Next year, the Mana series will celebrate its 25th anniversary, and Square Enix producers Masaru Oyamada and Yusuke Suda spoke with Famitsu about some of the plans they have for the series.

 

The last time we saw a main-numbered Mana game, it was Dawn of Mana for PlayStation 2, which is called Seiken Densetsu 4 in Japan, and fans have been waiting for the fifth installment of the series since then. Square Enix have been teasing that a new title in the main series has been in the works, but have yet to share much on the subject.

 

“Mana will celebrate its 25th anniversary next year, and we have plans on rebooting the brand,” said Rise of Mana’s PlayStation Vita version’s producer Suda. “And I believe that Rise of Mana will lead the charge. Depending on how things turn out, the flow of things may change, but we’re still excited, nonetheless.”

 

“Also, I believe that Oyamada will make the next generation Mana, so I believe this is a nice way to pass the baton [for a closing statement in the interview],” Suda added with a chuckle.

 

“I really can’t say anything about it at this point in time,” continued Oyamada with a laugh. “Firstly, I believe we’d like to offer Rise of Mana as a free-to-play title for those who’ve played Mana games in the past and those who haven’t, as a way to expand its range.”

 

“While on the subject of the Mana series, next year is its 25th anniversary, and we definitely have a lot prepared for it. We will reveal more information when the time comes, so please look forward to it.”

 

In an earlier interview, Oyamada stated that he’d like to make the next Mana game on something that fans have been wanting it on—for home consoles. You can read more about that, here.

Read more at http://www.siliconera.com/2015/04/17/new-mana-game-may-works-series-25th-anniversary-next-year/#IODPyqZtQ0bOePoY.99

 

It would have to be outsourced, but would you like to see Mana back on consoles or handhelds?

I know that I certainly would love to see one. Loved Secret of Mana.

I really really want Mana to return to consoles. Hopefully it does. It's been too long.

I really really want Mana to return to consoles. Hopefully it does. It's been too long.

 

Well it only left consoles because World of Mana bombed and the creator left to go produce Zelda remakes.

Well it only left consoles because World of Mana bombed and the creator left to go produce Zelda remakes.

Wasn't World of Mana like a series of different games though? They flooded so many Mana games out in a short time frame that no wonder it probably bombed. I only got to play Children of Mana and Heroes of Mana on the DS as the other titles from World of Mana never made it to Europe. Children was good and Heroes was..... different. It's a shame that the series never really hit the height of Secret of Mana. In some ways that game set the bar too high for everything that followed. If we can get a solid entry on Playstation 4 or something for the 25th Anniversary then I'd be happy.

Wasn't World of Mana like a series of different games though? They flooded so many Mana games out in a short time frame that no wonder it probably bombed. I only got to play Children of Mana and Heroes of Mana on the DS as the other titles from World of Mana never made it to Europe. Children was good and Heroes was..... different. It's a shame that the series never really hit the height of Secret of Mana. In some ways that game set the bar too high for everything that followed. If we can get a solid entry on Playstation 4 or something for the 25th Anniversary then I'd be happy.

 

Nope, World of Mana was like FNC and Complication of Final Fantasy VII. They made 3 games, 4 if you include a random mobile phone game. Those two on DS and the 4th Mana game, which was on PS2.

Nope, World of Mana was like FNC and Complication of Final Fantasy VII. They made 3 games, 4 if you include a random mobile phone game. Those two on DS and the 4th Mana game, which was on PS2.

Well, still. I don't think the PS2 one, Dawn of Mana ever left Japan or America so I never got to play it. Heroes was the last one out in Europe and that must have been like 7 or 8 years ago at this point. If Rise of Mana gets localised on the Vita then I'll give it a whirl, but I don't hold high hopes for a free-to-play smartphone game.

Well, still. I don't think the PS2 one, Dawn of Mana ever left Japan or America so I never got to play it. Heroes was the last one out in Europe and that must have been like 7 or 8 years ago at this point. If Rise of Mana gets localised on the Vita then I'll give it a whirl, but I don't hold high hopes for a free-to-play smartphone game.

 

Yeah, we never got Dawn of Mana sadly. Heroes of Mana came after Dawn of Mana. The franchise kinda died when Koichi Ishii left, most likely because of all the games doing poorly.