#Hinnas Corestone

[fogaminghub]

https://www.fogaminghub.com/post/journey-to-gudju-uncovering-secrets-in-visions-of-mana

🌟✨ Ready for an adventure? 🌟✨ 

In our latest blog post, we dive into Chapter 4: Back with a Vengeance of Visions of Mana! Join Val and the Alms as they traverse the dangerous Zawhak Desert to reach Gudju, the Village of Earth. Learn about the challenges that await and how to prepare your heroes for this epic journey!

[chacusha]

Visions of Mana review

Non-spoilery thoughts:

I really like this game! I was a bit worried about combat from the demo, but I really like the combat in this game, actually. The different weapons all have their own combos and situationally helpful moves (dishing out a lot of damage, attacking in a wide area, launching enemies, staggering them, etc.), so there is quite a bit of satisfaction in learning different fighting styles for each weapon. It almost feels like a fighting game rather than an action/adventure game, which I like.

I feel like this game successfully captures a lot of recurring elements of the Mana series (multiple weapon systems, finding elemental spirits, familiar monsters and bosses, world in decline, simple environmental puzzle-solving) while also being a fresh story and world with its own rules, which is pretty ideal for me. I also think this game does a better job of merging Legend of Mana worldbuilding elements with non-Legend of Mana elements than any other Mana game, and I find that pretty impressive because the aesthetics kind of clash, in my opinion. But they did a good job of merging them here.

The characters are really fun and I like the party dialogues that happen as you go around the world. I think the game could probably use some sidequests or subplots (rather than fairly simple fetch/hunt quests) to flesh out the world a bit and give the story a bit of nonlinearity (it is *quite* linear, although this is pretty normal for the Mana series (LOM aside)...), but I am not complaining. Even though they were fairly simple, I enjoyed the quests here, and they got pretty elaborate in the end.

The progression and gradual unlock of skills that make your characters stronger is also really satisfying. I'm also a big fan of the way that they incorporated a game mechanic (random corestone drops) into the story, and I felt the corestone ability trading added a bit of depth to the gameplay.

Overall, I rate this game like 9/10. It could be better, but there is a lot here to love and the gameplay is pretty polished (game crashes a lot, though -- be sure to save frequently!).

Spoilery thoughts:

My partner keeps joking that Careena is somehow this world's only Texan. (How come her parents have no accent?!)

Magical girl transformation sequences was SUCH a good idea. I approve. (Is there a way to toggle these back on...?)

The tragedy/tragic backstories in this game are exquisite.

At the same time, I really like the humor and cuteness in this game. It's important to have both in a Mana game, I feel.

I wasn't expecting anti-capitalist propaganda in this game, haha.

I like that there's a bit of a nudge in this game about which elemental vessels to assign to which character. Like, Careena's Wind class has pretty nice passives compared to the others and same with Morley's Moon class -- kind of nudges you to start them off with those classes.

It's interesting having Niccolo in this game be such a nice guy. In most games, he's pretty sketchy and self-interested (although he is a pretty great guy in Trials of Mana too). I like that he's Morley's adoptive dad and Palamena's confidante too.

Val is the himbo we all need.

Hinna 😭 They were so ready to be happy together too. I guess Hinna dying this early means she has a reasonable chance of coming back by the end.

SOMEONE high-up in the development team definitely has a foot fetish. But I like seeing Palamena's stylish footwear so I don't mind.

I'm a big fan of Pikuls for land transport and Vuscav for sea transport. Love that we got Vuscav's theme back for this game.

Oh snap I'm in The Lion King right now. XD In general, I was a bit meh about the areas featured in the demo (Rime Falls, Fallow Steppe, and Rhata Harbor), but I've been pretty impressed by the other areas. I liked the Charred Passage, Ledgas Bay, Pritta Ridge, Illystana, Dura Gorge (love the music of this one), Deade Cliffs, and quite a lot of the dungeons.

Von Boyage / Professor Bomb is here! Great cameo.

I like how this game strikes a balance between SOM/TOM-style "there is one of each elemental spirit" and LOM/World of Mana-style "there are many spirits for each element" by having one main elemental spirit but a bunch of mini/lesser elemental spirits with a slightly different design (and they're very cute!).

I like how Khoda looks exactly halfway between Sumo/FFA protagonist and Randi. Well done.

Lol, I thought Aesh was going to be evil. I do like how he occasionally goes into "mad scientist" mode, though. The parts of the game where he has bonding time with the party were some of the best. (His initial introduction was sooo good. When you introduce your friend to your other friends and he's the worrrrst, lol. I like how Morley went from jealous of Aesh to Worried Mother Hen lol.)

