Visions of Mana on PS5: A Colorful Action-RPG

Visions of Mana is a bright, upbeat action-RPG from Square Enix . You can buy Visions of Mana on PlayStation 5 for the lowest prices

It came to PlayStation 5—and other systems—on August 29, 2024, ending an 18-year gap since the last main-series Mana game.

On PS5, the game runs at up to 60 frames per second and takes advantage of the console’s fast SSD, so areas load in a few seconds. These technical gains let the art team fill every scene with clean 4K textures and strong HDR color without hurting performance.

A quick history lesson is not entirely out of place here.

The Mana series began in the 1990s with Final Fantasy Adventure (known as Seiken Densetsu: Final Fantasy Gaiden in Japan) for the Game Boy in 1991.

After Dawn of Mana in 2006 the series went quiet. Development on Visions of Mana started in 2020 with several veterans returning, including producer Masaru Oyamada and composer Hiroki Kikuta.

Because of this long break, the new game doubles as both a follow-up for older players and an easy entry point for newcomers.

Story and Characters

You play as Val, a young swordsman who has just become a “Soul Guard.”

His first duty is to escort his friend Hinna, chosen as a Fire alm—a person who keeps the flow of Mana alive. The two set out for the giant Mana Tree, and along the way they meet three more heroes. The group’s goal is to restore the world’s Mana and prevent collapse.

If you have never touched a Mana game, here are three reasons why it’s different from other action-RPG games from the same niche:

• The setting is bright fantasy, not grimdark.
• The tone is hopeful; there is danger, but the writing stays positive.
• Each party member can swap “classes” by linking to one of eight Elemental spirits. This class swap is important for combat, so we cover it in detail.

World and Exploration

Instead of one huge open map, Visions of Mana links several large zone hubs. Each zone offers open fields, towns, and dungeons that you can revisit later with new abilities.

To move faster the game gives you three kinds of mounts:

1. Pikul, a fluffy land bird earned early in Chapter 1.
2. Vuscav, a giant turtle used for sea travel.
3. A Sky Dragon unlocked late in the story for aerial routes.

Because each environment is built to show color first, the simpler PS5 loading lets assets stream without pop-in. That means no visible texture blur even during fast dragon flights.

Exploration rewards you in three main ways:

• Treasure chests holding weapons or crafting items.
• Elementites, glowing crystals that grant Elemental Points.
• Side quests that give Ability Seeds and costumes.

Side missions are short, often taking under ten minutes, so you can clear them between story beats without losing momentum.

Square Enix shipped a 100-track soundtrack—over six hours of music—by series composers Hiroki Kikuta, Tsuyoshi Sekito, and Ryo Yamazaki.

The audio menu lets you pick English or Japanese voices and adjust individual channel volumes, a small but welcome quality-of-life option for players who prefer subs over dubs.

Combat Basics

Fights start the moment an enemy touches your on-screen radius. There are no separate battle screens. Combat follows three simple rules:

• Light attacks build quick combos.
• Heavy attacks break shields.
• Dodges and air dashes avoid damage.

Each win gives Elemental Points. You spend these on an Elemental Plot—a skill board unique to each character.

Class change is as easy as equipping an Elemental Vessel. There are 45 total classes, from Val’s Rune Knight to Careena’s Dragon Master.

During combat you can also:

• Swap to any hero at any time with the D-pad.
• Charge a Class Strike Gauge for a screen-wide special move.
• Aim for elemental weaknesses to knock down bosses quickly.

Because the UI shows clear icons and tooltips, first-time action-RPG players will learn these loops after one or two battles.

Progression and Optional Content

Beyond the main quest, three systems keep you busy:

1. Ability Seeds – socket them to raise stats or add perks.
2. Corestones – materials obtained by defeating bosses (and used to acquire Ability Seeds)
3. Ring-Menu – get quick access to your inventory and spells

All of these feed back into your Elemental Plot, giving a clear reward path for your time.

PS5-Specific Features

On PlayStation 5, Visions of Mana adds several perks missing from the PS4 build.

The DualSense controller delivers vibrations and adaptive trigger tension that match each slash, spell, and mount sprint.

If you subscribe to PlayStation Plus Premium you can stream the game to another PS5 or compatible device, and standard Remote Play lets you keep questing on a phone, PC, or PS Portal.

The visuals stay sharp, showcasing a vibrant, semi-open world filled with waterfalls, meadows, and crystal caves.

Fast, multi-layered combat flows smoothly, and near-seamless area transitions keep exploration brisk and rewarding for newcomers and Mana fans alike.

So, Should You Buy It?

On PS5, Visions of Mana feels smooth, bright, and welcoming.

If you enjoy action-RPGs such as Kingdom Hearts but want a shorter, 30-hour journey, this new Mana entry is a solid pick. The colorful art, clear systems, and steady performance show why the series still matters—and why PS5 is the best place to play it.