of Secret of Mana into a reality.