Overall, I like the boss battles in this game. I like some of them have a gimmick or puzzle-solving aspect to them, and I like that none of them dragged on too long, which is the main thing I hate about modern action RPGs. The Earth Benevodon battle in particular was a favorite -- epic! Some of the other benevodons sadly went down a bit too quickly (I kind of felt sorry for them having to fight my overleveled party XD).

Okay I guess Hinna isn't coming back. I do like the theme here of it being important to accept the death of loved ones. Ephemeral beauty i.e. things are valuable because they don't last forever. (Ever since my partner pointed out this is an extremely common theme in Japanese art, I am unable to unsee it...)

Some of these late game areas are also really beautiful. *o* I really love the floating island, the Entwine Pass boss battle with all the flowers in the background, and the lighting in the corrupted Mana Sanctuary areas.

Being able to see the previous alm contingents (including Lyza's group!) made me emotional. ;_;

Oh snap, I can't believe Passar was the big bad.

I haven't finished all the postgame content, and I'm not sure if I'll have time. I do eventually want to farm all the abilities and play around with different party setups, and I also want to try playing on Expert difficulty and also with Japanese voices, but we'll see.

Overall, I liked the story! You didn't get Hinna back, but you did manage to fix the world, so there is still that bittersweetness that is important for a Mana game.

[teefa85]

We did it! We beat the game! Of course, stupid me managed to not realize that, by just hitting Continue, I was back in Chapter 9 because an Autosave isn't made when you beat the final boss and Continue just loads your last Autosave (I always just assumed it Autosaved after every save and that's why it always loaded an Autosave). You have to hit LOAD and just go to the clear file you made.

Meaning...don't do what I do because I am an idiot! Especially since my second go-around with the final boss was a lot less clean since I was just trying to rush and get back to where I was. Not like I got any EXP to do worse at.

But Mana games are always good at one thing and this one's no exception...

...and that's make me cry at some point during the ending! Secret of Mana was the first game ending I really lost it and and it's continued to this day!

No, really. I started feeling my eyes get wet when Eoren and Lyza's corestones appeared, began crying when Hinna's spirit came to bolster Val's confidence, absolutely LOST IT when Cerulia showed up to calm Daelophos (she waited so many centuries for him to lose his rage and return to her), and the postgame scene where Val passes on from old age and finally reunites with Hinna (who also waited decades to reincarnate so she could be with him in the next life)...forget it! I was a mess!

I almost forgot that I'd laughed at Daelophos' level of 66 (one 6 away from the Number of the Beast...fitting) because all the emotion of the ending was overcoming me.

But anyway, once I got back to where I was, I did some maintenance. Sold all my Corestones and was able to afford Careena and Morley's Ability Seed Enhancements. Gonna be saving up for Val's next as they're my main 3. Slot 10 is now reserved for one Status Protection seed, swapped around based on need, since I've got the slots now.

And I got everyone's Elemental Plots fully unlocked. They've maxxed out their base class and got a few more useful spells. Might play with putting people in their original classes with the bonuses once I know how to get that working.

But I also leave you with this, because it also made me overcome with emotion. I love you, Lil' Cactus! So precious!

[fogaminghub]

🌿✨ Dive into Chapter 4 of Visions of Mana: Back with a Vengeance!  

Join Val as he confronts his past and climbs the majestic Jaque Tree to reclaim Hinna’s corestone. This journey is more than just a climb – it’s a path to redemption!

[fogaminghub]

https://www.fogaminghub.com/post/follow-vuscav-navigate-the-ocean-in-visions-of-mana-s-chapter-4

🌊✨ Follow Vuscav in Visions of Mana Chapter 4! After losing Hinna, Val and the Alms venture across the ocean to reclaim her corestone. Get ready to summon Vuscav with your Ferry Flute and explore an ocean full of secrets and battles!

[fogaminghub]

https://www.fogaminghub.com/post/accompany-palamena-to-the-cape-a-quest-for-redemption-in-visions-of-mana

✨ Accompany Palamena to the cape in Visions of Mana! 🌊 Join Val and the Alms on a heartfelt quest as they navigate the challenges of Chapter 4: "Back with a Vengeance." Unlock the power of the Salamando Candle and dive into a story filled with emotion and adventure. 

🌟 Check out our blog for detailed objectives and tips! 

