Secret of Mana

Secret of Mana combines the growth of an RPG party with combat directly on the map you explore. Enemies do not take the heroes to a separate screen with a turn order: you choose your distance and move between attacks. Rapid button presses do not replace judgment, however. Power recovers after a strike, and the next full-strength attack requires a short wait.

The ring menu lets you choose an item, weapon or spell around a character. It connects inventory management to the same place where the adventure happens. Weapon and magic progression add long-term decisions: gaining a new tool is not enough, because you must also learn to use it. The three heroes complement each other: the main character fights with weapons, while his companions use different magic for healing and attacks.

Square released the game for SNES in 1993. People sharing one screen can control its three heroes; playing with three on the original console requires a controller expansion adapter. In solo play, the computer handles companions. The journey therefore works both as personal exploration and as coordinated action. This transition between RPG planning, movement and cooperation defines Secret of Mana's character.