Discussion Visions of Mana producer discusses maintaining the series' identity

[Ebicentre]

Automaton Media recently interviewed Oyamada Masaru, the producer for the upcoming Visions of Mana. A significant portion of their conversation focussed on what it means to be a 'Mana-like' game, but the main focal point we're interested in is the topic of 'westernizing' the game.

The full interview can be read here (archive).

Interview: How Visions of Mana’s producer made sure the game stays true to the series’ identity - AUTOMATON WEST

Square Enix producer Masaru Oyamada tells us everything you need to know about Visions of Mana, the long-awaited new game in the Mana series.

automaton-media.com

[Automaton]――So, while keeping globalization in mind, you’re taking care not to let your series’ identity become westernized.

Oyamada: I think the visuals of the Mana games are a distinctive characteristic, therefore it is best to deliver the game based on the developers’ creative vision. For example, there are many different types of characters in the Mana series. I think the fun of the game is encountering this mysterious world and its inhabitants and because of that, we don’t have a strong focus on a particular audience. However, we do work on the game while bearing in mind that the Mana series is loved by fans from all over the world.

After the launch of Final Fantasy VII Rebirth, there's speculation of an internal war brewing within Square-Enix, between the creators and the Marxist-controlled Ethics Department. Though largely unsubstantiated at this point in time (especially given all the censorship we've seen with their remasters), it's reasonable to believe Square is aware of the positive reaction on social media when Tifa's swimsuit was revealed to the public. One can also point to Yoshida Naoki (YoshiP of FFXIV fame) insisting on an all-white cast for Final Fantasy XVI (and winning) as evidence that - given the right circumstances and voices - the Ethics Department can be resisted.

Whether Visions of Mana is doing the same remains to be seen.

 

[Narmy]

I just played the Seiken Densetsu 3 (Trials of Mana) remake recently and it was amazing, so if it's anything like that then it might be good.

 

[PhantomXero1x]

Legend of mana is meh imo like i honestly never really got into the series since i just found each of the mana games and the anime too boring af.