[fogaminghub]

🌿 Dive into Chapter 4: Back with a Vengeance in Visions of Mana! 🌟 Our latest post covers everything you need to know about the Return to Verdeus quest. 🗺️ Discover how to recruit Julei and maximize your team's potential with the Dryad Sprig! Don’t miss out on these essential tips for reclaiming Hinna's corestone! 🌈 

[fogaminghub]

🌼 Have you ever wondered why the flowers aren't blooming in Visions of Mana? 🌼 

Join Val and the Alms in Chapter 4 as they take on the mighty Grapplavine and uncover the secrets behind Hinna’s corestone. Our comprehensive guide is filled with essential tips for gearing up, battling strategically, and so much more! 🌟

[fogaminghub]

🎮✨ Ready to get back with a vengeance in Visions of Mana? Check out our latest blog post where we break down Chapter 4 and the crucial objective "Follow Julei!" Join Val and the Alms as they fight to reclaim Hinna's corestone. Let's embark on this emotional adventure together! 

[fogaminghub]

✨🌟 Attention all Visions of Mana players! 🌟✨ Chapter 4: "Back with a Vengeance" has arrived, and it’s time to Head to Verdeus Borough! 

Join Val and the Alms as they embark on an emotionally charged quest to reclaim Hinna's corestone from Eoren. Battle your way through the infamous Mylos Woods, tackle challenging foes, and unlock new paths on your journey! 

Our latest blog post dives into all the details—don't miss it! 🌍💚 

[fogaminghub]

🌄 Are you ready to dive into Chapter 4 of Visions of Mana? 📜 Join Val and the Alms as they Head to the Eastern Plateau in search of Hinna's precious corestone! 🗡️ Our latest blog post details everything you need to know about this epic journey, including tips for exploring Gudju and obtaining the all-important Gnome Shovel!

💫 Read the full guide here!

[fogaminghub]

🚀 Step into the world of Visions of Mana with Chapter 4: Back with a Vengeance! 🌠 Discover the heart-wrenching objective "Look Around Gudju" as Val and the Alms confront their grief and fight to reclaim Hinna's corestone. Learn how this chapter brings depth to their quest for redemption in our latest blog post! 

[fogaminghub]

https://www.fogaminghub.com/post/unravel-the-secrets-of-tatoh-temple-in-visions-of-mana

🌟✨ Explore Tatoh Temple in Chapter 4 of Visions of Mana! Join Val and the remaining Alms as they navigate the trials of the temple in a quest to reclaim Hinna's corestone. Ride the Salamando Candle, defeat relentless foes, and face the mighty Vuscavalanche in an epic boss battle. Will your skills be enough? 

Dive into the rich narrative and unforgettable gameplay today!

[fogaminghub]

https://www.fogaminghub.com/post/exploring-tatoh-temple-in-visions-of-mana-a-journey-of-redemption

🌌 Ready to embark on an emotional journey in Visions of Mana? Our new blog post explores why going to Tatoh Temple is crucial in Chapter 4, "Back with a Vengeance"! Learn how to prepare and stock up before diving into epic battles and challenges. ✨ 

[fogaminghub]

https://www.fogaminghub.com/post/return-to-the-square-a-vital-quest-in-visions-of-mana

🌟 Ready for your next adventure in Visions of Mana? Chapter 4, "Back with a Vengeance," is here! This chapter focuses on the vital objective of return to the square as Val and the Alms seek to reclaim Hinna's corestone. 🔥 Plus, find out how to obtain and equip the powerful Salamando Candle! Check out my latest blog post for an in-depth look! 

[teefa85]

Got through Chapter 2. And 3...didn't realize how easy that one would be...

OHGOD THERE ARE MAJOR SPOILERS UNDER CUT!!!

In the lighthearted, fighting Fullmetal Hugger was hilarious as Morley just used his one Nightblade tech and it made him climb the wall with the boss! So while Palamena and Val were fighting the little crabs, Morley was just FLYING after the boss! Great end to Chapter 2.

Now, as for Chapter 3, which is all scenes...

As someone who has played Tales of Symphonia and Final Fantasy X, I knew we'd have some sort of "heroine doubts her mission" moment. Hell, the biggest difference in the setup (not the main story since things are proceeding fairly differently with the journey), besides multiple alms vs. one Chosen or Summoner, is that the main character and player both KNOW what's happening compared to Tidus or Lloyd being in the dark. So, when Eoren brought up a way out, I was just waiting to see how it was going to go wrong.

Wasn't expecting, "Use Val's power to turn Hinna into a Corestone." Eoren attempting to stop things with a flawed ritual...yes. Eoren kidnapping Hinna to use her for whatever his plan was...yes. Transferring Hinna's soul into himself or Val for whatever the plan was...yes. Nice to know the game surprised me!

We did get some time to explore the next area (and spend coin at Niccolo's). But taking a break. Unfortunately, being busy on Tuesdays and having to go back to work means I won't get to play until Wednesday...