Seiken densetsu

Seiken densetsu (literally the Legend of the crowned Sword ) is a series of video game of role more precisely of Action-RPG, created in 1991 by Koichi Ishii for Square. In Occident, the series is known under the name of Mana .

The series is known for its system of dynamic combat, contrary to the traditional Japanese roleplays which use a system with the turn by turn. Created in the beginning to compete with the series headlight of Nintendo, The Legend off Zelda in the kind “action-RPG”, Seiken densetsu generates however less money with the Japan than of the traditional series such as Final Fantasy , Dragon Quest , or SaGa . The Franchise is however popular and has success in particular with the the United States and in Europe. In these areas, if the first episode gains a success of regard, it is the second episode, known under the name of Secret off Mana , which makes the series extremely popular. At the sides of The Legend off Zelda: In Link to the Past, it will become one of the plays headlights of the Super Nintendo.

Problems of name

To the liking of its multiple exports, the series Seiken densetsu will see the name of its plays translated of many and various manners, which often carry to confusion. The series as a whole is known in Europe and North America under the name of series “Mana” .

the first episode of the series, Final Fantasy Gaiden: Seiken densetsu , called in Europe Mystic Quest , was in the beginning as its name indicates it a Spin-off (in Japanese gaiden ) of the series Final Fantasy , when bien-même its gameplay differs basically (it is a Action-RPG, whereas the plays of the series Final Fantasy are RPG). This play generated a distinct series thereafter, less and less presenting elements of the series of origin Final Fantasy .

the name which the first opus to Europe carries ( Mystic Quest ) carries to confusion, because this name is already that carried to Japan and the United States by a play left previously, Final Fantasy: Mystic Quest . This last, a RPG simplified, is not affiliated with the series Seiken densetsu but with the series Final Fantasy .

Legend off Mana , chronologically the fourth play of the series to being developed, forever borne the name of Seiken densetsu 4 but was often regarded as such by the fans. An episode called officially Seiken densetsu 4 ( Dawn off Mana in North America) however left in 2006, relegating Legend off Mana to the statute of play out of the ordinary.

Sword off Mana ( Shinyaku seiken densetsu in Japan) is a Remake of Seiken densetsu, the first opus of the series.

Secret off Evermore , left in 1995 on Super Famicom, has the particular status not to belong to the series although it takes again the gameplay off Secret Mana . This play was developed by the North-American branch of Public garden, Square Software Inc.

Gameplay

The action-RPG episodes of the series are played like the majority of the video games of role traditional: the player advances in the history of the play while speaking to the characters not-players to collect information, sells and buys objects, solves problems or enigmas and faces enemies and Boss.

The system of combat in real-time of the series requires precision and timing. The phases of engagements are not separated from the phases of exploration, it is possible to flee the engagements or of touching several enemies of only one attack. The player has access to a menu which is appeared as a circle thanks to which it is possible to select magic attacks and objects. He also makes it possible to consult the characteristic of his characters. At the end of the combat, the characters gain points of experiment. Once reached a certain number of points, competences of a character can increase.

Recurring elements

Following the example series The Legend off Zelda , the plays of the series Seiken densetsu are in the same universe but whose chronology is fuzzy and likely to be corrected with each new exit. Certain elements are found throughout the series: voyages out of gun, the sword and the Mana tree, enemies. At the beginning of the stories, the hero finds himself most of the time banished his native soil by his friends or his close relations. Finally a very coloured graphic style and which oscillate between marvellous and enchantment characterize the series.

Principal series

Seiken densetsu: The Emergence off Excalibur

It is in 1987 that Square, seeing the success of the series The Legend off Zelda , decides to create its own action-RPG. The name Seiken densetsu: The Emergence off Excalibur is then deposited and an exit on Famicom Disk System is planned for the following year. However the project being too ambitious for the time and the capacities of Famicom Disk System being limited, Square was contrint to cancel its project some time after the beginning of the development.

Mystic Quest

In 1991, is four years after the cancellation of the project The Emergence off Excalibur , Square uses the name Seiken densetsu for a new project of action-RPG, a spin-off of the series Final Fantasy of less scale that the project preceding and intended for the Game Boy. This episode at the base developed under the name of Gemma Knights poses the base of the series: a simple history, with the Mana tree threatened by the black King, and of the nonseparate combat in real-time of the phases of exploration and requiring for the player of the timing. Many elements characteristic of Final Fantasy the such Chocobo S and the Moogle S are present in the play.

Secret off Mana

Left in 1993 on Super Nintendo, this episode is a success striking down thanks to its splendid graphics, its system of combat very rate/rhythm, its characters attaching, its beautiful and mysterious musics and especially the possibility of living the adventure with three players simultaneously. Secret off Mana is the episode most known of the series. It should be noted that this episode east left in France accompanied by a guide by richly illustrated official play.

Seiken densetsu 3

Developed for Super Famicom and published in 1995 it never left apart from Japan. This episode takes again the gameplay preceding episode by in particular adding to it a system of classes of characters and an alternation of the day and night. It is possible to incarnate 6 characters in 3 different scenarios. Graphics are among most advanced among those seen on Super Famicom.

Dawn off Mana

Left at the end of December 2006 with the Japan on Playstation 2. It is the first episode of the series has to be carried out entirely in three dimensions. It left to North America on May 22nd, 2007.

Spin-offs

Legend off Mana

Left in 2000 on Playstation, this episode differs from the others by the fact that the player must recover artefacts in order to rebuild the world. That is translated in the play by the fact that the player can modify the chart of the world and thus start again a part by creating each time a new world, and new ways. That makes thus the gameplay linear.

Sword off Mana

This episode left in 2003 on Game Boy Advance is a remake of the first episode of the series. The majority of the elements resulting from Final Fantasy are replaced by elements more characteristic of the later episodes of the series. The graphic style and the combat thus approach enormously Secret off Mana .

Children off Mana

Left on Nintendo DS in 2006 (2007 in Europe), it is about a Dungeon-RPG. The play comprises one village and the player spends most clearly his time in keeps.

Heroes off Mana

This episode left in 2007 on Nintendo DS. It is about a strategy game in real-time including/understanding of the elements of roleplays. The history proceeds 19 years before Seiken Densetsu 3 .

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